Afternoons for Monday 27 August 2018

Short Story Club

On Thursday we discuss another story from the newly digitised Landfall archive. The Letter, by Ruth Dallas

Email us about the story and the writer of the best email wins the latest edition of Landfall - Landfall 235. Jesse@rnz.co.nz

1:10 Manurewa High School student Sonatane Kaufusi performs live

Last Thursday we were blown away by one of the finalists in the auckland schools performance contest, Stand up Stand Out. Silika Isaia performed her own song Mad Men live in our studio.

This afternoons we meet another finalist from SUSO - singer/songwriter Sonatane Kaufusi from Manurewa High School.

He's been playing and performing since year 9, and htis year released his debut Birdie which reached number 1 on the Spotify viral charts and has now been streamed over 500,000 times.

1.15 Proposed ban for bidding on rental housing

Housing Minister Phil Twyford announced proposals this morning for reforms to existing tenancy law. 

The changes would stop no-cause tenancy terminations, increase the notice landlords need to give before moving back into a home and limit rent increases to once a year. 

The changes would also put an end to rental bidding, where prospective tenants are encouraged to "bid" how much rent they could pay.

Renters United spokesperson Kate Day joins us to discuss what this means for tenants.

1:25 Maraenui's synthetic drug problem

The Napier suburb of Maraenui is in the grip of a synthetic cannabis crisis. 

Children as young as 11 are hooked on the drug, and there aren't many in the suburb unaffected by the problem. 

Police blame the local Mongrel Mob chapter, they in turn have spoken out against its use. 

To tell us what's going on in the 'Nui, as its called, is Hawke's Bay reporter Anusha Bradley who has been investigating.

1:35 Keeping butterfly-friendly plants free from pesticides

It's very nearly spring, it officially starts this weekend.

And many people will be be looking to buy new plants to liven up their homes and gardens. Swan plants are perfect for attracting monarch butterflies, but what if the one you buy has been sprayed with pesticides?

That's a concern Butterfly Lady Jacqui Knight has heard many times, and so the trust she works for has created the "approved by butterflies" tick for garden centres. She explains what it's all about. 

1:40 Great album: Cream - Wheels of Fire

2:10 Television Critic Melenie Parkes

Harlots, Lightbox
Succession, SoHo and Neon
Stories From Norway, Sky Arts, Fridays

2:20 Farmers under pressure 

There has been a lot of news over the last week about issues in farming; a protest in Auckland on the weekend over animal rights, scrutiny on intensive agriculture after reports about feedlots in the country, and more discussion about the carbon footprint of meat and dairy producers. 

While all these stories have merit, many farmers are feeling under attack.

Megan Hands is director and environment consultant at Landsavvy, and has been sharing the worries of farmers on social media. 

2:30 Everything you needed to know about seaweed!

It's ever present on our shorelines, but what actually is seaweed? And is it any good to eat?

Dr Pia Winberg, Honorary fellow at the university of Wollangong and CEO of seaweed company Venus Shell Systems joins us to talk about where it comes from, how to grow it and how to eat it.

3:10 Alas, Griff Rhys Jones

Dangling from a skyscraper washing windows in New York City is just another day at the office for British comedian and travel show host Griff Rhys Jones. His career took off on programmes like Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones, but about 10 years ago the BBC started asking him to do travel programmes and documentaries.

He shares his insights into the value of travel, the definition of wanderlust and why you should grab your passport if you have to jump off a burning ship in a new stage show called Where was I? which is coming to New Zealand in November.

3:35 Voices

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

4:05 The Panel with Jo McCarroll and Mike Rehu