Rnz: Smart Talk At The Auckland Museum

A panel discussion from the Auckland Museum about the city's vibrant music scene Chaired by Russell Brown, it features DJ and hip hop legend Phil Bell (aka DJ Sir Vere), along with Aotearoa musical pioneer and icon Dave Dobbyn. Rounding out the panel are AudioCulture's Creative Director and local music authority Simon Grigg, and Rachel Lang, co-creator of the iconic pop culture series Outrageous Fortune. This session, which opens the 2015 series looking at culture and history in Auckland, was recorded in August.

Russell Brown talks about activism online and on the streets with the National Director for ActionStation Marianne Elliott; the author Nicky Hager; the political commentator Matthew Hooton; and Co-Founder of RockEnrol, Laura O'Connell Rapira.

Politics, history and immigrant experience are explored by Oscar Kightley with the "godfather" of New Zealand Hip Hop Danny "Brotha D" Leaosavai'i from Dawn Raid Entertainment, acclaimed singer Annie Crummer, and activist and reggae artist Tigilau Ness.

Explorer Kevin Biggar, astrophysicist Prof. Richard Easther, designer Kate Sylvester and celestial navigator Jack Thatcher range widely over the theme of what it means to be an explorer today in this panel discussion with Jesse Mulligan.

Two university professors and two celebrity chefs discuss how New Zealand food has evolved over the past fifty years, argue about the effect of our diet on our health, and share their ideas of the national Kiwi dish with an amused and engaged audience at Auckland Museum. Featuring Al Brown, Professor Rod Jackson, Professor Grant Schofield, and Anne Thorp with Jesse Mulligan in the chair.

The goddess Aphrodite's power came from her beauty. How relevant is that in the 21st century? Join Noelle McCarthy with the curator and researcher Dr Aroha Yates-Smith, Dr Caroline Daley (Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Auckland), and Colin Mathura-Jeffree (New Zealand model, actor and television host) as they ruminate on whether in a global culture of pin-ups, hook ups and celebrity tweets, appearance is all that matters.

Filmmaker Gaylene Preston, writer Nicky Hagar, Professor Kevin Clements (Foundation Chair of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Otago) and RSA head Dr Stephen Clarke consider the place of conflict in our history and our consciousness with Wallace Chapman. A lively discussion of role of the gods Athena and Ares in our New Zealand history and culture.

Noelle McCarthy explores the theme of intoxication and the place of alcohol in our culture and lives with Pam Corkery, Norm Hewitt, Ross Bell and Yvonne Lorkin. When the god of wine Dionysus comes calling, most of us are ready. His influence is part of our history, and culture - but at what cost?

With the gods Poseidon and Tangaroa in mind, Wallace Chapman talks with marine scientists Dr Rochelle Constantine and Dr Tom Trnski, the musician Don McGlashan and the CEO of Sustainable Coastlines Sam Judd about the oceans which surround us. Among the many issues they traverse is the complex one of how we protect our marine reserves while still sustaining a fishing industry.

What would the harvest goddess Demeter make of intensive agriculture practices, increasing populations calling on decreasing food supplies and the acceleration with which the earth has warmed? Moderator Wallace Chapman puts this to his guests Professor Dame Anne Salmond, Professor Paul Tapsell, and Professor Michael Walker.

Chaired by Russell Brown, this discussion about what communication means today begins with the Greek god Hermes. It features the blogger Rosabel Tan, Judge David Harvey, and Troy Rawhiti-Forbes, Social Media Editor for the New Zealand Herald, all exploring the implications of the buzzing, constant, real-time world in which we now live.

The first of a series of panel discussions from the Auckland Museum on the theme of Gods and Men features Dita De Boni, Conrad Reyners and Dr Susan Morton. With Zeus and Hera in mind Noelle McCarthy explores what family and marriage means in 21st century Aotearoa, a place where the only thing nuclear about the family is the way that it has exploded. In a wide-ranging discussion, the group considers the impact of the Marriage Equality Bill.

Finlay Macdonald analyses contemporary manifestations of greed with academics Phoebe Fletcher, Dr Campbell Jones, and the leading financial journalist Bernard Hickey.

Comedians Ben Hurley, Irene Pink and Chris Brain along with political and social commentator Martyn (Bomber) Bradbury provide a light-hearted look at laziness in New Zealand society.

Russell Brown discusses what’s possibly the best-known of the seven deadly sins with prominent journalist David Farrier, author and blogger Emma Hart and adult shop owner Ema Lyon.

Richard Pamatatau explores our relationship with food with the Prime Minister’s science advisor Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, weight loss industry-critic Dr Andrew Dickson from Massey University and one of New Zealand’s best known authorities on local cuisine, Ray McVinnie.

Wallace Chapman looks at tall poppies and humble heroes with Independent Maori Statutory Board chief executive Brandi Hudson, journalist Gordon McLauchlan and the religious historian Dr Peter Lineham.

Finlay McDonald explores with psychologist Professor Michael Corballis, mental health expert Dr Janet Fanslow and composer Ruia Aperahama whether New Zealand is an angry society and if so, why?

Kicking off a series of lively panel discussions on the Seven Deadly Sins, theologian Sir Lloyd Geering, designer Denise L'Estrange Corbet and artist Reuben Paterson consider Envy with moderator Wallace Chapman.

Kicking off a series of lively panel discussions on the Seven Deadly Sins, theologian Sir Lloyd Geering, designer Denise L'Estrange Corbet and artist Reuben Paterson consider Envy with moderator Wallace Chapman.