RNZ: Sunday Morning

Two impressionable young ACT Party workers try to stay upbeat about the future of the Party and to think of ways to increase its support base from 0.1% to 0.3%. The sky's the limit!

Chris Prowse has followed up his Tui Award-winning 2009 album Trouble on the Waterfront with a new 'alt history' CD which takes its inspiration from John A. Lee's writings about the notorious colonial swagman Shiner Slattery. The songs and the music tell stories from those times around a century ago, about the swagmen, the gold seekers, the tricksters and the remittance men.

Arguments for intensifying the density of housing tend to fall into two categories: affordability and putting a halt to urban sprawl. Ideas talks to two architects who advocate higher density housing not just for those reasons but because they believe, if done right, it will result in more livable houses and communities. Discussions with Robert Dalziel, the co-author of A House in the City: Home Truths in Urban Architecture, and Ian Athfield, one of New Zealand's most celebrated architects.

Matthew Jockers created Godot, a computer programme that has analysed themes, styles and grammar of 3500 novels published between 1780 and 1900 and found that Jane Austen was the 'Eve' of 19th Century writing - her techniques can be identified in the works of thousands of writers who came after her.

Being fast - but wrong; The Hobbit hits the headlines again; reform of the Official Information Act; reporting the victim of a viral video; why a deadly conflict nearby is scarcely mentioned in our media.

Over the last three years the Marine Stewardship Council has been working with fishing industry companies in New Zealand to certify three major fisheries - hoki, tuna and whiting â€" and Rupert Howes was here recently to launch the new regime.

Is New Zealand cricket in crisis or is it suffering just another dip on the performance rollercoaster? After a woeful test series against South Africa and what's widely regarded as the mis-management of Ross Taylor's sacking as captain, the Black Caps hope to regain some international respect when they host England in a three-test series in March. Radio New Zealand sports reporter, Stephen Hewson considers if there is a way back for a side which has slumped so far down the test world rankings that the tour's being labelled a waste of time in some quarters.

Italians are going to the polls, with a colourful list of candidates that includes disgraced former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The 76-year-old billionaire and media tycoon is attempting a comeback in his newly-formed People of Freedom Party. Wayne looks at the present political winds in Italy that seem to be sweeping away some uncomfortable historical truths. Chris follows up with Frank Rosengarten, a New York-based retired professor of Italian studies.

Sky City's not-too-transparent tendering process leading to a deal with the Govermenment where the Casino gets more pokies and Auckland gets a new convention centre.

In his new book, The World Until Yesterday, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jared Diamond reveals how tribal societies offer a window into how our ancestors lived for millions of years and provide unique insights into human nature. He says that while the West has global dominance, it does not necessarily have the best ideas about raising children, caring for the elderly, or living well. The World Until Yesterday, by Jared Diamond, is published by Allen Lane.

Fifty years after New Zealand had its last case of wild polio the world is on the cusp of eradicating the disease for good. D'Arcy Lunn of the Global Poverty Project talks about The End of Polio Campaign; Otago University associate professor of public health Michael Baker discusses what other contagious diseases could be eradicated by vaccines; and Robert Beaglehole on the ambitious 25 by 25 campaign that aims to cut the number of deaths by non- communicable diseases by 25 percent internationally. Produced by Jeremy Rose.

Professor John Loughhead is executive director of the UK Energy Research Centre. He was in New Zealand recently to attend The Energy Conference 2013, looking at energy innovation for a sustainable society.

Slavery at sea - but not in the news; recycled rancour on the 'plastic princess'; upheaval at a big paper publisher; strange comments on our ethnic relations; why are broadcasters bothered about Twitter and Facebook?

Ornithologist Glen Chilton has been traveling the world to investigate introduced species that are creating biological devastation in their new homes. He talks to Chris about the miserable wallabies of Loch Lomond, and the plight of the sexy but dangerous Ruddy Duck. The Last Place You'd Look for a Wallaby, by Glen Chilton, is published by UQP.

Today, can character be taught? The UK Parliamentary Committee on Social Mobility is certain that it can be. Its new report proposes that character-building should be part of every school's curriculum. Wayne's far from convinced, and Chris follows up with a prominent New Zealand educationist, Dr Stuart Middleton.