Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Ironwood by Michael Connelly   Sworn to protect a scenic island meant to be far from the evils of the mainland, Detective Sergeant Stilwell can feel danger closing in.  Stilwell knows that his posting on Catalina Island is no paradise, but to most residents, it seems blissfully separated—by twenty-two miles of ocean—from the troubles of Los Angeles County. But now a threat is coming to h...

"If a stylish getaway at a distinctly relaxed pace in a sun-kissed beach town floats your boat, Santa Barbara delivers in spades. It’s a vision of sun-splashed, white-washed stucco and red-tile roofs under swaying palms. Just 90 minutes drive north of Los Angeles, and billed as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara proudly sports a casual chic, Mediterranean vibe. But it effortlessly caters to a ver...

Shein, the face of fast fashion, has reportedly acquired Everlane – a brand with an ethos of sustainability and ethical fashion.  The sale is worth around US$100 million and is a result of the $90 million in debt Everlane is sitting on.  In a statement to the New York Times, CEO Alfred Chang says the brand will remain independent, and keep its “sustainability components”, with the acquis...

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 23 May 2026, The Inbetweeners star Joe Thomas tells us what it was like filming in Aotearoa for NZ Spy.  Jack has spent years maintaining his first pomegranate tree and has finally eaten its first fruit.  Chef Nici Wickes is back to brighten our spirits with Banana Fritters – Balinese style .  Karl Puschmann revie...

Always lovely to see a lot of our “locals” hanging up all sorts of feeders for our local birds – it’s the thing you do from autumn onwards. To be honest, it’s a thing to watch from the window – it also shows the little fights that pinpoint who’s the boss around the gardens.   From now on food is becoming scarce and certain species require different types of tucker. Some species of Eucalypts a...

The wine: Elephant Hill Tempranillo Rosé 2025, Hawke's Bay, $29.00   A distinctive and enticing bouquet, a rosé made from Tempranillo is a rare find in NZ. Scents and flavours of peaches and red apple, a leesy and a clay earth complexity. A delicious wine with a silky-cream mouthfeel, superfine fruit tannins and medium+ acid line and flavours that reflect the bouquet. A very light positive re...

Anthropic is going to have its first profitable Quarter   Anthropic has told its investors that it will more than double revenue to around $10.9 billion in its second quarter and deliver an operating profit for the first time, according to the Wall Street Journal. But... it says it may not remain profitable throughout the year due to the large compute costs it’s expected to incur.  It co...

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed   Newly divorced mom Paula falls down a rabbit hole of blackmail, murder and youth soccer. Convinced she witnessed a crime, while struggling through a custody battle and an identity crisis, Paula begins her own investigation (Apple TV+).    Kylie From soap star to superstar, Kylie's career has been full of twists, turns and spinning around — as she candid...

A Private Life  When renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner learns of the death of one of her patients she is deeply troubled. Convinced that it was murder, she decides to investigate...    Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu   The evil Empire has fallen but Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Re...

On every trip to Bali I look forward to eating pisang goreng, aka banana fritters. Nearly every menu features this popular street snack, but the best place to buy them is at a roadside cart that starts setting up late afternoon. They’re easy to make at home and dirt cheap.   Serves 4     Ingredients  1/3 cup rice flour   2 tbsps tapioca flour or cornflour   ¼ tsp baki...

Te Puke has its kiwifruit. Ohakune, the giant carrot.  Given the extent to which I’ve droned on and on and on and on about it this year, you’d barely bat an eyelid if you were to pull up at my place sometime soon, only to discover I’d erected an ostentatious 7-metre high fibreglass pomegranate in my front yard.  It’s been a journey for all of us, this pomegranate.  Truth be told, wh...

He’s been described as “the John le Carré of his generation” and a “megastar of the genre”.  British spy writer Mick Herron has earned millions of fans around the world and delighted critics with his thrilling plots, rich characters, and dry humour.   He’s won dozens of awards for both his Slough House series, his stand alone works, and his short story collections, and ‘Slow Horses’ and...

What does the phrase “doing the edges” mean to you?  Most people would think either of assembling the outside of a jigsaw puzzle, or cleaning up and trimming around the edge of your lawn.  And while Kevin Milne understands the purpose of one of those, he doesn’t quite get why people bother with the other.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the 21st anniversary of the debut album from iconic Kiwi band Fat Freddy’s Drop, ‘Based On A True Story’.  And to mark the occasion, they’re setting off on a world tour – kicking things off with three performances in Auckland. Chris Schulz was at the first show last night, and joined Jack Tame to share his thoughts.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Stroud   Artie Dam is a man with a secret. He spends his days teaching history to high schoolers, expanding their young minds, correcting their casual cruelties, and lending a kind word to those who need it most. He goes to holiday parties with his wife of three decades, makes small talk with neighbours, and, on weekends, takes his sailboat out on the beau...

"'Slow down and soak up the truly remarkable surroundings'. That simple tourist maxim has taken on new meaning in Queenstown, as the wellness wave washes over our premier resort town with unprecedented relish." Read Mike's full article here . LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 16 May 2026, British spy author Mick Herron joins Jack in studio to talk about his latest book, ‘Clown Town’.  Jack delights in his son's first word – Dad!   Chef Nadia Lim is in to convince us that cabbage can be the hero on your plate, while Francesca Rudkin reviews the dark new thriller ‘Obsession’.  Plus, Ed M...

We often think of influencers as being media celebrities, politicians, or people in the media, and that mental health care needs to be done by psychologists and counsellors. But new research suggests that people in your community who you have regular ongoing trusted and personal relationships with could also play a big role.   Recent research looking at how hairdressers could influence people...

The ads we see on social media promise us a great many things, but how many of them are as good as they seem?  Ed McKnight was recently served an ad on Facebook promising rental investment with great returns that set off a few alarms.  He joined Jack Tame to break down the ad and explain the concerning signs to look for if you spot an investment ad that seems too good to be true.  L...

It’s a great time of the year. The leaves tumbling down in wind or rain, even in very cold conditions, tells us it’s going to be winter soon.  Some leaves are pretty sturdy on the lawn, others blow themselves to the old growing places for plants, flowers, fruits, and seeds.  What now? Gather them up and put them in the weekly recycle bin?  There are a few things we can do to make th...

The US delegation to China had to leave everything gifted behind    Lapel pins, credentials, gifts, burner devices – all of it had to end up in a bin before boarding Air Force One.     It's thought to be for national security reasons as China has long been suspected by the West of spying and carrying out cyberattacks, given its advanced intelligence and espionage capabilities....

The Brokenwood Mysteries The detectives of Brokenwood continue to grapple with the small town’s ever-growing murder rate. From attempted alien abductions to a surfing priest with a dark history, New Zealand’s most lethal small town is back! (TVNZ1, TVNZ+)     The Punisher: One Last Kill  As Frank Castle searches for meaning beyond revenge, an unexpected force pulls him back into...

Obsession  After breaking the mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush's heart, a hopeless romantic gets exactly what he asked for. However, he soon discovers that some desires come at a dark and sinister price.     Caterpillar   In an early-2000s Wellington household, three generations of women navigate love, ambition and change. Single mother Maxine struggles to fun...

It’s one of the many cruelties of motherhood.  You can love your baby unconditionally. You can grow them. You can literally sustain them with your own body. But at the end of the day, you can only do so much for your child. You can change their nappy or feed them a few spoonfuls of kumara mash.  But you can’t take their first step for them. You can’t say their first word.  At first,...

If I’m honest, I’ve never found cabbage to be that exciting... that is, until I started roasting it. The miso butter works magic, turning it golden and caramelised on the edges, with a soft, sweet centre and loads of savoury flavour. It’s one of those simple dishes that surprises. We often have it as a knockout side, but it’s just as good as a light veggie main with rice or noodles.   From Na...