RNZ: Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan

Iolanthe cicadas are one of our smallest cicada species, found in the North Island from the Coromandel Peninsula to Wellington. This species has become extremely rare in the wild and there are very few modern sightings or recordings. Males have a very high-pitched song used for calling females. Because of the high frequency of the song, some adults may not be able to hear the call at all. Due to its lack of sightings, its threat status is unknown. However, its rarity is worrying, especially with no information on their ecology and population density. Nicola Toki chats all things critters with Jesse.

Landscape designer Tony Murrell is with Jesse to discuss what you should plant if you're looking to pay tribute to or remember somebody special to you. His suggestions are: Jacaranda mimosifolia flowering late spring early summer. Prunus mountain haze or awanui good for small gardens soft pink flowers. Metrosiderous excelsa , moon maiden [yellow flower] or scarlett pimpernel [ smaller growing coastal sport form red flowering late December through January] and Mistral upright Rata Sport named after the French wind. Ficus nitida – well behaved tidy evergreen tree with a large dense canopy of verdant green. Acer Palmatum – Japanese maple , sculptural form beautiful dappled shade. Quercus suber – Cork oak – majestic and rustic evergreen cork bark oak. Olea europea Olive – sculptural spiritual Trees , fruiting in summer. Cedrus atlantica glauca or Lebanii – ‘The bearing of the Cedars' Pinus thumbergii – Japanese black pines. Knightea excelsa – NZ Native honeysuckle. Liquidamber gumball – 3/3 m mound shaped. Cunnonia capensis South African butter knife bush evergreen flowering interesting foliage. Vitex lucens – NZ Native Puriri. Cercis forest Pansy. Lagerstromia indica , flowering in pink , red ,white and mauve. Podocarpus totara matapouri blue – NZ Native blue totara – can be purchased in cloud pruned shapes fabulous sculptural forms that can work amongst grass gardens and more formal designs. Cussonia spicata – African cabbage Tree – ELEPHANTS favorite dinner. Erythrina christa Gallii – Coral flower Tree.

Julie Biuso from Shared Kitchen shares her recipe for Hummingbird cake. One story behind this cake goes that it is sweet enough to attract and delight a hummingbird. It's easier to make a two-tiered cake rather than the usual three, and most home cooks are unlikely to own three matching cake tins. The sponges are oil-based and have a light texture. It's one of those lovely cake batters that doesn't call for butter, sugar, and eggs to be creamed, but like muffin batters, don't beat it - just mix the ingredients gently together.

Afternoons critic Kate Rodger is here to share what's on at the cinema: No Tears on the Field If I Had Legs I'd Kick You

It's the home for your spooky stories and eerie coincidences. If you have an experience to share get in touch on 2101 or email me at jesse@rnz.co.nz and one of our producers might give you a call. Today we're speaking to Christine, who listens to the show from New Jersey in the USA.

Emma Watkins, is one of Australia - and New Zealand's - most beloved children's entertainers. Known for her time as the iconic 'Yellow Wiggle' she's continued to captivate kids of all ages with her character, Emma Memma. She's back in New Zealand and joins Jesse to explain why.

Depending on the conditions he swims two six-hour stints a day, five days in a row, before taking a rest day. He's attempting to break the world record for the longest unassisted staged swim, all to raise awareness for ocean health and call for an end to bottom trawling, one of the most destructive fishing practices still allowed in New Zealand waters He's teamed up with Peter Burling and Blair Tuke's marine conservation charity, Live Ocean, to deliver a petition to Parliament and is now just 111 kilometres from Wellington.

Humans may have more in common with animals than we thought, especially when it comes to attraction. New research suggests we're drawn to the same mating calls as other species supporting Darwin's observation that animals share our "taste for the beautiful." Dr Sam Mehr from the University of Auckland and Yale University is the senior author of this new study, he joins Jesse.

'Project Hail Mary' - the new Hollywood blockbuster starting Ryan Gosling, has a New Zealand connection. One of the film's most pivotal scenes includes a recording of the classic Waiata 'Po Atarau'. The version in the film was recorded in 1976 by the Turakina Girls' College choir Ex-student, and former principal of the school - which closed in 2015 - Terehia Channings is with Jesse.a

Data from Stats NZ shows that trust in our public health system has been falling for well over a decade. 35 percent of New Zealand adults invest in health insurance, many of you citing long waits and unreliability of the public system as the reason why. In a new paper published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, Dr Erik Monasterio examines whether we are rapidly moving towards the privatisation of health care. He discusses with Jesse.

Even in an enchanted tree where fairies and men with faces like the moon live, someone has to do the laundry. And in a film adaptation of the classic Enid Blyton book, The Magic Faraway Tree, that job falls to actress Jessica Gunning. She is Dame Washalot who, does a lot of laundry, carelessly tossing buckets of sudsy water down the tree, sometimes drenching children who discover the magic world in the branches. Jessica Gunning captured acting magic in 2024, staring in the hit series Baby Reindeer and wining just about every award going. She joins a stellar cast including Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy. The Magic Faraway Tree is in theaters now.

Dr Grant Morris chats to Jesse about carless days, CNG and lower speed limits - driving in NZ in 1979 - truths vs myths. The 2026 Iran War has resulted in surging fuel prices. Many Kiwis of a certain age remember the carless days of 1979 but this is only one example of the many measures used at the time.

Every second Thursday we like to try to solve some of the world's problems, today we're turning our attention to trees or more specifically why they're disappearing from the city of Auckland. Landscape Architect Mark Lockhart is passionate about trees and joins Jesse to explain why we should be trying to protect them.

Time for NZ Sporting History, where we reminisce about the great sporting events and moments of the past. Today though we're leaving the field and heading to the commentator's box with Grant Nisbett. In his 40-year career Grant's called over 350 All Blacks test matches, and he's still going strong. Hence his nickname, 'the voice of rugby'. Grant's with Jesse now to look at some highlights from his incredible career.

Thursdays means it's time for group chat where we talk about the news that doesn't make the bulletins but might be all over your social media feeds. Joining Jesse is Kate Rodger, Culture 101's Perlina Lau and Afternoons' Senior Producer Olivia Wilson.

Our next story is especially pertinent today as much of the country gets lashed by wild weather. Researchers warn New Zealand is stuck in what they call "disaster inertia" - failing to learn lessons from repeated extreme weather events To discuss Jesse is joined by Judy Lawrence, Adjunct Professor at the Victoria University School of School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences

Quantum physics - it's a heavy topic for a Thursday afternoon, but stay with us, because what if quantum physics could help you charge your mobile phone or other devices in super quickly? Using quantum physics, our next guest has just helped develop the world's first quantum battery prototype. Dr James Quach is a Science Leader at Australia's national science agency, where he leads the Quantum Batteries Team.

As the conflict in the Middle East continues, so does our pain at the pump. Earlier this week the government announced a fuel relief package, giving an extra $50 per week for New Zealanders who qualify. But is subsidising private cars and fossil fuels the smartest approach? And are there other levers we could be pulling? Dr Timothy Welch, an urban planning researcher at the University of Auckland chats to Jesse.

PayWave and card surcharges are back in the news today. Those are the fees you pay when you choose not to put your card into the EFTPOS terminal. Today the ACT party said that the Government's proposed ban on surcharges is dead, however Commerce & Consumer Affairs Minister, National's Scott Simpson, has said he's hopeful the ban will be in place by May. So here to help us work out what's going on, and how the surcharges actually work, Jesse is joined by Professor Claire Matthews. Claire is the head of Massey University's School of Accountancy, Economics & Finance.

It's Wednesday which means a chance to talk food. Kelly Gibney is away but we're stoked to have Dish Magazine's Chief Executive and Editor Sarah Tuck with Jesse and she's going to share a recipe that evokes comfort.

Time for heading off now! Our weekly travel segment where we jet around the world gathering tips and tricks for your future holidays. Let us know if you've been on an interesting journey recently and would like to tell New Zealand about it - 2101 is the text number. Joining us is Graham Mackenzie who is taking us to the Bugaboo Mountains, Canada.

Louis Theroux's recent documentary, 'Inside the Manosphere' put the spotlight on some really concerning content and content makers circulating online. These influencers are widely popular despite seemingly spreading messages of hate - so are they resonating with our boys and if so, what can we do to combat it? Here to give us her perspective is Dr Samantha Keene, a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and a gender-based violence researcher at Victoria University.

If you've noticed one too many leaves starting to change colour and you're doing everything you can to hold onto those summer vibes, this conversation might be exactly what you need. From the 26th - 29th of March in Christchurch's Sumner, it's The Single Fin Mingle. Founder, Ambrose McNeill spoke to Jesse.

All this talk of supply chain issues has led to a resurgence of interest in self-sufficiency, to find out how you can live off the land we're joined now by Author of 'The Good Live: A self-sufficiency and modern homesteading guide" Gillian Swinton.

New Zealand vegetable growers have been dealt another blow with McCain announcing it is closing its Hastings vegetable processing plant by January 2027. That news comes as Watties proposes to stop all production of frozen vegetable lines in New Zealand, affecting 220 growers in Canterbury. These announcements got us thinking about our food systems: what we produce versus what we import, how much we pay for food and how it is all worked out. And unlike more than 100 other countries, New Zealand doesn't have a national food security plan So if we see disruptions to global food supply chains - similar to what we're seeing with oil right now - well.... then what? Jesse chats to Katy Bluett from Future Food Aotearoa

Most parents have a favorite child. There's no sense in pretending otherwise, the kids know it and if parents are honest, they know it too says Dr Laurie Kramer. She's a psychology professor at Northeastern University and a renowned expert in sibling relationships. Instead of ignoring the topic of who's the favorite, a better approach is to acknowledge the different treatment each child gets and to talk openly about it. When kids feel less favored, the effects include poorer mental health, more strained family dynamics, and even lower academic outcomes. Dr Kramer offers practical advice on how to talk about favoritism and how to help siblings get along.

Each week we ask for your help with an irk, a tricky situation or a problem. It's called You're the Judge. This week we're discussing whether a single friend should have to split the cost of a bach rental 50/50 with her friend and her kids. Text 2101 or email jesse@rnz.co.nz with your reckons and we might even call you!

Afternoons Podcast Critic Linda Burgess joins Jesse to share what she's been listening to. The Rest is Politics US The News Agents The Slow Newscast

Author Kate Langdon joins Jesse to discuss The Correspondent by Virgina Evans and Gravity Let Me Go by Trent Dalton.

It's time for Mayoral minutes, our segment 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 the Kapiti Coast District Mayor Janet Holborow joins Jesse.

A few weeks ago, Jesse spoke to University of Otago Professor Michael Baker who was part of a team of experts calling for the Misuse of Drugs act to be thrown out. They argue that rather than reducing drug-related harm, the 50-year-old act is "instead a major driver of harm". During that conversation the success of Portugal's' decision to decriminalise the possession of all drugs for personal use was discussed and it was clear from the messages we received that you wanted to hear more. We reached out to Steve Rolles who is a Senior Policy Analyst at Transform Drug Policy Foundation, he joined Jesse to discuss whether Portugal's drug law reform has been successful.

Here on Afternoons, we are always keen to highlight positive business stories. Especially those small businesses who are trying to make the world a better place along the way. So, when we heard the about a local jeans manufacturer in Auckland who is doing just that, we were keen to find out more. Roskill Supply Co is the brainchild of Gregory McNeil, he joined Jesse.

With all the issues surrounding fuel supply at the moment we wanted to check in on Hydrogen. Does it offer us a pathway away from imported fuel? What's the situation with it here in New Zealand? And long term, could it be a replacement for our diesel use? Dr. Linda Wright from the Hydrogen council spoke to Jesse.

Citizen's advice Bureau's national policy advisor Louise May joins Jesse to respond to the government's support package.

The iPhone didn't start the loneliness crisis around the world. Long before technology, other forces were reshaping our lives. We've exchanged independence, convenience and loosening the neighborhood and community ties for more privacy and control. That tradeoff is what brought us here, say Dr Erik Larson and Andrew Trousdale. They explore the limits of technology, the strain it puts on human connection, and what it might take to rebuild it in an essay on the Substack AfterBabel called "Scrolling Alone".

Afternoon critic Caitlin Cherry shares her thoughts on: Resident Alien (Netflix) The Walsh sisters (TVNZ on demand)

It's time for our expert feature, where we take on a topic and put all your questions to the relevant expert. Today we're joined by funeral celebrant Carla Rotondo Carla is here to talk about funerals, how to give your loved one the best possible send-off and how to truly honour their life and story. If you have a question for Carla, text us on 2101 or email us jesse@rnz.co.nz.

Every Monday afternoon Jesse hits the clubs. We'd love to hear from you if you're part of a cool club - the quirkier the better. Text us 2101 or email afternoons@rnz.co.nz Today we're talking to Gabby Ugalde from Aracnation - an aerial arts club.

We get the latest from our man in Australia, Brad Foster, on what's hitting the headlines there.

We're going to talk manufacturing now, because our next guest says, as an industry it gets a bad rap. Especially with young people. And that's an issue because the industry predicts that there will be a manufacturing workforce shortfall of up to 40,000 later this decade To discuss, Catherine Lye from Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa, joins Jesse.

A new play about Helen Clark is set to hit Auckland's ASB Waterfront Theatre this April 'Helen Clark in Six Outfits' tracing her journey from a Waikato farm girl to New Zealand's first elected female Prime Minister. The play is written by award winning playwright Fiona Samuel, who wrote last year's Pike River, she tells Clark's story through the lens of her wardrobe, highlighting how often Clark was judged on her appearance, rather than her political shrewdness. Fiona Samuel who was awarded 'the member of the New Zealand order of merit' for services to television and theatre joins Jesse.

A council in Amberley Beach - north of Christchurch - is proposing what could become the country's first planned coastal retreat. The costal adaptation plan gives owners of the towns 109 properties the option to move to a new site further in land. Land the council have already purchased for $3.8 million But as seen at a fiery public meeting last week not all of Amberley Beach's current residents are happy with the plan Jesse talks to Hurunui District Council Mayor Marie Black.