Saturday Morning for Saturday 8 September 2018
This Saturday Morning: Jim Mora stands in for Kim.
Jim starts the morning by discussing the pros and cons of Nelson's huge and historic day of rugby, in advance of the All Blacks match against Argentina at Trafalgar Park this evening, with deputy mayor Paul Matheson; John Tamihere explains why the expansion of Whanau Ora is central to better health outcomes for Māori; John Everiss celebrates his favourite car on International Drive your Studebaker day; author Byron Reese talks about the implications for mankind of being in the Fourth Age; education expert Nicholas Tampio on the importance of getting kids off screens and into nature; expat New Zealander Amanda Jones outlines her success in California with cannabis tea; Phillip Baker on why humans are loathe to admit their mistakes; piano superstar Richard Clayderman on why his music has enduring appeal - particularly in China; philosopher Craig Callender describes why time is not what we think it is, and actress Tandi Wright on her new drama for TVNZ called Alibi - and some of the music that moves her.
8:09 Paul Matheson - Nelson plays host to first ABs home test match of 2018
An audacious idea was hatched 18 months ago in Nelson, when city chiefs and private sector heads got together to bid for the first home All Blacks test of 2018. With a stadium that only seated 7,000 people, lots of money and work would be required to get the facilities up to standard - but they were, and this weekend (Saturday Night) sees the Pumas take on the ABS at Trafalgar Park, with plenty of other activities planned for the expected crowds during the day. Jim speaks to Nelson deputy Mayor, Paul Matheson, who has championed the plan despite some vocal opposition from ratepayers.
8:15 John Tamihere - Leading the fight on behalf of urban Māori
John Tamihere is of Ngāti Porou, Whakatōhea, Tainui, Irish and Scottish descent. He was born in Auckland as the tenth of 12 children and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from Auckland University. In 1994 he became Chief Executive of the Waipareira Trust, which provides health, social services, justice and educational services to Māori in the Auckland region. He has also served as Chairman of the NZ Māori Rugby League Board. Mr Tamihere entered Parliament in 1999 and served as a Cabinet Minister in the Labour Government from 2002 to 2004. In 2006 he returned to his position as Chief Executive of the Waipareira Trust. In this role he has commissioned a raft of research looking at the plight of urban Māori. He also regularly writes and appears as a commentator across media platforms.
8:50 John Everiss - International Drive Your Studebaker Day
Jim talks to Studebaker enthusiast John Everiss to mark International Drive Your Studebaker Day. To the Otaki-based owner of the country's first and possibly only Studebaker museum, the car, an American vehicle with a history stretching back to the 18th century, is a masterpiece of aerodynamics and reliability, despite suggestions to the contrary, and he owns 30, six of which are registered to drive on the road. The NZ Studebaker Drivers' Club, which meets twice a year, is 50 years old this year.
The Studebaker
9:04 Byron Reese - The Fourth Age
Author, inventor, entrepreneur, and self-described "eternal optimist", Texas-based Byron Reese started his first business while an undergraduate. He later founded and sold two companies: Hot Data, ultimately to Pitney Bowes; and PageWise to Demand Media. Byron currently is the publisher and CEO of Gigaom, a technology research and analysis firm helping business leaders understand the implications of emerging technologies and their impacts on business, media, and society. His latest book is about AI and is called The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity.
9:40 Nicholas Tampio - Look up from your screens
Nicholas Tampio wants children to look up from their screens and to engage in the real world. Outlining his concerns in an essay for the Aeon website, Tampio says that if the move to digital learning at school continues, children will spend much, if not most, of their waking hours in front of screens. He wants schools to instead provide children with rich experiences that engage their entire bodies. Tampio is associate professor of political science at Fordham University in New York. He is the author of Kantian Courage (2012) and Deleuze's Political Vision (2015). His latest book is Common Core: National Education Standards and the Threat to Democracy (2018).
10:04 Amanda Jones - Cannabis tea producer based in California
Expat New Zealander Amanda Jones lives in California and is the co-founder of a company called Kikoko, which produces cannabis-infused herbal teas with specific cannabinoid ratios to treat various health concerns, including insomnia and anxiety. Having studied neurophysiology at University of Auckland, Amanda spent 23 years as a travel writer and photographer before founding the company, which leads cannabis beverage sales in the State of California, which has legalised products containing THC.
10.30 Phillip Baker - The edge of reason
Aussie-based Kiwi, Phil Barker is a commentator on the life and style of Australian men. His recent column for Fairfax's Executive Style website entitled 'There's a scientific reason why people can never admit they're wrong' caught Jim's eye. In it, Barker looks at how our ability to reason has failed us, instead "we are all drenched in confirmation-bias, eagerly lapping up those views that conform with our own, and refusing to even look at an idea that conflicts with our cosy world-view". Barker has edited NW and Woman's Day magazines, and published such titles as Vogue, GQ, Delicious, InsideOut and Donna Hay. He is a consultant creative director and communications specialist, currently writing a book on "man stuff" for publisher Allen & Unwin.
10.44 Richard Clayderman - World superstar of piano
Richard Clayderman is a best-selling recording artist and concert performer. Born Philippe Pagès in 1953, he was accepted at the Conservatoire of Music, but in his late teens cast aside his classical training and turned to contemporary music. When his father became unwell, Clayderman found work as an accompanist and session musician, and was soon in demand to accompany major French stars including Michel Sardou, Thierry LeLuron and Johnny Halliday. In 1976 he was asked to record a gentle piano ballad, called Ballade pour Adeline, and, changing his name to Richard Clayderman, he went on to sell almost 150 million records worldwide in a career spanning many decades. Richard Clayderman will play New Zealand as part of his 40th Anniversary World Tour, details here.
11.04 Craig Callender - What is time?
Craig Callender is a Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the Institute for Practical Ethics at UC San Diego. Prior to that he worked in the Department of Philosophy, Logic & Scientific Method at the London School of Economics. He is the President of the Philosophy of Time Society, and studies and teaches the philosophy of science, the philosophy of physics, metaphysics, and environmental ethics. Professor Callender is a speaker at this year's Festival for the Brain on Great Barrier island, organised by the island's Rural Women branch.
11.30 Tandi Wright - Playing a detective on Alibi and spinning some tunes
Tandi Wright got her big break playing nurse Caroline Buxton on Shortland Street, she has gone on to a prolific and diverse acting career. Born in Zambia, Wright moved with her family to New Zealand as a child and studied theatre and film, scoring the coveted role of Nurse Buxton in the mid 1990s. After that, major and minor roles appeared including one of the main cast members of popular Sunday night comedy Willy Nilly. In 2011 Wright joined the ensemble for the first of three seasons on hit series Nothing Trivial. Tandi is now appearing in a TVNZ six-part web series called Alibi in which she plays a detective.
Books mentioned in this episode:
The Fourth Age
by Byron Reese
ISBN 9781501158568
Atria Books
Heke Tangata: Māori in Markets and Cities
by Brian Easton
ISBN: 978-0-947506-43-8
Oratia
What Makes Time Special?
by Craig Callender
ISBN: 9780198797302
Oxford University Press