Nights

Eric Crampton, Chief Economist at The New Zealand Initiative joins us once again to talk about his very favourite economist, Gordon Tullock.

Making her debut as our sportscaster tonight is Dale MacDonald, Paralympic New Zealand's Para Sport Pathway Manager.

We're joined by author Bill Angus who looks at the connections between Shakespeare and the foundational soul-selling myths of blues and rock music in his new book A History of Crossroads in Early Modern Culture.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's highly anticipated meeting with US President, Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris will take place next week as Ms Ardern wraps up her 'back in business tour'. NZ Story is part of the business delegation travelling with the Prime Minister, and Anna Thomas got Chief Executive David Downs up early for a chat.

What is going on in our prison system? Nine corrections staff at Rimutaka prison including the deputy director have been suspended while an investigation is underway. Fraud and Corruption specialist Sam Labone speaks with Anna Thomas about "bent screws" and how inmates turn them. He says it can be hard for some prison officers with the pressure they're put under.

Michelle Grant, president of Structural Engineering Society of New Zealand joins us once again. She'll be bringing along Lisa Oliver, a structural engineer and sustainable design expert and the'll be looking at what The governments Building for Climate Change programme means for Structural Engineers.

It's the world's most famous flower show, and the medals have just been handed out. The Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower show is on and open to the public in London. Someone who has had and continues to have a close association with the Chelsea Flower Show is Botanist Janet Cubey, who joins us on the line from Christchurch.

Wednesday night means mid-week Mediawatch. Tonight the team look at the coverage of the Australian election, and we talk the 'c-word', Covid coverage.

The pressure is on Police to try and calm gang tension after a spate of drive-by shootings in Auckland last night.  Community leaders are concerned someone is is going to get caught in the crossfire. National Party Police spokesman Mark Mitchell joins the programme to discuss the issue.

Festival organisers, Ania Upstill and Jess Ducey give us the low-down on Wellington's inaugural Queer Arts Festival kicking off at the end of this month.