Podcasts about Jack Tame

The Green Party is proposing sweeping energy reforms, aimed at slashing household power bills and stripping market dominance from major electricity corporations with the establishment of a new publicly owned electricity entity named Kiwipower which would compete directly with the four major electricity providers, which control over 85% of both retail and generation markets, and build a more resilient network with the funding of solar power schemes.Christopher Luxon was very clear on RNZ this morning that when their budgets changes because "we take our costings as best we can at the time" and that "construction costs bounce around a lot" that is fine, but if Labour's budgets say for ferries or Auckland light rail change then it's a mismanagement from a feckless government.P aul Henry has announced his candidacy for the ACT Party list. He says while the decision came together quickly, he wants to be in parliament to create a better future for his ten grandchildren. He joined Jack Tame to discuss what that future might look like.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Kevin Milne feared he might “never see my wife again” as she drove off in a car with Sir Sam Neill for horse-riding lessons, but the equally shy pair were instead like “two 15-year-olds on a first date”. The former Fair Go presenter this morning shared a touching story of when his wife Linda Milne helped the future movie superstar prepare for his role in the 1979 Australian period drama My Brilliant Career. Linda's experience matched the contrast between the “commanding characters that the great man played and the quiet, almost shy, person he was personally”, Milne told Newstalk ZB's Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame. Tributes for the Kiwi star of the big screen best known for his leading role in Jurassic Park have been shared around the world since he died aged 78 of pneumonia in a Sydney hospital on Monday. “I've a story that goes back to when Sam had just become a household name in New Zealand [after] he had played the lead role of Smith in Sleeping Dogs [in 1977]”, Milne told Tame. The couple had known Neill for a year or two when he called asking if Linda could coach him on how to manage a horse on hills, as he'd just landed a role in My Brilliant Career. Sam Neill needed to hone his horse-riding skills for a starring role in 1979 Australian period drama My Brilliant Career. “Sam was a lad of gentle charm and exceptionally good looks. For Linda, a very shy 22-year-old, the thought of spending an afternoon on her own with the gorgeous Sam Neill freaked her a bit. “Anyway, they head off in the car together, two gorgeous people on the journey to where Linda kept her horse. I feared I might never see my wife again.” But Linda quickly discovered the accomplished actor whose future credits would include The Piano and Hunt for the Wilderpeople was “every bit as shy as she was”. “As they drove along, not only was she struggling to get a sentence out to Sam, but the star of Sleeping Dogs was having equal difficulty thinking of what to say to her. “They were like two 15-year-olds on a first date. For a long time, she says, there was awkward silence.” A stop at the dairy helped break the ice when his wife Linda Milne, left, helped actor Sam Neill prepare a role in 1979's My Brilliant Career, says former Fair Go presenter Kevin Milne, centre. Also pictured is Tommie Milne, the youngest of Kevin and Linda Milne's four children. Photo / Hagen Hopkins Fortunately, a shop came into view, Milne said. “Sam broke the ice … ‘Shall we stop at the dairy and I'll buy some Summer Rolls?' A very sweet offer from the movie star, which Linda accepted. “Communications must have improved enough for Linda to show Sam how to handle a horse on hills, because the following year we watched him do it up on the big screen, so strikingly, so elegantly in the highly successful My Brilliant Career.” Cherie Howie is an Auckland-based reporter who joined the Herald in 2011. She has been a journalist for more than 20 years and specialises in general news and features. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gin Wigmore is exploring the duality of life in her new album. Her first studio album in eight years, ‘Beautiful Mess' is a chronical of the last decade of her life – the highs and lows, love, loss, divorce, parenthood, and the complexities of rebuilding oneself. “Life is messy,” Wigmore told Jack Tame. “It's not all, you know, roses and apple blossoms ... and to tell the full picture of anyone's story, there's gonna be beautiful parts, there's gonna be messy parts, there's gonna be heartache, loss, love... all of it.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes what seems like the best option isn't always the best. When it comes to investing and KiwiSaver, it may seem like frequent swaps to whatever seems to be bringing in the best return is a good decision, but that may not be true. A recent study looked at what would happen if someone switched their fund managers every year, moving to the company that got the highest return over the last twelve months – turns out, they'd actually make less than if they'd stayed. Ed McKnight joined Jack Tame to chat about the study and the dangers of chasing winners. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tale told in two halves, Gin Wigmore's new album deals with the duality of life. ‘Beautiful Mess' delves into the past decade of her life and the way she navigated love, loss, divorce, parenthood, and the complex nature of rebuilding herself. Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame to share his thoughts on the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the biggest moment of serendipity or coincidence in your life? I can't say I've had anything too spooky; a few random encounters that have made me think ‘whoa...' I was in Versailles in France, standing in a gift shop, perusing a bookshelf, when I realised the person standing immediately next to me was an old friend from Christchurch. Neither of us had any idea the other was in Europe, let alone France, let alone the palace. A minute or two either way and we would have been ships in the night. There must be so many of those narrowly missed connections in life. Certainly no coincidence or serendipity in my life can come anywhere near that of the world's greatest football player and the young man whom many people believe is the closest thing to his heir apparent. The photo has been everywhere over the last few days, but if you haven't yet seen it... it's a doozy. In 2007, Lionel Messi, a young star on Barcelona's globally-famous football team, was roped in to a photoshoot for UNICEF. Lamine Yamal's parents entered a competition in the local newspaper to win a photoshoot for their baby with a famous sports star. The rest is history. In the photos, Messi cares for a chubby little baby. In one photo he gives him a bubble bath. In another, he cradles the baby in his arms. It's a bit awkward and dated. Apparently as a 20-year-old, Messi had absolutely no idea how to hold a baby and you definitely get that impression in the photos. But it wouldn't be notable today except for the fact that the 5-month-old little chubster in the photo is now also the star of Barcelona's globally famous football team, and that 19 years since they met for the first time, these two extraordinary stars of the world's most popular sport are about to play each other for the very first time in the Football World Cup Final. What are the chances? Honestly. Just try and consider a fraction of the different variables that need to line up to make Monday morning happen. First of all, you need the photoshoot. It needs to be with a Barcelona player. Not just any player, but the player who will in years to come be widely considered the greatest to ever take a football field. Then you need to win the raffle, not just with any kid, but with a kid who will also become a professional football player. Not just any player, mind you, but the wunderkind of the Spanish national team, one of the world's best-known players in the best-known sport, and a star of the very same club as the guy who held him in the photo. Then, the two have to make their respective national teams in the same Football World Cup. One of them, as one of the youngest players in the tournament, the other as one of the oldest. Those two teams need to be on separate sides of the draw. They need to both make the final. You thought Lotto's had long odds? The likelihood of all of these things happening is absolutely preposterous. Because I'm a total nerd, I follow a subreddit on social media where people pose silly maths questions, and members of the community show their workings to try and solve them. I knew as soon as Argentina qualified for the final and the photo of Messi and Yamal started trending once again, there'd be a robust debate about the statistical probability of these events. While all the posters agree there are too many variables to get a perfect answer, the best efforts this week put the probability at somewhere between one in 59 billion, and one in three quadrillion. It makes you think that little bit harder about the random encounters in your own life. Who knows if that person you randomly bump into and almost immediately forget, could in years to come, be one of the most important people in your life? The photographer who shot Messi and Yamal almost two decades ago was interviewed about the experience this week. It's hard to disagree with his take. As the two stars of his photoshoot prepare to meet once again and face off in the biggest stage in sport, he was asked for his thoughts: “a true miracle of destiny”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iron deficiencies are more common than one might think. It's the most common nutrient deficiency in New Zealand, and on a global scale, with research suggesting approximately 2 billion people struggle with low iron. Who is most likely to be affected by an iron deficiency, how can you tell, and how can you increase your iron levels? Dr Libby Weaver joined Jack Tame to run through some facts about the common affliction. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rolling Stones continue to roll on. They've just released their 25th studio album, ‘Foreign Tongues', a 14-track record that was recorded in just under a month in West London. It reunites the band with producer Andrew Watt and features guest appearances from Paul McCartney, Robert Smith, Steve Winwood, and Chad Smith, as well as a song recorded with Charlie Watts prior to his passing. Chris Schulz has been listening to the album, and joined Jack Tame to share his thoughts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you do to pass the time on a plane? Kevin Milne has just returned from another trip to Christchurch, flying back home yesterday after attending a family funeral. The flight path takes them right alongside the Southern Alps and Kaikoura Range, a stunning view that much to Kevin's surprise, was being mostly ignored by other passengers. He joined Jack Tame with a question: why do people read books and magazines when there are astonishing views outside the window? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby League, international cricket, the Olympics, Super Rugby – you name it, Laura McGoldrick is there. She's one of the country's best-known broadcasters, and has had quite a diverse career, working as a TV presenter, radio host, MC, and an actress. McGoldrick has just returned from the official ICC broadcast of the Women's T20 World Cup, and joined Jack Tame for a chat about her life as a sport's broadcaster. "I don't think sport's going anywhere,” she told Tame. “It's the freest entertainment you can get, and I think one of the things I love so much about it is that I can turn up on any given day, and I have absolutely no idea what's going to happen, and neither do you as the viewer.” “That's what makes it very exciting.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm in Wellington for Matariki weekend to see family and celebrate a mate's 40th. But being Wellington and being the mid-winter school holidays, it was about 4C yesterday at my parents-in-law's house. The wind and rain were coming in sideways, and though I always insist on getting young kids outside and running them as much as possible, most of yesterday was spent in the lounge. With three generations and four kids under ten in a confined space, board games and books will only get you so far. Enter the old family videos. It was the perfect day for it. My father-in-law pulled out a digitised home videos from the early nineties —which by the way, is a great reminder to hurry up and digitise your old videos before it's too late!— and we sat down to marvel and delight at what life for our family used to be. There was something especially quaint about that era of family home videos. It was before the nifty little family handycam era where you'd see tourists documenting every second of their trip to Disneyland. It was earlier, about the very first time the technology made it possible to go and film stuff at home by yourself. Growing up, I remember my mum coming home from work with an enormous contraption. She'd borrowed it for a couple of days, and from memory it almost required its own coalfired boiler just to fire up and start recording. My wife's family's experience was almost exactly the same. A giant camera, super expensive relative to incomes, borrowed for a couple of days. Watching the videos yesterday, I was struck by a few things. First of all, obviously, they really are time capsules, and for whatever reason back then, people just loved to hit record and leave those things rolling. But it means that over 10 or 15 minutes of the same continuous shot, if you really make the effort to observe, you notice all sorts of little details. There's the obvious stuff that has changed: the fashion, the floral print dresses, the bowl haircuts, the moustaches, the knitted sweaters with different fruit on the front. But even little things: kitchens without dishwashers, birthday and party decorations that were saved and recycled, old bedsheets slung to protect the couches. No computers. No cell phones. No screens. The thing that really hit me yesterday was the strength of genetics. Of course, I've seen heaps of photos of my wife and her brother as a kid. But the videos we watched yesterday were the first moving pictures I'd seen of my brother-in-law at about the same age as our nine-year-old is today. It was extraordinary. Just the way the little boy in the video was holding his body, laughing, and moving was so shockingly familiar. I was almost spluttering as I watched it, turning my head from the boy on the TV, across the room, to a near mirror-image of a boy in the flesh, giggling as he watched his uncle on the screen. The other thing that struck me was the value of scarcity. Perhaps I'm romanticising it a bit much, but one of the things that makes the home videos of that era so precious is that there aren't that many of them. Recording a video back then was an event. Not just because of the coal boiler needed to fire the camera into life, but because cameras were super expensive and it took serious planning to organise them. Obviously we've gained a lot by having extraordinary video cameras in our pockets, but I wonder if we've also lost something too. There was a genuine sense of wonder —for all of us, three generations— in sitting down and soaking up scenes from three decades ago. It'd be a shame to think it becomes something my kids just take for granted. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Madonna is returning to the past in her newest album. ‘Confessions II' follows on from her 2005 album ‘Confessions on a Dance Floor', continuing her exploration of dance and electronic music. It's made in conjunction with Stuart Price, who co-wrote and co-produced the 2005 album, and features guest appearances by Sabrina Carpenter, Feid, Stromae, and Madonna's eldest daughter Lola Leon. Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame to share his thoughts on ‘Confessions II'. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne has just returned from a week-long trip to the Garden City and found himself rather impressed with the experience. He told Jack Tame it's not the Christchurch he once knew – it's a brand-new glittering, uber cool replacement. And with how much he enjoyed himself, he had to recommend anyone listening to consider a holiday or long-weekend stay in the city. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The proposed Conservation Amendment Bill has made a lot of headlines of late. The bill modernises regulation of the Department of Conservation's estate, and previously included a clause that would make it easier for conservation land to be sold – which was been removed after significant backlash. Kate Hall is an advocate for sustainability and environmentalism and has looked at both sides of the debate, and her perspective is a nuanced one. She joined Jack Tame to break down her thoughts on the bill, the things she'd support and the things she's more cautious towards. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm not fashionista, but let me tell you… I love a woollen jersey at this time of year. Nothing fancy, but something with a good wool blend, a crew neck, and a classic knit. Practical and timeless. There's a beautiful blue jersey I've had for a few years now that cost a couple of hundred bucks brand new, but on a pure cost-per-wear basis has been an absolute boon. It's good for home, smart enough for the office – I've even worn it on television. On a yearly basis, I might wear it more than any other item of clothing I own. But like any good woollen jersey, time takes a toll. And when I did my summer-winter wardrobe switch this year and pulled out my woollen jersey for another season, my wife expressed concern. “You can't wear that.” “What do you mean?” I asked. “Look at it!” she said. “The pills on that thing are the size of tennis balls!” To be fair, she wasn't wrong. My jersey was covered in them. Not just in the high friction areas, all over. The sleeves, the pits, the neckline, and the back. Pills and frays and fuzz. And as much as I pride myself on not being too wasteful, I'll concede that when I pulled it and checked myself out in the mirror, even I figured maybe my jersey was best relegated to the kids' dressing up box. Enter the fabric shaver, the gadget I never knew I needed. I think I'd seen my wife fussing about with it before, but I'd never really stopped to ask her what she was doing. And while I'm the first to ridicule unnecessary gadgets, I've gotta admit, now I've seen this thing in action up close, I'm a bonafide believer. I realise I'm probably preaching to the converted here but on the off change you've never seen one in action, it's a pretty simple mechanism. For starters, a fabric shaver is not to be confused with a lint roller. It's not an adhesive-dependent gadget. It's a battery-powered device which fits in your palm that has a head with lots of tiny little holes. As you pass the head over your woollen item, the little pills and bits of excess fluff are drawn into the holes and shaved off. As the name suggests, it's not dissimilar to an electric razor, but instead of shaving the fluff off your jawline or your legs, it shaves the front of your favourite blue jersey. As it happens, my wife has become a bit of addict. She reckons there's something soothing about sitting down in front of the telly, passing a buzzing little machine over a much-loved sweater or blanket, observing as its chamber slowly fills with tiny woollen bits. It's not a fast process, but my god, it's effective. Half an hour with the fabric shaver and my favourite blue jersey was totally rejuvenated. A million bucks. In a throwaway world, there is something so satisfying about taking the time and effort to preserve quality. The King does it – getting his cobbler to sew little leather patches onto his old John Lobb shoes. I have a canvas backpack that I've used every day for 12 or 13 years, beaten up during the day, nursed back to health at night. And now we have an even easier way to keep our wool looking sharp. AI or quantum computing might be the technology for the coming century. But if you spot me walking about in my blue jersey this winter, take my word – something altogether more humble is my pick for the technology of the season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 1 July, 2026, we talk to Customs about how much a bust of more than a million illicit cigarettes has dented the black market. Planet Fun chief executive Jeremy Kirksmith tells us why he's so happy with updated toy safety standards. On The Huddle, Jack Tame and Jordan Williams discuss whether a sex offender's name should be permanently suppressed. And Tala restaurant executive chef Henry Onesemo on what his mum told him about being awarded a Michelin star. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Are we surprised judges are still suppressing the names of serial sex offenders? A recent case has raised concerns and sparked debate about this issue - what do we think? A report out today has revealed how much illicit tobacco is out there in New Zealand - are we surprised by these stats? Do we think the issue of school lunches is getting too overcomplicated? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every time I take a drive on the South Island's Great Coast Road (SH6), between Westport and Greymouth, it never fails to cast me under its spell. It's like a heady, implausible mix of Hawai'i and Ireland; of Maui's Road to Hana and the Wild Atlantic Way. On one side, the raw, unbridled foam-flecking power of the ocean tempest; while across the road, fortress-like mountains piercing the sky, draped in thick, lush rainforest. It's a knock-out medley of elemental scenery to thrill all senses. Curiously, the winter months are arguably the best time to savour the Great Coast Road because visitor numbers are thinner yet the weather is typically better. Winter is often the West Coast's driest season with average winter temperatures generally higher than Christchurch and Queenstown. If you're launching your on-road exploratory from Westport, make a date with one of the Pounamu Pathway experience centres. Westport's revitalised Coaltown Museum has reopened as the Museum of Kawatiri, the second experience centre to open along the Pounamu Pathway. Designed and created by Wētā Workshop, it's a stirring celebration of the heritage and intrepid endeavour of the Buller people, underpinned by the lure of pounamu, coal and gold. As you'd expect from Wētā Workshop, there's a lot of tricked-up technological wizardry powering this immersive experience. Heading south along the Great Coast Road, four seasons in one day vividly powered proceedings, with forbidding storm clouds scudding across the sky before yielding to bright sunshine along the gloriously carved coastline, seemingly under assault from the pounding surf. The highway skirts the ancient limestone cliffs of Paparoa National Park and there's a feast of outdoorsy treats to pick and choose from, along the way. If you're up for some hikes, my first suggestion would be Fox River and the Inland Pack Track, starting from the car park at the mouth of the river. Built in 1867 during the gold rush to avoid dangerous coastal travel, the Inland Pack Track gives access to some of the finest features of Paparoa National Park. If the weather is behaving, a great sampler is the 4 hour return walk to the Ballroom Overhang, a colossal 100-metre-long limestone outcrop, that has provided a safe place to shelter for centuries. There are several river crossings along the way, only ankle-deep unless there's been heavy rain. But if the weather has been fine, it's a gem. Another salivating option that isn't so weather-dependent is the Pororari River Gorge loop walk. Doubling as the entry/exit point for the Paparoa Great Walk, the river track follows a spectacular limestone gorge with two main features – a river with huge rocks set amongst deep pools, and beautiful forest featuring subtle changes from subtropical to temperate. It's a two-hour walk, running the gamut across every shade of green. Even the gently flowing water resembles liquid jade. It's a drop-dead gorgeous walk. Keep an eye out for those famous giant snails, Powelliphanta. Their oversized shells come in an array of patterned colours, from reds and browns to yellow and black. (Hurricanes supporters.) They adore earthworms and suck them up through their mouth just like we do with spaghetti. Back on the highway, the karst-strewn landscape of Punakaiki is just five minutes away. Nestled at the base of the thickly forested Paparoa Ranges, the hillsides are thickly stitched in rimu, beech and matai trees, in addition to the striking nikau palms. The national park's visitor information centre is situated on the highway roadside – and after its $40m the monumental transformation, it's now home to the Paparoa Experience. Opened 18 months ago and operated by the local hapu, Ngāti Waewae, this magnificent multi-media exhibition centre was designed by Gibson International. Blending Māori culture with history and geology, it's beautifully crafted and thoroughly entertaining, thrusting you deep into the natural riches of the area, offering all manner of insights on the formation of the Paparoa range, the incredible fossil records like the 30 million year old whale backbone and the karst landscape beneath your feet. A great touch is the blowhole encounter, where you stand inside the surge chamber to feel the blast of wind and waves. But what I really loved is the 180-degree cinematic experience that transports you deep into the wild wonder of Paparoa National Park, celebrating the untouched beauty of the region and the conservation programmes underway to preserve it for future generations. Right across the road, the biggest blockbuster of all is of course an intimate encounter with nature's theatre at Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. remarkable geological formations, which resemble layer upon layer of pancakes, is the result of many centuries of weathering. The formal term for this fantastic tableau is stylobedding. When the tide is high, nature's inter-play of stone and sea is operatic, with the ocean surging into the caverns and booming ferociously through the blowholes. Even the showy waterworks of Las Vegas or Dubai struggle to match this multi-sensory spectacle. Once again, the winter months make this a far less peopled experience. Peckish? Head straight to the Pancake Rocks Café and whistle up their Pancake Stack. It would be rude not to. Freshly fuelled, there's more enchanting hiking options on offer in the area, but the one trail not to miss is the 30 minute Truman Track, which weaves its way through pristine native forest, taking you right to the edge of the Tasman Sea coastline, with a dramatic seascape. It's a banger of a bush walk starting off the highway in a thick forest of podocarp and rātā trees towering above thickets of vine and nīkau palms. The track then transitions through typical West Coast coastal flax flats before climaxing with that blow-your-hair-back seascape, with a sweeping viewing platform elevated above the cliff overhangs and booming ocean. Those overhangs are unstable sandstone bluffs. Previously topped with limestone, that has already been weathered away and now the sandstone remains under relentless attack. A stairway provides access to the beach at low tide, but do not trifle with the ocean at high tide or when the seas are rough. If you're wondering, the track is named in honour of Jim Truman who ran Truman's Department Store in Greymouth. He had a bach opposite the original track which he substantially enhanced. Just before Rapahoe and Runanga, on the approach to Greymouth, one of the money-shot lookout points on the Great Coast Road is the roadside stop by the Strongman Mine Memorial. The immense coastal vista is operatic, with the long sprawl of 9 Mile Beach unfurling before you. Look closely from this lookout and you'll spot a tucked away property, set back from the beach on a terrace, surrounded by ravishing nature's embrace. Best of all, you can stay here! Strung across two acres, Breakers Boutique Accommodation began life as Dr. Barry Dallas' house in the 1970s. He was a Greymouth doctor and also served as Mayor. The story goes that this was Harbour Board land and wasn't meant to have been built on. But hey, when you're the mayor….! Fast forward to today and after many renovations, Jan and Stephen Roberts are the owners of this dreamy property, with dress-circle views over the pounding ocean and the sublime canvas of 9 Mile Beach. There's a variety of accommodation offerings on-site, all very high-spec, stylish and homely, including in the main house, overlooking nature's pageantry. An adjacent wing includes the Nikau Sunset Room, boasting a supremely cosy super-king bed, luxurious bedding and linens and comfortable sitting area, perfectly-positioned for viewing splendour. The guestroom is decorated in warm neutral colourings, using native recycled timbers and beach stones. Be sure to make time to admire the rich trove of art on display around the property, showcasing some of the finest creatives in the area, including Shades of Jade in Greymouth. Their master carver is Jeremy Dalziel. Greymouth's Leftbank Gallery and Punakaiki Crafts are also prominent, as are Kotuku Pottery's exquisite pieces. Jan and Stephen are the most splendid hosts and environmental guardians, somehow managing to distil the essence of gold-standard West Coast hospitality, with a glorified art gallery of local works, including Stephen's magnificent photography; a profusion of first-hand tips on the best walking trails to explore; and on-site dining. Jan whipped me up the most divine homemade pizza for dinner and laid-on a generous breakfast offering, fortifying me for the day ahead. A private track leads down from the Breakers property to Nine Mile Beach. Nine Mile Creek flows down by the bottom of the track, which is backed by a fabulous waterfall. At low tide, dabble in the rock pools at Mussel Point, replete with colourful starfish and millions of mussels. There's also a little blue penguin colony on this beach, which Breakers actively supports through the West Coast Penguin Trust. In-the-know advanced surfers also adore this beach because it has a powerful left break. But I was quite content to remain languid, luxuriating and lounging above the beach, feasting on the ocean panorama as a famed fireball sunset set the Tasman Sea ablaze. Needless to say, it's a photographic feast. Bask in the brilliance of Breakers Beachfront Accommodation. It embodies the best of the West. You will never want to leave. www.breakers.co.nz Mike Yardley is Newstalk ZB's resident traveller and can be heard each week on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVEGreat Coast Road SH6 Photo Tourism West CoastPhoto by Mike YardleySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, it's game day! Strangely, I feel less nervous about today's game than I did for the previous two. Heading into the World Cup, it always felt like the All Whites games were going to get progressively harder. On paper, our best chance was in our first match against Iran, our second best chance was in our second match - but there cannot be many fans, many bookmakers, many pundits on Earth who, before the tournament kicked off, would have backed New Zealand against Belgium. I'm not going to kid myself, they are still very long odds, but the reason I'm not so nervous is because it really felt, to me, like the dream of making it through to the knockout stage of a Football World Cup kind of slipped away in the first 10 minutes of the second half the other day. And yet, one is always reminded that sport is a funny business. And that even though our heads and our hearts are in very different places this morning - it's kind of like a Powerball jackpot. There's nothing wrong with dreaming. So, here's what gives me a little sliver of hope as we stare down the barrel of a must-win contest against what, on paper, must surely be one of the world's best football teams. First of all, Belgium haven't been very good in their first two matches. They haven't fired, they've looked kind of blunt, kind of dull - are some of their superstars maybe a bit long in the tooth? Perhaps. Is today the day they find their edge and fire? Or, come on and dream, is today the day that something crazy happens? Second of all, the All Whites have scored goals. I feel like, for basically the entire history of New Zealand football, we have been a country that has relied on stoic, physical defence, rather than attacking flair. You know what I mean, 7 at the back, clear the ball, hoof it up the field - that kind of football. But in this tournament, we've had flashes of a different kind of football. For me, Eli Just has been the obvious standout performer in our first two matches. Every time he's on the ball, he looks threatening - our midfielder, more technically capable than almost any team we've had in the past. And with Chris Wood as a point man distributing to reinforcements, there have been impressive passages of attack in football, it's been refreshing. The third thing that gives me just a little bit of hope is the p-word: pressure. It is a must-win game for both teams, but basically no-one in the whole footballing universe seriously expects New Zealand to topple the mighty red devil. So what does it mean if the scores are tied after 20 minutes? What does it mean if they're still tied at half-time? What does it mean if, partway through the second half, New Zealand has a moment of glory and snatches the lead? What does it mean when all of those superstars look over to the referees' assistant as they lift their little digital sign in the air - with 8 minutes of the referees' time left? I recently saw this amazing presentation from Richie McCaw and he talked about the All Blacks' 2007 World Cup defeat. And this was his point - pressure. Everyone feels pressure. But when the world's expectation is that you're going to destroy another team, all it takes is a few little sporting twists - a bounce of a ball, a random unlucky deflection, a footballing force majeure - for that pressure to intensify. For what it's worth, I reckon Darren Bazeley needs to take a punt, he needs to get young blood in there, some fresh legs. I want to see Jesse Randall run at the Belgian defence, I think he waited too long to make changes in previous games. And who knows what might happen? It's interesting, Ecuador beat Germany yesterday, for the first really big upset of the Football World Cup. But I think the thing about that game was that there was no jeopardy for the Germans. They had already qualified for the next round, so they were resting their stars and taking it easy. This Football World Cup is still waiting for a really, really big, football universe-shattering upset. Belgium needs to win, we need a win. So come on - why not? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Labour has revealed they're not planning on making changes to the retirement age and leader Chris Hipkins says there are some fundamental questions National needs to answer on its election KiwiSaver policy. Do we agree with this? Why does Labour keep saying no to things? Keir Starmer officially resigned as UK Prime Minister last night. Is this the right move? Will Andy Burnham be a better leader - or at least a good replacement? Gym memberships among Kiwis are on the rise - what do we think of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 23 June, 2026, Auckland University economics expert Susan St John on why we need to go back to a surtax on super. Medicines New Zealand chief executive Graeme Jarvis on why it could be a slow process getting funding for weight-loss drugs. Sports socialist Holly Thorpe tells us what's driving a record number of gym memberships. And on The Huddle, Jack Tame and Maurice Williamson on whether new All Blacks captain Ardie Savea needs to step up in media interviews. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suzy Cato is a cornerstone of Kiwi children's entertainment. Her TV shows and podcasts are beloved by children and adults alike – ‘You and Me' in particular holding a special place in the hearts of the audience who grew up with it. It delivered over 2000 episodes since it began in 1993, and is credited as one of the first children's programmes to weave te reo Māori into everyday conversation. And now, 33 years later, Cato has released a brand-new season of the beloved show on YouTube, saying it's needed in an increasingly fast-paced world. “We've had so many parents say, oh I wish there was something like ‘You and Me', that was slow and gentle and conversational, and would provide kids an oasis the way they had as children,” she told Newstalk ZB's Jack Tame. They've released nine new episodes over the last month or so, and Cato says they've already been getting amazing feedback from parents. “So many of our kids are, you know, so used to, to a faster pace,” she said. “We are getting feedback that the programme is still engaging kids, so that they will be zooming around the room and then they'll come to sit down and actually enjoy some interaction with Auntie Suzy.” 33 years is a bit of a gap, but it was easy enough for Cato to get back into the swing of things when making this new season. “We were very, very lucky – Rex Simpson was an amazing creator,” she told Tame Simpson was the executive producer and director behind programmes like ‘What Now', ‘Play School', and of course, ‘You and Me'. “[He] created such good templates,” Cato explained. “So it was easy to use that template, and we didn't have to change a thing basically." Suzy received a little birthday surprise when she came in for the chat. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American ska punk band has released a new album. Coming thirty years after their last release, ‘Until the Sun Explodes' is the first to feature singer and guitarist Jakob Nowell – replacing his father Bradley who died in 1996. It's the band's fourth and final studio album and a tribute to the late lead singer. Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame to share his thoughts on the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mighty Manhattan is best savoured in bite-sized chunks, to really get a feel for the essence of its respective neighbourhoods and a sense of its soul. Greenwich Village is a star specimen for leisurely inspection, embodying so many classic elements of the Big Apple. Mike Yardley joined Jack Tame to chat about his stay in the area. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recycling is common practice in New Zealand, but are you doing it correctly? Kerbside recycling rules were standardised across the country on February 1st, 2024, but many people are still unaware of what can and can't go in the bin. Kate Hall joined Jack Tame to discuss a few of the things people incorrectly chuck in the recycling, and the impact contamination can have on the system as a whole. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tell you what, there aren't many times in sport I find myself supporting an Australian team. By not many I mean basically none – usually, I'd be delighted to see them getting pumped. The Football World Cup is maybe the only the only occasion I feel differently because it's about the only time the Aussies feel like genuine underdogs. They've had a tough few hours, this morning. The underdog dynamic is one of the unique joys of a Football World Cup. Take Cabo Verde. I'd guess most people wouldn't have the faintest idea where to start trying to find them on a map, and yet they held Spain, the talent-stacked and one of the obvious favourites for the title, to a nil-all draw. Who would've thought scoring no goals could be so exciting?! Another unique joy I love about the World Cup —and I know this sounds bad— is the advertising. You just get biggest brands in the world, with the biggest creative budgets, combining with the biggest icons in the sport. And because football is so simple, it lends itself to really clever little concepts. Take McDonalds. I know, I know, I know... But they posted an ad the other day designed for the TikTok generation – vertical video, designed for phones. I don't even think it's on TV. But it's honestly genius in its simplicity. Lamine Yamal, the Spanish wunderkind, just 18-years-old and one of the biggest names in world sport, sets up a phone camera in front of a McDonalds, the golden arches on a pole behind him. Ronaldinho, the Brazilian icon steps into shot. Both of them are in casual clothes. You'd swear they'd just bumped into each other on the street. They toss up a football and each casually juggle it a few times. The shot never changes. It looks exactly like it would look if you or I leaned our phones against the curb and recorded it. After a few seconds, Yamal kicks the ball high and it juuuuust misses the McDonalds golden arches. Another ball immediately rolls into shot, they each juggle it again, and Ronaldinho kicks it up, perfectly slotting the ball through the little gap in the McDonalds ‘M'. They laugh, and that's it. No words. No meals. No biting cheeseburgers. So simple. So shareable. And from a creative perspective, honestly, so clever. The third thing I love about Football World Cups —aside from the football— are the fans. I just don't think there is another sporting contest where you have huge, organised groups of fans coming from all corners of the planet. The Olympics might attract people from all over, but they're not organised in the same way. And I love how different nations have their own quirks and traditions. The Scottish fans have completely taken over Boston. An estimated 20,000 travelled to the city for their teams matches against Haiti and Morocco. The US media is awash with stories about the Scottish fans literally drinking bars dry around the city. After their first World Cup win in 36 years, they marched across the city, led by pipers, and completely took over Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox. It was so funny watching it... American baseball fans outnumbered in a stadium by Scots in kilts, singing Flower of Scotland. But then add to that the fans from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Most of them were singing and dancing in the stands, but they have a tradition where one man stands as a perfect statue for all of his team's game. He commemorates his country's first Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, the man who helped lead Congo to independence from Belgium. He wears beautiful bright clothes and amidst the frenzy of the activity around him, even when his team scores, he stands above the masses, perfect and almost unsettlingly still for the whole game. Still, how you could go past the Japanese? I'm not sure there's a greater act of soft power in all of world sport than having fans who carefully collect all of the rubbish and clean up the grandstands at the end of every game. For all of the controversy and all of the appalling grift, there can be no denying it is the global game. I haven't even mentioned the football. But I for one am utterly absorbed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labour Party - the biggest party in Opposition, maintaining a tight lead in this year's polls - has decided to open its election year campaign with a public transport fare cap policy: $20 a week in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and $10 everywhere else. Labour's transport spokesperson, MP for Palmerston North Tangi Utikere, says the policy delivers cost-of-living relief at a net cost of $65 million a year. He joins Jack Tame for the first time. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Olivia Rodrigo is switching things up for her third studio album. Where her two previous albums leaned more on upbeat pop-punk influences, ‘You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love' shifts between indie-pop and emotional ballads. Rodrigo describes the album as a “time capsule of a relationship in all its highs and lows,” with the A-side, ‘Girl So in Love' representing the honeymoon stage, the intense building emotions of a new relationship, and the B-side, ‘You Seem Pretty Sad', covering the downfall. Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame to share his thoughts on the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does Labour's public transport fare cap policy add up? The Labour Party - the biggest party in Opposition, maintaining a tight lead in this year's polls - has decided to open its election year campaign with a public transport fare cap policy: $20 a week in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and $10 everywhere else. Labour's transport spokesperson, MP for Palmerston North Tangi Utikere, says the policy delivers cost-of-living relief at a net cost of $65 million a year. He joins Jack Tame for the first time. Locals fear "low-probability catastrophic event" if LNG terminal built near city The Government is pushing ahead with plans to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in New Zealand as a security buffer for when locally-made, renewable energy sources dry up. Reporter Whena Owen travels to Taranaki, the proposed site of the facility, to ask residents how they feel about having LNG in their backyard. "Between one week and five years" to repair Strait of Hormuz The United States appears poised to sign a deal to end the war in Iran following three and a half months of global disruption from the closed Strait of Hormuz. Energy analyst David Keat joins Q+A to discuss how the conflict has permanently changed energy markets. Why prison numbers will surge: Writer Asher Emanuel New Ministry of Justice projections forecast a 35 percent growth in New Zealand's prison population over the next ten years, with those kept in remand - people who have been charged but not convicted, or convicted but not sentenced - set to swell by nearly fifty percent. Asher Emanuel, a public lawyer and author of bestselling book The Valley: Crime and Punishment in a New Zealand City, says the trend doesn't necessarily reflect more crime, but a deliberate policy decision to put more people in prison. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Jo Frost —of Supernanny fame— is throwing herself behind a social media crack down in the UK. Their Government is looking to ban social media for under 16's. Our Government has made moves towards the same, although the legislation is on hold. Frost told Jack Tame governments need to do something, because children are dying. She says there are real families burying their kids because of big tech companies, who are profiting off of children. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We don't know much but from what we do know, it was typically Kane. New Zealand's greatest-ever batsman – and arguably our greatest-ever cricketer. One of the modern game's finest called his teammates for a mid-tour coffee and a chat. No big press conference. No farewell tour. No New Zealand summer or Boxing Day test at the MCG. No standing ovations. No fans. Not even one more single, measly game. In an action typical of the man's famously understated nature, Kane Williamson retired from international cricket. If you're not really a big cricket fan, all good. But if that's the case, it's easy to under-appreciate just significant Kane Williamson's impact has been. I think there's a good argument to be made that on name recognition alone, Kane Williamson is the single most-famous New Zealander on the planet. Not Peter Jackson or Lorde or Jacinda Ardern. Kane Williamson. I remember backpacking through Punjab with my brother a few years ago. Everywhere we went, the locals wanted to ask the New Zealander travellers about a little bearded guy from Tauranga. In South Asia, he's a true household name. Cricket is a game that lends itself gloriously to statistics. For Kane Williamson, the numbers are amazing, but they will never tell the full story. The sport is as political as any other and at the end of the day it's driven by money. Consequently, compared to England, Australia, and India, the Black Caps are starved of tests. Kane Williamson is already considered one of the Fab Four, the greatest batsmen of his generation, but compared to the others, he played far fewer games on average each year. So many memories. Test centuries in eleven countries. Centuries at the Basin. A century at Lords. And a loss in an ODI World Cup final on a boundary count-back after a tie, and a tied super over, surely among most absurd defeat in sporting history. Kane responded with a wry smile and "it's a bit of a shame the ball hit Stokesy's bat." Yeah, you don't say? No athlete has ever had a better claim to bitterness and declined it so completely. Two years later, without the benefits of a home crowd, he captained the Black Caps to the World Test Championship. Redemption. In some ways, Kane Williamson has given us a different model of New Zealand male sporting greatness. He's small. He's soft-spoken. In an age where cricket has increasingly become a contest of brawn and power, he has distinguished himself with guile, wit and temperament. I'll never forget his celebrations when he scored his first test century, because there were none. While his Australian counterparts would scream and whoop and leap and wahoo every time they crossed the threshold, Kane would calmly remove his helmet, gesture once or twice at the crowd and shake his batting partner's hand, wipe the sweat from his brow, and retake his stance. Forever spinning that Grey-Nicolls as the bowler ran to the crease, perfectly balanced, with so much time, watching the ball right under his eyes. Williamson said he stepped away mid-series to “allow other leaders to emerge.” He denied himself the ceremony and the celebration. It might have come as a surprise to those of us who woke up and saw the headlines from overnight, but in many ways, it was the most Williamson thing imaginable. I think I speak for every New Zealand Cricket fan when I say I will miss his presence keenly, but man, I'm so grateful for everything he represented and achieved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Do we think Labour's proposed public transport fare cap will get votes? How much of the country will this policy really help? And why wasn't Labour at Fieldays? Are we surprised Stewart Island is still fully reliant on diesel? Should we get rid of Crown limos for former Prime Ministers when they're hardly using them? What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast with Andrew Dickens for Wednesday, 10 June, 2026, Labour Transport spokesman Tangi Utikere insists the party's got its numbers right with a plan to cap how much public transport users pay each week. We talk to Remuneration Authority chair Geoff Summers on more than $300,000 being spent for former prime ministers to use Crown cars they barely call. Stewart Island Rakiura Community Board chair Aaron Conner on why they can't wait for a solar farm to get up and running. And on The Huddle, Jack Tame and Jordan Williams question why Labour's made its policy announcement in Auckland but is absent from Fieldays. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Bay of Plenty-based group is turning a pest problem into a community solution. Hunt for Good is a not-for-profit that culls wild deer, donating the venison and wild game meat to community groups and food banks. It's volunteer run, and helps farmers manage the wild deer population on their land in a sustainable way. It was founded by Jasper Osborne at the end of 2024, and in that time they've culled nearly 2000 wild deer and donated over 16 thousand kilograms of mince to those in need. “A lot of farmers are under a lot of stress ... and if they've got huge number of deer running around their properties, then that stock, they can't have, so that's really profit they can't have,” Osborne told Jack Tame. “If we can help them by eliminating some of the issues for them, and also turning it into a food source for the community, then it's a double win." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The daughter of Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has released her debut album. ‘Be Sweet To Me' is the first album from Violet Grohl, with a sound reminiscent of 1990s alternative rock. Though it's primarily rock, the eleven tracks do feature elements of heavy metal, folk, and jazz, Grohl citing the Breeders, PJ Harvey, Pixies, Soundgarden, and Cocteau Twins as her primary influences. Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame to share his thoughts on the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new food identification label is beginning to appear in stores. In a similar vein to the ‘New Zealand Made' logo that denotes locally made products, a ‘NZ Grown Grains' logo denotes products made with grains grown within the country. Kate Hall joined Jack Tame to discuss the logo and why it's important to both produce grain locally, and support those who do. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interest rates have begun to creep back up. New Zealand's largest bank, ANZ, has increased its rates across the board, hiking everything by 20 basis points except the one-year rate, which only increased by 10. It's rates now start at 4.69% for its six-month “special” and go up to 6.49% for five-year terms. So how high will they go and what should you do? Ed McKnight joined Jack Tame to offer some advice. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cast your vote! We're in the middle of the Fungus of the Year. An incredible series of stories about mushrooms, fungi, moulds, diseases – the poisonous and gorgeous organisms that surround our planet, gardens and —believe it or not— our food! Surprises galore: i.e. The Fungal Kingdom is larger than the Plant Kingdom! There are more fungal species than plant species – get your head around that! We could easily do a fungus story for each Jack Tame program between now and 2086 – My old mate Peter Buchanan (ex-DSIR – Manaaki Whenua, Bioeconomy Science Institute) has always been the storyteller and is now working with teachers. Let's start with a few amazing organisms. VEGETABLE CATERPILLAR The “Vegetable Caterpillar”, Te Awheto: a native mummified caterpillar and a native stick-like fungal fruiting body. The Caterpillar gets to a large form underground, where it can be consumed by a fungus. The “fruiting body” develops from the head of the dead caterpillar to well above the ground, where the spores are released (aiming to grab more live caterpillars!). Māori worked out relatively quickly that if Awheto was collected in good numbers and burnt, the powdered charcoal mixed with bird fat would create the perfect and stable black pigment, used to make Ta Moko. A Caterpillar, a Fungal Fruiting Body, a Barbeque, some Bird Fat and Black Charcoal… Photo / Supplied WOOD EAR FUNGUS I love the Wood Ear Fungus (Te Hakeke) in our Native forest. They look so Dark Brown and elegant on the dead native trees. Touch them and they feel like a human ear, chew a bit off and they are as soft as a human ear – in fact, they smell and kind-of taste like a human ear! ... But they don't! No smell – no taste, but a brilliant way to absorb smell and taste from cooked foods. It wasn't just the Māori who cottoned onto the way to harvest and cook with the ear fungus – the Chinese merchants that settled in Aotearoa realised that the New Zealand Ear Fungus was pretty closely related to the one in China! A significant trade with China (1870 – 1910) developed from a number of ports in Aotearoa – it was known as “Taranaki Wool”. Chew Chong was the leading ear fungus exporter and has been honoured in the NZ Business Hall of Fame for to the “Fungus Trade”. Photo / File | Peter Buchanan Landcare Research FISCHER'S EGG I am really keen to find one of these rare “truffels”, one fine day. It's from just a few places in the South Island: Nelson, Dunedin and Gore and is threatened with extinction (DOC, IUCN Global Red List). The fruitbodies of Fischer's egg have no opening through which to release their spores. Similar “stomach-like” fungi mostly depend on animals to disperse their spores after consumption of their fruitbodies… so, here's a question: Did the flightless Moa feed on (and disperse) Fischer's egg? Photo / Supplied Remember: the 18th of June is the last day to vote (click here or scan the QR code to do so). Have a look at stuff like this to find out more about fungi, and this wonderful book that Peter put together. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I bought some second-hand bunks this week. High quality. Good stuff. Perfect for the nine-year-old's bedroom. But to make way for his new addition, I needed to pack up his old bed. It was a king single – nothing fancy. Built from a little kit set with Allen key screws and cheap wood. But the bed was still in reasonable condition, and even though we didn't need it anymore, I figured it might be useful for another family. At the very least, before condemning it to landfill, I thought it worth a quick check. Brand new, the bed must only have cost $400, so I did what I thought was the right thing. I took a few photos then I took it apart, labelled the screws, and neatly stacked up the various pieces. I put an ad on Facebook Marketplace: Free kid's bed frame. King single. Free if you're happy to pick it up. Now, look. I know there's more than enough junk in this world. I didn't have any grand expectations that anyone would even want the bed. I certainly didn't oversell it. But no sooner had I put it online, I started receiving messages asking if it was available. Yep, I said. It sure is. I marked the listing as sold and with the first person to message me, I arranged a time to hand over the bed the following day. Given I was due to be at work, I explained to the buyer I'd have to sort out someone else to be home to help with the handover instead of leaving the bed outside in the rain. Job done, I figured. All sorted. Win-win. Except the person never showed. Never turned up. Never messaged to explain or apologise. Just went incommunicado. Ghosted me. They'd been dead keen 24 hours earlier, but something, apparently, had changed. Even though they knew I was arranging to get someone else to be at home to give them something they wanted for free, apparently I wasn't worth even a cursory note. It's funny how different trading fora have slightly different cultures. When I was a kid, before the internet was really in use and TradeMe was a thing, we had the Buy, Sell and Exchange. It cost a few bucks to buy each week, and it was a treasure trove of junk. I was too young to trade anything, but I loved browsing through the pages. If you had any questions about an item, you had to give someone a call. We had the Trading Post on radio, which was always an amazing listen, and TradeMe's been the big digital player here since its inception. But these days, Facebook Marketplace is responsible for a growing number of trades. In my experience, it's usually for stuff that's less suitable for auctions. A fixed price. A quick trade. Bob's your uncle. It's also the best place for giving stuff away for free or nearly for free. There's no fee. No one pays anything. But there's a downside. This week's saga with the bed wasn't the first time I've been stood up without explanation by someone who a few hours earlier was apparently desperate for an item and grateful to be receiving it for nothing. I've only done about half a dozen trades on Marketplace. I reckon for half of them I've been stood up. I just find it so rude. Who are these people? I can't imagine messaging a stranger, knowing they'd made arrangements to help me with something, and then changing my mind and being so unconcerned with how it affected them, that I wouldn't even bother sending them a sentence. Maybe it says something about our wider culture. It's transactional. People aren't bothered by throw-away relationships. You're only valuable to someone else if they can get something out of you. I put the bed back up online and someone else immediately asked if they could take it. They're supposed to collect it today, so we'll see how that works out. But honestly, it wasn't the bed that got me, it was the principle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast with Andrew Dickens for Wednesday, 3 June, 2026, Wellington mayor Andrew Little says he agrees with amalgamation but thinks the government's set an unfair timeframe. We talk to the Hospitality NZ chief executive about a dramatic rise in closures in the industry. Football commentator Jason Pine now fears for what England will do to the All Whites after a humiliating loss to Haiti. And on The Huddle, Jack Tame and Maurice Williamson debate whether the Te Huia train trip between Auckland and Hamilton is worth it after a fares increase. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Does Andrew Little have a point about the deadline for council amalgamation being unrealistic? Could the Government have given councils more time? Is increased fares the last thing Te Huia needs as it goes into the last year of its trial? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joel Little has worked with some of the biggest names in the music business. The Grammy Award-winning musician has written and produced tracks for the likes of Taylor Swift, Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, Khalid, and of course, our very own Lorde – the place where it all began. But even amid all his fame and success, he's remained humble and down to Earth – and his latest project only exemplifies that. ‘BIG FAN' is a not-for-profit music space located in Morningside, offering recording studios and a live music venue with the aim of supporting the wealth of musical talent in New Zealand. Little told Jack Tame the whole idea was to build a place of a world-class standard, to give a little bit back to the music industry that's been so good to him over the years. “If someone else was in my position and I was watching them, I would kind of hope that they would do something similar.” “I didn't get where I am by just like... all on my own,” Little said. “I had people along the way kind of say the right things or give me opportunities ... and that's kind of what we want BIG FAN to be for people.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul McCartney is taking a trip down memory lane in his new album. ‘The Boys of Dungeon Lane' is his 20th —or 18th, depending on the way you count them— solo studio album and is a nostalgic collection of songs. Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame to share his thoughts on the latest release by the iconic musician. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Return to surplus? Nicola Willis charts economic recovery Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered her third and final Budget Day speech for the parliamentary term this week. A Budget delivering investment in health, infrastructure and defence, the Minister has described it as "responsible" - while Opposition voices have criticised the lack of stimulus for ordinary New Zealanders facing cost-of-living pressures. The big bonus is a forecast return to surplus in financial year 2028/29, one year earlier than previously forecast, using the government's favoured forecasting tool, OBEGALx. Five months out from the general election, Nicola Willis joins Jack Tame to discuss the government's record on economic stewardship, why the new bank tax won't be passed onto consumers, and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's "freeloaders" comment on New Zealand's defence spending. Children's Commissioner: The cost of child poverty In Budget 2026, Treasury published New Zealand's latest child poverty statistics. It's a grim picture, and one that isn't improving much: the number of households in material hardship is estimated to be 14 percent, with a 2028 target of six percent. Children's Commissioner Claire Achmad joins Jack Tame to lay out the cost of persistent child poverty and discusses the workability of a forthcoming ban of social media for under-16s. Why populist nationalism won't stop immigration Five months from the election, immigration is being framed by political parties as a critical election issue, with the Prime Minister warning the wrong policies could damage social cohesion. In New Zealand in 2026, migration is the main source of population growth, with the nation's fertility rate slumping to 1.6, below replacement levels. Is an immigration backlash the inevitable response to a globalising world? Jack Tame speaks to author and CEO of geospatial analytics company AlphaGeo Dr Parag Khanna. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered her third and final Budget Day speech for the parliamentary term this week. A Budget delivering investment in health, infrastructure and defence, the Minister has described it as "responsible" - while Opposition voices have criticised the lack of stimulus for ordinary New Zealanders facing cost-of-living pressures. The big bonus is a forecast return to surplus in financial year 2028/29, one year earlier than previously forecast, using the government's favoured forecasting tool, OBEGALx. Five months out from the general election, Nicola Willis joins Jack Tame to discuss the government's record on economic stewardship, why the new bank tax won't be passed onto consumers, and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's "freeloaders" comment on New Zealand's defence spending. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

In Budget 2026, Treasury published New Zealand's latest child poverty statistics. It's a grim picture, and one that isn't improving much: the number of households in material hardship is estimated to be 14 percent, with a 2028 target of six percent. Children's Commissioner Claire Achmad joins Jack Tame to lay out the cost of persistent child poverty and discusses the workability of a forthcoming ban of social media for under-16s. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Five months from the election, immigration is being framed by political parties as a critical election issue, with the Prime Minister warning the wrong policies could damage social cohesion. In New Zealand in 2026, migration is the main source of population growth, with the nation's fertility rate slumping to 1.6, below replacement levels. Is an immigration backlash the inevitable response to a globalising world? Jack Tame speaks to author and CEO of geospatial analytics company AlphaGeo Dr Parag Khanna. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

It will come as little surprise to anyone who knows me: I do not have any tattoos. I've never been inked. It's not that I don't think they can look great. More than anything, I just don't trust my taste. I've looked at old photos. I've seen my haircuts and clothing choices from even a few years ago. When you've burned up and crashed out in the low stakes minor leagues, there's not a huge incentive to put it all on the line in the majors. That fish dunking a basketball might just have to wait. Of course there are many reasons to get a tattoo. Cultural reasons. Utilitarian reasons. To remember a loved one or a traumatic event. I've got a friend who's tattooed a medical condition, kind of like a permanent and more fashionable medic alert bracelet. But I don't have any of those reasons. And I'd still suggest the dominant reason that most people get tattoos is because they think they look cool. And don't get me wrong, my tattooed friends. A lot of people look great with tattoos. But then again, a lot of people don't. There has been an explosion in ink in recent years. You see them everywhere: sleeves and intricate designs. Patchworks. Delicate stick-and-pokes. It's impossible to watch a game of professional football without noting that a majority of the players are covered tip to tat-toe. New Research estimates that in the United States alone, a third of adults have at least one tattoo. For those aged 30-49, it climbs to 46%. But get this – for young women between 18 and 29, more than half have at least one tattoo! So I'm calling it today. This trend cycle is officially over. The unique has become the ubiquitous. People who seriously love tattoos will continue to get tattoos. And fair enough. You do you. But all those people who jumped on the bandwagon because they thought a few tats would look cool on Instagram are no longer queueing for new ink. Except unlike skinny jeans, you can't just chuck your tattoos in an old shopping bag and drop them in a clothing bin. The cruel reality of the tattoo trend is that even though clearly ‘trend' is the right word to explain the surge in tattoos, the results of this trend are very much permanent. The global tattoo removal industry is valued at $11 billion today. By 2035, it's forecast to be four times that. If I had a spare bob, I swear, I'd be investing. Tattoo removal is from all accounts a pretty painful experience. But it's also big business. And of course, the trend-setters who consciously or otherwise have contributed to some of the demand are among those who are first in line to get their tattoos zapped off. Pete Davidson, Mark Whalberg, Pharrell… Watch this space. The list is only gonna grow. I started by saying I don't trust my own taste. Those who disagree with me will say I'm a hypocrite. How can someone who admits to having questionable taste be so certain in his judgement? The only thing that'll save me is I reckon deep down, whether they admit it or not, most people will agree. No tattoos is the new tattoos. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clint, Meg and Dan kick off Monday with their first take the edge off call that pays for Natalie’s daughter’s $325 ball dress. They unpack Mother’s Day expectations and share hall of fame/shame stories, then debate a study claiming the average time a man lasts in bed is 16 minutes, with a lesbian caller saying sessions can last hours. Jack Tame joins to discuss his TV special “You, Me and Aussie” about whether moving to Australia is worth it, followed by listeners who moved and returned. The team covers Rihanna’s kids’ scribble tattoo, listeners’ regrettable tattoos, an AMA with Summer Roberts about gigantomastia and we get the latest episode of Dans Diary 02:01 Mothers Day Chaos 05:33 Scandal Headlines 07:13 First Call of the day 10:57 Naughty 6:40 18:58 Take The Edge Off Call 21:07 Jack Tame talks "You me and Aussie" TV special 25:12 Aussie Move Regrets 30:09 Rihanna's new tattoo 33:29 Tattoo regrets 38:27 Gigantomastia AMA with Summer Roberts 42:21 Big Boob Problems 45:09 Dans Diary 47:53 Attenborough Turns 100 51:45 Are you the black sheep of your family? 56:47 Mothers Day hall of fame or shame 01:04:07 Met Gala Bicker 01:07:20 Wrap Up And Goodbye

Today on the pod we talk about Split Enz, haggling, and Iraq. then we talk to TVNZ's Jack tame about his new show "You, Me & Aussie", which airs Monday night, 8.40pm on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ Follow The Hauraki Breakfast Show on Instagram Subscribe to the podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! Featuring Jeremy Wells and Manaia Stewart, "The Hauraki Breakfast" a radio show like no other weekdays from 6am on Radio Hauraki. Guaranteed to teach you bad new habits, raise your eyebrows, and make you smirk on a regular basis. News, sport & music that rocks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.