09:05 Don't overlook energy efficiency warns EECA

Electricity pylon.

Electricity pylon. Photo: AFP

The widespread impact of even small scale energy efficiencies in technology use are being highlighted in the latest modelling by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. Installing things like LED lighting, and high-temperature heat pumps could save the equivalent of 4,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity - about 10 percent of current annual demand. EECA says the usual mind set is to build more renewable generation, but investment in energy efficient technology is often overlooked. And it warns that overlooking this creates a risk that we might build more generation than needed, resulting in higher than necessary costs. Meanwhile the Government is looking at energy efficiency ratings for its offices. Kathryn Ryan talks to EECA's Chief Executive Andrew Caseley.

09:20 Signs of age: timber reveals climate & history

No caption

Photo: Gretel Boswijk

Director of the tree ring lab at the School of Environment at the University of Auckland, Dr Gretel Boswijk, tells Kathryn Ryan how analysing Kauri rings helps her discover more about the history of New Zealand's weather patterns and date archaeological sites.  Gretel has been able to date on wooden posts from the Otahau Pa, north of Hamilton to within 4 years either side of 1768, from Kauri's fingerprint.

09:30 Commemorating Sir Ed's 100 birthday

Sir Edmund Hillary.

Photo: Supplied / Canterbury Museum / ‘Sir Ed in the Southern Alps - his name is commemorated in Hillary Hut in Antarctica, the last remaining building of the original Scott Base dating from 1957’

July 19 marks 100 years since Sir Edmund Hillary was born, and the start of a month of activities to celebrate his life and achievements. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will host an event at Parliament next week at which Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh will perform her new poem about Sir Ed called Hillary's Step, New Zealand Post is issuing commemorative stamps, and a full-length symphony entitled Roar of a Thousand Tigers will be premiere in Christchurch at the end of the month. One of those who knew him well was Tom Scott, a member of the Hillary Centenary Steering Committee which is organising the events. He joins Kathryn to talk about what they've got planned to mark his remarkable life.

09:45 Pacific correspondent Koro Vaka'uta

no caption

Photo: TMT International Observatory

Protests in Hawaii over the construction of a 30 metre telescope on sacred land and the Pacific Games draw to a close in Samoa.

10:05 Ed Hawkins: searching for the superhuman sports star

No caption

Photo: supplied

Award winning British sports journalist and author Ed Hawkins' new book explores the sometimes bizarre "cosmic" side of sports among a group of new age thinkers in the United States in the 1960s - athletes and coaches convinced that using no more than the power of their own minds, they could be bigger, faster, more accurate or able to control their opponents minds. Ed is well known for his book Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy which lifted the lid on India's illegal bookmaking industry and for his expose of the trafficking of African football hopefuls in The Lost Boys.

And we promised a link to Uri Geller's trick during Uri 96 Find it here:

10:35 Book review - Buddhism for Meat Eaters by Josephine Moon 

No caption

Photo: Simon & Schuster

Ian Telfer reviews Buddhism for Meat Eaters by Josephine Moon, which is published by Simon & Schuster.

The book describes Moon's quest to reconcile her deep love for animals with her need to eat meat for health reasons. Part self-help book, part philosophical musing on the meaning of Buddhist teachings, the book raises timely questions in an honest, though sometimes rambly, way.

10:45 The Reading

A short story from the RNZ Auckland University Writers season - It was all on Account of the Dog by Barbara Uini, told by Nick Blake

11:05 New music with Grant Smithies

Louis Baker

Louis Baker Photo: The Property Pilots 2017

Grant plays new songs from three deeply diverse acts from Aotearoa- Hallelujah Picassos, Louis Baker and Cookie Brooklyn & The Crumbs.

11:30 Two world cup losses - Brendan Telfer

Silver Ferns play Australia at netball World Cup 2019.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Brendan discusses the Silver Ferns' narrow loss against Australia in the Netball world cup last night, the cricket loss earlier this week, and Otago University researchers call for the IOC to abandon gender binary events at the Olympics.

11:45 Marrots, meth-gators and sociable chimps

No caption

Photo: Youtube

Te Radar and James Elliot discuss "Marrots" - meaty carrots, warnings in the US that flushing drugs could create "meth-gators", and why chimps are more sociable after watching movies together.