Afternoons

Today Dr Grant Morris looks at the real history behind the NZ honours system. Monday 1 June was King's Birthday which means the announcement of honours. But where does NZ's system of honours come from? [picture id="4MP4SHJ_copyright_image_238215" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Every second Thursday we invite a guest to come and help solve some of the world's problems - this week Jesse is joined by journalist Simon Wilson who wonders why we can't all just play more football and avoid more wars. [picture id="4JMVZH8_AFP__20260617__2281975452__v1__HighRes__ArgentinaVAlgeriaGroupJFifaWorldCup2026_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

"Who is Aotearoa New Zealand's greatest ever Olympian?" It's the kind of question that - at least before the smartphone - you could spend hours arguing about down the pub. Our guest on NZ Sport History today is sports journalist Joseph Romano. He's been to every Olympics since the 1980s so he's better placed than most of us to come up with an answer. His latest book - "NZ's Top Olympians" - charts...

Our chance to chat about the topics that might not be on the news but do fill up your group chats. With Jesse in the Auckland studio are Kate Rodger and Senior Afternoons producer Olivia Wilson and joining them from the old RNZ building is Culture 101 host Perlina Lau. This week the group discusses Duffy comeback, MAFS Australia allegations and President Trump's seemingly never-ending handshake wi...

We want to chat about Australian politics now, because Pauline Hanson and her One Nation party are experiencing a surge in popularity. And by surge, three out of four recent federal polls show One Nation in the lead, one survey even had Hanson ahead as preferred Prime Minister. The party that was once seen as a fringe is suddenly looking like a major force, to discuss Jesse is joined by pollster a...

For anyone who spends time with children, whether your own, your grandchildren or your friends' children, you'll know just how good a good playground is. But how to find them? Well one Auckland dad and his five-year-old twins have created a dedicated website to help. Jong Lee is behind https://www.northshoreplaygrounds.co.nz/ [picture id="4JMW3E8_jong_lee_collage_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Bottom trawling has been a big topic of conversation this week. On Tuesday we spoke to Caitlin from the WWF about its poll showing almost half of New Zealanders think bottom trawling is the biggest threat to the ocean. Today we're following that up with a commercial fisherman's perspective. Tony Roach is the owner and skipper of a 76 gross tonne trawler. [picture id="4LVI1LV_gallery_image_75009" c...

The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the 3 month conflict which has sent energy prices soaring and disrupted global supply chains The deal was signed in secret in Versailles bringing an immediate end to all military operations in both Iran and Lebanon for 60 days giving negotiators time to work through the details of a final agreement. President Dona...

Starting is hard when it requires taking a step into a future that's so unpredictable. For young people entering the workforce today, that challenge is even greater. First the pandemic disrupted their education and early careers, and now artificial intelligence is reshaping industries almost as fast as they can enter them. When Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor was invit...

Kelly Gibney joins Jesse to share a recipe that is heavy on flavour but light on time.  

Heading Off is our weekly segment where we take you on adventures from the comfort of your home. If you've got a travel tale you'd like to share, we'd love to hear it, get in touch via 2101 or afternoons@rnz.co.nz and we might be in touch. Today we're off to the Azores, off mainland Portugal, where our guest Sarah Schmitt got the chance to experience life as a research scientist on a 10-day whale...

It's six months since this record-breaking kakapo breeding season kicked off, and it's still all hands-on deck for the kakapo rangers out on the southern islands, keeping an eye on chicks and their mums. Allison Ballance has the latest from the Kakapo Files. [picture id="4JMY6N5_Gale_chick___Maddy_W_DOC_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Forestry is one of New Zealand's largest export earners. But in recent years you could argue it's become synonymous with disaster: hillsides collapsing, rivers choked with sediment and mountains of forestry slash washing through communities after major storms. Last week, new national forestry rules came into force. The Government says they'll simplify the system and provide more certainty for the...

Forget about rugby and pavlova there's a new battlefield in our great Trans-Tasman rivalry. The sausage roll. Timaru baker Simon Bruce has been picked to represent New Zealand against Australia's finest pastry purveyors. Battle commences tomorrow, but Simon joins Jesse from the Gold Coast where he's been sizing up the opposition. [picture id="4ML3VTU_copyright_image_246222" crop="16x10" layout="fu...

We're going to start today's show talking about the proposed move-on orders amendment bill and what it could mean for homelessness. The bill, which is currently before Parliament's Justice Select Committee, would allow police to issue move on orders to anyone who is rough sleeping, begging, obstructing business entrances or causing a disturbance.  [picture id="4JTZUAM_260130_Welly_Homelessness_4_j...

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.

Most of us think of anxiety as something to get rid of. We treat it as the enemy. But according to psychotherapist Owen O'Kane, the harder we fight anxiety, the more power we can give it. A former NHS clinical lead for mental health in London, he believes many people can get trapped in habits that keep anxiety alive. We become addicted to constant busyness, overthinking, checking, planning, worryi...

Every Tuesday we get your help to resolve an issue - this week we're talking about the etiquette of thanking people after a dinner party. We'd love to know whether you think it's a must to message your thanks the day after a dinner party, or not. 2101 on text or email us afternoons@rnz.co.nz

Our podcast critic and RNZ's Wellington Head of Operations Elliot Childs is with Jesse in the Auckland studio to share what he's been listening to: Family Lore Wild Card with Rachel Martin

Afternoon's book critic Claire Mabey joins Jesse to chat about what she's been reading: Stakes by Noelle McCarthy Said the Dead by Doireann Ni Ghriofa Head Girl by Freya Daly Sadgrove

It's time for Mayoral minutes .. our weekly 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 the Buller District from where Mayor Chris Russell joins Jesse.

It's currently half time at the SoFi stadium in Los Angeles where the All Whites are taking on Iran. Joining Jesse in the Auckland studio is one of RNZ's biggest football fans .. producer Malorie Carey .. she's there to chat about how the game is going.

'Wellness is coming' That's the message printed on a piece of A4 paper taped to an upstairs window of a shuttered Auckland pub. Edinburgh Castle sits on Symonds Street in central Auckland .. it's been there for 160 years, and it's fair to say has a somewhat checkered history. But its future could be brighter with Kiwi music legend Neil Finn buying the place, with plans to set up an inner city well...

Is there anything better than a good hamburger? Or anything more disappointing than a bad one? Here to share some tips on making the best burger you can, we're joined by George Motz, an American TV host who has been called 'the foremost authority on hamburgers" by the New York Times. George Motz will be in New Zealand in August where he's a judge at the Wellington On a Plate Festival.

Bottom trawling is back in the news as Parliament's currently considering an overhaul of our fishing rules. Around 70% of our fish is harvested via bottom trawling, but the technique is considered controversial because of the damage it does to the sea floor. Critics argue the Fisheries Amendment bill weakens environmental protections, but Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones says those cr...