Afternoons

Time for NZ Sport History - our chance to look back at the people and the moments that have changed the game. Today we're joined by former All Black lock - the legendary Ian Jones. Ian played 105 games for the All Blacks including 79 tests and three Rugby World Cups. He's also still involved with the team's legacy, now running the official All Blacks experience in Auckland

Here on Afternoons we like to celebrate New Zealanders doing great things - and our next guest very much fits that bill. Aaron Henare - better known in the ring as Henare - is a Kiwi who's been lighting up New Japan Pro Wrestling, winning an impressive two world titles in the last there months. He's back in New Zealand for the upcoming Matariki Rumble this weekend in Pakuranga - where he'll challe...

The benefits of eating a healthy diet are well known to us all ... but new research reveals that it's not just physical health that responds to a good diet .. it's also your mental health. A study that followed nearly 1,900 Swedes aged over 60 for more than eight years. has found eating an anti-inflammatory diet can reduce the risk of developing dementia - even in people with early biological sign...

Tell you something else that can help keep your brain sharp ... learning a language. What better time to try and get to grips with Chinese than during New Zealand Chinese Language Week for 2026? Held each year since 2014 - the week is a celebration of Chinese language, culture, and getting kiwis to give the language a try. Alongside events and ambassadors - the week also has seven language superst...

Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic have become some of the most talked-about medicines in the world. They were originally developed to help people with type 2 diabetes, before becoming widely known for their effect on appetite and weight loss. But researchers are now asking whether they could also help with something else, addiction. Dr Robert Munn is a neuroscientist at the University of Otago, and h...

The idea that women should be homemakers and men should be providers is resurfacing in parts of the American right, where it is moving from online spaces into real political influence. In a cover story for The Atlantic magazine, writer Helen Lewis explores this strain of thinking sometimes labelled "masculinism" as part of a broader backlash against feminism. Some voices within the movement argue...

Wallace Chapman and Perlina Lau 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.

Kelly Gibney is with Perlina in the Auckland studio because it's time to talk Easy Eats, a recipe that's light on time but heavy on flavour.

Time for Heading Off, our chance to take you on an adventure without you having to leave the comfort of your home. It can be as simple as your favourite day hike or as adventurous as motorbiking around the world. If you've got a travel adjacent story to tell we'd love to hear from you. Afternoons@rnz.co.nz or 2101 on the text. Today we're joined by Doug Hanna. Doug's organised over 50 road trips a...

Time to catch up with Our Changing World's Claire Concannon. Claire's been chatting to some of the winners from the Prime Minister's Science Awards.

The Prime Minister's Science Prizes have just been awarded for another year and boy - does our future look bright. Among the winners is Jesse Rumball-Smith, who's picked up the Prime Minister's Future Scientist Prize, for his "Better Backseat Driver" app. Tackling the lack of safety features in older cars, the app brings together modern technology and behavioural psychology, to make our roads safe...

The workplace satire 'H.R. THE MUSICAL' is back for a run of shows in Auckland before it heads to Edinburgh Fringe The sketch comedy takes aim at office politics - corporate jargon and passive aggressive emails - delivering a sharp critique of the modern workplace Amy Mansfield is the writer and director of HR The Musical, she chats to Perlina.

If the World Cup wasn't keeping you busy enough - this week marks the start of the new NRL Women's Season. The 'Warriors Women' have their first game on Sunday against the Bulldogs at FMG Stadium in Hamilton. Michaela Brake is a two-time Olympic gold medallist, women's rugby sevens most prolific try scorer, and a former Warrior .. she's part of this weekend's coverage team. She's also a brand new...

Tuesdays mean You're the Judge here on Afternoons. We present a problem and get the audience's help solving it. Today we're looking at whether you need to stop socialising so much once you are married with kids. As always we love your reckons on 2101 or afternoons@rnz.co.nz

Afternoons critic Philippa Rennie joins us to share what she's been listening to.

Afternoons critic Catherine Robertson joins Perlina to share what she's been reading: The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout (Viking) Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan (Harper Collins) Night, Ma by Elizabeth Knox (THWUP)

It's time for Mayoral minutes .. 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 sunny Nelson from where Mayor Nick Smith joins us.

The town of Rakaia has a population just shy of seventeen hundred people. Nestled in the vast Canterbury plains, it's flanked by the Southern Alps, with a stunning braided river and a very long bridge, But what's the story of the name Rakaia? Let's find out with RNZ Producer Justine Murray and this week's episode of the podcast NAU MAI TOWN.

When you think of walking sticks or canes - generally quite functional images come to mind. But walking sticks can be so much more than utilitarian. Our next guest certainly thinks so. Renowned furniture and industrial designer Keiji Takeuchi - who is Japanese-born, Milan-Based, New Zealand bred and Paris educated - has brought together nineteen examples of walking sticks and canes, all made by le...

We're going to talk pay equity now, because a new podcast is looking into the Government's controversial decision to overhaul the pay equity regime. As a result of that decision, dozens of active pay equity claims were cancelled. Labour has said, if elected, the pay equity conversation will be back on the table, so it seems this issue might not be going away anytime soon. Shortchanged is a four-pa...

Tomorrow the cost of posting a letter will shoot up yet again. NZ Post is increasing standard mail letter prices by 70 cents, meaning a medium-sized letter will cost $3.60, a large letter $4.90, and an oversize letter $6.20. NZ Post says it's facing rising costs and needs to keep their services reliable, but critics say the price rises are coming at the same time as postal services are becoming le...

Olympian, former Auckland mayor and founder of Les Mills gyms, Les Mills Snr has died aged 91. We talk to his son Phillip Mills about the legacy he leaves behind.

There's no doubt it is hard work owning and running a restaurant, the recent spate of hospitality closures are a very bleak reminder of that. So how do you make it work in 2026 when more people than ever seem unable to make ends meet? We chat to Sean Yarborough from Auckland's Broke Boy Taco.

Afternoons TV critic Caitlin Cherry is with Emile to share what she's been watching: Stalked (Neon) Pernille (Netflix) 5 Seasons

It's time for our weekly expert feature where we select a subject and put your questions to the people who know it best. Today we're talking about flowers - specifically the native flowers of Aotearoa. We're lucky enough to have so many beautiful native species in New Zealand, in fact our guest today reckons there's approximately 2200 of them. It's Victoria University Emeritus Professor of Botany...