Afternoons

Time for Freaky Friday ... Your home for the weird, the mysterious and the unexplained. Send us stories 2101 or Jesse@rnz.co.nz Today we're going to hear from Vicky.

New Zealand's ascent in the space industry has been really exciting to watch - with a handful of homegrown companies rapidly evolving into global players. But from a geopolitical perspective, many experts are asking whether space could become the new backdrop for war, with the US and China both engaged in programmes to launch military satellites and military space infrastructure. Robin McNeill is...

A charitable trust set up to enhance the quality of life of those affected by brain cancer turns ten this month. White Matter Brain Cancer Trust was established by Christchurch surgeon James Worthington. Diagnosed with primary brain cancer in his late 40s, James saw first-hand brain cancers' impact on whanau and decided to try to do something about it. Philippa Worthington, wife of the late James...

With New Zealand's proud anti-nuclear history, talking about the use of nuclear power as an energy source can be a very touchy topic. On last night's Q & A's People's Debate, the various political party representatives were asked where they stand, with various responses. We wanted to get an expert opinion on the issue; we'd also love to know if would you ever be okay with it? Send us your thoughts...

Wallace Chapman and Jesse Mulligan star in the shortest show on radio, where they show they really can make something out of nothing, join them to be part of their delight, or to simply despair. Wallace will also preview what's on The Panel tonight.

Each week Jesse is joined by commentator and comedian Tim Batt, Victoria University's political scientist Dr Lara Greaves and screenwriter and Free Speech Union member Dane Giraud to discuss what's been in the headlines over the past week. It's a good faith, respectful and robust debate. We'd love your thoughts on it on 2101.

It's time to catch up with our house historian, Victoria University's Dr Grant Morris. Today Grant joins us from Australia so it makes sense to discuss the history of NZ's political alignment with Australia.

Time now for sporting history, the moment in the show when we celebrate our greatest athletes and sports stories. Today we're joined by former professional big wall climber Mayan Smith-Gobat. Mayan Smith-Gobat has spent most of her life pushing herself to do things that most people would consider impossible. She started out as an extreme skier, becoming New Zealand's top female in the sport before...

Okay it is time to talk relationships now, Jesse is joined by Professor Kirsty Ross from Massey University's School of Psychology Let us know if there are any topics you would like Kirsty and me to cover... you can email me at afternoons@rnz.co.nz

We're going to start today's show talking about health .. and just how reliant the public health system is on the private sector. An investigation by Michael Morrah for the New Zealand Herald has revealed that the number of private providers securing Health NZ contracts for elective surgeries has more than doubled since early last year. So is this good use of taxpayer money to get more New Zealand...

Wallace Chapman and Jesse Mulligan star in the shortest show on radio, where they show they really can make something out of nothing, join them to be part of their delight, or to simply despair. Wallace will also preview what's on The Panel tonight.

Wednesdays on Afternoons mean we chat Easy Eats with Kelly Gibney, this week she's sharing her recipe for spaghetti with olives, capers, garlic and toasted breadcrumbs. Click HERE for recipe

Time for Heading Off, our weekly travel segment where you share your adventures and hopefully inspire others to do the same! If you've got a story to share, then get in touch - 2101 or Jesse@rnz.co.nz Today we're heading to Africa, with a trip that took in Rwanda, Kenya and South Africa. It was a bucket-list adventure years in the making and included trekking through the rainforest to see mountain...

Each week we chat to RNZ podcast Our Changing World host Claire Concannon. This week Claire's going to share stories from her time with a marine ranger on a boat off Kaikoura.

Tauranga author Natalie Hampshire spent two years living with pain before discovering the cause was stage four endometriosis. She was diagnosed in 2022 - a condition estimated to affect around 120-thousand people in New Zealand. Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body. It can cause debilitating pain, heavy bleeding, infertility, and problems...

Naenae based social enterprise Free Ride is all about making cycling more equitable for all. Last Christmas, the trust gave 35 bikes away to the community. This coming Saturday 14 November, Free Ride is calling for volunteers to join for something called the Big Bike Fix Up. It's when this year's giveaway bikes will be fixed up and ready to hand out. Lily Chalmers is the founder and chairperson of...

While we are in full pre-election mode here in New Zealand - in the US it's all eyes on the mid-term elections Americans have been out in force casting their votes in an election which is being seen as s nationwide referendum on Donald Trump's Presidency Polls have indicated that the Democrats could win big and take control of both the House and the Senate, which could lead to major constraints on...

People generally fall into two camps; messy or tidy. We all know that person who can't relax until everything is in its place. And then there are the friends who can live quite happily amid piles of laundry, cluttered benches and cupboards they'd rather not open. The big question is, can a messy person become a tidy one and can a tidy person learn to live with a little mess? Dr Trevor Mazzucchelli...

We're playing You're the Judge today, this is a segment where we get your reckons on a dilemma and how it can be resolved, this week's comes from Gigi. [picture id="4JG6U7B_collage_sundaycampaigning_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Tim Batt joins Jesse to discuss what's caught his eye from the world of tech - this week he's looking at whether the AI bubble is bursting and the biggest heist in history when over USD$6billion in crypto assets stolen from Binance (a crypto exchange). [picture id="4L7MVKS_075_kokovlis_notitle230605_npG9v_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Let's talk books! Afternoons Critic Lisa Glass is with Jesse to discuss three books that consider whether people should be more selective about the information and knowledge they choose to absorb. Naomi Alderman: Don't Burn Anyone at the Stake Today Juliet Gerrard: Front Row Seat A. C. Grayling: The Challenge of the Future. [picture id="4JIKKCJ_201_Book_01_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

We speak with a local mayor about the challenges they're facing, how they're working to solve them, and what makes their community special. Today we're heading to the Waipa District in the Waikato region - where you'll find the towns of Te Awamutu and Cambridge and Mayor Mike Pettit. He joins Jesse to chat.  [picture id="4JFQX8K_Mike_Pettit_Oct_2025_png" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

If you've been following the US midterms you'll know there have been some astonishing attack ads doing the rounds, reaching some pretty new lows. Back here, the election campaign has also seen some pretty intense advertising, many of which are driven by lobby groups on both sides of the political spectrum. It got us wondering about attack ads and whether they achieve what they set out to or conver...

The West Coast township of Franz Josef is only one flood away from disaster, says one leading expert. Franz Josef, located on the Waiho River, continues to rise at around 20 centimetres per year and is changing its natural course years ahead of forecasts. Ian Fuller is spokesperson for the Waiho Technical Advisory Group - which is providing independent advice for West Coast Regional Council on the...

We often hear about the benefits of solar when it comes to saving power but turns out there could be similar savings to be made through hot water. In New Zealand, around 1.4 to 1.8 million homes have a hot water cylinder, with hot water making up about 30 percent of a household's costs, these savings could affect many of you. RNZ Money Correspondent, Susan Edmonds wrote a piece about it this morni...