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Afternoons for Wednesday 15 November 2017

SHORT STORY CLUB

This Thursday we will discuss one of the stories that were finalists in Short Story Club Live at Litcrawl. The event took place last Satuday evening and we recorded the fascinating discussion about 3 previously unpublished stories. All are very different, and also outstanding. You can read them here

1:10 First song

1:15 Australia votes for same-sex marriage

Australian's have voted in a clear majority to legalise same-sex marriage. 

After a long and controversial campaign the results are non-binding but if Malcolm Turnbull's government sticks to its promise, there could be a law change by Christmas.

We get reaction from Shelley Argent from the Australian chapter of the organisation Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

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Photo: Creative Commons/Ludovic Bertron

1:20 Dutch and Maori culture combine

It's taken ten years but a project celebrating both Dutch and Maori culture is opening in Foxton this weekend. 

Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom consists of a library, a visitor centre and with interactive displays, museums and galleries to share stories from tangata whenua, early pioneers and dutch immigrants. 

It's hoped the space will boost tourism in the area and, after so many years and millions of dollars, there's a fair bit riding on its success. 

Dutch Ambassador Rob Zaagman tells us more about it. 

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Photo: Supplied

1:35 Sound Archives: The Ballantynes Fire of 1947

Fire at Ballantyne's department store, Christchurch, 18 November 1947. (Alexander Turnbull Library)

Ballantyne's department store fire (Alexander Turnbull Library)

Funeral for the victims of the Ballantyne's Department Store fire, (Alexander Turnbull Library)

The Ballantyne's Fire Memorial rebuilt after 2011 earthquake damage was repaired

Like the earthquakes of 2010-2011, the 1947 fire at Ballantynes department store is a defining tragic event in Christchurch's history. It also had a nationwide impact on the way we fight fires, leading to the creation of a National Fire Service.

This Saturday is the 70th anniversary of the tragedy which saw the loss of 41 lives, and in today's visit to the sound archives of Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision we are going to hear some recordings from people who were there.

1:40 Great album

Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen

2:20 Bookmarks with Mike McRoberts

Originally from Christchurch the journalist and newsreader, Mike McRoberts has been living in Auckland for a while now. He's reported from Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza, East Timor and Solomon Islands.

In a couple of days he's off to report from Syria and in February he'll take a cycling group through Sri Lanka raising money for the children's charity, Variety.

He tells us about the books, music and movies that have inspired and entertained him.

Mike McRoberts ahead of his bike ride around Sri Lanka next year

Mike McRoberts ahead of his bike ride around Sri Lanka next year Photo: Supplied

3:10 The ethics of de-extinction

Just because you can recreate a woolly mammoth using DNA from fossil remains doesn't mean you should.

The field of de-extinction, made famous in the Jurassic Park movies, is real. Science writer Britt Wray looks at the technology and the ethics of resurrection science in her new book,  The Sixth Extinction in Rise of the Necrofauna.

The recreation of a mammoth, with the help of an elephant and the CRISPR tool, would require millions of manipulations.

The recreation of a mammoth, with the help of an elephant and the CRISPR tool, would require millions of manipulations. Photo: Wikimedia commons

3:35 Are We There Yet?

3:45 The Pre-Panel Story of the Day and One Quick Question

4:05 The Panel with Ali Jones and Scott Campbell