Radio New Zealand National. 2015-12-03. 00:00-23:59.

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Year
2015
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274533
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Audio
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Rights Information
Year
2015
Reference
274533
Media type
Audio
Item unavailable online
Series
Radio New Zealand National. 2015--. 00:00-23:59.
Duration
24:00:00
Credits
RNZ Collection
Radio New Zealand National, Broadcaster

A 24-hour recording of Radio New Zealand National. The following rundown is sourced from the broadcaster’s website. Note some overseas/copyright restricted items may not appear in the supplied rundown:

03 December 2015

===12:04 AM. | All Night Programme===
=DESCRIPTION=

Including: 12:05 Music after Midnight; 12:30 One in Five (RNZ); 1:05 Discovery (BBC); 2:05 The Thursday Feature (RNZ); 3:05 The Conquest of Mount Cook, by Freda du Faur (4 of 5, RNZ); 3:30 NZ Books (RNZ); 5:10 Witness (BBC)

===6:00 AM. | Morning Report===
=DESCRIPTION=

RNZ's three-hour breakfast news show with news and interviews, bulletins on the hour and half-hour 6:16 and 6:50 Business News 6:18 Pacific News 6:26 Rural News 6:48 and 7:45 NZ Newspapers

=AUDIO=

06:00
Top Stories for Thursday 3 December 2015
BODY:
Teenagers at Mt Eden prison locked up for 23 hours a day -- the Ombudsman says its not good enough. The UK Parliament debates joining the airstrike campaign in Syria and melanoma patients say they are shattered they won't get the chance to try what they say is a new wonder drug.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 31'30"

06:06
Sports News for 3 December 2015
BODY:
An update from the team at RNZ Sport.
Topics: sport
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 1'58"

06:10
UK parliament debates airstrikes in Syria
BODY:
The British prime minister, David Cameron, is urging the UK parliament to approve air strikes against Islamic State in Syria.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags: UK, David Cameron, Syria, IS
Duration: 4'54"

06:15
Man on drug trial "shattered" to hear Pharmac not funding it
BODY:
A man whose melanoma disappeared after taking part in a drug trial says he's shattered to hear Pharmac won't fund the medicine.
Topics: health
Regions:
Tags: Pharmac
Duration: 2'40"

06:20
Early business news
BODY:
Our business reporter, Jonathan Mitchell, is in with the latest from the financial world.
Topics: business, economy
Regions:
Tags: markets
Duration: 2'09"

06:25
Morning Rural News for 3 December 2015
BODY:
News from the rural and farming sector.
Topics: rural, farming
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 4'07"

06:39
Report warns of fatal consequences for teenagers at Mt Eden
BODY:
The Corrections Department has been told the conditions teenage prisoners are being kept in at Mt Eden could have fatal consequences.
Topics: crime
Regions:
Tags: Mt Eden
Duration: 3'28"

06:52
NZ Refining starts up new petrol making unit at Marsden Point
BODY:
Refining New Zealand, the owner and operator of the country's only oil refinery at Marsden Point, expects its new petrol manufacturing unit to start adding to the bottom line in earnest next year.
Topics: business
Regions:
Tags: Refining New Zealand
Duration: 1'44"

06:53
NZIER economist suggests RBNZ ditches inflation targeting
BODY:
The Reserve Bank should ditch its inflation targeting monetary policy and adopt a new approach that allows it to tackle the shocks the economy faces.
Topics: business
Regions:
Tags: Reserve Bank
Duration: 2'22"

06:55
US-based drink company hopes to raise US$1.5 million
BODY:
A hydration drink company is hoping to raise one-and-a-half million US dollars by way of the first-ever convertible note offer on the New Zealand peer-to-peer equity fund raising platform, Snowball Effect.
Topics: business
Regions:
Tags: SOS Hydrate
Duration: 2'02"

06:57
Mall up for sale
BODY:
Another big Auckland shopping mall is up for sale, as the Australian-listed shopping centre company, SCentre Group, continues to sell down its New Zealand assets.
Topics: business
Regions:
Tags: SCentre Group
Duration: 51"

06:58
Morning markets for 3 December 2015
BODY:
Wall Street is fairly flat ahead of the key non-farm payrolls data at the end of the week.
Topics: business, economy
Regions:
Tags: markets
Duration: 58"

07:07
Sports News for 3 December 2015
BODY:
An update from the team at RNZ Sport.
Topics: sport
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 1'56"

07:11
Corrections Department criticised over treatment of teenagers
BODY:
The Corrections Department has been told it's putting the lives of teenage prisoners at risk by keeping them locked up for 23 hours a day in their cells at Mt Eden.
Topics: crime
Regions: Auckland Region
Tags: teenage prisoners
Duration: 4'17"

07:15
UK parliament poised to vote on airstrikes in Syria
BODY:
The British Parliament is in the middle of a fiery debate about whether or not the UK should join in air strikes against Islamic State in Syria.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags: UK, David Cameron, Syria, IS
Duration: 5'27"

07:23
Man on drug trial "shattered" to hear Pharmac not funding it
BODY:
A man whose melanoma disappeared after taking part in a drug trial says he's shattered to hear Pharmac won't fund the medicine.
Topics: health
Regions:
Tags: Pharmac
Duration: 3'17"

07:26
Five Bay of Plenty teenagers appears in court today
BODY:
Five Bay of Plenty teenagers will appear in court today charged with sexual offending against underage girls.
Topics:
Regions: Bay of Plenty
Tags: sexual offending, underage girls
Duration: 1'44"

07:28
Child sex offenders to lose right to change name
BODY:
A members bill that would prevent convicted child sex offenders from legally changing their names has passed its first reading in Parliament.
Topics: politics, law
Regions:
Tags: sex offenders
Duration: 3'13"

07:35
Gallantry Medal for NZ soldier who defended UN base
BODY:
A New Zealand soldier has been awarded the Gallantry Medal for his coolness and courage under fire while serving with a United Nations force in Southern Sudan last year.
Topics: defence force
Regions:
Tags: Gallantry Medal
Duration: 3'58"

07:39
Human Rights submission would mean everything
BODY:
A New Zealander being held in Australia says all he wants is for the authorities to treat detainees as humans.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags: Australian detention centres
Duration: 3'56"

07:43
Facebook donation massive gamechanger for philanthropy
BODY:
Could we be seeing the end of philanthropy as we know it?
Topics:
Regions:
Tags: Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg
Duration: 4'59"

07:50
$25m plan to improve South Island tourist routes
BODY:
The Transport Agency says it is to spend an extra 25 million dollars over the next three years to reduce crashes involving tourists in Otago, Southland and the West Coast.
Topics: transport
Regions:
Tags: NZTA
Duration: 4'32"

07:55
Affco Talley to head to Court of Appeal to challenge ruling
BODY:
National meat-processing company Affco Talley is to challenge an employment ruling against it in the Court of Appeal.
Topics: business
Regions:
Tags: Affco Talley
Duration: 4'24"

08:06
Sports News for 3 December 2015
BODY:
An update from the team at RNZ Sport.
Topics: sport
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 2'16"

08:11
Howard League horrified by treatment of youths at Mt Eden
BODY:
A prison reform group says keeping teenage prisoners in cells at Mount Eden prison for 23 hours a day is horrifying.
Topics: crime
Regions: Auckland Region
Tags: Mount Eden prison
Duration: 3'41"

08:14
Greens on both sides of Tasman demand answers
BODY:
Australia's Human Rights Commission is being asked to investigate the treatment of New Zealand detainees.
Topics: politics
Regions:
Tags: Australian detention centres
Duration: 4'11"

08:19
Weight gain increases risk of stillbirth and infant death-
BODY:
A new study has found weight gain between pregancies increases the risk of stillbirth and infant death.
Topics: science, health
Regions:
Tags: pregancies
Duration: 4'09"

08:24
Chris Brown's NZ cancellation disappoints
BODY:
New Zealand will be missing out on now American hip hop artist Chris Brown who has cancelled his trip.
Topics: music
Regions:
Tags: Chris Brown
Duration: 3'33"

08:27
Pistorius about to hear if conviction will be changed to murder
BODY:
Tomorrow the Supreme Appeal Court of South Africa will tell athlete Oscar Pistorius if his conviction for killing Reeva Steenkamp will be upgraded from manslaughter to murder.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags: Oscar Pistorius, South Africa
Duration: 2'31"

08:30
Markets Update for 3 December 2015
BODY:
A brief update of movements in the financial sector.
Topics: business, economy
Regions:
Tags: markets
Duration: 1'03"

08:37
New bill to stop sex offenders from changing their names
BODY:
A new bill to stop child sex offenders from legally changing their names is being viewed as a waste of time.
Topics: law, politics
Regions:
Tags: sex offenders
Duration: 4'04"

08:40
Shooting rampage in San Bernadino
BODY:
News is coming in from the United States of a shooting rampage in San Bernadino. With the latest our US correspondent Simon Marks
Topics:
Regions:
Tags: US, shooting
Duration: 5'16"

08:46
Civilians shot in West Papua
BODY:
Reports are emerging from Indonesia's Papua region that up to four civilians were shot dead by police and military on West Papuan Flag Day.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags: Indonesia
Duration: 3'06"

08:49
Residents divided over runway extension
BODY:
Wellington's residents are divided over the proposed 300-million dollar extension to their airport.
Topics: transport
Regions: Wellington Region
Tags: airport, runway
Duration: 3'31"

08:54
Queenstown set to get its first set of traffic lights
BODY:
Queenstown is about to get its first traffic lights.
Topics: transport
Regions: Otago
Tags: Queenstown, traffic lights
Duration: 2'46"

08:57
Mein Kampf is being published for first time since WW2
BODY:
Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf is going to be published in Germany for the first time since the Second World War.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags: Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler, Germany
Duration: 2'15"

=SHOW NOTES=

===9:06 AM. | Nine To Noon===
=DESCRIPTION=

Current affairs and topics of interest, including: 10:45 The Reading: Chappy, by Patricia Grace, told by Jim Moriarty and Simon Leary (2 of 12, RNZ)

=AUDIO=

09:08
New funding regime needed for revolutionary cancer drugs
BODY:
The country's top cancer research organisation says a new drug funding regime is needed to pay for a new generation of drugs which are revolutionising cancer therapy. Pharmac's clinical advisory committee has given one of those new drugs, Pembro-lizumab - also known as Keytruda - a low funding priority, saying it cannot justify the $30 million yearly cost without more evidence of its benefits. Keytruda is used to treat advanced melanoma - New Zealand's second most common cancer, which kills 350 people a year.
Topics: health
Regions:
Tags: Pharmac, cancer, melanoma
Duration: 27'19"

09:35
Call for review of civil justice system
BODY:
A new study on those who represent themselves in civil court has found the system works against them, and they can face prejudice from judges and lawyers. Bridgette Toy-Cronin is a former lawyer whose PhD thesis at the University of Otago, has looked into the experience of litigants who forgo a lawyer in civil cases in the family, districts and high courts. She says a lack of money to hire a lawyer is not the only reason, with previous negative experiences or a belief lawyers are uncessesary, among decisions to self-represent.Ms Toy-Cronin says while judges and court staff want to maintain the appearance that courts are accessible to ordinary people, much more needs to be done for this to be a reality - and a review of the civil legal system is needed.
Topics: law
Regions:
Tags: law, legal, civil, self-represent, litigate in person, LiP, Bridgette Toy-Cronin, Otago University
Duration: 9'07"

09:48
Dame Ann Leslie from the UK
BODY:
UK Parliament debates bombing Syria. Fairy lights interfering with Christmas?
Topics:
Regions:
Tags: UK
Duration: 11'20"

10:07
Robert Penn: The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees
BODY:
Robert Penn cut down an ash tree to see how many things could be made from it. After all, ash is the tree we have made the greatest and most varied use of over the course of human history. His book, The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees chronicles his journey from Wales across Europe and Ireland to the USA, where he discovered the ancient skills and knowledge of the properties of ash, developed over millennia are far from dead - with people still making everything from wheels and arrows to furniture and baseball bats.
EXTENDED BODY:
Robert Penn cut down an ash tree to see how many things could be made from it. After all, ash is the tree we have made the greatest and most varied use of over the course of human history. His book The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees chronicles his journey from Wales across Europe and Ireland to the USA, where he discovered the ancient skills and knowledge of the properties of ash, developed over millennia, are far from dead – with people still making everything from wheels and arrows to furniture and baseball bats.
Topics: author interview
Regions:
Tags: Rob Penn, trees, Ash tree
Duration: 23'21"

10:30
Department of Corrections on 23 hour lockup of youth prisoners at Mt Eden
BODY:
The Department of Corrections is responding to criticism from the Ombudsman's Office that it's putting the lives of teenage prisoners at risk by keeping them locked up for 23 hours a day in their cells at Mt Eden. Prison inspections carried out by the Ombudsman have revealed about 70 teenagers are being held among adult prisoners and are allowed out of their cells for only about an hour a day. When the Ombudsman's prison inspector went to Mt Eden in April last year there were 18 and 19 year olds being held in cells for 19 hours a day. Corrections was told by the Ombudsman then that changes were needed but the Department said it wouldn't consider a special youth facility in the prison as the young prisoner population was expected to decrease. The Ombudsman says young people in detention are extremely vulnerable and a lack of environmental stimulation and social isolation can be extremely distressing and potentially fatal. Jeanette Burns is the Department of Corrections' Northern Regional Commissioner.
Topics: crime
Regions: Auckland Region
Tags: Mt Eden prison
Duration: 9'27"

10:39
Book Review: Road from Rosehall by Mike Munro
BODY:
Reviewed by Gyles Beckford, published by Ngaio Press.
Topics: books
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 4'22"

11:06
New technology with Sarah Putt
BODY:
Connected toys. Raspberry Pi Zero. Unicorns - are they endangered?
Topics: technology
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 14'16"

11:25
Sarb Johal - When parents and their adult children fall out
BODY:
Clinical and health psychologist Sarb Johal, and Associate Professor at Massey University discusses how families can try to heal rifts.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags: parenting, Sarb Johal, fractures in families, drifting apart
Duration: 23'06"

11:50
Lara Strongman: Viewing
BODY:
Lara discusses the documentary The Art of Recovery by Peter Young.
Topics: arts, media
Regions:
Tags: documentary
Duration: 9'34"

=SHOW NOTES=

09:05 Pharmac gives breakthrough melanoma drug low priority
The country's top Cancer research organisation says a new drug funding regime is needed to pay for a new generation of drugs which are revolutionising cancer therapy. Pharmac's clinical advisory committee has given one of those new drugs, Pembro-lizumab - also known as Keytruda - a low funding priority, saying it cannot justify the 30 million dollar yearly cost without more evidence of its benefits. Keytruda is used to treat advanced melanoma , which is New Zealand's second most common cancer, which kills 350 people a year.
Pharmac's Director of Operations, Sarah Fitt
And Professor Rod Dunbar is the Director of the Maurice Wilkins centre of research excellence which draws together all of this country's expertise in the field of cancer therapeutics.
09:20 Call for review of civil justice system
[image:15791:third]
A new study on those who represent themselves in civil court has found the system works against them, and they can face prejudice from judges and lawyers. Bridgette Toy-Cronin is a former lawyer whose PhD thesis at the University of Otago, has looked into the experience of litigants who forgo a lawyer in civil cases in the family, districts and high courts. She says a lack of money to hire a lawyer is not the only reason, with previous negative experiences or a belief lawyers are uncessesary, among decisions to self-represent.Ms Toy-Cronin says while judges and court staff want to maintain the appearance that courts are accessible to ordinary people, much more needs to be done for this to be a reality - and a review of the civil legal system is needed.
09:45 Dame Ann Leslie from the UK
10:05 Robert Penn: The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees
Robert Penn cut down an ash tree to see how many things could be made from it. After all, ash is the tree we have made the greatest and most varied use of over the course of human history. His book, The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees chronicles his journey from Wales across Europe and Ireland to the USA, where he discovered the ancient skills and knowledge of the properties of ash, developed over millennia are far from dead - with people still making everything from wheels and arrows to furniture and baseball bats.
[gallery:1598]
1030 Department of Corrections on 23 hour lockup of youth prisoners at Mt Eden
The Department of Corrections is responding to criticism from the Ombudsman's Office that it's putting the lives of teenage prisoners at risk by keeping them locked up for 23 hours a day in their cells at Mt Eden. Prison inspections carried out by the Ombudsman have revealed about 70 teenagers are being held among adult prisoners and are allowed out of their cells for only about an hour a day. When the Ombudsman's prison inspector went to Mt Eden in April last year there were 18 and 19 year olds being held in cells for 19 hours a day. Corrections was told by the Ombudsman then that changes were needed but the Department said it wouldn't consider a special youth facility in the prison as the young prisoner population was expected to decrease. The Ombudsman says young people in detention are extremely vulnerable and a lack of environmental stimulation and social isolation can be extremely distressing and potentially fatal. Jeanette Burns is the Department of Corrections' Northern Regional Commissioner.
10:35 Book Review: Road from Rosehall by Mike Munro
Reviewed by Gyles Beckford, published by Ngaio Press
10:45 The Reading: Chappy by Patricia N Grace told by Jim Moriarty and Simon Leary (Part 2 of 12, RNZ)
11:05 New technology with Sarah Putt

Connected toys
Raspberry Pi Zero
Unicorns - are they endangered?

11:25 Sarb Johal - When parents and their adult children fall out
Clinical and health psychologist Sarb Johal, and Associate Professor at Massey University discusses how families can try to heal rifts.
11:45 Lara Strongman: Viewing
Lara discusses the documentary The Art of Recovery by Peter Young

===Noon | Midday Report===
=DESCRIPTION=

RNZ news, followed by updates and reports until 1.00pm, including: 12:16 Business News 12:26 Sport 12:34 Rural News 12:43 Worldwatch

=AUDIO=

12:00
Midday News for 3 December 2015
BODY:
A massive hunt is underway in California for gunmen reported to be armed with rifles and dressed in body armour after 14 people were shot dead at a social services centre for the disabled. And the British parliament has agreed to join the bombing campaign against Islamic State in Syria.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 15'05"

12:16
Auckland house sales fall says Barfoot &Thompson
BODY:
Auckland continues to lead the growth trend in residential building activity.
Topics: business, economy, housing
Regions: Auckland Region
Tags:
Duration: 1'19"

12:18
Chatham Rock slams EPA's action on costs, prefers to settle
BODY:
The mining exploration company, Chatham Rock Phosphate, has slamed the Environmental Protection Authority's move to make it pay some 800-thousand dollars in costs.
Topics: business, economy
Regions:
Tags: Environmental Protection Authority, Chatham Rock Phosphate
Duration: 1'41"

12:20
Reserve Bank told it's time for a new approach
BODY:
The Reserve Bank is being told it's time for a new approach to monetary policy and it should it throw out its fixation with targetting inflation.
Topics: business, economy
Regions:
Tags: Reserve Bank
Duration: 1'39"

12:24
Midday Markets for 3 December 2015
BODY:
For the latest from the markets we're joined by Don Lewthwaite at First NZ Capital
Topics: business, economy
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 2'43"

12:26
Midday Sports News for 3 December 2015
BODY:
The Breakers say they would be surprised and disappointed if any of their fans were involved in any racial abuse.
Topics: sport
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 2'20"

12:35
Midday Rural News for 3 December 2015
BODY:
News from the rural and farming sectors.
Topics: rural, farming
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 8'02"

=SHOW NOTES=

===1:06 PM. | Jesse Mulligan, 1–4pm===
=DESCRIPTION=

An upbeat mix of the curious and the compelling, ranging from the stories of the day to the great questions of our time (RNZ)

=AUDIO=

13:10
First song
BODY:
'Stealin' - Uriah Heep
Topics: music
Regions:
Tags: Uriah Heep
Duration: 7'54"

13:17
The 'Magenta Adventure' - Barbara Cuthbert
BODY:
It's bright pink, it's up for the World Architecture Awards, and the 'magenta adventure' has now opened. The official opening of the first phase of the Nelson Street Cycleway, took place at about nine o'clock this morning. Locals, politicians and bike enthusiasts flocked to catch a glimpse of the nearly two kilmoetre cycleway. One enthusiast who was there, is the Chair of Bike Auckland, Barbara Cuthbert.
Topics: transport, arts
Regions: Auckland Region
Tags: Nelson Street Cycleway, World Architecture Awards, architecture, Bike Auckland, cycling
Duration: 9'00"

13:26
GOdrone - Paul Short
BODY:
He's only 14-years-old, and he's already chasing a life-long passion. Inglewood teenager, Paul Short, has started up his own drone business. And he's recently showcased his new business at the A&P Show in Stratford.
Topics: technology, business
Regions: Taranaki
Tags: drones
Duration: 7'55"

13:34
Baked Bean Ducks - Shelley Brown
BODY:
Saving animals from traumatic situations has become a science, but one recent rescue relied on the humble baked bean can. In October, eight ducklings were rescued from a drain in Taupo, they were rasisd by a swan, and now they've just been released back into the wild. Shelley Brown is a volunteer from the Taupo Bird Rescue Trust. She was at the most unusual rescue and recovery.
Topics: environment
Regions: Waikato
Tags: Taupo, Taupo Bird Rescue Trust
Duration: 6'03"

13:40
Giant Slices of Kiwifruit - Mark Boyle
BODY:
Last month we caught up with Geoff Maber from Morrinsville, who has plans to introduce a colossal cow, to represent 'The Cream of the Country'. This week, it looks like visitors to Te Puke could be welcomed by giant slices of kiwifruit. It comes after more than 2,500 residents signed a petition, to keep the brand of 'Kiwifruit Capital of the World'. Te Puke Economic Development Group chief executive Mark Boyle is here to explain.
Topics: life and society, food
Regions: Bay of Plenty
Tags: Te Puke, kiwi fruit
Duration: 5'41"

13:46
Favourite Album
BODY:
Pageant Material - Kacey Musgraves. Chosen by John Ormond.
Topics: music
Regions:
Tags: Kacey Musgraves
Duration: 13'55"

14:09
Money with Mary Holm
BODY:
Mary explains some common scams and what to look out for in order to keep yourself safe.
Topics: economy, crime, law
Regions:
Tags: scams
Duration: 21'14"

14:44
Food - Lance Redgewell and Robin Greer
BODY:
Biodynamic winemaking with Lance Redgewell from Cambridge Road Winery in Martinborough and Robin Greer's savoury yoghurt is proving to be quite a culinary hit.
Topics: food, science
Regions: Wellington Region
Tags: yoghurt, wine
Duration: 15'54"

15:07
Masterpieces - Fiona McCabe
BODY:
Fiona McCabe is a concert pianist. She describes her favourite piece.
Topics: music
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 15'43"

15:23
The Expats - Keith Roberts
BODY:
Keith Roberts is the head of corporate development and strategy for Virgin group and commercial director of Virgin Enterprises, responsible for licencing the Virgin Brand.
Topics: life and society, business
Regions:
Tags: Keith Roberts, Virgin
Duration: 15'30"

15:47
The Panel Pre-Show for 3 December 2015
BODY:
What the world is talking about with Paul Brennan, Jim Mora and Julie Moffett.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 12'39"

21:34
Ecology in action
BODY:
Big declines in numbers of forest birds and native moths, revelations that kiore ate moa, and the discovery of Asian as well as European house mice in New Zealand are amongst the latest ecology news
EXTENDED BODY:
It’s conference time of year for scientific societies, and around the country researchers are practising their power point presentations and public speaking. I heard many interesting things at the recent New Zealand Ecological Society conference in Christchurch, which involved over 300 people and lasted for 3 days.
Two things stood out strongly for me: some sometimes disturbing long term trends in our native flora and fauna, and new takes on old rodents. We’ll get to the rats and mice later, but first – there has been some fascinating work analysing long term data sets. Interestingly some of this data has been collected almost accidentally, by students on an annual ecology field trip in one case and a single scientist in another.
Falling bird numbers
In a large Citizen Science effort, members of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand – now known as Birds NZ - collected bird records in the 1970s and again in the early 2000s, for two Atlases of Bird Distribution. Susan Walker at Landcare Research has been looking at what changed in the 25 years between the two surveys, and what she’s found has her worried.
She says that in the 1970s native birds had already disappeared from settled and productive landscapes but were still present in large numbers in native forests. Twenty five years later it’s a different story.
“What we’ve seen since the 1970s is a real emptying out of those forests. And the most striking pattern is that it’s not just any birds – it’s New Zealand’s deep endemic birds, those that are found nowhere else in the world and are in higher taxonomic levels such as orders and families. They are the biodiversity that New Zealand adds to the world.”

Kiwi, whio or blue duck, kokako and rifleman are just some of the birds that suffered significant population declines over the 25 years, and she says predators are almost certainly to blame as there has not been any significant land use change.
The other striking decline that she has found is in the wading birds, gulls and terns, in particular the endemic species that breed almost exclusively in inland South Island. She mentions dotterels, black-fronted terns and black-billed gulls in particular.
“They’re not only being hit by predators, they’re also being hit by massive scale land use change.”

These inland areas are being rapidly developed for intensive farming, and she says this makes these species of particular conservation concern as there is nowhere else for these species to move – it is not possible to relocate them to islands.
“Forests are just recovering from their last disturbance.”
Beginning in 1980, now-retired University of Auckland botanist John Ogden began taking stage 2 and 3 students to the Kaueranga Valley in the Coromandel, to teach them how to identify native plants and carry out basic vegetation monitoring. Now I know this because I’ve been one of those students! These autumn field trips have been an annual event for 35 years, and Bruce Burns and George Perry have now taken all that data and analysed how the forest has been changing. It helps to know the longer term changes that have taken place in the forest. Early Maori burnt some of the forest, and in the late 19th and early 20th century there was widespread kauri logging. Then possums arrived in the area in the 1960s, with numbers peaking around 1980.
In the 1980s there was quite a lot of kanuka and kohekohe present. Kanuka is an early successional species, and as the forest has matured it has begun to disappear, to be replaced by slower-growing climax species. But the kohekohe has also almost disappeared, and the researchers think this is due to possums, which seem to have also had a significant impact on mamaku, or black tree ferns. Kauri doesn’t seem to be regenerating, and this is puzzling the researchers.
Bruce says these are the kind of changes that always happen in forests, but are often invisible to us because of the long time frames they happen over.
“There’s a huge value in having these measurements that we return to over a long period of time.”

Forty five years of moths
Like all good field biologists, moth and butterfly expert Brian Patrick keeps detailed notebooks. Jon Sullivan at Lincoln University is involved in digitising and analysing these records, which cover 45 years, making it the longest monitoring dataset for invertebrates in New Zealand. Jon says that Brian has kept notebooks from the time of his childhood in Invercargill.
“There is no other dataset like it in New Zealand – and this is information that nobody knows.”

Jon says that overseas, where there have been people recording these kinds of things for long periods of time, there have been noticeable declines in butterfly numbers, and Brian is reporting the same thing here.
“When Brian goes out light trapping at night and records all the moths that come into the light he doesn’t see large numbers of moths like he used to.”
Jon says the analysis so far shows declines in moths in urban areas, with moths in agricultural areas either just holding their own or going down in number. On the other hand, moth numbers in remote untouched areas seem to be going up.
“All this evidence is pointing to some pretty alarming changes in our moth fauna, but until now we just haven’t had the numbers to back that up.”

Small rats eating big birds
Ancient DNA is increasingly allowing us to look back hundreds and even thousands of years to find out what species were around and what their lifestyles were. Jamie Wood from Landcare Research has previously found information about the diet of now extinct moa from their coprolites, or dried droppings, and he’s now finding even more intriguing diet information from kiore coprolites, kiore or Pacific rats of course being the first of 3 rat species to colonise New Zealand, having arrived with early Maori.
A preliminary look at a dozen rat coprolites has shown evidence of parakeet feathers, beetles and various plant material. But DNA analysis revealed something startling in one coprolite: moa DNA. The heavy-footed moa, which was a short but heavy moa, was abundant in the area that the kiore coprolites were found, with many birds nesting there, and Jamie says they are reasonably certain it shows that kiore were eating either adult birds or chicks. He says it’s difficult to discount that kiore might have been scavenging dead moa, but there is very little evidence that kiore are scavengers.
He says the idea that a small rodent like kiore might have even eaten much larger birds such as moa, and contributed to their rapid extinction after Maori arrived in New Zealand less than 800 years ago, was first suggested by the late Charles Fleming. Charles knew of evidence from several Pacific islands where kiore had killed and eaten seabirds as large as albatross, in some cases causing an annual decline of 2% in seabird numbers. This fits with recent evidence of mice on Gough and Marion islands killing and eating large numbers of seabirds.
Jamie is expecting more surprises when the DNA analyses are completed over the next few weeks.
Unexpected mice.
Kiore or Pacific rats arrived in New Zealand with Maori, while ship rats, Norway rats and mice arrived with early Europeans. Caroline King from Waikato University has been using DNA and some historical sleuthing to find out when mice arrived here and where they came from – and she’s discovered something rather surprising.
Given New Zealand’s ties with Great Britain she expected that the mice here would all be Mus musculus domesticus, the family lineage that is common in western Europe. However, recent sampling and mitochondrial DNA analysis of mice around New Zealand shows that while the European lineage is common in northern New Zealand , a south-east Asian lineage – M.m. castaneus – was common in southern New Zealand.
Caroline says that historical shipping records showed that between 1792 and 1840 there were frequent ship movements between the Bay of Islands in the north and Sydney, which would have given mice many opportunities to reach here. She suspects, however, that the south-east Asian mice more likely arrived around 1810 with sealers working in southern New Zealand. The mice may have come directly from Canton, or via Sydney, although to date there has been no evidence of the Asian family lineage in Sydney.
The European and Asia house mice do interbreed here, although Caroline says they usually appear to have Asian mothers and European fathers, and the two subspecies can also be found living in close proximity without interbreeding.
Topics: environment, science
Regions:
Tags: ecology, New Zealand Ecological Society, conference, rodents, rats, mice, birds, forests, long term trends, moa
Duration: 29'43"

=SHOW NOTES=

1:10 First Song
'Stealin' - Uriah Heep.
1:17 The 'Magenta Adventure' - Barbara Cuthbert
It's bright pink, it's up for the World Architecture Awards, and the 'magenta adventure' has now opened. The official opening of the first phase of the Nelson Street Cycleway, took place at about nine o'clock this morning. Locals, politicians and bike enthusiasts flocked to catch a glimpse of the nearly two kilmoetre cycleway. One enthusiast who was there, is the Chair of Bike Auckland, Barbara Cuthbert.
1:25 GOdrone - Paul Short
He's only 14-years-old and he's already chasing a life-long passion. Inglewood teenager, Paul Short, has started up his own drone business. And he's recently showcased his new business at the A&P Show in Stratford.
1:30 Baked Bean Ducks - Shelley Brown
Saving animals from traumatic situations has become a science but one recent rescue relied on the humble baked bean can. In October, eight ducklings were rescued from a drain in Taupo, they were raised by a swan and now they've just been released back into the wild. Shelley Brown is a volunteer from the Taupo Bird Rescue Trust. She was at the most unusual rescue and recovery.
1:40 Giant Slices of Kiwifruit - Mark Boyle
Last month we caught up with Geoff Maber from Morrinsville, who has plans to introduce a colossal cow, to represent 'The Cream of the Country'. This week, it looks like visitors to Te Puke could be welcomed by giant slices of kiwifruit. It comes after more than 2,500 residents signed a petition, to keep the brand of 'Kiwifruit Capital of the World'. Te Puke Economic Development Group chief executive Mark Boyle is here to explain.
1:40 Favourite Album
Pageant Material - Kacey Musgraves. Chosen by John Ormond of Whakamaru.
2:10 Money with Mary Holm
Mary explains some common scams and what to look out for in order to keep yourself safe.
2:20 Food Guest - Robin Greer
Robin Greer's savoury yoghurt is proving to be quite a culinary hit.
3:10 Masterpieces - Fiona McCabe
Fiona McCabe is a concert pianist. She describes her favourite piece.
3:25 The Expats - Keith Roberts
Keith Roberts is the head of corporate development and strategy for Virgin group and commercial director of Virgin Enterprises, responsible for licencing the Virgin Brand.
3:30 Our Changing World
Alison Ballance catches up on some hot-off-the-press New Zealand ecology news. There's alarming reports of large declines in native birds and moths, and an intriguing discovery that kiore - or Pacific rats - once ate moa. Talk about a little rat eating a big bird!
3:45 The Panel Pre-Show
What the world is talking about with Paul Brennan, Jim Mora and Julie Moffett.

===4:06 PM. | The Panel===
=DESCRIPTION=

An hour of discussion featuring a range of panellists from right along the opinion spectrum (RNZ)

=AUDIO=

15:47
The Panel Pre-Show for 3 December 2015
BODY:
What the world is talking about with Paul Brennan, Jim Mora and Julie Moffett.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 12'39"

16:05
The Panel with Tony Doe and Annah Stretton (Part 2)
BODY:
A new book "The Sense of Style" goes through words and phrases which are regularly misused. What the Panelists Tony Doe and Annah Stretton have been thinking about. Lawyer Kathryn Dailziel discusses the implication of the Child Sex Offender Name Change bill. Human need for safety and technology is harming nature. And Kylie Jenner has caused offence by posing in a gold wheelchair for a magazine cover.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 25'47"

16:06
The Panel with Tony Doe and Annah Stretton (Part 1)
BODY:
What the Panelists Tony Doe and Annah Stretton have been up to. Another mass shooting in the United States. This time at a California disability centre. Dr Chris Jackson of the Cancer Society talks about the impact of Pharmac deciding to not fund a new melanoma drug Keytruda. And Mark Graham of the Building Guide discusses how new affordable houses were bought then quickly sold-off at a profit.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 24'41"

16:09
The Panel Intro
BODY:
What the Panelists Tony Doe and Annah Stretton have been up to.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 4'00"

16:11
San Bernadino mass shooting
BODY:
Another mass shooting in the United States. This time at a California disability centre.
Topics: crime
Regions:
Tags: San Bernadino, shooting
Duration: 4'48"

16:16
Pharmac not funding melanoma drug
BODY:
Dr Chris Jackson of the Cancer Society talks about the impact of Pharmac deciding to not fund a new melanoma drug Keytruda.
Topics: science, health
Regions:
Tags: Keytruda, Melenoma, Cancer Society, cancer, medicine
Duration: 10'18"

16:26
Special category houses sold for huge profits
BODY:
Mark Graham of the Building Guide discusses how new affordable houses were bought then quickly sold-off at a profit.
Topics: housing, business
Regions:
Tags: Building Guide, social housing
Duration: 5'28"

16:33
Misused phrases
BODY:
A new book "The Sense of Style" goes through words and phrases which are regularly misused.
Topics: language
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 4'39"

16:39
Panel Says
BODY:
What the Panelists Tony Doe and Annah Stretton have been thinking about.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 4'25"

16:43
Child sex offender name change bill
BODY:
Lawyer Kathryn Dailziel discusses the implication of the Child Sex Offender Name Change bill.
Topics: law, identity
Regions:
Tags: Child Sex Offender Name Change bill
Duration: 6'40"

16:50
Ten threats to nature
BODY:
Human need for safety and technology is harming nature.
Topics: technology
Regions:
Tags: safety, nature
Duration: 4'52"

16:55
It is International Disabilities Day
BODY:
And that has made what Kylie Jenner did a hot button topic.Kylie Jenner from the Kardashian clan has angered disabled people by posing in a gold wheelchair for a magazine cover.
Topics: media, disability, inequality
Regions:
Tags: Kylie Jenner, International Disabilities Day
Duration: 4'39"

16:59
Christchurch rebuild
BODY:
Tony Doe's thoughts on the Christchurch rebuild
Topics: economy
Regions:
Tags: Christchurch
Duration: 26"

=SHOW NOTES=

===5:00 PM. | Checkpoint===
=DESCRIPTION=

RNZ's two-hour news and current affairs programme

=AUDIO=

17:00
Checkpoint Top Stories for Thursday 3 December 2015
BODY:
The latest investigation into the so-called Roastbusters case has found social workers initially took complaints of rape seriously but then decided the sex was consensual. And Five teenage boys with links to Opotiki College have appeared in a packed courthouse charged with sex offences against underage girls.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 22'05"

17:07
Review finds CYF failings in roastbusters case
BODY:
The latest investigation into so-called Roastbusters case has found social workers initially took complaints of rape seriously but then decided the sex was consensual.
Topics: law
Regions:
Tags: Roastbusters, Child Youth and Family
Duration: 4'47"

17:12
Five teenager boys in court over Opotiki sex offences
BODY:
Five teenage boys with links to Opotiki College have appeared in a packed courthouse charged with sex offences against underage girls.
Topics: crime, education
Regions: Bay of Plenty
Tags: Opotiki College
Duration: 2'40"

17:15
Two US shooting suspects dead
BODY:
Two suspects believed responsible for a shooting spree at a social services center in California, that's left 14 people dead, have themselves been killed by police.
Topics: crime
Regions:
Tags: USA, California, shooting, San Bernadino
Duration: 3'22"

17:18
Big fine for obstructing collapsed slide investigation
BODY:
A Waikato businessman's been fined more than 100 thousand dollars for obstructing an investigation into a big blow-up slide that collapsed with children on it.
Topics: crime, law
Regions: Waikato
Tags: safety, Masterton, Mammoth Slide
Duration: 3'48"

17:22
Serco blamed for teens locked up for 23 hours in Mt Eden
BODY:
The Corrections Department has laid the blame on the private company Serco, for teenagers held at Mt Eden Prison, being locked up for 23 hours a day.
Topics: law, business
Regions:
Tags: Corrections Department, Mt Eden prison, Serco
Duration: 3'34"

17:26
Fishing boat abuse carries on at wallet level
BODY:
Workers on foreign-owned fishing boats contracted by New Zealand companies are being forced to sign away their rights to complain about conditions.
Topics: law
Regions:
Tags: Fishing Boats, labour laws
Duration: 3'32"

17:33
Evening Business for 3 December 2015
BODY:
News from the business sector including a market report.
Topics: business, economy
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 2'06"

17:35
UK votes to authorise air strikes on Syria
BODY:
Britain's House of Commons has overwhelmingly voted to authorise air-strikes on Syria after over ten hours of debate.
Topics: conflict
Regions:
Tags: United Kingdom, Syria
Duration: 2'59"

17:39
Evidence from a woman accused for murdering her husband
BODY:
A woman accused of murdering her husband wept as she told the court she tried to push her lover away as he repeatedly stabbed him.
Topics: crime
Regions: Auckland Region
Tags: murder
Duration: 3'33"

17:43
Police officer recalls being punched in supermarket carpark
BODY:
A senior police officer has today recalled being punched in the face outside a central Wellington supermarket.
Topics: crime, law, business
Regions: Wellington Region
Tags: Chaffers New World
Duration: 1'46"

17:44
Court action over a bill for hotels and alcohol
BODY:
A mining company is accusing a state agency of asking it to pay for contractors' hotel and alcohol bills, and other unjustified costs.
Topics: law, business, environment
Regions:
Tags: Chatham Rock Phosphate, Environmental Protection Authority
Duration: 3'02"

17:47
Breakers say racial slur never happened
BODY:
The New Zealand Breakers won't apologize to the Perth Wildcats over a racial slur - saying it never happened.
Topics: sport
Regions:
Tags: The New Zealand Breakers, basketball, Perth Wildcats
Duration: 2'37"

17:53
Judge accuses police of brutality
BODY:
A North Shore man's prosecution in Queensland has become embarrassing for police who've been accused by a judge of assaulting him and ordered to pay up.
Topics: law, inequality
Regions:
Tags: Queensland, Bernadette Callaghan
Duration: 3'31"

17:56
Pink cycleway opens in central Auckland
BODY:
Auckland's most ambitious cycle project, the 15 million dollar Nelson Street Cycleway, has opened.
Topics: transport
Regions: Auckland Region
Tags: Nelson Street Cycleway, Transport Agency
Duration: 4'02"

18:06
Sports News for 3 December 2015
BODY:
An update from the team at RNZ Sport.
Topics: sport
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 3'20"

18:11
Review finds CYF failings in roastbusters case
BODY:
The latest investigation into the so-called Roastbusters case has found social workers initially took complaints of rape seriously, but then decided the sex was consensual.
Topics: law
Regions:
Tags: Child Youth and Family
Duration: 3'27"

18:14
Mass shooting at holiday party in America
BODY:
US police have just named the suspects in the latest mass shooting.
Topics: crime
Regions:
Tags: San Bernadino, California, USA, shooting
Duration: 3'56"

18:18
Murder accused admits spending son's money
BODY:
A Taranaki farmworker accused of murdering his son told police he'd spent thousands of dollars the younger man had transferred into his bank account.
Topics: crime
Regions: Taranaki
Tags: Aaron Roigard
Duration: 4'24"

18:23
MPs urged to stop shark diving before someone killed
BODY:
The Government is being urged to ban shark cage diving near Stewart Island before someone is maimed or killed by a great white shark.
Topics: environment, economy
Regions: Southland
Tags: sharks, Cage Diving, Stewart Island
Duration: 3'06"

18:26
Auckland real estate firm says prices still climbing
BODY:
Auckland's biggest real estate firm says prices are continuing to climb despite government and reserve bank measures to try to cool down the market.
Topics: housing, economy
Regions: Auckland Region
Tags: real estate
Duration: 3'29"

18:34
Farmer fined for breaking cow tails
BODY:
A Taranaki farmer has been fined 20-thousand dollars for breaking the tails on more than half the cows in his dairy herd.
Topics: crime, farming, rural
Regions: Taranaki
Tags: SPCA, animal welfare, New Plymouth
Duration: 2'45"

18:37
EPA to decide if pesticide is allowed
BODY:
The Environment Protection Authority is deciding whether a new pesticide, which could be harmful to bees, can be used in New Zealand.
Topics: environment, farming
Regions:
Tags: Environment Protection Authority, bees, pesticide
Duration: 2'44"

18:40
IS recruiters working around the clock on Facebook
BODY:
Islamic State recruiters are spending months working 24 hours a day on social media trying to convince teenagers in Western countries to join them.
Topics: conflict, internet
Regions:
Tags: Edith Cowan University, Islamic State, social media
Duration: 3'35"

18:43
Govt to redesign special education
BODY:
The government is promising a signficant redesign of special education in response to demands from more than 3-thousand parents and teachers.
Topics: politics, education
Regions:
Tags: special education
Duration: 2'30"

18:45
Experienced Maori tradies are helping the next generation
BODY:
Experienced Maori and Pasifika tradespeople are helping the next generation of apprentices.
Topics: te ao Maori
Regions:
Tags: Maori Affairs Trade Training Scheme
Duration: 3'38"

18:50
Today In Parliament for 3 December 2015 - evening edition
BODY:
Bill English steps up to answer questions about climate change on behalf of the Prime Minister - who's away in Paris for this week's United Nations Climate Change Conference; Government's Resource Management Amendment Bill passes first reading by 92 votes to 14; TVNZ bosses front up to Commerce Committee for an annual review.
Topics: politics
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 5'09"

=SHOW NOTES=

===7:06 PM. | Nights===
=DESCRIPTION=

Entertainment and information, including: 7:30 At the Movies
7:30 At the Movies with Simon Morris: Current film releases and film related topics (RNZ) 8:13 Windows on the World: International public radio features and documentaries 9:06 Our Changing World

=SHOW NOTES=

=AUDIO=

21:06
Protecting grape vines from leafroll virus
BODY:
Researchers at Plant and Food Research are developing an array of visual and molecular tools to help combat leafroll virus in grape vines
EXTENDED BODY:
The New Zealand wine industry produces hundreds of millions of litres of wine each year, has an annual turnover of more than $2 billion, and is the country’s biggest horticultural export by value. Underpinning it is more than 35,000 hectares of vineyards, planted in a range of grape varieties. And helping growers keep those grape vines in good health is a job that post-doctoral researcher Karmun Chooi at Plant and Food Research is focused on.
Karmun is researching a virus called Grapevine Leafroll associated Virus 3, or leafroll 3. Leafroll disease has been a problem in New Zealand for more than a hundred years, and it affects all varieties of grape as well as rootstocks. It is spread between grape vines by mealy bugs, small insects which chew into the leaves and transmit the virus as they do so. It can also be spread by tools used in propagation.
The virus causes visual symptoms such as downward rolling of the leaf margins, and in red varieties of grapes it causes premature reddening of the leaves. Although the leaves turn red the leaf veins remain green, which distinguishes leafroll 3 from other diseases. More importantly, it affects crop yield, causing uneven ripening, and reducing sugar content and increasing the acidity of grapes.
Controlling mealy bugs and removing infected vines are the only way of controlling the virus. This can be an expensive undertaking: in a case study from the Craggy Range vineyard, published by New Zealand wine, the cost of removing eight hectares of infected premium chardonnay vines was calculated to have a total cost (including lost production potential) of $1.3 million.
Karmun says that genetic work has shown there are at least six genetic strains of the leafroll 3 virus in New Zealand, which vary in their severity. Her current study is looking at three genetic strains of the virus in merlot, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc and pinot gris. Plant and Food is carrying out field trials in three different grape-growing locations, looking at the timing and severity of symptom development in the field, and Karmun is also working in lab.
Detection is a key part of leafroll 3 management. The virus is currently identified using an antibody-based ELISA test which identifies the virus’s distinctive coat protein. Vaughan Bell at Plant and Food Research is also developing a visual key that he hopes grape growers will be able to use in the field to quickly assess the extent of virus infestation in red grape varieties; visual assessment doesn’t work in white grape varieties. Karmun is also involved in developing new molecular tools that could be used for identification in future.
Karmun is investigating an idea called ‘mild strain cross protection’. This acts a bit like vaccination for the vines, as vines infected with a mild strain of leafroll 3 develop very few symptoms and seem to be resistant to developing the more virulent varieties of virus.
“First we need to understand what strains of virus we naturally have in the vineyards, and then we can look for a milder strain,” says Karmun. “Mild strain cross protection is one method for protecting crops but much more research is required to really understand what it might be capable of.”

This research is part of the Virus Elimination Project, a New Zealand Winegrowers' Research Project that is co-funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries (Sustainable Farming Fund).
Topics: science, rural, farming
Regions:
Tags: wine, wine industry, virus, grapes, horticulture, Plant and Food Research
Duration: 12'44"

21:20
First global assessment of soil quality
BODY:
December 5 is World Soil Day and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization is preparing for the release of the world's first report on the quality of our soils.
EXTENDED BODY:
We’re just as dependent on soils as we are on air or water.
Neil McKenzie, CSIRO

December 5 is World Soil Day and the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization is preparing for the release of the first global assessment of soil quality.
Soil scientists from around the world have come together to produce the first Status of the World Soil Resources report, a comprehensive assessment of soils and the impacts of erosion, contamination, changes in soil organic carbon, and nutrient imbalance.
Neil McKenzie, the chief research scientist at CSIRO Agriculture in Canberra, is one of the lead authors, and he says the report provides a benchmark and a call to action.
Globally things aren’t looking good for our most under-appreciated resource.
There is cause for optimism in some regions, but the overwhelming conclusion is that the majority of the world’s soil resources are in only a fair, poor or very poor condition.

The most significant threats to soil function are erosion, loss of organic carbon, and nutrient imbalance.
“The things that cause the greatest concerns are not obvious because they change very slowly. Many of the threats occur on the scale of decades. They are processes that are beyond our normal memory, but they all share a common quality in that once you know that there is a problem, it’s often too late to remedy it.”
One of the challenges is to estimate the area of arable land on the planet. “We don’t have sufficient information on the state of soils to make that assessment, but we know that many systems of land use around the world are running very inefficiently.”
For example, in many areas the gap between the current yield and potential yields is significant. “Large parts of central America, Africa and eastern Europe are in this category. All those systems can have the production of food dramatically increased.”
Even without a precise idea of how much fertile soil there is on the planet, he says he is confident that the world could feed itself even if population reaches 11 billion, as predicted for the end of this century.
To achieve that, several issues would need to be addressed, most importantly the imbalance of nutrients.
There is compelling evidence that humanity is close to the global limits for total fixation of nitrogen and regional limits for phosphorus use. We have many areas now where there is too much nutrient in the landscape, and that has significant offside impacts on rivers, coastal zones and also in greenhouse gas emissions.

In sharp contrast, he says large areas in west and east Africa, eastern Europe and central Asia have soils with insufficient nutrient loads but can’t afford the use of fertilisers. “The logistics of getting more fertiliser to areas where soils are deficient and reducing the use in areas where there is already too much is almost a central part of the challenge globally.”
Other threats to soil quality include the loss of soil organic carbon, urban spread, which leads to some of the most fertile soils being concreted over, soil acidification, compaction, contamination, rising salinity and declining biological diversity.
Among the recommendations put forward by the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils is a worldwide monitoring system "to improve our observations and forecasting for when and where soil function is being compromised".
Topics: science, environment, farming
Regions:
Tags: FAO, soils
Duration: 16'37"

21:34
Ecology in action
BODY:
Big declines in numbers of forest birds and native moths, revelations that kiore ate moa, and the discovery of Asian as well as European house mice in New Zealand are amongst the latest ecology news
EXTENDED BODY:
It’s conference time of year for scientific societies, and around the country researchers are practising their power point presentations and public speaking. I heard many interesting things at the recent New Zealand Ecological Society conference in Christchurch, which involved over 300 people and lasted for 3 days.
Two things stood out strongly for me: some sometimes disturbing long term trends in our native flora and fauna, and new takes on old rodents. We’ll get to the rats and mice later, but first – there has been some fascinating work analysing long term data sets. Interestingly some of this data has been collected almost accidentally, by students on an annual ecology field trip in one case and a single scientist in another.
Falling bird numbers
In a large Citizen Science effort, members of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand – now known as Birds NZ - collected bird records in the 1970s and again in the early 2000s, for two Atlases of Bird Distribution. Susan Walker at Landcare Research has been looking at what changed in the 25 years between the two surveys, and what she’s found has her worried.
She says that in the 1970s native birds had already disappeared from settled and productive landscapes but were still present in large numbers in native forests. Twenty five years later it’s a different story.
“What we’ve seen since the 1970s is a real emptying out of those forests. And the most striking pattern is that it’s not just any birds – it’s New Zealand’s deep endemic birds, those that are found nowhere else in the world and are in higher taxonomic levels such as orders and families. They are the biodiversity that New Zealand adds to the world.”

Kiwi, whio or blue duck, kokako and rifleman are just some of the birds that suffered significant population declines over the 25 years, and she says predators are almost certainly to blame as there has not been any significant land use change.
The other striking decline that she has found is in the wading birds, gulls and terns, in particular the endemic species that breed almost exclusively in inland South Island. She mentions dotterels, black-fronted terns and black-billed gulls in particular.
“They’re not only being hit by predators, they’re also being hit by massive scale land use change.”

These inland areas are being rapidly developed for intensive farming, and she says this makes these species of particular conservation concern as there is nowhere else for these species to move – it is not possible to relocate them to islands.
“Forests are just recovering from their last disturbance.”
Beginning in 1980, now-retired University of Auckland botanist John Ogden began taking stage 2 and 3 students to the Kaueranga Valley in the Coromandel, to teach them how to identify native plants and carry out basic vegetation monitoring. Now I know this because I’ve been one of those students! These autumn field trips have been an annual event for 35 years, and Bruce Burns and George Perry have now taken all that data and analysed how the forest has been changing. It helps to know the longer term changes that have taken place in the forest. Early Maori burnt some of the forest, and in the late 19th and early 20th century there was widespread kauri logging. Then possums arrived in the area in the 1960s, with numbers peaking around 1980.
In the 1980s there was quite a lot of kanuka and kohekohe present. Kanuka is an early successional species, and as the forest has matured it has begun to disappear, to be replaced by slower-growing climax species. But the kohekohe has also almost disappeared, and the researchers think this is due to possums, which seem to have also had a significant impact on mamaku, or black tree ferns. Kauri doesn’t seem to be regenerating, and this is puzzling the researchers.
Bruce says these are the kind of changes that always happen in forests, but are often invisible to us because of the long time frames they happen over.
“There’s a huge value in having these measurements that we return to over a long period of time.”

Forty five years of moths
Like all good field biologists, moth and butterfly expert Brian Patrick keeps detailed notebooks. Jon Sullivan at Lincoln University is involved in digitising and analysing these records, which cover 45 years, making it the longest monitoring dataset for invertebrates in New Zealand. Jon says that Brian has kept notebooks from the time of his childhood in Invercargill.
“There is no other dataset like it in New Zealand – and this is information that nobody knows.”

Jon says that overseas, where there have been people recording these kinds of things for long periods of time, there have been noticeable declines in butterfly numbers, and Brian is reporting the same thing here.
“When Brian goes out light trapping at night and records all the moths that come into the light he doesn’t see large numbers of moths like he used to.”
Jon says the analysis so far shows declines in moths in urban areas, with moths in agricultural areas either just holding their own or going down in number. On the other hand, moth numbers in remote untouched areas seem to be going up.
“All this evidence is pointing to some pretty alarming changes in our moth fauna, but until now we just haven’t had the numbers to back that up.”

Small rats eating big birds
Ancient DNA is increasingly allowing us to look back hundreds and even thousands of years to find out what species were around and what their lifestyles were. Jamie Wood from Landcare Research has previously found information about the diet of now extinct moa from their coprolites, or dried droppings, and he’s now finding even more intriguing diet information from kiore coprolites, kiore or Pacific rats of course being the first of 3 rat species to colonise New Zealand, having arrived with early Maori.
A preliminary look at a dozen rat coprolites has shown evidence of parakeet feathers, beetles and various plant material. But DNA analysis revealed something startling in one coprolite: moa DNA. The heavy-footed moa, which was a short but heavy moa, was abundant in the area that the kiore coprolites were found, with many birds nesting there, and Jamie says they are reasonably certain it shows that kiore were eating either adult birds or chicks. He says it’s difficult to discount that kiore might have been scavenging dead moa, but there is very little evidence that kiore are scavengers.
He says the idea that a small rodent like kiore might have even eaten much larger birds such as moa, and contributed to their rapid extinction after Maori arrived in New Zealand less than 800 years ago, was first suggested by the late Charles Fleming. Charles knew of evidence from several Pacific islands where kiore had killed and eaten seabirds as large as albatross, in some cases causing an annual decline of 2% in seabird numbers. This fits with recent evidence of mice on Gough and Marion islands killing and eating large numbers of seabirds.
Jamie is expecting more surprises when the DNA analyses are completed over the next few weeks.
Unexpected mice.
Kiore or Pacific rats arrived in New Zealand with Maori, while ship rats, Norway rats and mice arrived with early Europeans. Caroline King from Waikato University has been using DNA and some historical sleuthing to find out when mice arrived here and where they came from – and she’s discovered something rather surprising.
Given New Zealand’s ties with Great Britain she expected that the mice here would all be Mus musculus domesticus, the family lineage that is common in western Europe. However, recent sampling and mitochondrial DNA analysis of mice around New Zealand shows that while the European lineage is common in northern New Zealand , a south-east Asian lineage – M.m. castaneus – was common in southern New Zealand.
Caroline says that historical shipping records showed that between 1792 and 1840 there were frequent ship movements between the Bay of Islands in the north and Sydney, which would have given mice many opportunities to reach here. She suspects, however, that the south-east Asian mice more likely arrived around 1810 with sealers working in southern New Zealand. The mice may have come directly from Canton, or via Sydney, although to date there has been no evidence of the Asian family lineage in Sydney.
The European and Asia house mice do interbreed here, although Caroline says they usually appear to have Asian mothers and European fathers, and the two subspecies can also be found living in close proximity without interbreeding.
Topics: environment, science
Regions:
Tags: ecology, New Zealand Ecological Society, conference, rodents, rats, mice, birds, forests, long term trends, moa
Duration: 29'43"

9:06 Our Changing World: Science and environment news from NZ and the world (RNZ)

=AUDIO=

19:12
Saving Soil
BODY:
The pressure on soil resources (here and overseas), and strategies being put in place to best protect it - with Dr. Brent Clothier, Science Group Leader at Plant & Food Research, last years' winner of the L.I. Grange Medal for Outstanding Service to New Zealand Soil Science...
Topics: science
Regions:
Tags: soil, dirt, World Soils Day.
Duration: 20'39"

20:42
The Cultural Ambassadors - Video Games
BODY:
Birth. Movies. Death' & GamePlanet reviewer Andrew Todd on saving the planet via a myriad of gaming platforms... emergent gameplay narratives - i.e. the stories that aren't specifically designed by game developers, but arise naturally through character creation, in-game freedom, and player choices, such as in the latest edition of Fallout, Fallout 4...
Topics:
Regions:
Tags: video games, computer games.
Duration: 16'22"

20:59
Conundrum Clue 7
BODY:
Listen in tomorrow night for the answer
Topics:
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 24"

21:59
Conundrum Clue 8
BODY:
Listen in tomorrow night for the answer
Topics:
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 47"

=SHOW NOTES=

NIGHTS on RNZ National
with skipper. Bryan Crump & navigator. Robyn Rockgirl Walker
On the show tonight (Thursday)...
[image:23133:full]
7:12 SAVING SOILS
the pressure on soil resources (here and overseas), and strategies being put in place to best protect it - with Dr. Brent Clothier, Science Group Leader at Plant & Food Research, last years' winner of the L.I. Grange Medal for Outstanding Service to New Zealand Soil Science...

7:35 At the Movies
> movie reviews and film industry news with Simon Morris
8:12 Windows on the World - Greece: No Place to Die
> international public radio documentaries
8:43 The Cultural Ambassadors - VIDEO GAMES
'Birth. Movies. Death' & GamePlanet reviewer Andrew Todd on saving the planet via a myriad of gaming platforms... emergent gameplay narratives - i.e. the stories that aren't specifically designed by game developers, but arise naturally through character creation, in-game freedom, and player choices, such as in the latest edition of Fallout, Fallout 4...

roster: Kate Mead (Contemporary Classical Music); Adrian Kinnaird (Comics & Graphic Novels); Miles Buckingham (Jamaican Music); Cliff Fell (Poetry); Kirsten Zemke (Hip Hop); Andrew Todd (Video Games); Fergus Barrowman (Jazz); Leilani Unasa (Pasifika); Paul Berrington (Electronic Music); & Chris Jannides (Dance)

8:59 conundrum clue 7
9:07 Our Changing World
> science, environment and medical research in New Zealand labs and out in the field
9:59 conundrum clue 8
10:17 Late Edition
> a round up of today's RNZ News and feature interviews as well as Date Line Pacific from RNZ International
11:07 The Eleventh Hour: Music 101 pocket edition
> a condensed version of RNZ National's Music 101 with Emma Smith
... nights' time is the right time...

===10:00 PM. | Late Edition===
=DESCRIPTION=

RNZ news, including Dateline Pacific and the day's best interviews from RNZ National

===11:06 PM. | Music 101===
=DESCRIPTION=

Music, interviews, live performances, behind the scenes, industry issues, career profiles, new, back catalogue, undiscovered, greatest hits, tall tales - with a focus on NZ (RNZ)