In recent arts news, the National Theatre for Children is closing after a glorious 25 years of enthralling tamariki and ākonga around Aotearoa. The work of the theatre has brought many children their first encounter with the magic of live performance. Those that made the decision say they celebrate its legacy of supporting the creation and delivery of high-quality live theatre designed for children. However, the programme has been heavily subsidised for many years to make theatre accessible, and this model is no longer sustainable in the post-pandemic environment. To hear about the closure and what it may mean for tamariki and theatre, Frances spoke with Tim Bray, Artistic Director of Tim Bray Theatre Company and Trustee of Performing Arts and Young People Aotearoa.
Contemporary HUM was established in 2016 as the first and only platform dedicated to the discussion and documentation of Aotearoa artists abroad.
Unfortunately, in 2023 they did not receive the funding needed to operate. This means it's all hands on deck to raise $30,000 by the end of January to keep Contemporary HUM online, while they strengthen their economic model for a more sustainable and financially resilient future.
To hear more about Contemporary HUM and their boosted campaign Frances caught up with director Pauline Autet.
As Auckland Council plans to review its operating model for pool and leisure services, the Public Service Association has criticised moves to privatise management without public consultation.
Additionally, Auckland Transport has introduced a $50 fare cap for buses, ferries, and trains.
Producer Sofia spoke to counsellor Shane Henderson about both of these topics.
Morgan Seal joins us from the Lung Group from the Bioengineering Institute for Ready Steady Learn thanks to The University of Auckland. Morgan's research focuses particularly on inflammation of the lungs due to vaping and the difficulties in researching health impacts without long case studies. Additionally, Morgan discusses how mathmatical models can help map out changes in physiology amongst people who vape, particularly teenagers.
Kell and Constantine of L.A-based multi-hyphanate label Canary Sound Werk beam into the studio to chat about the label's first output, the new EP My Device from duo L.A./Berlin duo Xen Model. Check out the rest of the mahi Canary get's up to via their website and keep an ear out for further releases! In the interview, Constantine references a book on techno by DeForrest Brown Jr. a.k.a. Speaker Music.
It's time to dust off the cobwebs and get those cogs turning in your noggin 'cause Ready Steady Learn is back for 2025 thanks to Waipapa Taumata Rau - The University of Auckland. Jonny is joined by Behdad Ebrahimi of the Auckland Bioengineering Institute to chat about his work with people with a rare, and also serious, lung condition. Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, or CTEPH for short, is a debilitating condition even post-surgery. Ebrahimi's work involves building computer models of lungs tailor-made to patients' own that can predict how blood flow and pressure will change following surgical intervention. Whakarongo mai nei!
This week, Jogai and Harry chat to Dr James Cheeseman of the UoA's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences to learn more about a big scientific insight into Piha's little critters, and Harry has a report on a new not-for-profit public health model that suggests the legal sale of recreational cannabis will greatly benefit Aotearoa. 95bFM reporter Will Parsonson chats to Fossil Free UoA's Rhys Jones about divesting from fossil fuels, and our weekly Thursday feature State of the States has returned! This week, Harry chats to Nick about North Korea/US relations, and the attention-grabbing election in the state of Georgia. Andrew Little is also back for our weekly chat. All this and more on the Thursday Wire - check out the full podcast here.
With many countries pushing for progressive cannabis reform, there are calls for New Zealand to follow suit. The New Zealand Drug Foundation has released policy outlining the need to decriminalise all drugs, legalise cannabis, and regulate its market. They argue that current laws are outdated and make criminals out of drug users, when instead drug use should be treated as a health issue. Producer Reuben McLaren spoke to Ross Bell, the Executive Director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation to learn more, starting with a question regarding their proposed model.
Joel Thomas hosts The Wire with Sam Smith as producer in which:
We hear from Duncan Grieve who’s stepping down as editor of The Spinoff about why he’s making this decision and the background of the organisation.
We hear from University of Auckland Professor Janet McLean about a new book she has co-authored on the role and place of the Crown and Sovereign in New Zealand.
We get response to the controversial comments about Te Reo from Paul Moon.
We talk to Dr. Neal Curtis about how social media works as an education an information platform and what issues arise out of this model.
And we check in with SOUL to get the latest on the battle to save Ihumatao from development.
Cass and Tom from Audrey's Dance popped up to the studio to share some of their favourite influential tracks ahead of their performance at MOTH Festival this weekend. Check out their picks here and follow the My Morning Mixtape playlist here.
Kraftwerk - The Model
Todd Terje - Strandbar
William Onyeabor - Good Name
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