09:05 Plans for a data centre near Clyde raises crypto-mining concerns

Critics of a planned data centre for Clyde in Central Otago are raising concerns about just what it'll be used for, saying it'll be of no benefit to the region  - or even the country. Contact Energy wants to build the datacentre for UK-based company Lake Parime just under the Clyde Dam, along with a new substation - to be built and run by Aurora Energy - to power it. The datacentre would be made up of eight containers, each holding 368 servers. Lake Parime says it works with renewable energy operators to provide sustainable computing infrastructure for things like machine learning, modelling, data visualisations, block chain and cryptocurrency mining. It's that last one that have critics concerned, and question if this is the best option for New Zealand's renewable energy resources. Contact Energy says a key condition of the agreement with Lake Parime was that it would offer a diverse range of data services. Kathryn speaks with Duncan Faulkner, chairman of Guardians of Lake Dunstan, Murray Dyer, general manager for Simply Energy, a subsidiary of Contact Energy and Sath Ganesarajah, founder and CEO of Lake Parime.

No caption

Photo: Lake Parime, Contact Energy

09:30 Quirky New Zealand 

The Big Carrot in Ohakune, the Hundertwasser Toilets in Kawakawa, a Toothbrush Fence in Te Pahū and the Bluff Paua Shell House all make up New Zealand's many weird and wonderful landmarks that dot the country. They've now all been compiled into one book, Quirky New Zealand, celebrating our most offbeat, unusual, and most importantly - beloved attractions. Kathryn speaks with the book's author Eleanor Black about what it is about these attractions that New Zealanders love. 

No caption

Photo: Supplied

09:45 Pacific correspondent Susana Lei'ataua

The Director General Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Kosi Latu's response to COP26, more pledges and promises without real action. Also, a small New Zealand emergency medical and logistics team has gone to Bougainville to help with a surge of Covid cases.

Buka Hospital, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.

Buka Hospital, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

Susana Lei'ataua is RNZ Pacific's news editor

10:05 Gone Bush: Walking New Zealand's backcountry 

Paul Kilgour has probably visited more huts than anyone else in New Zealand. He's a wanderer, a long-distance tramper and one of New Zealand's most famous hutbaggers, although he shies away from the term. Paul has visited over 1200 huts in New Zealand - not a bad feat, considering there are only supposed to be 900 DOC huts nationwide. His book Gone Bush: A Life in the Backcountry and Beyond has just been released. It's a memoir of a lifetime walking New Zealand's backcountry and tells stories of the eccentric characters he's met along the way and the huts he's visited. He speaks to Kathryn about some of his most unforgettable journeys, including his 'long walk home', from Fiordland to Golden Bay. 

10:35 Unity Book review: 12 Bytes: How We Got Here. Where We Might Go Next by Jeanette Winterson

No caption

Photo: Jonathan Cape

Ash Davida Jane from Unity Books Wellington reviews 12 Bytes: How We Got Here. Where We Might Go Next by Jeanette Winterson, published by Jonathan Cape

10:45 The Reading

11:05 Music reviewer Grant Smithies​

GS 19/11

Photo: album covers

The late '60s was a golden period for Latin soul records in New York City, and Grant says some of the best feature on the recently repressed Soul of Spanish Harlem double LP. We'll hear two key tracks from that today, alongside a new single from Christchurch musician Blair Parkes and a dusty classic from Bronx hip hop duo, EPMD.

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman - rugby, cricket & more

Ireland's James Lowe scores the opening try despite Jordie Barrett.

Photo: Photosport / Dan Sheridan

With the last test of the year for the All Blacks and the Black Ferns, Sam discusses whether they can  turn around their form to send out 2021 on a high - and will it be enough?. And the Black Caps move on from World Cup disappointment straight into one of cricket's toughest tours.

11:45 The week that was

Comedians Te Radar and Michele A'Court bring a few laughs.