Afternoons

We're starting our show today talking politics .. and a possible plan to get an overhang. Political commentator Bryce Edwards has written a piece for his Substack, The Democracy Project, about moves to get parties more seats in Parliament without needing to actually win any more party votes. Such strategies are totally legit under MMP .. but are they ethically sound? Bryce Edwards joins Jesse to e...

Every Friday passionate conservationist Nicola Toki and Jesse chat about a critter that is endemic to our New Zealand and needs some love. This week Nicola is bringing our attention to Aotearoa's largest cuckoo - the koekoea (long-tailed cuckoo).

Here is the winning song for the 2026 Kiwi Cover Song Contest. Ese, Tara and Sophia Aumalesulu with their version of the song See What Love Can Do. Thanks to RNZ's very talented music recording engineer Andre Upton.

We had the great pleasure of announcing our winners of the Afternoons Kiwi Cover Song Contest last week. The reaction from winners Ese Aumalesulu and his daughters Tara and Sophia was amazing .. if you've missed it do go to our website .. or check out the video on RNZ on Instagram .. it's been doing some incredible numbers. The family won for their cover of the song See What Love Can Do made famou...

Shared Kitchen's Julie Biuso is with Jesse to share her recipe for asparagus. Click HERE for the recipe.

It's time for NZ Live, the best, most intimate music recording session and today we're heading to Otautahi Christchurch, where we're joined by alt pop artist Phoebe Vic.

Afternoons critic Dominic Corry joins Jesse to review: Heart of the Beast, Resident Evil and Mayday (Apple+)

Every Friday afternoon we delve into the mysterious .. the unexplained .. the stories that send a shiver down your spine. If you've got a Freaky Friday story you'd like to share please let us know on 2101 or Jesse@rnz.co.nz Today we're speaking with Helen.

Could Alzheimer's Disease become treatable and preventable? Well, a new report from Alzheimer's Disease International says after years of slow progress, clinicial trials are now on the brink of dignostic and medical breakthroughs. By 2050, the number of people living with dementia is expected to be 139 million so these breakthroughs couldn't come soon enough. To discuss the details Jesse is joined...

On Wednesday I spoke to Jessica Lockhart from Lonely Planet Oceania about Dunedin and the Waitaki making it on the travel guides' Best in Travel list for 2027. Jessica said both places showcase the 'best of the quirkiness that New Zealand has to offer' ... she made a special mention of the Royal Dunedin Museum of Natural History, which she described as a museum of curious. Bruce Mahalski is the cu...

The first Chinese dumplings sampled by most of us, in an old school Chinese takeaway shop, were usually deep fried wontons .. and according to food champion and friend of the show Connie Clarkson .. not especially Chinese. But that was in the early 1980s and since then the standard of dumplings have evolved, along with our taste buds. Tomorrow is international dumpling day .. so what better way to...

With more claims of Education Ministry staff trying to avoid Official Information Act requests ... we thought it would be good to start today's show looking into whistleblowing. If you've not kept across the story, earlier this week a video was sent to some media showing a senior education ministry manager telling staff not to mention in writing feedback about draft curriculum documents from the o...

This is Afternoons' chance to discuss the stories that have been in the headlines this week. It's a robust, good faith debate with comedian and commentator Tim Batt, Victoria University Political Scientist Dr Lara Greaves and Free Speech Union Member and screenwriter Dane Giraud.

"Who is the biggest artist ever to play in NZ" There are some big concerts coming up in NZ with major artists like Bruno Mars continuing to visit. But who is actually the biggest artist to play in NZ during their prime? Today Dr Grant Morris and Jesse look at the history.

Every couple of weeks we like to turn our attention to solving some of the world's problems - today Holly Bennett from Awhi Group is with Jesse to chat about the meteoric rise of collectables in New Zealand.

It's time for New Zealand Sporting History and today we are talking to league legend Daryl Halligan!

Let's talk relationships now, Jesse is joined by Professor Kirsty Ross from Massey University's School of Psychology If you have a tricky relationship issue you'd like some advice on - please get in touch: email is jesse@rnz.co.nz or text us on 2101. This week the pair discuss cheating in a marriage and making friends as an adult.

Here on Afternoons we love celebrating New Zealanders doing great things, like our next guest Sophie West. Sophie has just been named the winner of the 2026 James Dyson Award for her innovative design of a reusable period device. She chats to Jesse.

For the first time in over 30 years, a new major exhibition on Picasso is coming to Auckland Art Gallery. The October exhibition encompasses pivotal points throughout the artist's career, such as the Blue and Rose periods and Cubism. Here to tell us more is Sophie Matthieson, Senior Curator of International Art at Auckland Art Gallery

Today in Wellington, representatives from the five Super Rugby clubs, 26 provincial unions, NZ Maori Rugby Board and the Pasifika Rugby Council are coming together for a "Rugby Summit". Why? Well, it seems NZ Rugby has money troubles - it is carrying a structural debt of around $20 million a year, and current projections show it'll continue to lose a combined $66 million across 2027-2030. RNZ's sp...

Liz recalls her memories of meeting Kenny Everett

Kelly Gibney is with Jesse Mulligan to share this week's Easy Eats. She says tray bakes are such a weeknight win. Most of the cook time is hands-off and this one can easily go straight from the oven to the dinner table, where everyone can tuck in and serve themselves.

Heading Off is your chance to travel the world without leaving the comfort of your home. If you've got a trip you'd like to share, please do get in touch on 2101. Today we're off to Kenya!

Every Wednesday we like to find out what RNZ Podcast Our Changing World's been looking into. Host Claire Concannon is away this week so producer Ayana Piper-Healion is with us to talk sand dunes.

We saw a story in Farmers Weekly about how New Zealand's flower market could be an opportunity for farmers and growers looking to diversify and we wanted to know more. Florist Lissie Johns is the founder of Provenance Brokers, a new business dedicated to helping small growers break into the commercial market. She's with Jesse to discuss.