Afternoons

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...

Grab your shades and a pack of gum, because it's time for our Monday afternoon clubbing session. Each week we visit a club or society around the country. If you have one that you think Emile should join, then please do get in touch. 2101 on text or afternoons@rnz.co.nz. This week Emile is joined by Chantelle Gerrard from the NZ branch of the SCA.

Our favourite Australian Brad Foster is with Emile to share what's hitting the headlines across the Tasman. This week he chats about NSW Government's decision around shark prevention and what on earth is going on at Channel Nine?

Looking at the recent polls, National and Labour's fall in popularity means attention turns to the smaller parties, which will become key players come November 7th and the days after it. This year's general election will mark 30 years since New Zealand moved from the First Past the Post voting system to mixed member proportional representation or MMP. Fans of MMP say the change has delivered a mor...

Let's talk cheese now because in case you needed reminding, we are really good at making it. The recent International Cheese and Dairy Awards for 2026 saw 4500 entries from over 20 countries, including New Zealand. This year six New Zealand producers submitted a combined 118 entries and from that won 41 medals .. including a supreme award. Here to explain why our cheese stands out from the rest an...

There's no doubt that Rocket Lab is a Kiwi success story, but do the dizzying heights of their technical achievements keep us from asking important questions about how they operate? That's what astronomer Dr Ian Griffin asked in an opinion article for the Otago Daily Times today. The catalyst for it was a social media post Rocket Lab put out last week, saying quote, "The Space Force called, and we...

Wallace Chapman and Emile Donovan 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.

Nicola Toki and Emile chat all things Critter of the Week! Today's critter is a freshwater flounder that looks like it's been painted with red and black flames, the black flounder, one of Aotearoa's most colourful native fish.

Tony Murrell from Murrell Gardening is with Emile to share some tips and tricks to making roses bloom.

Fridays mean food here on Afternoons. Hospitality extraordinaire and Auckland Council's Kitchen Project Manager Connie Clarkson is here with me to share a delicious recipe. 

The Veils - fronted by Finn Andrews join Emile.

Afternoons critic Kate Rodger is with Emile in the Auckland studio with some school holiday films to review. Minions versus Monsters Super Girl

Sandi from Auckland shares her spooky story with Emile.

Dr Malcolm Jorgensen Macolm is from the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg Germany, and he chats to Emile.

Self-confessed cycling fanatic and Army veteran Clive Phillips joins Emile.

Two fans on the ground in Vancouver join Emile Donovan- to tell us what it's like to be there and their reckons ahead of kick off tomorrow.

Welcome to the Political Group Chat where we challenge our guests to say what they're thinking out loud about the issues of the past week. Today we look at whether we are too dogmatic about being clean and green, where the moral line is between free speech and hate speech, the typo in the Greens' tax plan and how media covered it. Joining Emile is Tim Batt, Dane Giraud and Dr Lara Greaves.

Let's talk money matters, personal finance whizz Mary Holm is with Emile in Auckland studio where she's going to turn her attention to house prices. Turns out now is the time to buy a house - but who else benefits from a fall in prices?