Afternoons for Thursday 21 December 2017

If you're after Russel's Christmas music playlist you will find it here, including his spotify playlist

Short Story Club

Our final short story club story for 2017 is Can’t Beat It by Emily Perkins. We will discuss this today 3.10pm with Claire Mabey.

Email us your thoughts and the best one gets a copy of Emily's book of short stories.

1:10 First song: Cricket Farm performs LIVE

The 3 piece Auckland band Cricket Farm join Jesse in our Auckland studio to perform one of the songs from their debut album, Bending Spoons, which is out tomorrow

1:15 Forest schools

It's hard enough getting kids off the ipad and outside, but some schools in New Zealand have taken the idea of outdoor play to a new level - teaching in nature. 

Longworth Education came up with the teaching model,  those involved now named among the world's top innovators in education.

Co-director of the organisation, Sarah Aiono tells us more about it.

1:20 Kawhia's own Santa

If you're in Kawhia or Huntly you probably know the name of our next guest: Sid Patel.

To the local school children, the businessman is their very own Santa. For the last few years, around Christmas, he's been gifting them everything from stationery and lunch boxes to bikes and smartphones.

We ask Sid why he does it. 

1:25 How to teach a kid to ride a bike

Cycling advocate Patrick Morgan recalls how he first learned to ride a bike, and shares tips and tricks to get kids onto two wheels.

1:40 Great album - Bing Crosby's Merry Christmas

2:10 The best concerts of 2017

Russell Baillie looks back on the best concerts and live shows of the year.

2:20 Shamubeel Eaqub: Are we doing Christmas right?

It's a time of big spending and economist Shamubeel Eaqub asks if we are making the right financial decisions over this period.

2:30 The history of Star Wars in New Zealand

The eighth instalment of Star Wars has just been released in cinemas.  

While it may be set in a 'galaxy far, far away' and produced in the United States, the Star Wars saga has had a profound effect upon New Zealand society, especially the oft-forgotten 'Generation X'. 

One member of that generation is our regular historian, Grant Morris, who looks at the history and impact of Star Wars on New Zealand from its release in 1977 to the present day

3:10 Short Story Club

Our final short story club story for 2017 is Can’t Beat It by Emily Perkins. Claire Mabey joins us. Email us your thoughts and the best one gets a copy of Emily's book of short stories, Not Her Real Name

3:25 Tell me about your thesis

Our last thesis chat for the year is with Dr Katie Weastell who has been looking at the caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

3:30 BBC Witness

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

4:05 The Panel with Nadine Higgins and Raybon Kan