Afternoons

Tech Tuesday: Battery Power in the spotlight

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Batt is with Jesse to discuss what's got people talking in the tech world, today he's looking into advancements in batteries and the new incoming ...

Book Critic: New poetry from one of NZ's Greatess

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Mabey joins Jesse to review the following books: Stepping Up by David Hill Lyrical Ballads by Bill Manhire What to Wear by Jenny Bornholdt

Mayoral Minutes: Hamilton's Mayor Tim Macindoe

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Lunar New Year: What does Year of the Fire Horse mean for you?

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Lunar New Year! Yes, billions of people around the world are welcoming the Lunar New Year from today. This year is Year of the Horse, but 2026 i...

Could cancer actually protect against Alzheimer’s disease?

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, researchers have noted that Alzheimer's disease and cancer rarely occur in the same person, sparking speculation that one may protect aga...

The family that runs fast

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand teen running prodigy Sam Ruthe is living proof that athletic talent can run deep in the family At just 16 Sam has been in the news lots fo...

Wild weather hits the South Island

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The wild weather that caused chaos in the North Island has turned its attention South and Banks Peninsula seems to be bearing the brunt. A Local State...

Can we fix it? Tackling the country's infrastructure problem.

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new report that sets out an "affordable" plan to tackle New Zealand's infrastructure has just been released. It was written by the Infrastructure Co...

Feature: How does power and prestige really work?

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Long before we know what social status is, we know how it works. There's always a popular crowd from the playground to the office and everyone knows w...

TV Critic: Local Comedy 'Small Town Scandal'

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Afternoons TV Critic Dominic Corry reviews: Small Town Scandal - Sky/NEON The Beauty - Disney+

Expert Feature: What happens to all that space junk?

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

But is the space in space infinite? What happens when satellites stop working? As the saying goes, what goes up, must come down, so will we see more s...

OZ Update: What's happening in Australia?

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Brad Foster joins Jesse to talk about what's going on across the Tasman. Today he's looking at the news that State of Origin is coming to Auckland plu...

Can food be a work of art?

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Taste of Art will challenge chefs from some of New Zealand's top restaurants to transform everyday ingredients into jaw-dropping edible masterpieces T...

Taking on Olympians: "How to Dad" star gets sporty

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan Watson of How to Dad fame is about to find out. A new six part web series called 'Out of My League' sees Jordan pitted against former Olympians...

What's going on with our water infrastructure?

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We need to talk about the state of our water infrastructure, this week some Christchurch residents have to boil water, last week Wellington's Moa Poin...

Critter of the Week: The kahukowhai or yellow admiral butterfly

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

These speedy little flyers are found all over the country and are also shared with some parts of Australia. They resemble the red admiral butterfly, e...

Weekend Work: How do you create a path?

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Mitre 10's Stan Scott is with us to answer any DIY questions you might have, and to talk us through creating a path and paving in general.

What's on this Weekend?

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We take a whirl through some of the events on in the main centres this weekend!

Music 101: New music from Bic Runga

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kara Rickard host of Music 101 here on RNZ each Saturday afternoon from 1pm talks about what's happening on the music scene over the weekend, what's c...

Food: Crayfish E Fu Noodles

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Friday means food here on Afternoons and today The Kitchen Project's Connie Clarkson joins us with a divine dish to celebrate Chinese New Year, crayfi...

NZ Live: Alayna lights up Studio B

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Time for NZ Live, the moment in the week when we bring you a special, live performance from some of our top musical talent. Today we are joined by Ala...

Film Review: Is "Wuthering Heights" worth seeing?

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Film critic Kate Rodger joins Jesse to review: 'Wuthering Heights' Marama.

Roadie Songs

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Roadie songs for road trips.

Freaky Friday on Friday the 13th!!

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Usually for Freaky Friday we ask for your spooky experiences, but today it felt more appropriate to settle into a ghost story. So, joining Jesse is th...

Must listen! A Survival Guide to the First Year of University

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's that time of year where students around the country are gearing up for their first year at university. But alongside o-week fun and new found fre...

Something to celebrate: A story of small business success

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Here on Afternoons, we like to focus on solutions and happy news stories, so with that in mind, we're heading to Wellington now for a rare bit of good...

Should the retirement age be raised to 72?

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We're starting today's show with a discussion on retirement age and would as always, love to hear your thoughts. The issue is back in the news thanks ...

Explainer: What exactly is a LNG terminal?

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week the Government announced plans to build a Liquefied Natural Gas terminal in Taranaki. The facility - estimated to cost "north of $2bn" - wil...

History with Dr Grant Morris

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Grant Morris joins Jesse to take a closer look at the cases that come out of The Employment Relations Authority and why they are often headline new...

Solving the World's Problems: Spotlight on Small Businesses

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Holly Bennett, the founder of Awhi Group, joins Jesse to talk about small businesses and why they become front and centre in an election year.

NZ Sporting History: Rowing's Judith Hamilton

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Time for sporting history and our guest this week has had a lifelong association with the sport of rowing, as a competitor, an elite coach and a high-...

Group Chat: "Wuthering Heights" and Olympic Confessions

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for group chat, our chance to talk about the fodder that might be filling up your chats, distracting you from chores or helping fill the sil...

Find out the best ways to deal with invasive species

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From countering invasive pink salmon in Norway, controlling feral cats in the Cayman Islands, to parachuting mice on the island of Guam, working out h...

What on earth has happened to Nancy Guthrie?

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's the story that has the whole world watching - the 84-year-old mother of 'America's Today' show host Savannah Guthrie was abducted from her home n...

Why are media naming the Christchurch Mosque Terrorist?

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The convicted murderer and terrorist who killed 51 worshippers in a Christchurch Mosque, Brenton Tarrant, is back in court attempting to overturn his ...

Why there is nothing wrong with being obsessed

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Where there's obsession, there's a story. There's more to the man in Singapore who has more than 13,000 Barbie dolls, or the New York City opera singe...

Easy Eats: Korean-inspired Bolognese

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly Gibney joins Jesse to share this week's Easy Eats recipe, Korean inspired Bolognese.

Heading Off to Suva!

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for Heading Off, our weekly travel segment, and today we're heading to Fiji. Holidays in Fiji could look very different depending on the kin...

What are the benefits to holding your kid back a year?

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We're going to talk about redshirting now, which is when parents chose to delay when their child starts school, so they are at the older end of the cl...

It's a lunch box staple - but should it be?

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It'll come as no surprise that not all ham is created equal. It's a lunch box staple, for kids and adults alike, but is it actually good for us? And w...

What could the Free Trade Agreement with India look like?

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There has been a lot of noise around a possible Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and India. The National party is keen to get it approved, but...

Feature Interview: What is the "Free Birth" movement?

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Women around the world are choosing to give birth without doctors or midwives, guided instead by influencer stories that celebrate "free birth" as emp...

Podcast: What happens if you try to sail over the Niagara

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Evie Ashton joins Jesse with her podcast picks: The Interesting Nuggets Podcast The Asian Madness Podcast Available wherever you get your podcasts!

Books with Pip Adam

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Novelist Pip Adam joins Jesse to talk satire - and some good examples of it: A Few More Slices of Heaven (2025) Daniel Vernon Night Night Fawn by Jord...

Mayoral Minutes: Central Hawke's Bay District

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for Mayoral minutes, our new segment where we speak with a local mayor about the challenges they're facing, how they're working to solve the...

Wellington makes a bid for culinary capital!

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Could Wellington become New Zealand's culinary capital? It certainly seems the Government hopes so, after Minister Louise Upston announced the latest ...

Explainer: What is cultural appropriation?

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The issue of cultural appropriation has been back in the news recently after an Australian brand called itself Aroha. That got us thinking about the p...

Why learning about the landscape is vital for future planning

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

He says building knowledge about how landscapes behave, means people can make more informed decisions about how to interact with them. He chats to Jes...

The Epstein Files: Will anything actually happen next?

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The fallout from the release of the Epstein files continues to dominate headlines around the world. In the last few hours, jailed associate of Jeffrey...

Bet on it! We take a look at the rise of prediction markets

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrity weddings, the war in Ukraine, election outcomes; the future is now a marketplace with the rise of prediction apps like Polymarket and Kalshi...

Jesse Goes Clubbing

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Every Monday Jesse joins the hard core ravers and hits the club. Last week we heard from Warren about his Ham radio club, before that we had Anastasia...

OZ Update: What's happening in Australia?

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Israeli President has just arrived in Sydney for an official state visit in the wake of last year's Bondi terror attack. Police have been given sp...

Life Lessons: How we can understand and deal with grief

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

'The Year After Kahlia' is a memoir tracing Kirsten O'Connor's first year of grief after losing her daughter Kahlia to suicide The book tracks her map...

Forget Fantasy football, say hello to Fantasy Herd!

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Now, if you're one of the millions of people around the world who participate in a fantasy sport league, we've found your next obsession. Meadow Fresh...

Can you distinguish fake news from real news?

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How do you know what you read online is accurate and real? We're asking because an investigation has discovered that fake "New Zealand news" pages are...

TV Critic: Heated Rivalry and The New Years

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ruwani Perera is a reporter for The Hui, she joins Jesse to share some TV shows that seem to have everyone talking. The New Years - Prime Video/Mubi H...

Survival Guide to Laneway Festival

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Laneway Festival is on at Auckland's Western Springs Park today with some big stars like Chappelle Roan headlining along with lots of local acts. Gate...

Your Money with Mary Holm: Should you buy gold?

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Personal finance whizz Mary Holm is back for 2026 and today she's talking about investing in gold, silver and bitcoin.

A-Z of Aotearoa: O is for the big O.E!

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We're making our way through the alphabet diving deep into all things Kiwiana - looking at the people, places and moments that make up New Zealand. We...

Relationships: How can you heal a family feud?

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Here to help navigate the issues is Professor Kirsty Ross from Massey University's School of Psychology. This week she's looking at family feuds, outs...

Wellington's new fusion energy facility: how will it work?

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It'll get 35 million dollars from the Government's Regional Infrastructure Fund to build the bespoke facility, and its purpose will be to house what t...

Stories from Waitangi Day - past and present

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ralph Johnston, the Waitangi Trust Chief Executive, talks us through some of the most memorable moments of Waitangi Day commemorations.

Why NZer Dame Margaret Brimble is being honoured

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Auckland Professor Dame Margaret Brimble has more accolades than many of us have had hot dinners, that's an exaggeration of course but goodness me the...

The world is changing, why isn't New Zealand?

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

An opinion piece in the NZ Herald caught our eye this morning, in it Former Minister for Social Development Steve Maharey writes that the world is rup...

Feature interview: The winner of the Game of Wool

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Knitting has entered its cool era. Once dismissed as an old-fashioned pastime, creating hats and jumpers and even swimsuits from wool is now prime-tim...

Bookmarks with Elisabeth Easther

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for Bookmarks - where we invite an interesting person onto Afternoons to share some of their favourite things to read, watch and listen to. ...

Easy Eats: Making the most of barbecue season!

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

An economical cut of steak can be transformed into something very delicious after 4-24 hours in a crowd-pleasing marinade, before being cooked to smok...

Heading Off: Driving from Sri Lanka to the UK

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for heading off and today we're heading back in time to 1973 when a group of young travellers loaded two vintage Model A Fords onto a boat i...

Stories from Our Changing World

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In Our Changing World, the RNZ podcast, Dr Claire Concannon follows scientists into the bush, over rivers, back to their labs and many places in-betwe...

An insight into Waitangi Treaty Settlements

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For many New Zealanders, Treaty settlements are an aspect of our history that is shrouded in mystery & misunderstanding. RNZ podcast The Negotiators t...

Using wool to try and stop an invasive weed

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Woollen mats are now being trialled to smother an invasive oxygen weed threatening to take over some of New Zealand's lake floors. To explain how, Nor...

Why has wine gone out of flavour for many of us?

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Vineyards around the country are approaching harvest time, and while it is still too early to tell how the vintage will go, if it's anything like last...

Feature Interview: Why humour makes us better humans

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Humour isn't just for fun it's fundamental says Chris Duffy. Paying attention to the absurd, the awkward, and the quietly funny moments of everyday li...

You're the Judge

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Our weekly segment where we ask the audience to help with irks or pickles that listeners have sent in. Today it's a conundrum between siblings. One si...

Tech Tuesday: A new social network for AI bots? Yes, really.

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Batt joins Jesse to discuss Moltbook, a new social network for artificial intelligence agents or bots.

Book Critic: Life lessons through the lens of authors

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Bill Hastings joins Jesse to review the following books: Margaret Atwood, Book of Lives, A Memoir of Sorts (Chatto & Windus, 2025) Nigel Latta, Lesson...

Mayoral Minutes with Selwyn District's Lydia Gliddon

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Mayoral minutes is our new segment where we speak with a local mayor about the challenges they're facing, how they're working to solve them and what m...

Why did hundreds of eels die in Waiatai stream?

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A few weeks ago, some locals in Waiatai Valley near Wairoa were devastated to find hundreds of dead eels in the Waiatai stream. Some of the eels, or t...

Can you help find Doug the Pug?

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's about a missing dog - Doug the Pug is his name and he has been missing since the middle of January. Now, Doug is no ordinary dog, he is a therapy...

A new big game fishing competition out of Westport

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The 'Buller Bluewater Classic' is a new month-long big game fishing competition out of the Port of Westport. It seems warmer water temperatures has re...

Do you know how AI is used by NZ media organisations?

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How much AI do you think is used by New Zealand media? All the big newsrooms here have guidelines around the use of AI but as readers, watchers and li...

The latest on the yellow legged hornet problem

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

News from the Ministry of Primary Industries reveals that it has found 3 secondary yellow legged hornet nests and successfully treated and removed the...

Feature Interview: Mean Mums at the School Gates

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For lots of students all over New Zealand, going back to school today is about settling into a new classroom and reconnecting with mates. For many Mum...

TV Critic: The latest spin off from the Game of Thrones

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

TV Critic Finn Hogan joins Jesse to chat all things television. He's reviewing: Game of Thrones: Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - Neon Ponies - TVNZ +

Expert Feature: Everything you need to know about Wills

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It feels like every year we have conversations about the importance of having a will, and yet the number of people without one remains stubbornly high...

Jesse Goes Clubbing!

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week Jesse hits the Machine Knitters Club - and chats to club delegate Jeena Monk. If you've got a club you'd like Jesse to join for the day, mes...

OZ Update: What's happening in Australia?

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We get the latest on news from Australia with our man on the ground Brad Foster.

Which bug is the mightiest of the year?

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You've probably all heard of Bird of the Year, but Bug of the Year might be new to you. Much like the name suggests, it is a competition pitting critt...

Explainer: What are NZ's critical minerals?

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In January 2025, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment published the Crown's mineral strategy with a goal of doubling our mineral export...

Critter of the Week: Seaweed Darkling Beetle

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Washed up seaweed might look unimportant to us, but rotting seaweed is a crucial haven for animals such as the seaweed darkling beetle. The decaying s...

Weekend Stuff: Gardening with Lynda Hallinan

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Gardens really don't take holidays do they? If only you could put the weather on hold for a month, so our gardens stay in a holding pattern too! Lynda...

Friday Food with Julie Biuso

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Julie Biuso from Shared Kitchen is with me now to talk us through a lovely summery dish. pasta with white beans and roasted tomatoes. Recipe is here

NZ Live: Theia is in Studio B!

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We're kicking off our 21st year of NZ Live and today I'm joined by Theia in Studio B Theia's debut album Girl in a Savage world has received rave revi...

Film Review: Why everyone is talking about Marty Supreme

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Movie critic Dominic Corry joins Jesse in the Auckland studio to review: Send Help - in theatres The Wrecking Crew - Prime Video Marty Supreme - in th...

Freaky Friday for 30th January 2026

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Freaky Friday - that time of the week where we hear your spooky, ghostly or simply unexplainable stories. If you've got one to share, get in touch on ...

How do you cope when your workplace is in constant change?

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It feels like every day there is another company going bust, or downsizing, which means lots of you are living in a state of constant change or doing ...

Why learning to dance can do more than make you feel good

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you love losing yourself to dance - or dancing like no one's watching - for many dance brings joy. But it also keeps people active, provides c...

Flipping houses for a quick buck could be over

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Remember when flipping houses seemed like a sure-fire way to make a dollar? Well, it turns out those days might be behind us. New data from TradeMe sh...

Classical Cupid - Find your match!

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Time to talk Classical Cupid now, our chance to celebrate classical music and your chance to be matched with music that suits your profile. Earlier in...

History with Dr Grant Morris

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For many of you summer might mean beach time, BBQs, camping and evening strolls. For Dr Grant Morris summer means road trips with a twist - a history ...