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Charlie Shackleton's forensic look at the true crime genre

10:05 am today

The Zodiac Killer Project premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival where it won the Next Innovator Award, and it's screening at this year's New Zealand International Film Festival. Audio

 

 

Tuesday 22 July 2025

On today’s show

09:05 Is there confusion over the role of soon to be regulated 'physician associates'?

A group of leading experts want more steps taken to keep Omicron out and prepare the country for an outbreak of the variant.

Photo: 123rf

An investigation ordered by the UK government into physician associates there has found they shouldn't diagnose and treat untriaged patients. It also recommends changing their name to "assistant"  rather than associate to stop them being confused with doctors. Four months ago the Health Minister, Simeon Brown, gave the go ahead for Physician Associates to become part of the regulated health workforce here. At the moment the PA's working here are trained in the UK or the US and work under the licence of a supervising doctor.  The New Zealand Resident Doctors' Association has backed the two main findings of the UK report, but the New Zealand Physicians Associate Society says the situation in the UK isn't applicable here. Kathryn is joined by Deborah Powell the National Secretary of the Resident Doctors Association and Lisa deWolfe the regulation chair of the New Zealand Physician Associate Society.
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09:20 Govt keen on making EV chargers smart

The Government is proposing to make it mandatory for all new electric vehicle chargers to have smart functionality, saying it would help manage capacity and reduce the need to upgrade lines. Most EVs are charged at home on a simple 3 pin plug into the wall. But that limits line companies’ control over energy draw, as they do with hot water to manage load on the network, and means households can’t charge their cars when power is cheapest.  MBIE is consulting on the proposed changes. Kathryn speaks with Drive Electric chair Kirsten Corson and Moonis Vegdani chief network and digital officer for Counties Energy the lines company for South Auckland.

Electric car charging.

Electric car charging. Photo: 123rf

09:30 A taskforce of beneficiaries to help clean up flood damage in Tasman and Marlborough

An example of some of the widespread damage to roads and infrastructure in the Nelson Tasman areas.

An example of some of the widespread damage to roads and infrastructure in the Nelson Tasman areas. Photo: Supplied/ Nick Smith

More help to deal with the damage caused by flooding in Tasman and Marlborough is about to arrive in the form of the so-called  "Enhanced Task Force Green."

The government has activated funds which means those on benefits in the area can volunteer to assist and become part of the group working to reverse some of the damage.

The Ministry for Social Development's Regional Commissioner for the area, Craig Churchill, says Enhanced Taskforce Green is entirely voluntary, but it will help those hit by flood damage and build skills for those taking part.

09:45  US correspondent Ximena Bustillo 

The latest in the Jeffrey Epstein situation as President Trump takes a defamation case against the Wall Street Journal. Harvard University's lawyers' arguments against the administration and the President's different take on the speech welcoming new citizens. 

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 12: Students walk through Harvard Yard on the campus of Harvard University on March 12, 2020 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Students have been asked to move out of their dorms by March 15 due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) risk. All classes will be moved online for the rest of the spring semester.   Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Maddie Meyer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Photo: AFP/Maddie Meyer

10:05 Charlie Shackleton's forensic look at true crime genre in his Zodiac Killer Project

Image of Charlie Shackleton and images from the movie

Photo: Supplied: Charlie Shackleton

What happens when you're all set to make a documentary about a high-profile serial killer, based on a book, written by a cop, who alleged a cover-up...and then suddenly you no longer have the rights to the story? Many filmmakers might have given up. Charlie Shackleton dug in. He was attempting to make a documentary about the Zodiac Killer, thought to be responsible for five murders in northern California in the late 1960s, who sent cryptic clues to media, taunting police. The result is Zodiac Killer Project, in which he breaks down how he would've constructed his narrative. Along the way, he deconstructs the true crime genre - investigating how crime documentaries are pulled together, the narrative tricks designed to draw viewers in and keep them watching. The film premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival where it won the Next Innovator Award, and it's screening at this year's New Zealand International Film Festival.

10:35 Book review: John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian Leslie

Photo: Faber & Faber Limited

Dean Bedford reviews John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian Leslie, published by Faber & Faber Limited.

10:45 Around the motu: Mike Tweed on Wanganui

WhANGANUI - FEB 22:The Watt Fountain in Victoria Avenue on February 22 2013 in Wanganui New Zealand.Wanganui was shortlisted as one of 21 Intelligent Communities worldwide for 2013.

Photo: 123RF

Mike discusses the on going debate  about the district's last outdoor pool, the heritage school buildings demolished to make way for health services and capping  of license numbers.

Mike Tweed is a Multimedia Journalist for the Whanganui Chronicle 

11:05 Business commentator Nicholas Pointon

Company failure rates are on the up, Nicholas explains what the reasons behind this might be. What are land lease communities? And why they work in Australia but have failed to be picked up in New Zealand. Nicholas also discusses call from iwi who want to invest in Kiwibank, and Spark's chair's long tenure is being questioned.

KIWIBANK

Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Nicholas Pointon is a senior journalist at the National Business Review.

11:30 New theatre show explores world of siblinghood from disabled perspective

An image of Pelenakeke Brown and the cast of Siblings

Photo: Supplied

Having siblings can be something joyous, comforting, frustrating and challenging - sometimes all at once. A new theatre work is looking to examine the weird and wonderful world of siblinghood - as well as what it's like when one of them is dis or differently-abled. Siblings has been three years in the making, and it features an all-disabled cast. The creators behind it are Barnie Duncan and Pelenakeke Brown, an interdisciplinary artist who spent six years studying and working in New York City.  Last year she received a Wynn Newhouse Award for artists with disabilities. She talks to Kathryn about the show's development and statement.

11:45 Sport with Marc Hinton 

A wrap of the All Blacks series against France, while the British and Irish Lions start their tour of Australia. Who is the 19-year-old turning heads at the Warriors in rugby league's NRL. Marc also discusses golf, basketball and yachting.

Brodie McAlister celebrates his try against France.

Brodie McAlister celebrates his try against France. Photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz