Afternoons for Thursday 7 July 2016

1:10 First song

1:15 Redciffs school to remain open

Education Minister, Hekia Parata, has announced the fate of Christchurch's Redcliffs School this morning. It will stay open. The school has been operating out of a temporary location, since aftershocks caused rockfall from the cliff behind the school, in 2011. The government announced it was planning on closing the school down but since then

The school commissioned a new geotechnical report on the site, in an attempt to get the government to reconsider

We spoke to Principal, Rose McInerney, just after she got the good news from the Minister.

1:20 Shoebox Christmas

When Wellington man, Pera Barrett was 21 he woke up in hospital with serious injuries and head trauma. He was told he had been in a serious car crash. Even worse, it was his fault, and he had killed a woman when his car crossed the centre line on State Highway One.

The guilt and trauma has remained with him for many years since - but he says it has also taught him many lessons about life, and the importance of giving back to those in need. Two years ago he set up the Wellington Shoebox Christmas project, which involves giving Christmas gifts to children in need in the region.

1:30 Hotel Coolgardie - backpacker hell

A documentary about a pub in a small remote Western Australian town is ruffling feathers. Hotel Coolgardie is a feature length documentary film, showing here as part of the New Zealand International film festival. It follows two young female Finnish backpackers who are sent to work at the Coolgardie pub.

The film highlights the ugliest side of the nation's drinking culture, and shows the nightmare the girls lived through during their brief stay there.

Pete Gleeson shot and directed the film which makes for some tough viewing in its final 90 minute version.

1:40 Favourite album

2:10 Theatre Critic

2:20 Money with Mary Holm

3:10 Masterpieces with Peter Dowling

Editor and publisher Peter Dowling is our guest on masterpieces this week and is here to talk about his favourite maori place names.

Peter Dowling's publishing company is re-releasing what he considers among the most enduring book ever published in this country,  A.W. Reed's Dictionary of Māori Place Names.

It was first published in 1950 and had remained in print over several editions, but has not been available for a number of years... until this week
 
Peter Dowling used to work for Reed Publishing and now runs  Oratia Media, which is releasing the new edition - which includes some important place name updates as well re-including some of the original drawings.

3:25 The Expats: Caitlin Smith on living in Northern Iraq

Caitlin Smith lives in the city of Sulimaniya which is near the Iranian border

3:30 Science and environment stories

Stories from Our Changing World.

3:45 The Panel Pre-Show