Free FM – The Free Breakfast

Hamilton Playbox's latest production is 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'. Cate speaks with co-director Lawrie Johnson and actor Hayden Newport (Randle McMurphy) about what drew them to this iconic story and what audiences can expect. The play runs 12-26 October.

Waikato district mayor Jacqui Church talks about the extended contract with Auckland's Watercare, and the Mayoral Community Awards.

Bike Waikato chair Melissa Smith gives a preview of the Biketober group ride taking place between Hamilton Gardens and Karapiro on Saturday 12 October. Check out the Facebook event for a 15% discount code for bike rentals.

Local water infrastructure, reasons for reductions in free parking times in the CBD, and activities for the school holidays are Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate's focus for her monthly catch-up on the Free Breakfast.

Melissa Smith, co-chair and spokesperson at Bike Waikato, joins us for a fortnightly update.

Farewelling Kiingi Tuheitia and welcoming the new Queen.

Nerding out about Te Awa Pekapeka.

Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate joins Mike Williams to discuss council's new credit rating from Standard & Poor's, plus progress with Local Waters Done Well, the new Peacocke Bridge opening, and some comment of the recent Local Government NZ conference.

#SSSD, host of #Deep_InsessioNZ speaks with Cate Prestidge about musical culture, some of his work in the electronic music scene and what excites him about the future of the scene.

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The central library might not be so quiet on Friday as students from years 5-8 compete in the Waikato Book Battle! Sandie Haddock from Waikato Literacy Assn joins Cate Ptestidge to talk about the event being held on August 30 as part of Hamilton Book Month.

Johanna M Rae is a Hamilton author who has been publishing fantasy genre novels since 2011. She joins Cate Prestidge to talk about her work and writing process and gives a peek into the work she'll be presenting at the Authors Showcase for Hamilton Book Month on Saturday August 31.

Mike Williams talks with Gareth and Louise Ward, the dynamic duo behind a new novel ‘The Bookshop Detectives: Dead Girl Gone' which is now in its third week at #1 on the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list. They're not only former police officers and authors but the proud owners of Wardini Books in Hawkes Bay.

Kirsten McKenzie is an ex customs officer turned writer. A fan of archeology and Ancient Rome, she joins Cate Prestidge to talk about Ithaca Bound, the first book in her time travel Ithaca series. Kirsten will be presenting at The Author's Showcase for Hamilton Book Month.

Waipā deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk speaks from the annual Local Government Conference in Wellington.

Award winning writer and academic Tracey Slaughter has just released her latest poetry volume 'The Girls in the Red House are Singing'. She joins Cate to talk about the different parts of the collection, her writing process and the way some specific themes she was immersed in have universal meaning. Tracey's book will be launched at the Poetry Celebration for Hamilton Book Month.

The 13th National Poet Laureate, Chris Tse talks with Cate about the laureate role and balancing writing and the business of creativity. He also talks about the value of the arts for education and society. Chris will be in Kirikiriroa to MC Poetry Celebration for Hamilton Book Month.

Georgie Dansey from the TRON (regional travel by rail) advocacy group talks about Te Huia's stay of execution - and where to from here.

This week: Economic outlook.

Writer Caroline Barron has followed her award winning 2020 memoir Ripiro Beach with a novel, Golden Days. She talks about the 1990's night-life which influenced it, as well as the three authors who will be appearing on the memoir panel she is chairing for Hamilton Book Month on Friday August 9.

Craig Hoyle grew up in Invercargill within the New Zealand Exclusive Brethren. In this reflective interview he speaks about his early life, being excommunicated from the church and the discoveries he made about other 'missing' family as he wrote his memoir 'Excommunicated'. Craig is in Kirikiriroa as part of Hamilton Book Month.

Melissa Smith, co-chair and spokesperson at Bike Waikato, joins us for a fortnightly update.

Update on what is going on in the Waipā district, particularly Cambridge, from deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk.

Lexie Matheson is a double international sports representative for New Zealand in karate and archery. She is actively involved in international sports leadership and has valuable insights into the current gender debates, trans-inclusion in sport and social media outrage around the Paris Olympics.

Jane Eyre, speaks with Cate Prestidge about writing and publishing her children's book about a friendly Maine Coon cat Fergusson, and her latest work editing a poetry anthology Mercurial Threads. Jane will be at the Author's Showcase as part of Hamilton Book Month on 31 August — hamiltonbookmonth.com

Author, academic, activist and 'living legend' Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku speaks about her new memoir, Hine Toa ahead of the Memoir Panel at Hamilton Book Month. The book is getting rave reviews. Ngāhuia speaks about why she wrote the book, her experiences as a Māori student and activist in the late 60s and 70s, and what home means to her.

Award winning New Zealand author Emily Perkins joins Cate Prestidge to talk about her latest work Lioness, which is getting rave reviews. They discuss Lioness and some of Emily's other work ahead of her appearance at the Hamilton Book Month Fiction Panel (hamiltonbookmonth.com)

The first large scale African Bazaar event in Hamilton will be taking place at Claudelands Event Centre on Saturday August 3 from 11am to 5pm. Kemi and Akeem from Afroconnect NZ join Mike in the studio to talk about it.

The Fun Run Charity Event for Cancer is aimed at raising funds and awareness for cancer research and support services and takes place on July 27 at Hamilton Lake. Organiser Maia Johnston talks to Mike Williams about pulling together the event.

Hamilton Book Month co-convenor Catherine Wallace talks to Mike Williams about the 2024 event, which kicks off on August 2.

Melissa Smith, co-chair and spokesperson at Bike Waikato, joins us for a fortnightly update. This week: Recap on the Matariki bike valet, upcoming events like Light Night, the ride to Karapiro, and other Bike Waikato events.

Fortnightly update on what is going on in the Waikato district, with Waikato Mayor Jacqui Church. This week: Road Closures for Motor Sport Events Policy consultation, and the Keeping of Animals Bylaw.

Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate joins Mike Williams to discuss the current workload and expectations when it come to acceptable behaviour when it comes to elected members.

Bianca Bailey aka Wiri Donna joins Cate Prestidge to talk about her latest single 'The Gold' and the development of her sound over the past four years.

Harley Flynn from rock powerhouse Achilles Complex joins Cate Prestidge to talk about their upcoming show in Kirikiroroa. It's the last leg of their tour with Tusk and features local legends Static.

Bowel cancer is the second highest cause of cancer death in New Zealand, with over 1,200 people dying each year, as many as breast and prostate cancer combined. June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, and Stefan Corbett from Bowel Cancer NZ spoke on the Free Breakfast.

Kirikiriroa Hamilton Zinefest is now in its 10th year. Wairehu Grant and Horiana Henderson join Cate Prestidge to talk about the value of the event, ahead of the festival at the Hamilton Central Library on Saturday June 13.

Here to Help U provides free social and wellbeing support the easy way. Submit a quick online request and we'll get you the right support. No barriers, no judgement, no stress. Free FM's Ed speaks with Here to Help U national operations manager Aandrea Murray.

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Ashley Brown — cellist and NZTrio founding member - talks about the ensemble's 2024 concert series, Triptych, which will come to Kirikiriroa on 17 May.

Campbell Robertson is the Waikato organiser for the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride – a world-wide event happening Sunday May 19 and involving 11 cities in NZ from Auckland to Invercargill. The DGR is a fundraising and awareness event for men's health – specifically men's mental health and prostate cancer research. Full information to support or take part in this year's event can be found on their website: gentlemansride.com.

AmandaMania is co-founder of both Brazen and Splore, and has been a driving force in New Zealand's music and festival scenes for over three decades. She spoke to Cate Prestidge about the first Brazen Pop-Up, happening at YOT club this Saturday 4 May.