Sunday Morning for Sunday 24 November 2019

7:10 New Zealand teenagers among the most inactive in the world 

Kiwi teens are among the most inactive in the world, the first global ranking of the physical activity of 11-17 year olds has found, with 89% of our teens not meeting World Health Organisation exercise recommendations. And our trans-Tasman cousins fared even worse. Professor Rebecca Braham from the University of Western Australia's department of sport science, exercise and health isn't surprised by the results. 

7:21 Study casts doubt on the need for many heart procedures 

A new study out of the US suggests that stent procedures and bypass operations may not only be unnecessary for people with severe but stable heart diseases, but they could actually be causing more harm. Dr. Phil Adamson, an expert in heart failure from the University of Otago, Christchurch, offers his analysis on the findings. 

7:32 The House

A weekly digest of the events in Parliament with Daniela Maoate-Cox and Phil Smith, where today Phil recaps the week's action and tries to decipher one particular exchange during QuestionTime. 

7:45 Calling Home: Pauline Curtis-Smith in the Philippines 

Having first visited the Philippines in 2001, Ruel Foundation CEO Pauline Curtis-Smith has gone on to establish two orphanages and oversees cleft lip/palate operations for the country's most needy children in her wide-ranging role. She's Calling Home from Calapan on the island of Mindoro. 

8:10 Insight

Though a government scheme to get rid of school donations is yet to begin, schools are looking for ways to push its rules to the limit. RNZ education correspondent John Gerritsen asked principals how funding changes will affect their schools.

8:41 Worst may be yet to come in Hong Kong 

The protests have been ongoing in Hong Kong for more than six months now, and while the universities may have been cleared, and the student rioters dispersed, Chinese President Xi Jinping's troubles with the territory are far from over. Antony Dapiran is a Hong Kong-based writer and lawyer and the author of City of Protest: A Recent History of Dissent in Hong Kong. He joins the show with all the latest. 

9:06 Mediawatch

On Mediawatch with Colin Peacock: newspapers have been shrinking along with the advertising that pays the bills but one area bucking the trend is travel. Also: a new initiative to boost ads in print - and Air New Zealand’s engine trouble.

9:38 Positive spiritual well-being associated with better mental health outcomes

A symposium being held at the University of Otago, Wellington tomorrow offers a chance to tackle some of life's most fundamental questions, including the nature of reality and the meaning of life. Dr Richard Egan is one of the organisers, and says spirituality is crucial to those experiencing distress in their lives. 

9:53 New credit card scam costing Kiwis thousands

A new scam which sees small amounts (around $10-$15) deducted from credit card accounts each month -- ostensibly for things like software purchases -- before one big charge is logged, has emerged on the scene. One victim was a Sunday morning listener who had $10,500 taken from their credit card. Sean Lyons is the Director of Education & Engagement for Netsafe. He joins the show to discuss how common the scam is and how many Kiwis have been affected. 

10:06 'New Zealand's biggest danger is being swamped by China' 

Tyler Cowen is a professor of economics at George Mason University who spent a period of time in Wellington in the early 1990s, culminating in a long study of the Reserve Bank and the inflation targeting regime. He is a big supporter of immigration -- when it's done right -- but warns the New Zealand government needs to continue with its policy of not allowing China to get too much influence in this country. His joins Jim for a wide-ranging discussion, covering everything from celebrity and modern cinema to real estate costs and global inequality.  

10:40 The chart-topping Kiwi country star you probably haven't heard of 

She tops the charts in Australia, where she was recently interviewed by Alan Jones during a series of 47 radio interviews, and plays big festivals in Europe, but South Island country artist Aly Cook often struggles for recognition in her own country. She joins the show to discuss her new Christmas single and why the Australians want to adopt her. 

11:08 Having a best friend is worth over $150,000 in extra income

We all know that people with good social interactions are happier with their lives, but what if you could put a monetary value on having a best friend? Well, that's exactly what research author and professor of behavioural science Nick Powdthavee has done. And his findings might come as a bit of a surprise. 

11:25 Why you turn the radio down while trying to park your car  

Ever wondered why you instinctively turn down the radio while you're trying to park? It has to do with the demands on our ability to concentrate, and the limitations of the human brain. Dr. Simon Lilburn is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Melbourne who studies perception, memory, and decision-making using experimentation and mathematical models.

11:34 How does our genetic heritage influence our psychological traits? 

How responsible is the genetic cocktail we receive from our parents for shaping our moral compass? Genes do help to shape our behaviours, but the relationship between our genotypes and our psychological traits is complicated. Neurogeneticist Professor Kevin Mitchell from Trinity College Dublin joins the show to discuss.