09:05  New road safety plan aims to cut road deaths by 40 per cent

The government says its new multi-billion dollar road safety plan will cut road deaths by 40 per cent by 2030. The plan, called Road to Zero, was outlined yesterday by the Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter. Speed limits will drop in high risk areas, and some fines will rise as part of the ten year strategy. Money will be spent on roading safety improvements - including one thousand kilometres of new median crash barriers, there will also be more speed cameras which will be more clearly signposted.

9:20 Wastewater and sewage pumping into Wellington harbour

20931757 - view from mount victoria into the bay of wellington  capital city of new zealand

Photo: 123RF

Wellington City's wastewater is discharging into the harbour after an underground tunnel in the CBD collapsed this morning.  Wellington Water is asking all inner city residents and office workers to minimise their use of water, to reduce the load on the network and the size of the overflow. Chief Executive of Wellington Water Colin Crampton speaks with Kathryn Ryan.


09:25 Eliud Kipchoge. Making sub 2 hour marathon history

Eliud Kipchoge runs the fastest ever maraton 2019.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

When 35-year-old Eliud Kipchoge, arguably the greatest male distance runner of all time, ran a sub two hour marathon earlier this year it was a moment in sporting history that many had considered impossible. Eliud Kipchoge's manager Valentijn Trouw talks to Kathryn Ryan about the preparations, controversies, and celebrations.

Valentijn Trouw with Eliud Kipchoge and Patrick Sang at the launch of the INEOS 1:59 Challenge.

Valentijn Trouw with Eliud Kipchoge and Patrick Sang at the launch of the INEOS 1:59 Challenge. Photo: Dan Vernon

09:40 From solstice to Santa, a Christmas history

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Photo: Wikepedia

Andy Thomas goes behind the sparkle and the merriment with a fascinating look at the social history of Christmas. His new book, Christmas, A Short History from Solstice to Santa' covers everything from ancient ceremonies and mythology, to present day traditions from around the world. He is a lecturer and author on folklore, histories and conspiracy theories

09:45 Pacific correspondent Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor

Moera has a wrap of this year's top stories from the Pacific, including the tragic measles toll in Samoa.

Samoa extends the state of emergency

Photo: Samoa Government

10:05 Speaking youth to power

Paekākāriki-Raumati Ward Councillor Sophie Handford with her campaign team of highschool students, waiting for the 2019 local body election results to be posted.

Paekākāriki-Raumati Ward Councillor Sophie Handford with her campaign team of highschool students, waiting for the 2019 local body election results to be posted. Photo: RNZ/Melanie Phipps

Kathryn Ryan speaks with the teenagers pumping new blood into local body politics.  This year Sophie Handford, RohanO'Neill-Stevens and Fisher Wang were voted into office in Kapiti, Nelson and Rotorua Lakes, proving you don't have to be a boomer to be elected to council.  Fisher is the middle child, Rohan is the eldest and Sophie is the youngest local body politician in the country. In another, related stream of Sophie's life she leads New Zealand's School Strike 4 Climate movement, which saw 70,000 people take to the streets in September.

10:35 Book review - The Hero by Lee Child

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Photo: HarperCollins

Sally Wenley reviews The Hero by Lee Child, published by HarperCollins.

10:45 The Reading

Mary's Job a short story by Pip Adam read by Loren Taylor.

11:05 New music with Grant Smithies

The best punk compilation ever to emerge from Aotearoa's shining shores, AK79 was released on Ripper Records in December, 1979. A spanking new 40th Anniversary edition was released last week. We'll hear standout tracks from Scavengers and Proud Scum today, alongside Nigerian disco from Tunde Mabadu and heartbroken soul from Durand Jones and The Indications. 

AK79 Red Vinyl on White

Photo: Supplied: Simon Grigg / Flying Nun Records

11:30 Sports commentator Brendan Telfer with the year's highlights and low points

A chat about the headlining sports stories of the year, also what chance do the Black Caps have against Australia at the MCG on Boxing Day?

Colin de Grandhomme reacts as he heads back to the dresssing room.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

11:45 The week that was with Te Radar and Irene Pink

A wealth of funny stories from the week

 

Music played in this show

Artist: Annie Lennox
Track: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Time played: 11:51