Sunday Morning for Sunday 19 July 2020

7:10 Finish line in sight for Auckland's 'Running Beast' 

Shaun Collins - aka the 'Running Beast' -- is drawing toward the end of his 48-hour, 328km run around the residential perimeter of Auckland this morning. We'll cross live to the hirsute West Auckland running identity to find out why he took on the challenge of running around the entire edge of urban Auckland and what he hopes to achieve from the experience. 

7:23 Will we all get Covid-19 eventually? 

While restrictions are being imposed around the globe and the WHO is warning that the coronavirus is accelerating out of control, New Zealand is free of community transmission thanks to our 'go hard and early' approach. But in the long run, will New Zealand still have huge numbers of people getting sick? Is a vaccine our only hope? To help us answer those questions is returning guest Dr Gary McLean, who is a professor in molecular immunology at London Metropolitan University and a researcher with Imperial College.

7.32 The House

This Parliament's three-year term is drawing to a close with only three weeks remaining before it dissolves for the general election. The House takes a look back at three significant events this Parliament has responded to including the Christchurch Mosque attacks, the Whakaari/White Island eruption, and Covid-19. 

7:45 Calling Home: Jessica Gerrity in Saitama, Japan

Jessica Gerrity moved to Japan 18 years ago, without any Japanese language skills under her belt. After learning the language from watching TV, it wasn't long before she found herself working as a television host herself, as well as a kimono model. And now in her spare time, the mother of three also runs a dojo for kyudo, a form of Japanese archery. 

8:10 New Zealanders continue to be in favour of euthanasia legislation 

In this year's general election, people will be asked to vote in two referenda: one on legalising euthanasia and the other on legalising recreational cannabis. The latest survey from Research New Zealand shows that Kiwis continue to be heavily in favour of euthanasia legislation, while the cannabis question remains finely balanced. Research NZ managing partner Emanuel Kalafatelis joins the show to discuss the latest results.     

8:22 The Weekend Panel with Linda Clark & Richard Harman 

Our Sunday Morning panellists Linda Clark and Richard Harman offer their thoughts on the past week's news from Aotearoa and abroad. This past week has served up a lot to discuss, with the resignation of National party leader Todd Muller, followed by Judith Collins taking the helm and the retirement of high-ranking MPs Nikki Kaye and Amy Adams.

8:50 Is it time to quit your addiction to Google Chrome?

In September 2008, Google publicly released the Chrome browser to wide public acclaim. By 2012 it was the most-used browser in the world, surpassing Mozilla and eventually winning the second browser war. Nowadays Chrome has 70 percent of the market share, but it starting to receive criticism for hoovering RAM and draining batteries, and people are starting to look to browser alternatives such as Edge and Vivaldi. Mohawk Media's Helen Baxter joins the show to discuss what might be the impending third browser wars, and how we can quit our addiction to Chrome.

9:06 Mediawatch

This week Mediawatch looks back at a turbulent week at the top of the National Party - and how legal action against the media ended up boosting another political party. Also - is Radio New Zealand living up to its commitments to improve coverage of Maori news and issues?  Produced and presented by Colin Peacock and Hayden Donnell. 

9:37 Great white shark stomachs reveal surprising diet secrets 

The findings of the first-ever detailed study of the diets of great white sharks has been released, and it shows that the stereotypical notion of the apex predator's dorsal fin sitting above the surface as it hunts is probably as fictitious as Jaws itself. In fact, great whites spend a lot more time feeding closer to the seabed than expected. The study's lead author, University of Sydney Ph.D. candidate Richard Grainger explains more. 

9:51 'People are out of whack with the scale of the ocean plastic problem' 

Professor Peter Ryan has been studying ocean plastic for 20 years and often gets angry responses from people when he tells them plastic isn't the biggest environmental threat we face, especially when compared to the climate crisis. And by focusing on plastic, he says, we are potentially taking effort away from more serious environmental concerns.  

10:04 Hobbit star's Scottish road trip with a difference 

Wellington-based film, TV and voice actor Graham McTavish is known for portraying Dwalin the dwarf in the Hobbit trilogy, but his latest project has seen him team up with fellow Outlander star Sam Heughan (who is tipped to be the next 007) to document the people, places and history of their native Scotland. They've done a TV series, Men in Kilts, and are about to release a book, Clanlands, Whisky Warfare and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other, which was completed by the pair during lockdown, despite the fact they were in different parts of the world. 

10:35 Can Sophie Wessex reignite the royal flame? 

It's been a tough time for the British royal family of late, with Prince Andrew laying low in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations, Prince Harry stepping down as a senior member of the Royal Family, and a new study showing the royals are pretty much useless at raising money for charity. However, there is a ray of light in the form of Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who is being tipped to steady the royal ship. Author and foreign correspondent Christina Lamb joined her on a recent trip to South Sudan. 

11:05 The science of staying alive longer 

By the time we turn 60 most of us will still have one third of our lives to live. Specialist Australian geriatrician Dr. Kate Gregorevic's new book, Staying Alive: the Science of Living Healthier, Happier and Longer, applies the science of longevity to everyday life, offering tips on how the small daily decisions we make now can help us live better for longer. She joins the show from Melbourne and will be answering questions from listeners. Send your queries for Dr. Gregorevic to sunday@rnz.co.nz or text 2101. 

11:43 Science fiction helps build mental resilience in young people

Historically, those who read science fiction and fantasy have been stigmatised as nerds and geeks, but research by Esther Jones - an Associate Professor of English at Clark University in Massachusetts - shows sci-fi and fantasy may help young people cope, especially with the stress and anxiety of living through Covid-19.