Labour Day for Monday 23 October 2023

8:10 Dave Wood: Intensive care paramedic to high performance coach

In a few short years, Dave Wood has established himself as a breathing and mindset guru. But his path from die-hard Piha surfer to one of the most sort after coaches in elite sport has been far from linear. Travelling the world and working as a lifeguard for more than a decade, Dave returned to Aotearoa in his 30s and retrained in paramedicine, eventually spending close to 12 years on the road. During this time, battling a debilitating injury and becoming increasingly disillusioned with traditional treatment, he hit rock bottom. What happened next formed the basis for Integrated Training a high performance programme and philosophy rooted in one of our most basic functions - breathing. 

8:35 Ted Cheeseman: Can AI and citizen science save our marine mammals?

Happywhale.com - a global database of of marine mammal images - harnesses the power of citizen science and rapid advancements in AI, to track some of the ocean's largest and most endangered creatures. You may not have heard of it, but the ambitious conservation project has made its way to Aotearoa's shores. As the son of Californian naturalists and founders of Cheeseman's Ecology Safaris, Happywhale's founder and director, Ted Cheeseman's path feels predetermined. Earning a Masters of Science in Conservation Biology, Cheeseman took over the business and led tours to Antarctica ...and the genesis of his work with whales now.

9:08 Maungarongo Te Kawa: Artist in the Arctic circle

Maungarongo (Ron) Te Kawa of Ngāti Porou has arrived in Karasjok - the Norwegian Arctic circle. The contemporary takatāpui fabric artist is in the midst of a residency in Norway and was behind a whakapapa quilt exhibition that opened at the end of August in the Sami Museum in Oslo.

9:35 Gardening gurus Gill and Greg Miles

We dive into the garden - for many of you, what Labour Weekend is all about. That's certainly true for Gill and Greg Miles. The pair are the owners - and curators - of a tropical garden oasis known as Black Gates, which will be featured for the third time in the upcoming Taranaki Garden Festival. Their 1.9 hectares is full of edibles - 24 vegetable boxes, fruit orchards, microgreen glasshouse and livestock paddocks with sheep, cattle, and chooks allows them to be self-sufficient and then some ... But its their ingenius method of piping compost and worm cast to roots that sets them apart. 

10:08 Michael Brown: Disasteradio and the evolution of synth-pop

Dr Michael Brown is a music researcher who has spent countless hours listening to tracks you have likely never heard. But it's been an evolution for the boy from the Kapiti Coast to music research fellow - from working in the legendary Aro St Video Shop, through postgraduate studies and music archiving ... to his current role as music curator at Alexander Turnbull Library, which has led to his latest research project and musical crush. Michael is this year's JD Stout Fellow at Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University, and next month is delivering a lecture on Aotearoa New Zealand music in the Internet age. 

10:40 Paora Tapsell: Kūmara uncovering new settlement narratives 

What is the story of kūmara? And how can understanding it tell us about Aotearoa New Zealand's early history and bring new understandings from our shared past? Professor Paora Tapsell is the lead researcher of Takarangi Research examining these questions and more. Takarangi has researchers at the universities Auckland, Massey and Otago and starting next year at Lincoln University in Christchurch. And Paora Tapsell is part of the Centre of Sustainability at Otago as well as holding a professorship at Australia National University where he teaches on the engagement with taonga at museums.

11:10 Phil Oakey: Changing eyeliner in a changing world

Drifting from one casual job to another, Phil Oakey had zero ambition to be in a pop group. His one instrument, a saxophone, lay abandoned on the floor. But in 1977, everything changed with a single note on his front door inviting him to join what later became The Human League - a band at the forefront of 80s synth-pop. Oakey, its lead singer, was catapaulted onto the world stage, and became famous for not only his poignant lyrics but his adventurous and gender-bending style - once sporting a household power lead complete with plug as a necklace. After 40 years of ups and downs, The Human League is still touring, and will be landing on our shores alongside other 80s hitmakers in Aotearoa's largest ever Sound Series.  

11:35 Outback Tom: Aussie journalist and TikTok sensation

Tom Forrest, better known as Outback Tom, has found global fame for his snappy and charming cooking videos with his grandad Steve - Outback Grandad. The pair's recipes for outback snacks - delivered with a healthy side of humour - have proved to be a recipe for success, with their social media accounts amassing hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of views. The 'how tos' see Tom - a Yorta Yorta man and ABC journalist - not only breaking the sound barrier with his stockwhip ... but also traditional ideas of Aussie masculinity. 

11:50 Settling the Score: The countdown begins 

What piece of classical music will come out on top as the listener choice of the year on RNZ Concert's Settling The Score this year? The highly anticipated annual audience poll of favourite classical music is on today until 8pm, with the Top 30 Countdown beginning at midday.

Music played in this show

Track: The Great Escape

Artist: The Chills covered by Anika Moa Live @ RNZ May 2019

Time played: 8:50am

 

Track: Nicotine

Artist: Aidan Fine Live @ RNZ June 2023

Time played: 8:55am

 

Track: Back In Love

Artist: Leisure Live @ RNZ October 2023

Time played: 9:06am

 

Track: Brave Star

Artist: Tom Lark NZ Live August 2023

Time played: 9:55am