RNZ: Sunday Morning

Baroness Stern of Vauxhall is one of the world's best known justice and prison reformers. She is primarily involved in reform on a global scale - currently a Member of the Advisory Council, ILANUD (United Nations Latin American Institute for Crime Prevention and the Treatment of Offenders); and Honorary Secretary-general, Penal Reform International; she was formerly a board member, Association for Prevention of Torture, Geneva 1993-2000; and Vice-president, Comité de Soutien, Français Incarcérés au Loin (FIL) 2001-07. She talks to Chris about progress to recognise the human rights of prisoners, and the vital role of prison staff and the wider community in prisoner rehabilitation.

Local tourism operators attempt to capitalise on the anticipated flow of Hobbit focused tourists.

Mai Chen, along with her former partner in law Sir Geoffrey Palmer, is widely credited with setting up the country's first US-style public law firm - Chen Palmer. So what drives this most driven of professional lobbyists? Chris Laidlaw talks to Mai Chen about her life and influences.

James McCormick, Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at Iowa State University, talks to Chris about the implications of the US election on American foreign policy in general and for the Asia-Pacific region in particular - and how current economic conditions in America will affect foreign policy in the immediate future.

The BBC's boss carries the can for failures of its journalism - and Radio New Zealand's boss on where the buck stops here; an American scholar and broadcaster on media as a force for bad and good; radio under the radar - volunteer broadcasters filling big gaps on access radio in Otago.

Distinguished Professor Greg Duncan, from the University of California, has spent three decades researching childhood poverty. He studies the long-term impact of childhood poverty, investing in preschool programmes, the relationship between early experiences and success at school, and how rising inequality affects children's life chances. Professor Duncan is the first recipient of the newly established Sir Frank Holmes Visiting Fellowship in Policy Studies at Victoria University.

The Mediawatch team runs through listeners' queries and comments and updates recent stories from the programme. This month: Blogging and busking; the blogger who's helming Truth; figures for the film industry challenged; the PM's off-colour off-the-cuff gags; criticisms of coverage of the arts; are our media still sexist?

Wayne Brittenden has been Radio New Zealand's correspondent in several capital cities over the years. Each week he gives fresh insights into a wide variety of topics of national and international concern, followed by Chris Laidlaw's discussion of the issue with guests. Today - magazines, newspaper supplements and the broadcast media are a bombardment of gardening information this month. Wayne takes an offbeat political look at what's growing, with the help of two guests. Glenn Stewart is Professor of Urban Ecology at Lincoln University, and Professor Daniel Pick's interests in both history and psychology are equally reflected in his highly-acclaimed recent book, The Pursuit of the Nazi Mind.

The impact of workplace health and safety deregulation is explored following the release of the report of the Pike River Commission of Inquiry.

Today, after Obama's win, Jon and Chris discuss what the president has achieved in four years, what he faces in Washington, what message the election result sends, and what now for the Republican party?

Next weekend will see dozens of young innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists descend on Wellington for the Festival for the Future. Ideas talks to four of the festival's speakers.

Francis Etienne is France's Ambassador to New Zealand and he joins Chris in the studio to talk about his country's first six months under President François Hollande, including economic strategy, foreign relations, marriage equality, and the bilateral relationship with this country.

Off-the-cuff comments put the PM in the spotlight; coverage of the death of leading lawyer Greg King - and the front page focus on other lawyers; public radio under the radar on the nation's Access stations.

Christian Karlson Stead, ONZ, CBE, usually known as Karl, has been publishing poetry, novels, essays and literary criticism for more than 50 years and is one of New Zealand's leading literary figures. He talks to Chris about his new novel, Risk - a story that draws on world events from post 9/11 through to the eve of the global financial crisis.

Todd Niall explores proposals to alleviate Auckland's housing problems.