Afternoons for Thursday 4 April 2019

1:10 First song: Nashville Live

Right now a group of country music rising stars are touring the country with their Nashville live stage show in which they perform some of the biggest country hits of all time

Four of those performers join us in our Auckland studio to perform: Lars Pluto, Sam O'Hanlon, Laura Evans and Helen Gullan

1:15 Court rules against protecting Auckland kauri 

Some of you may remember a few years ago when protesters climbed up a Kauri in Auckland, and stayed there, objecting the possible felling of the tree. 

Since then there have been continued attempts to save the tree, named Awhiawhi by local iwi, from being cut down.

Yesterday the multi-year court battle effectively came to an end when the Enviornment Court declined a Permanent Protection Order for the centuries-old native.

Local resident Winnie Charlesworth led the campaign to save the kauri and she tells us about the ruling. 

1:25 Parkinson's Disease: talking about caring

We don't talk very much about caring for someone who has neurological decline as they get older. Ann Andrews, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease when she was 58, wrote two books on Parkinson's Disease and her third book tells the honest truth about what it's like to care for someone who has Parkinson's and other degenerative diseases.

Sadly, Ann passed away in 2017.  But Auckland journalist Jennifer Dann has finished that third book - it's called Living and Caring and talks to 20 couples living with the disease.

1:35 Ako Space: taking learning to the bush

There's a lot of research that shows the benefits of kids learning in the great outdoors... so what do you do if you want to send your kids to a school where the learning is actually done out outside - but you can't find one?  Would you design your own school?

That's what Auckland mum Sabrina Nagel did - she couldn't find a primary school that allowed her twins to spend lots of time in the outdoors, so she created her own. You can check it out here. 

1:40 Great album: In the Lonely Hour by Sam Smith

2:10 Lucy Dacus live

American singer songwriter Lucy Dacus is performing at the Tuning Fork tonight and pops in to RNZ Auckland to perform a live song for us.

She's only 24 but has two successful albums to her name, and is part of the Indie Supergroup boygenius

2:20 Music Critic Dianne Swann

2:20 NZ Biography CF Goldie

Art historian, Dr Roger Blackley tells us about one of our best known painters, Charles Frederick Goldie who was best known for his depictions of Maori dignitaries.

Goldie was born in 1870 and lived until 1947. He believed  Māori were going to be wiped out or assimilated by the pakeha, and that he had an important role in recording the last survivors.

2:50 The Reading

3:10 Link 3

3:15 Your Money with Mary Holm  Changes to KiwiSaver

KiwiSaver is getting more flexible, and opening its doors to those over 65 – although not completely. Some changes took place on April 1 this year, and others will take place on July 1.

The changes already in place give employees more contributions options. You can now choose to put in 3, 4, 6, 8 or 10% of your pay.  

Our regular personal finance expert Mary Holm explains what it all means

3:35 BBC Sporting Witness

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

4:05 The Panel with Catherine Robertson and Shamubeel Eaqub