09:05 Australia enters era of disaster : bushfires and drought

Given the devastation and the geographical spread of bushfires in New South Wales and Queensland this week, a risk reduction expert has warned that Australia needs to prepare for ongoing disasters. Lives have been lost and homes destroyed and for the first time a 'catastrophic' danger warning was declared for greater Sydney. Robert Glasser is the former head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and he's now with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. His recent special report looking comprehensively at the risks facing security in Australia concluded that a new period of disastrous consequences has dawned with the effects of climate change, and the resulting increase in concurrent extreme weather events, with communities in danger of becoming overwhelmed by the frequency and severity of events.

Australian bushfires

Australian bushfires Photo: All pictures courtesy of AFP

09:20 Digital Curriculum 2.0: Is New Zealand ready?

New Zealand's digital curriculum is set for a reboot next year - but are teachers ready for it? From 2020 it will be mandatory for schools to teach technology to children in years 1 to 10. A report published in August this year from the Education Review Office found it raised serious concerns in late December 2018 about the way schools had been preparing for the changes, saying too few had taken professional learning and development options were open to them. One of those professional learning opportunities is running in Auckland at the moment.  The Auckland University of Technology is running its cs4hs conference which is helping 450 high school - and for the first time, primary school - teachers with their digital skills in preparation for the curriculum change. Kathryn is joined by Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh who's heading up the conference.

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Photo: Supplied/123RF

09:45 Asia correspondent Ed White

The situation in Hong Kong continues to deteriorate. The now months-long protest movement has seen its first death, with live ammunition shot by police and more signs that a tougher Chinese response might be drawing closer.

Mourners place flowers and candles as they pay their respects at the car park where student Alex Chow, 22, fell during a recent protest in the Tseung Kwan O area on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong on November 8, 2019.

Photo: Anthony WALLACE / AFP

Also, senior US military and defence officials have flown into Japan and South Korea this week  amid a range of concerns including North Korea and a breakdown in ties with some of America's most important and longest standing allies in the region.
Ed White is a correspondent for the Financial Times, based in Seoul. 

10:05 Kieran Read reflects on his rugby career

Retiring All Black Captain Kieran Read talks to Kathryn about the Rugby World Cup and his latest venture, his biography, Kieran Read : Straight 8. Written with broadcaster Scotty Stevenson, it is an insight into the rugby playing boy from Papakura who first donned the black jersey as a 23 year old, which lead to 127 test appearances and the captaincy. He was part of the victorious 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup teams and was named World Player of the Year in 2013. It's been a whirlwind few months, reflecting on the Tokyo tournament and looking ahead to life after test rugby.

10:35 Book review - The Topeka School by Ben Lerner

Author Ben Lerner

Author Ben Lerner Photo: Granta Magazine

Melanie O'Loughlin of Unity Books reviews The Topeka School by Ben Lerner, which is published by Granta.

"Adam Gordon, a senior in the class of 97, explores the events that lead up to a terrible act of violence - in doing so he asks: what are the forces that shape a young man at the dawn of the era of the lost boys of privilege?"

10:45 The Reading

Seven Voices: Tales of Madness and Mirth narrated by Sean Allan (2003) Episode 5 of 10 
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11:05 Music reviewer Jeremy Taylor

Former Byrd Gene Clark's lost classic gets a reissue, One Man Bannister take on the Fabs, and FKA Twigs presents her fine second album.

 
Singer songwriter FKA Twigs, and her record MAGDALENE

11:30 Sports commentator Brendan Telfer - Super Rugby

There's been a rather muted reaction to the announcement of the 2020 Super Rugby squads, and the All Whites play in Dublin.

11:45 The week that was 

Our comedians Gemma Gracewood and Irene Pink have been looking at the funniest wildlife photos of the year.

Music played in this show

Artist: Cate le Bon     
Song: Daylight Matters 
Time: 9.35 

Artist: Lawrence Arabia 
Song: Travelling Shoes 
Time: 10.32

Artist: Valerie June 
Song: You Can't Be Told 
Time: 10.41 

Artist: The Head and the Heart 
Song: Another Story
Time: 11.44