RNZ: Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan

Time now for Our Changing World, and this week we're catching up with William Ray who has been out in the bush around Wellington with a crew of conservationists looking to bring a rare native plant back from the brink of extinction.

Here's a simple idea that explains a lot about how the world works: "I know that you know that I know." It might sound complicated, but it's the reason we stop at red lights or believe money has value says Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker. But when people start to have their own truths, when facts are not shared, we can get in to trouble. Dr Pinker unravels this idea that makes in the world go round in his new book, When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows: Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life. Dr. Pinker is coming to New Zealand in February for an evening of smart, stimulating conversation. Tickets are available here.

Eggs are an easy dinner option midweek. Here they create a savoury spin on French toast, This is a flavour-packed version where eggs are whisked together with parsley, ham, cheese and a little mustard. Thick slices of bread are then soaked briefly before being pan-fried. A very simple little tomato salad makes for a lovely topping.

Time for our weekly travel segment Heading Off. Many of you will have been on holiday and been desperate to stay longer than planned - usually logistics and life get in the way. But that wasn't the case for our next guest, Alex Bell has just returned home after 18 months of travelling, originally he planned to be gone for only three.

In some exciting news for their fans, or anyone who wants to relive the 90s, Push Push is reuniting to celebrate 35 years of that hit single. I'm joined by the band's frontman, the one and only Mikey Havoc.

Aucklanders, this is news you need to know, congestion charging is coming. A Government bill to bring it in passed its third reading in parliament, and that means it will pass into law. Congestion charging is already seen in cities like London, Singapore and New York City, and usually involves charging motorists to enter the central city at peak times. Auckland will be the first city of the ranks - then it could be rolled out in other cities. To tell us what it might look like here, Matt Lowrie from transport think tank 'Greater Auckland' joins Jesse.

If you've heard any news at all today, you'll be aware the Independent Police Conduct Authority has released a report into the Police's handling of complaints about former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming McSkimming hit the news earlier this year when he resigned from his post. At the time Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the allegations against him were "of a very serious nature". McSkimming was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to possessing objectionable material on his work laptop. But it turns out there was much more to this story, and the investigation into McSkimming, than that. Here to explain all the ins and outs of this case is RNZ political reporter Giles Dexter.

It's time now for a new season of the RNZ podcast Thrift and this week host Katy Gossett investigates some cheap tweaks that can help turn your rental property into a home. Today we meet an expert renter and op-shopping queen whose homely hacks won't stretch the budget.

We've got a weekly segment called 'You're the Judge' where we present an issue that's been sent in by one of our listeners, and you, our audience, decide what the right course of action is.

"Just be yourself" is one of the worst pieces of advice out there says Psychologist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic. Authenticity and some diversity programs that encourage people to 'be themselves' often lead to failure he says. Dr Chamorro-Premuzic explains that the most successful people aren't intensely authentic, they're experts at reading a room, adapting, and understanding where the right to be yourself ends and our obligation to others begins. His new book is called Don't Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated.

Let's find out what's happening in Australia now Brad Foster is with us now to tell us what everyone is talking about across the Tasman. Today's topics - How a Neo-Nazi rally in Sydney on Saturday got permission to be held and why tobacco sales are soaring on the Australian black market.

A few weeks ago Pip Adam was lucky enough to be part of the launch of Laura Vincent's new novel Hoods Landing. Today she chats to Jesse about three book things related to Hood's Landing. Overseas Experience by Nicola Andrews (Aporo Press, 2025) local loser podcast with host Damien Levi The Whitireia Publishing Course - Aotearoa New Zealand's only full-time industry-led qualification in book publishing.

Tim Batt joins Jesse to explain why he hates smart devices. This is off the back of Google no longer supporting some of its smart thermostats in the United States.

Sir Ernest Shackleton's Trans-Antarctica Expedition - between 1914 and 1917 - has been described as one of the greatest adventures of all time. While photos were taken during the expedition - the full voyage hasn't been documented visually, until now. Antarctic and maritime artist Sean Garwood has spent years compiling photographs and studying accounts of the expedition and has now brought the story to life through oil paintings.

Nearly 3,000 hectares of Tongariro National Park have been turned to ash by fires that started on Saturday. That's about three thousand full size rugby pitches of old growth and native plants burnt - some completely. As the ash starts to settle, the process of understanding what has been lost is being revealed, Jesse is joined by Project Tongariro Chief Executive Kiri Te Wano.

An article by RNZ journalist Gaurav Sharma takes readers behind the scenes of the Indian business community in the Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe and reveals the lengths many shop owners are going to in order to stay safe. Along with fog cannons, bollards and security doors, some jewellery retailers have installed cages within their stores, protecting them and their products. Gurdeep Singh, owner of Pooja Jewellers, talks to Jesse.

This week on Here Now..... Kadambrai Raghukumar covers the current conflict is Sudan. Sh speaks to those in New Zealand who fled the Violence of 2003 who share their grief and hope over what's happening in their homeland.

Today we acknowledge the death of Lee Tamahori, Ngati Porou, the pioneering Kiwi filmmaker behind 'Once Were Warriors' and 'Mahana'. Jesse speaks to actress Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, the star of his 2023 film 'The Convert'.

Going out in public became dreadfully uncomfortable for 75-year-old Dave Richards after an accident with a drunk driver four years ago in Devon, England. His bike got caught under the car, dragging him on the asphalt, tearing away much of his face, nose and neck. Surgeons had to remove his eye and cover the damaged area with a skin graft. The accident that nearly took his life, took his confidence until a team of experts at the Bristol 3D Medical Centre stepped in. Using advanced 3D scanning, design, and printing, they are rebuilding Dave Richards' face. Misha Newnham is one of the reconstructive scientists at the first of its kind centre in the UK. She explains this remarkable new technology and how it's pushing the boundaries of reconstructive medicine.

Today we are joined by Police cold case specialist Detective Superintendent Darryl Sweeney.

For a while now we've run a segment called Jesse's Cold Call where Jesse picks up the phone, dials an organisation at random, and hopes to find someone to have a yarn with. He's called all the information centres around the country and some iwi radio stations. So, given all the chat about hornets, we thought today we'd try our luck with a pest controller.

Let's talk about what's good to watch on the small screen. Claire Chitham tells Jesse about the new seasons of The Diplomat and The Twelve.

Next time you're tucking into a pāua fritter, spare a thought for those who are doing everything they can to help replenish our depleted pāua populations. An aquafarming family in the Marlborough Sounds has been doing just that for almost 25 years. They have been repopulating parts of the country's coastline by growing tiny pāua in tanks. Mike Radon from Arapawa Blue Pearls joins Jesse to tell him all about it.

This Wednesday, pipers will pay homage to AC/DC when they descend on Fed Square in Melbourne to smash the record for the largest ever bagpipe ensemble. They're hoping for around 350 players to show up. The music video for "It's a Long Way to the Top" was filmed in the same spot in 1976, and one of the original pipers was Les Kenfield. He joins Jesse for a chat.

While Gaza continues to capture the world's attention, the West Bank has also experienced a dramatic escalation of violence. Aid agencies are reporting that it's suffering near economic collapse, widespread hunger and schools and people living in fear. Christchurch man Cole Martin spent six months there in a refugee camp and has just returned home. He tells Jesse about his experience.

Jesse chats to Forest and Bird Chief Executive about this week's critter. Huberia striata belongs to the only fully New Zealand endemic genus of ant. Widespread throughout Aotearoa, they nest underground in native bush. Like other ant species, they are known to farm plant hoppers and scale insects by keeping them safe in their nest and then milking them for their sweet honeydew secretions. Their name comes from the fact that their body is covered in long thin lines (striations), making them look wrinkly!

Jesse chats to Forest and Bird Chief Executive about this week's critter. Huberia striata belongs to the only fully New Zealand endemic genus of ant. Widespread throughout Aotearoa, they nest underground in native bush. Like other ant species, they are known to farm plant hoppers and scale insects by keeping them safe in their nest and then milking them for their sweet honeydew secretions. Their name comes from the fact that their body is covered in long thin lines (striations), making them look wrinkly!

Auckland Council's The Kitchen Project manager Connie Clarkson joins Jesse to chat food. Today her recipe is gado gado with peanut sauce. Gado Gado means "mix mix" in Indonesian Gado-gado is a traditional Indonesian salad made of a medley of cooked or raw vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, fried tofu, all brought together with a rich peanut sauce. The name literally translates to "mix-mix," So versatile: use any combination of vegetables - waxy potatoes, kumara, beans, asparagus, - great for leftovers.

Film critic Kate Rodger joins us to share her film recommendations. Predator Badlands - in cinemas TOITU: Visual Sovereignty - go here to see venues

Time for Freaky Friday. Our home for your spooky stories, terrifying tales and eerie encounters If you have a story to share, be that a ghost, a UFO, or something else unexplained we want to hear from you. Send us a brief outline of your tale to 2101 and we'll add it to the list. After last week's Halloween special, we're taking a step away from ghosts and going for something a bit different this week. And for that Margaret from Makorori joins Jesse.

A new six-part video series that dives into the world of perfumery in Aotearoa kicks off on Monday. Journey of Scent is billed as a sensory adventure that takes us into a world that we rarely get to see. It stars Nathan Taare and Whitney Steel who join me now.

Canterbury nursery manager Jake Linklater has won the prestigious Young Horticulturist of the Year trophy. He won the title last night after an intensive two-day competition. Jake also took out the Best Practice Award and the Sustainability Award, he joins Jesse.

Changes to our genetic modification laws have our scientists and politicians struggling to agree on a way forward. Over the last few weeks we have been discussing various aspects of the gene tech bill which has stalled in Parliament. We've spoken to Professor Andrew Allan and Professor Jack Heinemann for their take on the issue. Today... we want to delve into the labelling of food... because how would we know if the food we're eating is genetically modified? Emily King is a food systems expert and the author of Re-food - she is urging caution over changes to our GM laws and labelling.

Big news for the film industry today, with the Government announcing a major boost to the screen production rebate scheme. The rebate allows film companies and producers to receive cash back from money spent here during production. The main changes revealed this morning are that the current rebate could go from 20 to 25 percent, the minimum spend for feature films to qualify for the rebate will be lowered, and the threshold for productions to access the extra 5% will drop ... to help attract more bid budget productions. It's hoped that changes - that come into force from January - will lift our competitiveness against other countries around the world. Kelly Martin is the CEO of South Pacific Pictures and talks to Jesse.

It seems our children aren't so engaged with locally made content. That's according to new research which has also revealed that parents don't know where to find local shows. The survey - commissioned by NZ On Air - has prompted the agency to launch a dedicated hub on YouTube for our kids. To find out more about this NZ On Air's head of funding Amie Mills is with Jesse.

Today the focus is on debt and diversification.

It's Melbourne Cup week and we're thrilled to have trainer Sheila Laxon with us. In 2001, Sheila was the first female trainer to win the Melbourne Cup, with a horse named Ethereal. Last year she became the first woman to win it twice when Knight's Choice crossed the line first. The success doesn't stop there, earlier this year she was honored at the NZ Thoroughbred Racing Awards. Sheila chats to Jesse.

Time now to talk through the content filling up your group chats, the conversation fodder distracting you from the task at hand. Joining Jesse is film critic and friend of the show Kate Rodger and Senior Producer Lucy Walker.

If you're in Invercargill on a Friday or Saturday night you might catch the bright lights and booming sound of a karaoke taxi. Josh Coats created Super Ridez just five months ago - and it's already proving a popular option for party goers.

Two of New Zealand's most well-known and celebrated creative voices have come together for a new staging of the iconic play Woman Far Walking. Written by Witi Ihimaera and directed by Katie Wolfe, the play follows the life of a Maori woman born in 1840, the year the treaty of Waitangi was signed, as she travels through our history. This version of the play is called Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking, and it has an updated script with English and te reo Maori weaved together. Katie Wolfe chats to Jesse.

We're want to talk about climate change, and more specifically whether policy makers are throwing in the towel on the climate battle. It's a question we're asking because Climate Change Minister Simon Watts has announced changes to the Climate Change Response Act. The biggest amendment seems to be the proposal to end the current requirement for the Climate Change Commission to advise the Government on the country's emissions reduction plans. It would also mean the public would no longer be consulted on national emissions budgets. Across the ditch, Australia's conservative political parties are looking at dropping their commitment to hit net zero emissions by 2050. These changes got us wondering whether our individual actions can still make a difference.

Susana catches up with Our Changing World's Claire Concannon, who has recently travelled to the Waikato to learn more about the gold clam.