Afternoons

Raw sewage, dead animals, life-threatening logs are just some of the obstacles athletes worry about facing if they have to get into the water for their sport. New research from Waikato University has found climate change and the impact of extreme weather events have had a huge impact on getting young people into surfing, kayaking and waka ama. Joining us to talk about the concept of 'polluted spor...

A New Zealand author has been nominated for best short story prize at the Nebulas Awards, which are considered some of the highest honours of science fiction and fantasy writing. In being considered, author E.M. Linden joins the likes of sci-fi luminaries like JG Ballard, Harlan Ellison and Frank Herbert. E.M. Linden's offering is called 'The Tawlish Island Songbook of the Dead', to tell us more a...

Elon Musk's SpaceX is preparing to list on the electronic stock market the Nasdaq this Friday and when it does it's expected to be the largest Initial Public Offering or IPO in history. Its valuation is approaching three point one trillion New Zealand dollars (that's trillion with a T) and if that happens it would immediately rank among the world's most valuable listed companies. But it's not with...

The annual agricultural showcase opened this morning at Mystery Creek in Hamilton and it looks like it's going to be a bumper event. With the dairy sector, red meat, horticulture and wool sector all enjoying strong prices right now, the timing for Fieldays couldn't be better. More than a thousand exhibitors and vendors are there to showcase their products. Shelley Houston is the co-founder and dir...

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.

For decades, genetic testing has promised parents a way to avoid serious inherited diseases for their children. Now some Silicon Valley-backed companies are going much further, claiming they can help prospective parents not just avoid negative diseases, but choose the "best" embryo based on predicted intelligence, health, or height. Christopher Cox is a science writer for New York Magazine. He inv...

Our weekly segment where we get your help resolving a dilemma. This week we're looking at whether a couple should break up because of the man's seemingly racist dog. We'd love your thoughts, 2101 or afternoons@rnz.co.nz

Tech expert Tim Batt joins Jesse to discuss the tech issues hitting the headlines. Today he'll chat about META's smart glasses and how Bot traffic has overtaken human traffic online.

Ohakune - a once thriving railway town - known for its sweet carrots, and a base to get your ski season fix on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu. But what about the name Ohakune? What does it mean and what's the story behind it? Let's find out more with RNZ producer Justine Murray, who is back with another season of NAU MAI TOWN a podcast about Maori place names in Aotearoa.

Jenna Todd, owner of Auckland's Time Out bookstore joins Jesse to share what she's been reading.

It's time for Mayoral minutes, our regular segment where 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 Invercargill from where Mayor Tom Campbell joins Jesse.

The Philippines and New Zealand are separated by more than 8,000 kilometers, but for more than 100,000 Filipinos, Aotearoa is now home. The Filipino community is one of the fastest-growing communities in Aotearoa, but behind the numbers are thousands of individual stories of migration, identity and belonging. A new book "Amóng Kinabuhi Sa Aotearoa" captures some of those stories through interviews...

A Wellingtonian chasing his acting dream has been offered the opportunity of a lifetime. Henry Ashby has just been accepted into the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts - a school which boasts an alumni list of some pretty big names - think Richard Harris, Brian Cox, Benedict Cumberbatch. The conservatory takes in just 30 people a year so as you might imagine - competition is fie...

The clip of a rescue of a horse called Chance who was stuck in a culvert in Paparoa (in Southern Kaipara District) has been watched online by millions of people. Chance's owner Simone Frewin chats to Jesse.

And authorities say those strong winds are adding an extra half metre on top of very large swells. The highest wave recorded by MetService in Wellington Harbour today has reached 11 metres. A mandatory evacuation order was in place from 9am this morning for waterfront properties in Owhiro Bay, Island Bay, Houghton Bay and Breaker Bay. For the latest Jesse is joined by RNZ field reporter Charlotte...

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.

A simple test with 12 questions may help predict your risk of dementia, stroke, or depression says Dr Jonathan Rosand. He's the founder and director of the Brain Care Labs at Mass General Brigham and Harvard, and professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. He's developed the Brain Care Score that measures factors such as sleep, exercise, stress, blood pressure, and social connection. The goa...

Afternoons TV critic Philippa Rennie joins Jesse to discuss these shows: Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed (Apple TV) Legends (Netflix)

It's time for our expert feature and today we're talking electric vehicles. The volatile situation in the Middle East has driven up fuel prices sparking renewed interest in EVs as Kiwis look for ways to cut their transport costs. While most people know that electric vehicles are cheaper to run, many of you might have plenty of questions around battery life, charging infrastructure, range, and whet...

It's time for our expert feature and today we're talking electric vehicles. The volatile situation in the Middle East has driven up fuel prices sparking renewed interest in EVs as Kiwis look for ways to cut their transport costs. While most people know that electric vehicles are cheaper to run, many of you might have plenty of questions around battery life, charging infrastructure, range, and whet...

Each week Jesse chats to a local club, which means Jesse could be taking you pigeon racing, knitting, or off to play backgammon. If you've got a club you want Jesse to join, please get in touch 2101 or Jesse@rnz.co.nz Today we're joined by Richard Feltham.

Our Australia correspondent Brad Foster joins Jesse to talk about what's making news across the Tasman, starting with Former Australian of the Year, Professor Richard Scolyer who died last night.

In June 1986, for one week, the Northern Waikato town of Otorohanga officially renamed itself 'Harrodsville'. Exactly why is layed out in the new 'Harrodsville 40th Anniversary' exhibition at Otorohanga Museum, which is running from now until the end of June. Here to share the details is Otorohanga Mayor Rodney Dow.

At what age do we stop saying somebody has fallen over and instead say they've had a fall? It's a quirk of language that points to the fact that in our later years, taking a tumble is likely to be that much more serious. And with an aging population, staying steady on our feet is a growing concern Well, a Kiwi research team is focused on tackling that issue and supporting healthy aging with a part...

The Waitangi Tribunal has been holding a hearing for its inquiry into the government's proposed amendments to treaty clauses. It launched the urgent inquiry last month because of concerns the reforms could cause and I quote, "significant and irreversible prejudice" to Maori. When the amendments were announced, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said they would ensure references to the principles of t...