Navigation for Sunday Morning

8:12 Insight: Foreign Policy Refocused

Under the National-led Government New Zealand's foreign policy has become much more commercially focused and security ties with the United States have also been strengthened. But critics question whether that is putting at risk the country's wider foreign policy interests.
Written and presented by Brent Edwards
Produced by Sally Round

8:40 Ron Palenski – History and Identity

It’s common to point to Gallipoli or the 1905 rugby tour when trying to define the beginnings of a New Zealand identity, but Ron Palenski says transplanted Britons and others turned themselves into New Zealanders – a distinct group of people with their own songs and sports, symbols and opinions, political traditions and sense of self – much earlier. Ron talks to Chris about the impact of Maori culture and influences as diverse as a standard time, the telegraph, newspapers and the meat trade, on growing a national identity.
Ron Palenski’s book, The Making of New Zealanders is published by Auckland University Press.

9:06 Mediawatch

Mediawatch this week hears about the survival struggle of the US news media from a scholar who says journalism there has never been truly profitable; and the media coverage of Owen Glenn’s big-money philanthropy. Also: why TV shows you paid for are nowhere to be found; cultural friction with the Germans; sports stars slating the media; and a truly bewildering rugby report.
Produced and presented by Colin Peacock and Jeremy Rose.

9:40 Down the List

Where does the real power in New Zealand lie? That’s right, with a bunch of bureaucrats, underlings, officials, and lowly-ranked list MPs that you and I have never heard of.  Whether it’s in sport, politics, commerce, education or the arts, the only way to find out what’s really going on in this country is by going ... Down the List. Written by Dave Armstrong and produced by Radio New Zealand’s Drama department.  Today, keep those troublemakers at school – it’s better for them – but what about the other kids, and the teachers?

9.45 Olaf Diegel – Printing in 3-D

Olaf Diegel is Professor of Mechatronics at Massey University in Auckland. He talks to Chris about 3-D printing, product development and design, smart machines and smart homes – and his own range of groovy guitars.

10:06 Ideas: Gambling – harmless flutter or community addiction?

Chris talks to David Grant, the author of “On a Roll: A History of Gambling and Lotteries in New Zealand” (Victoria University Press); and Peter Adams, a  University of Auckland associate professor of community health and the author of “Gambling, Freedom and Democracy” (Routledge, New York) tells Jeremy Rose about his concerns that the community has become addicted to the proceeds of gambling addiction.
Presented by Chris Whitta
Produced by Jeremy Rose

10.55 Today’s Track

Glen Campbell has cancelled his Australia and New Zealand shows on what’s being billed as his Goodbye Tour, because of problems with his health. Campbell, who is 76 and has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, says the long flight to our part of the world would be more than he could handle. Although his voice has been largely unaffected, he has been struggling with remembering lyrics to his songs that he has been singing for decades. Today we play a track from his most recent and final studio album. It's called A Thousand Lifetimes.

11.05 Justin Duckworth – Tending the Flock

Last month 2000 people crammed into the Cathedral of St Paul to see Justin Duckworth became the new Bishop of Wellington. Much has been made of how the new bishop, who often goes barefoot and wears his hair in dreadlocks, doesn’t fit the old image of Anglican church leaders. But it’s Justin Duckworth’s life and work that is his real story – living among marginalised people in poor communities and setting up what he describes as a contemporary monastery outside Wellington where visitors can come to find healing and peace. The diocese elected him to help the church change, and today Justin talks to Chris about his journey so far and where he thinks the church is headed.   

11.40 Musical Journeys

Chris invites listeners to have a say on this musical journey around the world. This week we're back in Memphis to sample some of that city's rich musical heritage. Our first track comes from Marc Cohn, Walking In Memphis. That's followed by a visit to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music – the Stax house bass player Duck Dunn died recently aged 70 – and we'll play one of his famous bass lines under Otis Redding’s Respect. Then we'll visit Sun studio where, in 1954, a young Elvis Presley recorded our next song, Blue Moon of Kentucky. Listener Elle from the Coromondel  requested this one.  It was the b side to the single That’s Alright Mama – Bob Dylan said, of Blue Moon of Kentucky: "When I first heard it, it was like busting outa jail. To me it was the sound of freedom. I knew from that moment on I wasn't ever going to work for anyone else." Next week we're moving on from Memphis and we're off to London for the Olympics, so we'll finish today's Musical Journey with The Clash, and London Calling.

11.55 Feedback

What the listeners have to say on today’s programme.