Sunday Morning for Sunday 12 November 2023

8:13 Will Flockton: Live in London after pro-Palestinian protests on Armistice Day 

It's the evening of Remembrance Day, Armistice Day, in the UK. Pro-Palestinian marchers have rallied in London in large numbers, and former defence force generals there have defended their right to do so, in the face of opposition from Home Secretary Suella Braverman. She described the rallies in advance as "hate marches" and accused the police of favouring left-wing groups over right. BBC producer Will Flockton, formally RNZ Morning Report, was there.  

8:21 Anne-Sophie Mutter: Violin virtuoso visits New Zealand  

For the very first time in Aotearoa New Zealand, world-renowned violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter joins forces with the NZSO. 

Mutter, a longtime friend and collaborator with movie music legend John Williams, will perform Williams’ music from Star Wars, Harry Potter and more in Wellington and Auckland this month. 

She joins Jim Mora to talk about music life and why she decided not to retire at 50. 

8:48 Barbara Sahakia: New research into avoiding depression 

Cambridge University neuropsychologist Professor Barbara Sahakian talks about new research from her team using data from the UK biobank to reach conclusions about mental health. The study used neuroimaging to see the differences in the brain, changing volumes of areas like the hippocampus, vital for memory and learning, and the amygdala, for emotional regulation.  

At last count more than 12% of New Zealanders were on antidepressants, 16% of females, 9% of males, 22% of women over age 65. We asked Barbara Sahakian about her latest findings. 

9:10 Mediawatch 

This week Mediawatch looks at how the media have followed the formation of the next government going on behind closed doors.  

Also: a push to persuade policymakers to emulate Ireland’s economy - and local media people lamenting the decline of what was the media’s favourite social media platform, Twitter. 

9:40 George Lockyer: Kiwis on Harley-Davidsons 

The Harley-Davidson motorcycle, the most polarising motorbike in the world and also the most legendary, made so by movies like Easy Rider in 1969. One of our most peripatetic writers has just put out a book about them. 

George Lockyer has already penned Long and Winding Aotearoa, Kiwi Garages, Tales and Trails Down Under and Living The Dream. Now comes Kiwis on Harleys, with stories of 27 New Zealanders who own, collect and sometimes race these noisy, misfiring but mighty machines 

10:10 Calling Home: Liam McEwan in Los Angeles  

Ex-Rangitoto College student Liam McEwan is calling home from Los Angeles, California. 

After humble beginnings at Flea FM in Devonport, he’s now made a name for himself interviewing the stars. 

Elton, Ringo, Miley, and Ariana are among the A-Listers he’s interviewed and is working on getting on a first name basis with.  

He shares his journey to the red carpet, his most memorable celebrity smiles and snubs, and the stars he’d most like to interview. 

10:43 Robinson: My Latest Track 

London based New Zealander Robinson introduces us to her sparkling new EP Chasing Nirvana.   

She chats to Jim about her songwriting, the approaching London winter, and finding her creative groove. 

She shares her newest. prettiest song yet with Sunday Morning, ‘It’s All Over You’. 

11:05 Mike Seawright: Aid team on the ground in the Gaza 

Mike Seawright is the Aucklander who was once an investment banker with a yacht. Then Mike discovered a new purpose in life - he founded the NZ charity ReliefAid, run by hard working volunteers on the ground here, and ReliefAid has also been on the ground in most of the major conflict and natural disaster situations we can think of over the past few years. Now Mike’s team are on the ground in Gaza. 

11:18 Margaret Lovell-Smith: A radical history of Christchurch  

With Armistice Day being marked across Europe and the World, we head to Christchurch where the period before, during and after New Zealand’s involvement in World War I the city became a flashpoint for pro- and anti-war sentiment.  

In her book ‘I Don’t Believe in Murder’: Standing up for peace in World War I Canterbury, local writer and historian Margaret Lovell-Smith tells the stories of the people who made Christchurch the leading city in the peace movement, and of the men who refused to fight, enduring imprisonment, hardships and loss of civil rights. 

11:32 Julian Paton: Understanding blood pressure and links to dementia 

High blood pressure has become a focus of attention in many quarters.  

The condition affects one-third of adult New Zealanders and disproportionately more Māori and Pacific people. It’s the biggest risk factor for cardiovascular disease – the leading cause of death here and globally – and researchers are now studying its links to dementia in later life.  

Professor Julian Paton from the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences says it’s clear we don’t yet know everything about controlling high blood pressure, but his research aims to urgently find a new way.