RNZ: Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan

Wallace Chapman and producer Jose Barbosa preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.

The Kakapo Files podcast is back with what is set to be the biggest breeding season of all time for our favourite parrot. To listen to the full episode head here. If you're keen to watch the Kakapo Cam, which is livestreaming from the nest of Rakiura the kakapo, 24 hours a day, hit this link. The Kakapo Files and Our Changing World will be back every Wednesday here on Afternoons, but from next week, they'll be at the new time of 1:45.

Singer-songwriter Katie Waissel shot to fame on The X Factor in 2010, the same season that launched One Direction. Since then, she's spoken candidly about abuse, exploitation, and what she believes is the industry's failure to protect young artists. Now an outspoken advocate for artists' rights, she's involved in O-W-H-L, a group pushing the industry to take real responsibility for the people it profits from.

It's time for Bookmarks, and today we're joined by celebrated playwright and director Hone Kouka A special 30th anniversary production of his play 'Waiora Te Ukaipo - The Homeland' returns to the stage this March with the Auckland Theatre Company Hone Kouka joins Jesse from our Wellington studio to share his picks of what to watch, read and listen to. His picks: Books One Hundred Years of Solitude Marquez. Potiki Patricia Grace. Any novel by Haruki Murakami. Voss Patrick White. Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller Music: Geese / Cameron Winter Crusades. Bailter Space X. Taua MA. I Want Your Love Chic. Freddie Freeloader Miles Davis. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man Prince Films: One Battle After Another. Anything by Akira Kurosawa. Finding Forrester. Ngati. Wings of Desire / Paris Texas Podcasts: Economics for Rebels. Thinking Basketball. Cric info Stump Mic

Kelly Gibney is back with her first Easy Eats recipe for 2026. The recipe is here! A few shortcuts like store-bought pastry and frozen spinach make this beautiful tart come together quickly on a weeknight. Parmesan, lemon zest and plenty of fresh basil make the filling super fresh and fragrant. Serve with a big green salad and lemony olive oil dressing for a lovely dinner or bring along to shared meals and picnics. It's delicious warm or cold. Don't skip the pine nuts. They add a tasty, toasty flavour and the texture is fantastic.

It's time for Heading Of, our chance to travel to places from the comfort of our homes. This week we are off to the United States with Nick Robinson, who late last year did a road trip around the South, covering 7 states in 2 weeks.

Most of us have been back at work for a couple of weeks now and some of you might be realising your job is no longer sparking joy. In fact, according to our next guest, three quarters of us would change careers if we felt we could. It's easy to come up with reasons not to take the plunge - but what about reasons to just do it? Career coach and head of the Career Development Association Jennie Miller joins Jesse to discuss.

Over the weekend a brand-new theater opened on Hamilton's Victoria street, it kicked off with an opening show from Teeks on Friday and spent the weekend hosting Dave Dobbyn. The Waikato Regional Theatre is the long-anticipated replacement to Founders Theater, which closed almost a decade ago. But unlike Founders Theatre, it is right in the CBD. Graeme Ward was the project lead on the new theater and has been involved from the start. He speaks to Jesse.

There's Verian, Reid Research, Ipsos, Curia, all of which survey Kiwis to - theoretically - give a sense of how we're feeling about the parties and politicians. But, how much do we really know about these polls? How are they conducted, are they trustworthy, and are they really indicative of how New Zealanders feel about their political options? Dr Nicole Satherley is a senior researcher at iNZight Analytics, and in 2023 she co-authored the paper 'Understanding Public Opinion Polling in Aotearoa New Zealand'.

Wallace Chapman and producer Tessa Guest preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.

For a healthy 2026, ignore most of what you hear from the multi-billion-dollar wellness industry and just eat the ice cream.

Elliot Childs with his pick of podcasts: Talk Easy and In the Dark Season 2: Blood Relatives (The New Yorker)

With a week or so left of school holidays for some, it's a great chance to get kids in front of books not screens .. Catherine Ross is the Director of Library at Auckland Grammar School and joins me now with recommendations for younger readers. For Ages 10+ Serafina and the Black Cloak Robert Beatty Spark Hunter (Aotearoa Book) Sonya Wilson For Ages 11-12+ Small Spaces By Katherine Arden For Ages 13+ The Raven Boys By Maggie Stiefvater

We're introducing a new segment where we speak with a local mayor about what's happening in their area... the challenges they're facing... how they're working to solve them... and what makes their community special. First up is Tararua District Mayor Scott Gilmore

It's Tuesday the 27th of January and for many of you, the school holidays are still going. Some of you might in fact be wondering if they will ever actually end. Lots of you are back in the office and now juggling parenting, work, weather woes and children. But we are here to help! To give us some ideas on surviving the final couple of weeks Jesse is joined by Parenting Place's Dayna Galloway.

Whether it's a story idea, interview request or a correction, we love hearing from you. Briana emailed us over the break with an issue she was hoping we could put to Ruud "The Bug Man" Kleinpaste. Because we're happy to help where we can, Ruud joins me now to hopefully solve Briana's problem and take any other questions you might have. Do text us 2101.

Did you set a New Year's Resolution? And more importantly, have you stuck to it? Global data and research shows that weight loss and health related goals are consistently people's number one New Year's Resolution, but experts are concerned that meeting such resolutions might see people choosing the likes of Ozempic or Wegovy as an easier solution. While a lot has been said and written about going on Ozempic; what happens after you've been on it for a while, or try to go off it? Registered dietitian and co-founder of The Food Tree website Rachael Wilson chats to Jesse.

Over the last few months there has been consistently heated debate around the tactics, and indeed presence of, immigration agents in the United States. That debate has reached fever pitch after the death of nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. This isn't the first fatal incident involving ICE agents, Alex Pretti is the second US citizen killed in Minneapolis this month. So what is going on? And why does it seem that wherever you look there is a different narrative surrounding what took place and who is to blame? Washington DC correspondent Simon Marks joins Jesse.

"This is Donald Trump's world and we're all just living in it", so begins the annual issue of The Economist magazine's "The World Ahead in 2026" edition. Every year, we kick off the new year talking to Tom Standage, Deputy Editor of The Economist and Editor of the special issue that gives us a cheat sheet for what we might expect to see in world events. 2026 will continue to be a year of Trump shaking things up and the world trying to adjust. Standage and his team also say 2026 will also be the year of cheaper GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, peak wine consumption and possibly the end of the Commonwealth Games.

TV Critic, actor, and writer Michelle Langstone joins Jesse to discuss what's worth watching - or not - on the telly. The Pitt - Season Two (Neon) Frauds - TVNZ+

Time now for our expert feature - this is your chance to pick the brains of someone who knows their stuff on anything from wedding planning, space, cosmetic dentistry to dinosaurs. Today's subject is part science part philosophy ... we're looking at perception and how our brains work. Do you have an inner voice? Do we all see colours the same? How do optical illusions work? Whatever your question is, text us on 2101 or afternoons@rnz.co.nz on the email. Cognitive Neuroscientist and Auckland Uni Professor, Paul Corballis tries to answer them.

After two on a Monday means it's time to hit the clubs! Jesse has chatted to the Hawkes Bay Racing Lawnmower Club ... the Christchurch Quilters... Manawatu Cactus and Succulent Society among others. If you have a club you'd like Jesse to join for the day, please get in touch .. we'd love to hear from you on afternoons@rnz.co.nz Today, we're talking to Warren Harris from Ham Radio Club.

It's an anniversary day for many in the North Island, but today also marks Australia Day so to find out what's happening in OZ to mark it, we're joined by our man on the ground Brad Foster. Brad shares this year's Australian of the Year, update on the recent spate of shark attacks and some sport!

Mustering the energy to walk the Te Araroa trail is one thing, carrying an extra load while you do it, is another feat entirely. But that's exactly what one British hiker has done. Katie Evans has been on the trail since November, she was deep in the woods near the Lake Sumner stretch when she came across a little black kitten. Katie joins us from our Christchurch studio to tell us what happens next.

Conversations about AI seem to be everywhere, the pros, the cons, the what ifs, the why nots, the list goes on. On Afternoons we've spent time discussing how AI can affect learning. On one hand it's wonderful that you can type a question into your device and get an immediate answer, on the other hand, it takes away the chance to research, to consider, some might say to actually think critically. Are we doing ourselves, and younger people, a disservice by letting AI give us all the answers? To discuss, Professor Deborah Brown, director of Queensland Universities 'Critical Thinking Project', joins Jesse.

Right we're off to Mosgiel to talk to retired farmer Geoff Neilson. You see, Geoff and his wife Ailsa are the recipients of a new award from six major Welsh farming organisations. Since the 1970s Geoff and Ailsa have hosted over a hundred young Welsh famers on their Southern sheep farm ... that effort has now been recognised with the "International Relations Award"

We're starting our first show of 2026 looking at the tragic events at Mt Maunganui. While lots of locals are still in a state of shock and sadness over the deadly landslide, for some that's turned to anger. A few officials have described the event as "unprecedented", but others are saying we should've seen it coming. Bryce Edwards, director of The Democracy Project, joins Jesse to discuss.

Did you know we have nine mistletoes native to New Zealand? Meet Peraxilla tetrapetala, the endemic red mistletoe! They are especially slow growing and rely on birds such as tui and bellbirds for pollination and seed dispersal. The flowers have an explosive bud opening mechanism triggered by birds when they try to get to the nectar inside. Unlike its overseas cousins, this mistletoe is endangered due to possum browsing, habitat decline and low bird numbers and should not be collected!

Weekend stuff with Lynda Hallinan

Manager of Auckland Council's Kitchen Project Connie Clarkson joins me now with a divine sounding dish. The recipe is here

Our critic Dom Corry shares his picks from the latest crop of new releases. Avatar: Fire and Ash, released in theaters this week. The Housemaid, which is in theaters Christmas Day.

On Monday we spoke with the director of 'The Age Of Disclosure' about his new documentary on UFO's .. which are now officially known as UAP's or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. Loads of you got in touch with your own theories, and stories. Including Peter Hassall, he's the author of 'The NZ Files' - a history of UFO sightings in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

The irony of course is that despite it being the season when people come together to break bread and party, it's also an increasingly stressful time for many. And what do you do when you're stressed? You call Chris Parker. Chris is withe Jesse to share his Christmas survival guide.

Could human tears be the key to diagnosing Parkinson's disease? Well, that's what some New Zealander researchers are trying to find out. Parkinson's disease affects more than 12,000 New Zealanders and is the fastest-growing chronic neurological disorder in the world. New Zealander researchers are leading a world-first study looking at tears and the role they might play in early diagnosis of Parkinson's. Dr Victor Dieriks Senior Research Fellow at University of Auckland and the lead researcher for this study.

It's been a huge week in New Zealand sport - but not so much for action on the field. This morning news broke of the resignation of New Zealand Cricket chief executive Scott Weenick, which comes less than 24 hours after Netball New Zealand announced CEO Jennie Wyllie has quit. RNZ sports reporter Dana Johannsen has been across it all and joins Jesse in the studio to discuss.

Time to talk money matters now, personal financial whizz Mary Holm is with Jesse and today she's looking at mortgages and whether it is better to pay them down or invest.

It's time for A-Z of Aotearoa, where we take you through a subject that plays a huge role in New Zealand life. We're working our way down the Alphabet from A for Aviation to Z. This week we officially cross the halfway point with the 14th letter of the alphabet - N We considered Nuclear Free, The Nikau Pine, and the NZX, but we landed on N for Northland or Te Reo Maori Te Tai Tokerau. Home to just over 200,000 of us, or 16 people per square kilometer, as well as places like Ninety Mile Beach, Kai Iwi Lakes, Bay of Islands, and our tallest tree Tane Mahuta. Sometimes referred to as the Birthplace of the nation, its history stretches all the way back to the 13th century. Ralph Johnson and Peter De Graaf chat to Jesse.

It's time to talk about the topics clogging up your group chats, the conversations offering respite from Christmas chaos. It's our last chat of 2025 so we've got the whole gang together, Culture 101's Perlina Lau, film critic Kate Rodger and Afternoons Senior Producer Olivia Wilson. Today they talk about: the BBC versus President Donald Trump, voice messages and highlights of 2025.

The country's first on-site 3D-printed home has been built in South Auckland's Waiuku While a small number of 3D-printed concrete houses have already been built in New Zealand, this is the first one to be constructed entirely on-site. The four-bedroom house was built layer by layer using a computer-controlled concrete pour. The result is being billed as an energy-efficient, durable home constructed in a fraction of the time and with minimal waste. Amcrete director and experienced Master Builder Kirill Ilin talks to Jesse.

As diagnoses of autism and ADHD rise, more people are thinking about how their homes can better support neurodivergent needs The aim of neurodivergent-friendly design is to help reduce stress and improve mood and focus. Eddie Page is an Australian architect and co-founder of firm Maxwell & Page. He speaks to Jesse.

A huge study has been underway to find prime locations for underwater turbines, which are powered by the tides - something known as Tidal Stream Energy. As it turns out, the Cook Strait might be the perfect place, and researchers estimate that Aotearoa could produce up to 93 percent of the electricity it currently using methods like underwater turbines. To give us his reaction, Craig Stevens, Professor of Physics at the University of Auckland chats to Jesse.

Today marks an important anniversary in New Zealand's aviation history. 75 years ago today, the ribbon was cut on Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand's first international airport. President of the Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand Reverand Dr Richard Waugh joins Jesse for a bit of a history lesson.