Afternoons

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 Whangarei in Northland from where Mayor Ken Couper chats to Jesse.

It seems saunas are super popular right now, and it turns out, humans aren't the only creatures who like to reap the benefits. University of Otago Professor Crid Fraser has published research showing some birds use geothermal steam as health spas. Professor Fraser is with Jesse to discuss the details.

There has been a lot of research about the benefits of sleep for young people but most of it is based on environmental conditions and lifestyles in places like America and Australia. Now for the first time researchers are turning their attention to the Pacific region and specifically Samoa. Here to tell us more is University of Auckland chronobiology scientist Dr Nicola Ludin.

Now usually Dr Grant Morris joins us to talk about New Zealand legal history .. but that's not his only speciality area .. he's also extremely knowledgeable about mediation in New Zealand. So knowledgeable in fact, he's just published his second edition book on the topic .. it's called Mediation in New Zealand. Grant chats to Jesse about the topic.

A new advocacy group has launched with the aim of giving parents a more organised voice in New Zealand's ongoing debates around education. The Parents' Alliance says it wants to be evidence-based and non-partisan, and to have a say in the way education policy is made. Its' co-founder and executive director is Anya Zohrab. Anya is a mother of three who's worked in the public sector, in banking, she...

Faith is sometimes hard to come by .. just ask any Warrior fan. For years, the story of religious faith has been the story of decline. But the reality is more complicated than that. New data from the Pew research center shows that in America anyway, young people aren't just moving away from faith, they're moving away from certainty. Former Baptist pastor Ryan Burge is now a professor of practice a...

Afternoons TV critic Philippa Rennie shares what she's been watching with Jesse. This week it's Good Bones (TV3) and Billy Idol Should Be Dead (TVNZ+)

It's time for our expert feature and today we're talking about drones. In the modern world drones are used for just about everything, from fishing to military use to nighttime light displays. A while back Jesse even spoke to a guy who had invented chainsaw drones for felling trees. Our expert today is Philip Solaris, chief executive of Obsidian Systems, a New Zealand robotics company developing au...

Each week at this time Jesse hits the clubs. It's just him and some hardcore clubbers left holding up the dance floor.

Each Monday we head across the ditch to discuss the big stories with our correspondent Brad Foster.

Our next guest calls himself The Notetaker, and for good reason. David McGill has spent 70 years of his life taking notes, and what a life he has had. As a journalist in London he was present for Jimi Hendrix's last gig, he saw a young Rod Stewart strutting the Roundhouse stage, and met Paul McCartney when he was still with his group Grapefruit. But that's just a snapshot of what David has seen an...

Christchurch's Port Hills have twice been ravaged by fire - once in 2017 and again in 2024 - both times ripping through hundreds of hectares of land full of native plants. Now new research has revealed that a repeat of wildfires at Port Hills could be creating a 'fire trap' that is preventing native bush from regenerating. Jesse talks to University of Canterbury's Professor Emerita Paula Jameson a...

A story caught our eye in The Post this morning, about a rise in schools installing higher fences and electronic gates. We wanted to find out why and what that means for schools being used in the weekends by the community. Berhampore School Principal Mark Potter joins Jesse to discuss.

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.

This extinct native frog was once widespread across the North Island until Early Maori settlement. The Waitomo frog was comparatively massive to living native frogs, growing up to 10 cm in length! Now, we know this is slightly cheeky critter of the week because extinct, but Nicola says it's a crucial key to the story of our ancient frogs here in NZ so we're all allowing it!

Sylvia Sandford joins Jesse to chat about what an interior designer actually does. She'll share what she's working on so we can get a sense of the role of an interior designer. If you've got questions, please don't hesitate to text us on 2101.

Country Life is the RNZ show that puts the spotlight on rural New Zealand and shares the stories from rural New Zealanders. It's on air tonight at 7pm and again tomorrow morning at 7am .. and of course always on rnz.co.nz Here to tell us what you can expect from the show this weekend is Country Life's Sally Round

Fridays mean food here on Afternoons, this week we're joined by Tom Newfield from The Earl in Christchurch. He's sharing his recipe for Hapuku with Matbucha, raisins, capers, olives and pine nuts. Click HERE for the recipe

Time for our long running live music session. Can you believe it's in it's 21st year! That's right it's NZ Live time. Today Jesse is joined in the Wellington studio by Eigenface. They're something of a supergroup... Featuring 'French For Rabbits' Penelope Esplin, composer and RNZ concert presenter Elliot Vaughan and The Tweeks Logan Valentine Their self-titled debut album is set for release on Hom...

It's Freaky Friday which of course means a chance to indulge in one of your wonderfully strange stories. As always we'd love to hear from you if you have your own story to tell - text 2101 or email afternoons@rnz.co.nz Today Jesse is joined by Christina who experienced a spooky co-incidence.

Artist Susan Te Kahurangi King has works in the permanent collections in some of the most prestigious art galleries in the world ... she's been called one of New Zealand's greatest living artists, and yet many New Zealanders have never heard of her. To help explain why that might be Jesse is joined by writer Laura Preston. Laura's the author of a recent article about Susan which appeared in the Ne...

We love getting your ideas for stories and people we should talk to on the show. Our next guest sent us a pitch about a website he's created and we couldn't resist learning more. Rogan Boyle is with Jesse to share his public toilet project - poo.co.nz

The stakes couldn't be higher for the Warriors this weekend - a win against the Newcastle Knights will see them face Penrith in the preliminary finals next week. A loss ... and that's their season done for 2026. For the first time in 12 years, on Sunday night the Warriors will be playing at Eden Park. The crucial clash is sold out but one person who will be there is Paul Pirihi, a mad Warriors fan...

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.

Welcome to Political Group Chat, a space for good faith debate and friendly disagreement about the stories that have been in the news this week. Joining Jesse today: comedian and commentator Tim Batt, screenwriter and FSU member Dane Giraud, and University of Auckland political scientist Dr Lara Greaves. And you can text 2101 if you have thoughts.