TVNZ7's blog

TVNZ 7 highlights New Zealand innovation and development throughout August with its Spotlight on Science + Technology, in association with the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST).

The month of special programming officially launches on Tuesday 3 August at the City Gallery in Wellington with the unveiling of new local television series Ever Wondered?, produced in partnership with the Royal Society of New Zealand, which, like MoRST, is concerned with promoting the importance of science and technology for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

Ever Wondered?, presented by the winner of the 2009 Prime Minister’s MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize, Dr John Watt, is set to inspire Kiwi minds and spark curiosities as Watt searches high and low for answers to today’s most challenging scientific questions.

TVNZ 7 Channel Manager, Philippa Mossman, is delighted to work with the Royal Society to bring New Zealanders unique local content which highlights the importance of science and technology to our country’s development.

“Science and technology are at the heart of everything, and Ever Wondered? is our opportunity to showcase the work of our scientists and to consider how much we value them, and what they do for our economy and lifestyle,” says Mossman.

The Royal Society of New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Dr Di McCarthy, shares this enthusiasm.

“The idea of a brand new television series on TVNZ 7 designed to excite and inform with great stories of science and technology in contemporary New Zealand is thrilling to the Royal Society of New Zealand.

“We especially want to see young New Zealanders become inspired by the fantastic array of opportunities which science and technology offer as a career. We are also looking forward to seeing the benefits of research presented in a way that makes viewers take a second look and say ‘Wow, I didn’t know that.”

TVNZ 7′s Spotlight on Science and Technology brings New Zealanders a range of programmes that provide insight into the exciting scientific developments taking place globally and locally.

These include stand-out BBC series Wonders of the Solar System and The Story of Science, the TVNZ 7 Internet Debate LIVE from Avalon Studios on Tuesday 11 August, The Good Word Debate (a spin-off of TVNZ 7 regular show The Good Word with a moot skewed to the science/technology theme), animated short-form series Science Made Simple, and special editions of TVNZ 7′s regular shows Back Benches, Talk Talk and Media7.

For more information go to www.tvnz.co.nz/spotlight . TVNZ 7 is available on Freeview/TiVo channel 7 and on SKY/Telstra channel 97.

TVNZ 7 has formed a partnership with the Royal Society of New Zealand, with the shared objective of promoting the value of science and technology to New Zealanders.  A major new commission will see a science and technology series produced for the digital channel and launched on air later in the year.

TVNZ 7 is an advertising free channel, available via both Freeview and SKY. The channel offers stimulating factual and information programmes for all New Zealanders, documentaries, current affairs and news bulletins. The schedule is made up of a mixture of local and international programmes.

The mission of the Royal Society of New Zealand is to foster in the New Zealand community a culture that supports science and technology and to promote science and technology in schools, in industry and in society.

TVNZ CEO Rick Ellis is delighted by the partnership with the Royal Society of New Zealand:

“TVNZ 7 seeks to partner with organisations with a similar interest to ours in creating genuine value for New Zealanders.  The value of applied science and technology to the New Zealand economy is significant and we’re immensely proud to be joining forces with the Royal Society of New Zealand to showcase exciting developments in this arena.

“Our purpose is to inspire New Zealanders on every screen and this partnership with the Royal Society will help us do that.”

The Royal Society of New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Dr Di McCarthy, shares this enthusiasm:

“The idea of a brand new television series on TVNZ 7 designed to excite and inform with great stories of science and technology in contemporary New Zealand is thrilling to the Royal Society of New Zealand.

“We especially want to see young New Zealanders become inspired by the fantastic array of opportunities which science and technology offer as a career. We are also looking forward to seeing the benefits of research presented in a way that makes viewers take a second look and say ‘Wow, I didn’t know that’.”

TVNZ 7 will announce details of the new series in the coming months with a plan to launch the series later in 2010.

TVNZ 7 is available on Freeview/TiVo channel 7 and on SKY/Telstra channel 97.

9:10pm Thursday, November 19 on TVNZ 7

Media7 travels to Wellington to cover the annual conference of the NZ Screen Production and Development Association.

The film and television industry is a major contributor to the New Zealand economy and faces many challenges with the economic recession and massive technological change.

Russell Brown will be talking about the road ahead with some of New Zealand’s leading film and television producers, and also interviewing some of the luminary overseas guests who are attending this most important get-together of industry players.

7:10pm Wednesday, November 18 on TVNZ 7

This documentary reports on the story of Brooksley Born, who in 1998 argued that if left unregulated, the 29 trillion dollar derivatives market would almost certainly lead to financial catastrophe.

In the devastating aftermath of the 2008 economic meltdown, many have sifted the ashes for clues about why it happened, critical moments when it might have gone much differently, and insight into how to prevent the next crisis.

The Warning looks back to tell the story of one woman’s early prediction that revealed the intense battle between high-ranking members of the Clinton Administration, and to investigate a concerted effort not to regulate the emerging, highly complex and lucrative derivatives markets.

9:35pm Saturday, November 14 on TVNZ 7

In New Artland, TVNZ 7′s crazily ambitious art series, thirteen leading artists have been handpicked to create incredible new works of art with the help of Kiwi communities.

Presenter Chris Knox follows the action and the results are surprising, inspiring and epic. Filmed from West Auckland to Central Otago, this new series of New Artland involves the artworks of farmers, flying squads, orchestras, graffiti artists, schoolkids, tattooists, knitters, BMX riders, snowballs and Westies.

In this episode of New Artland we meet iconic realist landscape painter and photographer Grahame Sydney who attempts something he’s never tried before – a posed photograph with costumed figures. First, he has to convince his poet mate Brian Turner and some other Central Otago characters to take a rough ride into a remote valley!

If you have missed an episode check your guide for extra opportunities to view. Full episodes of New Artland will also be available free online after the show has aired on TVNZ 7. Go to tvnz.co.nz/newartland and click on the ‘watch episode’ button.

9:10pm Saturday, November 14 on TVNZ 7

Famous and not-so-famous New Zealanders talking, not about what it is that makes them famous, but what it is that makes them tick – that’s the trick with Talk Talk, a glamorous-looking interview series presented by Finlay Macdonald.

With one key guest on each half-hour show, Talk Talk will go in deep, interviewing the person in the answer chair for almost 20 minutes before ending the show with a performance from a New Zealand group or musician chosen by Talk Talk’s feature guest.

This week on Talk Talk, presenter Finlay Macdonald talks to UK-based actress, playwright and novelist, Barbara Ewing. Then, a performance by The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra.

If you have missed an episode, check your guide for extra opportunities to view. Full episodes of Talk Talk will also be available free online after the show has aired on TVNZ 7. Go to tvnz.co.nz/talktalk and click on the ‘on demand’ button.

TVNZ 7’s lively political show is marking Spotlight On The Economy with a special which will lay bare the economic aims from the government representatives themselves.

Confirmed as panellists for Wednesday night are ACT MP Sir Roger Douglas, Green Party Co-Leader Russell Norman, Labour MP David Cunliffe, and National MP Aaron Gilmore.

Tune in as Wallace Chapman and the Back Benches Panel, accompanied by special guests, debate the future of New Zealand’s economy. Up for discussion on the night is unemployment – now at 6.5% how do we create jobs for the 150,000 kiwis out of work?

Charles Finny (Wellington Chamber of Commerce) will be probed on the role of businesses, while the Back Benches panel will talk about the role Government can and will play. Special guests include, Fonterra’s Global Trade Managing Director Kelvin Wickham and, Eco Store’s CEO & Founder Malcolm Rands.

Plus, what can we learn from New Zealand businesses that have been successful despite the recession.

Chapman hopes to liven up this discussion with the ministers and mavericks while rubbing shoulders with the spectators.

“There’s nothing like a bunch of MPs and a live audience all gathered around a pint to get things stirred up, which is just what we’re going to do for our Spotlight on the Economy special,” says Chapman.

This episode of Back Benches will screen live this Wednesday 11 November at 9.10pm on TVNZ 7. The show will also be available on line after the show has aired at www.tvnz.co.nz/backbenches. 

TVNZ 7 is available on Freeview Channel 7 and SKY Channel 97.

9:10pm Wednesday, November 11 on TVNZ 7

TVNZ 7′s lively political show is marking Spotlight On The Economy with an economy special which will lay bare the economic aims from the government representatives themselves.

Filmed live in the Backbencher pub across the street from Parliament, host, Wallace Chapman, will moderate the discussion from the floor of the pub, and probe a number of the key finance spokespeople, as well as the patrons, on topics which affect the everyday person.

“Back Benches will be talking with the economic experts that are really in the know about the economy – your typical punter down at the pub,” says Chapman.

Chapman hopes to liven up this discussion with the ministers and mavericks while rubbing shoulders with the spectators.

“There’s nothing like a bunch of MPs and a live audience all gathered around a pint to get things stirred up, which is just what we’re going to do for our Spotlight on the Economy special!”

On the show will be a panel of MPs weighing in on the political aspects of the story, and special guests in the audience who are members of the business community. John Key says we are out of the recession, but what does that mean? How do we begin to rebuild our economy? Build salaries? Improve businesses?

On a brighter note, the show will also look at the success stories during the recession and what they can teach us.

7:10pm Wednesday, November 11 on TVNZ 7

Plain Old Greed lays bare the background to America’s financial collapse.

Sandra Rolon is one of the hundreds of thousands who bought a house she couldn’t afford.

“They gave me a nice deal. 100% financing, 0% down payment and I went for it.”

She used to live in a friend’s basement with her baby and the temptation of easy credit was too strong.

“I told them I can’t afford this mortgage, but they made it so easy for me. It was like that nice red apple. I had to have it,” says Rolon.

Now she feels conned. Millions like Rolon were led to believe that they could create wealth. Easy credit was like a drug.

Who is responsible? How exactly did it happen? Banks made borrowing ridiculously easy in order to stack up the mortgages on their books, and were aware that most borrowers wouldn’t be able to pay them back.

In this topsy turvy world loans turned into assets. The banks then sold them to offshore companies who transformed them into investment packages, which were eventually on-sold again through Wall Street. This made huge profit for the investment houses but they may as well have been selling air.

Investigating the US financial meltdown, this documentary reveals the ruined lives, crooked banks and the stupidity that brought it all about. What was happening was obvious but Wall Street couldn’t stop itself. It’s burningly relevant and as you watch it, the current crisis begins to make horrible sense.

9:35pm Saturday, November 7 on TVNZ 7

In New Artland, TVNZ 7′s crazily ambitious art series, thirteen leading artists have been handpicked to create incredible new works of art with the help of Kiwi communities.

Presenter Chris Knox follows the action and the results are surprising, inspiring and epic. Filmed from West Auckland to Central Otago, this new series of New Artland involves the artworks of farmers, flying squads, orchestras, graffiti artists, schoolkids, tattooists, knitters, BMX riders, snowballs and Westies.

In this episode of New Artland we meet renowned sculptor Virginia King. Concerned by rising sea levels and plummeting environmental conditions, Virginia is planning to float a sculpture – and then eat it. So she’s off to Manukau City to rope the Lavalava Ladies’ Walking Group into her task.

If you have missed an episode check your guide for extra opportunities to view. Full episodes of New Artland will also be available free online after the show has aired on TVNZ 7. Go to tvnz.co.nz/newartland and click on the ‘watch episode’ button.