Sunday Morning for Sunday 23 February 2014
8:12 Insight The Public Service – will it survive reforms?
In the last month, the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister have both confirmed that the drive under the “Better Public Services” banner will continue. The programme is one of the government’s four priorities and includes a cap on core administrative positions. The State Services Commission say the key to doing more with less lies in productivity, innovation, and increased agility to provide services. But, as Philippa Tolley has been finding out, others say public servants are now too wary to offer free and frank advice and that their democratic role is being undermined.
8:40 Debbie Bayer – The Disease of Addiction
Earlier this month Debbie Bayer wrote a blog about addiction and the death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. It was called Phillip Seymour Hoffman did not have choice or free will and neither do you. Debbie Bayer, who has worked as a psychotherapist in facilities treating addiction and is a spiritual counselor and a clinical hypnotherapist, was used to getting around 100 hits on her blog but this article has attracted 700,000 views. She talks to Richard about the addict’s brain and why it’s important to understand that addicts are sick, not bad.
9:06 Mediawatch
Mediawatch looks at a TV3 scoop revealing a conflict of interest at TVNZ, and how others with an axe to grind seized on the story. Also: How journalists responded in survey asking about their political leanings; what a buyout of our biggest commercial radio outfit might mean; and what happened when politicians were pressured to binge-drink on TV.
Produced and presented by Colin Peacock and Jeremy Rose.
9:40 Sarah Baker – Retro Style
Dr Sarah Baker is a lecturer in Culture and Context at the School of Design, Victoria University, and the author of Retro Style - Class, Gender and Design in the Home. She talks about what’s retro, what’s the attraction to retro items, who buys them and why
10:06 Martin Phillipps and that Dunedin Sound
Martin Phillipps of The Chills is one of our leading songwriters and a pioneer of what became known as the ‘Dunedin Sound’ – the sound that helped the Flying Nun label build an international reputation. As part of the Ideas series of influential New Zealanders speaking about the people who have shaped their outlook on the world, Martin talks to Richard about the artists and others who have inspired him.
11:05 Down the List
Accusations of media bias are under the spotlight in Down the List.
Down the List is written by Dave Armstrong and produced by Adam Macaulay and Duncan Smith from the RNZ Drama Department.
11:12 Sara Brodie – Tribute to Lorca
Ainadamar, Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov’s Grammy Award-winning tribute to the Spanish poet Federico García Lorca is playing as part of the New Zealand Festival. Richard talks to director Sara Brodie about the opera, and the life of the Spanish poet who was killed by Fascist forces at the start of the Spanish Civil War.
Ainadamar plays in Wellington on March 2.
11:40 Wayne Brittenden’s Counterpoint
China has expressed “extreme concern” over a report that Japan has resisted pressure to return to the US a large quantity of weapons-grade plutonium. Wayne looks at growing regional fears that Japan is planning to re-arm, and some of the little-known history of present tensions between the two countries. Richard follows up with political scientist Koichi Nakano.
Music played in this show
Artist: The Chills
Song: Molten Gold
Composer: M Phillipps
Album: single
Label: Private
Artist: Bachelorette
Song: Instructions for Insomniacs
Composer: Alpers
Album: My Electric Family
Label: Particle
Artist: Leonard Cohen
Song: Take This Waltz
Composer: Cohen
Album: I'm Your Man
Label: Columbia
Artist: John Cale
Song: Andalucia
Composer: Cale
Album: Paria 1919
Label: Warner
Artist: Velvet Underground
Song: Sunday Morning
Composer: Reid and Cale
Album: Velvet Underground & Nico
Label: Polydor