WEEK 4: Saturday 23 January - Friday 29 January 2010

Local - The Good Word; Saturday 23 January, 9.10pm: New Zealand's most popular television book show, The Good Word, returns to TVNZ 7 with its lively mix of reviews, views and stories from the world of books.

The series stars novelist Emily Perkins (in the studio) and columnist Finlay Macdonald (in the field), along with an almost all-new all-star panel. Joining comic Te Radar on The Good Word panel are newcomers, actor Jennifer Ward-Lealand, columnist Steve Braunias, One News presenter Miriama Kamo, journalist Gordon McLauchlan and - in what may be a worldwide book show first - the country's Chief Censor, Bill Hastings. The Good Word is an innovative mix of both studio and documentary elements. In the studio, the award-winning Perkins leads the panel in reviewing a book of the week, then brings in a special guest to talk about his or her favourite book. In the new series, guests include writer Kate De Goldi, musicians James (Lawrence Arabia) Milne and Dave Dobbyn, legendary cook Alison Holst and gardening guru Lynda Hallinan. Filmed in the field each week is a visit with a real-life book club, and Macdonald's documentary series Under the Covers which, in each show, uncovers the story behind a famous New Zealand book. Tonight's episode launches with presenter Emily Perkins and panellists Te Radar, Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Gordon McLauchlan discussing book of the week, The Man in the Shed, by Lloyd Jones. Writer Kate De Goldi reveals her favourite book, and Finlay Macdonald investigates the story behind '70s book, Bullshit & Jellybeans, by Tim Shadbolt.

WORLD'S BEST - Doco Of The Week: Lost In Palm Oil; Wednesday 27 January, 7.10pm: Palm oil, used to produce biofuel, is being billed as a sustainable solution to the world's energy problems, but does palm oil deserve its 'green' reputation? This week's TVNZ 7 doco of the week, Lost In Palm Oil, investigates how palm oil cultivation is contributing to global warming.

According to an EU directive, by 2030 all petrol must contain at least 20% biofuel. This documentary reveals the indigenous tribes being forced from their land, and their water supplies and rainforests being polluted by this rapacious palm oil industry. Every day, thousands of hectares of rainforest in Sumatra are cleared to make way for palm oil plantations. International investors plan on turning an area the size of the United Kingdom into palm oil monocultures which pains the inhabitants of the land. "Stop chopping down our forest. We can't allow them to cut another tree," laments Din Perulak, head of the Orang Rimba tribe. "The forest which sustained us has completely disappeared." The destruction of the rainforests is an environmental disaster that scientists believe is irreversible. But it is not the only environmental problem caused by palm oil monocultures. Phosphates from fertilisers leach into rivers and lakes, polluting the water supply and making it impossible to grow anything else. Endangered animals like orang-utans are losing their last remaining habitats, and toxic pesticides used on the plantations have been linked with the deaths of a million people worldwide. For the foreign investors, backed by EU subsidies, there is a fortune to be made from this green gold. It is the people of Sumatra who stand to lose everything.

Local - Back Benches Summer Tour; Wednesday 27 January, 9.10pm: Back Benches, New Zealand's one and only pub politics show, hits the road and heads to the beach every Wednesday evening over summer.

The Back Benches Summer Tour sees Wallace Chapman and guests head to the regions, starting at the birthplace of politics - and New Zealand's first licensed pub - in Russell, and winding down through Mangawhai, Coromandel, Tauranga, Gisborne, and Napier over December and January. Each show will be an opportunity to get out and meet the locals, and bring the Back Benches brand of live pub politics to some of the best summer spots in the country. The team will be discussing the big events of the past year, looking forward to 2010, and highlighting important local issues in each stop. Along the way they will meet local MPs, the local mayor, and the colourful personalities of each place. The Back Benches Summer Tour tonight comes to you from the Gin Trap in Napier. Confirmed as panellists for the evening are Parekura Horomia (Labour), Stuart Nash (Labour), Craig Foss (National) and Chris Tremain (National). There is an opportunity to be part of the exciting studio audience. The filming for this episode is on Sunday 24 January at 7pm. It is recommended you arrive at 6.30pm to secure your spot. If you miss this episode check your guide for extra opportunities to view. The show will also be available on line after the show has aired at www.tvnz.co.nz/backbenches.

WORLD'S BEST - The Age Of AIDS; Friday 29 January, 7.10pm

The Age Of AIDS is a powerful event documentary that unravels one of the most complex medical mysteries of our age. This four part documentary series, to play on Fridays on TVNZ 7, will ask how a simple virus has caused so much sickness and suffering for so many. It has been nearly three decades since the discovery of the global virus that has brought devastation to millions of people, and exposed the absolute best and worst of human nature. This part scientific detective story, part political thriller and part human drama, chronicles humanity's struggle to understand and defeat HIV and aids. When AIDS was first discovered, it set off a scientific race. First, to discover the identity of the deadly agent; second, to find its weaknesses; and finally, to contain and destroy this plague of the modern world. The race is tracked through this fascinating series, using a combination of archival footage, specially shot contemporary film and 'impressionistic' recreations of key scenes, together with state of the art animation to show how the virus is being attacked by new treatments, and how it resists and mutates. The series begins tonight with a prologue that reports on the extent of the AIDS epidemic today, from its origins in Africa over seventy years ago. From this vantage point follow the journey of discovery looking at the many different facets of this virus.