Afternoons for Wednesday 13 March 2024

 

1:15 Big Dig Excavator Competition marks 30 years this weekend

Big Dig Energy - the National Excavator Operator Competition - is described as the heavy metal showdown not to be missed.

This Friday and Saturday marks the 30th anniversary of the competition and will see digger drivers not only shifting dirt, but throwing snags on the barbie.

Greg Lumsden is the competition organiser and has been around since its inception - in 1994. He speaks to Jesse.

1:25 Decision to stop 'calling the bar' extremely dangerous

Bay of Plenty Regional Council's decision to stop "calling the bar" will cost lives, says Whakatāne Sport Fishing Club president Heyden Johnston.

Regional council harbourmaster Jon Peters said skippers are best placed to decide whether to cross the bar on the river entrance.  

But fishing club president Johnston, who has been on the water in Whakatāne for 40 years, is concerned.

He says the regional council is relinquishing liability when it should be leading the way with a safety first approach.

1:35 The potential for more species to inhabit Antarctica, new research

Researchers at the University of Otago have discovered an increase in pockets of open water on the continent, which could mean coastal plants and animals could eventually establish there.

They were there to try and understand where open water might allow coastal species to settle in the future, but say the dramatic increases they saw in these pockets was unexpected.

Research Fellow Dr Grant Duffy led the team, and says they're not sure exact what is driving the increase, but that the ecological implications could be huge.

Senior author on the study Professor Ceridwen Fraser from the university's Department of Marine Science speaks to Jesse.

1:45 Heading Off: Cycle trails with Janet Purdey

For this week's Heading Off travel fun feature we're going to take a closer look at New Zealand's great cycle trails.

If you're someone who's been keen to jump on a bike and check them out but maybe isn't sure how to plan and prepare for a long ride, or how to choose the right trail to start with.

We've got a great guide on what to do with general manager Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails, Janet Purdey.

2.12 Podcast Critic: Ximena Smith

Today Ximena talks to Jesse about Black Box, a new series from The Guardian and Runaway Princesses, which has joined the New Yorker's stable of long-form audio.

2:20 Collectors corner: Vintage radio collection

A long time fascination with radios that has given rise to a museum, specifically Whanganui Vintage Radio Museum

Graham Hawtree's dedication to buying, repairing, and revitalising old radios has seen him amass a collection that is the envy of other enthusiasts.

Graham talks to Jesse about his impressive collection.

2:30 Bookmarks with Marama T-Pole

There was one Pacific student enrolled in Christchurch's Broadcasting School in the class of 1995.

Now she's on the radio, she's on TV screens, and if there's a festival going down, she'll be decked out in her titi - Tuvuluan dance skirt.

She brings the heart to Afternoons, presenter and journalist - Marama T-Pole.

3:10 Jazz guitarist David Becker in Aotearoa

When most teenagers his age were playing Hendrix and Led Zepplin, David Becker only wanted to play jazz guitar.

It's a decision that's taken him to the stars. Becker is an award-winning, Grammy and Emmy nominated jazz guitarist and composer whose played the likes of Miles Davis and Chick Corea.

His latest project with the Space Channel is trip around the solar system with music for each planet. David Becker is in New Zealand to take audiences on that journey too.

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

Coming up on Our Changing World, the next episode in the new collaboration with New Zealand Geographic called Voice of Tangaroa.

This week, Kate Evans learns about a business growing whitebait in tanks in Bluff.

3:45 The pre-Panel