Podcasts about Jack Tame

Over subsequent Parliaments, ACT has tried to pass a version of the Regulatory Standards Bill — with limited success, until now. Deputy Prime Minister and Regulation Minister David Seymour explains how he thinks the bill will work. Q+A questions him about his selection of principles, whether the Government follows its own ideas of good regulation, and some legal uncertainties created by the bill. . As Associate Education Minister, Seymour is leading work on setting up charter schools. But the demand for state schools to undergo conversion to charter has been lower than expected. Jack Tame asks Seymour why. . 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.

With Regulation Minister David Seymour, Halter CEO Craig Piggott, and National MP for Port Waikato Andrew Bayly.

The old seems to be the newest trend. While people are always interested in the newest thing, nostalgia is flooding the musical scene right now – Metallica, Oasis, Tool, AC/DC, and the Pixies are just a few of the acts selling out stadiums and venues at the moment. But what's behind the boom in nostalgia acts? How much longer can it last? Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame to discuss the trend. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Tony Robinson is one of the world's most recognisable history presenters. After four career-defining series of British sitcom ‘Blackadder', he fronted 20 seasons of the archaeological dig show ‘Time Team'. His humorous hooks and accessible presentation has helped to demystify history and inspire passion in a whole new generation. Robinson has written over 30 children's books, ‘Maid Marian and Her Merry Men', ‘The Worst Jobs in History', and ‘Tony Robinson's Weird World of Wonders!' just a few of the titles. His latest work, ‘The House of Wolf', is his first foray into fiction directed at an older audience, covering the Anglo-Saxons, Alfred the Great, and the making of England in the 9th century. Writing for adults is quite different to writing for children, and Robinson said it scared him “rigid” when he first started. “I had massive imposter syndrome”, he told Jack Tame. “It's ridiculous, isn't it, like I've been on the stage for 60 odd years, and yet when it came to writing a book, terror gripped me.” His subject matter is also a bit of a balancing act, as weaving historical fact with the narrative one wants to convey can sometimes be a challenge. “I did go quite bonkers writing it,” Robinson told Tame. Upon finishing the first draft, his publisher sent it off to reviewers, journalists, and some historical novelists – people Robinson respected. “I was in even more terror,” he revealed. “And then after six weeks, the writer Dan Jones, who wrote a stormingly popular historical novel called ‘Essex Dogs', he wrote a review of it really, and it was so fulsome. “Immediately, all that paranoia that I'd had dispelled completely.” ‘The House of Wolf' is now out, and fans will be able to see him live on stage in 2026 in ‘An Audience with Sir Tony Robinson'. He'll be performing at Auckland's Bruce Mason Centre on February 17th, and at Christchurch's Isaac Theatre Royal on February 18th. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We weren't big on dining out when I was growing up. Truth is, we couldn't really afford to. With four kids, a mortgage, and decent cooking skills themselves, my parents didn't really buy food. They bought groceries and the odd few rounds of fish and chips on the beach, but apart from that almost everything we ate was prepared in the kitchen at home. That being said, every now and then there'd be a special occasion. Every now and then we'd make our way into the city and Christchurch's historic Arts Centre, where each of us would line up for a lunchtime treat. Back then, Dimitris served souvlakis from a little caravan, tucked into a little corner next to the old gothic revival buildings. Whenever you'd pass by, there would be a little group of people milling about and waiting for their order to be prepared. On a really busy day, the owner, Dimitris Merentitis, would have someone else working with him as he made his way through the orders. You could choose between single, double, or triple meat. Lamb, chicken, or falafel. The Tames always had the same thing: lamb souvlakis with a token bit of salad, and a hearty drenching of beautiful, garlicky, tzatziki sauce. As you stood there waiting, you'd try and size up the people around you to work out how many orders would have to be completed and checked off before yours would be up. I remember being frustrated when someone would appear from a shop or a stall nearby, having ducked away for a few minutes while their order was prepared. Dammit, I'd think, surely, I'm next. I don't know about you, call me a heathen, but as far as I'm concerned there are few gastronomical combinations quite so glorious as hot meat in hot bread. It's about as simple as it gets, pulled straight off the sizzling grill, wrapped in newsprint and passed into your hungry hands. The bread at Dimitris' souvlakis was always so pillowy and soft. You'd navigate the first few bites with relative dignity, but by the time you got down to the last fistful of souvlaki, there was no room for quaint niceties like plastic cutlery. Everything would be soaking with meat juice and sauce. Heaven is a place on Earth. It's funny how people will always find and celebrate good food. Looking back, I recall the point when we crossed the threshold, in our family. Even though as teenagers our friends were always asking their parents to go to McDonalds or KFC, when each of us had a birthday roll around, we'd ask to go to Dimitris. And it turns out we weren't the only ones. We might have thought it was a family secret, but it was a family secret that was apparently shared by half the people in Canterbury. After years and years and years of serving up how every many million souvlakis, Dimitris has built his operation into a gastronomic institution. From the little stand in the Arts Centre to his Greek restaurant and prominent spot in Riverside Market today, Dimitris is a dining destination that I'd argue now ranks among New Zealand's best-loved spots: Queenstown has Fergburger. Wellington has Fidel's. Christchurch has Dimitris. This weekend, Dimitris celebrates forty years of operations in the Garden City. Forty years. So much of the city has changed in that time. The CBD looks completely different. Entire neighbourhoods have gone. But some things have never changed. Lamb. Bread. Lashings of tzatziki. Dimitris' success is sizzling, mouthwatering proof you can't improve on perfection. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners 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! NZ First is looking to repeal the Regulatory Standards Act ahead of the election. ACT's David Seymour isn't thrilled - what do we make of this? What's Winston's plan here? The Government has officially recognised feral cats as pests and added them to the Predator Free 2050 list. Do we think this is a good idea? What are the risks here? New research shows the ban on phones in schools is working - but the ERO recommends the Government can go further. Do we need social media restrictions next? Heather was at last night's Metallica concert and she saw a fan in the stands rocking out - before he was encouraged to sit down. Heather says fans should be able to stand and move at concerts if you want - do we agree? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An attorney by education, David Baldacci is an acclaimed novelist with a penchant for suspense and legal thrillers. He's written over 50 books, and his specialist knowledge of the US political and legal systems make his stories international bestsellers. ‘Nash Falls' is his newest work, the tale of an ordinary businessman recruited by the FBI to help bring down a global crime network. Baldacci has been writing for over thirty years, and Walter Nash, the protagonist of the novel, is unlike any he's written before. “I've been writing a long time and one of my chief things that I do to keep myself motivated is just to challenge myself,” he told Jack Tame. “Get out of my comfort zone, create characters I haven't created before.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Police Minister Mark Mitchell, Ngāti Kahungunu chair Bayden Barber, new Opportunities leader Qiulae Wong, and NZ First MP Andy Foster.

I hate carrying my wallet. Not because I'm a prickle pockets —I swear I'll always buy my round!— but because at heart, I'm an optimiser. I don't want something else to remember, a bulge in my back pocket. I want to be able to do everything with the least baggage possible. My wallet has four cards. Just four. Bank card, credit card, driver's license, and my TVNZ access card. Until two weeks ago, I needed a card to get into the Newstalk ZB offices as well, but not anymore. We've moved to a digital swipe system, an app on our phones. Very 2025. I don't carry cash. My wallet has nowhere to put it. Except for the $2.40 in change in the centre console of the family Corolla, I don't have any cash whatsoever. I barely use my physical debit and credit cards; I just pay for everything with my phone. For the best price I still need a real card for the bus, although they've recently changed the system so that in a pinch I can pay with my phone. My library card is digital. Concert tickets are digital. Auckland FC, Air New Zealand – it's all on my phone. If all goes well with the Government's rollout, in a few months we should be able to access digital driver's licenses. In the US they've now gone one step further. As of this week, American citizens with either Google or Apple phones can upload their passports to their devices and store them in digital wallets. The systems scan your passport and then read the little chip. They compare the photo page with a biometric scan of your face. You can use it as ID for domestic travel and although you still need a physical passport for international flights, surely it won't be long until your digital ID does that too. I know what you're thinking. Digital passports, bank cards, driver's licenses. Digital swipe cards for getting into the office. What could possibly go wrong?! And I agree with you! The more that our vital ID and payment systems go digital, the more vulnerable many of these systems might be to failure, power outages, coding errors, or hacking. At least for the near future, there will be traditional options. They're not scrapping plastic driver's licences just yet. But all things being equal, I reckon 2026 might be the last year of my life in which I actually need to carry a wallet. I'm going to be first in line for a digital driver's licence. A year from now, everything I need from my cards I should be able to do my phone. And while I know there are risks, I know it's a single point of failure, I know it'll be even more of a disaster if I accidentally lose my phone. Truthfully my concerns are drowned out by an even stronger impulse. Sure, there are security concerns. But man, just think of the convenience. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fourth studio album from Spanish singer Rosalía is a linguistic tour de force. ‘LUX' is symphonic album, recorded in 14 different languages, its song's inspired by the lives of various female saints. Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame to share his thoughts on the album. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Kiwiblog's David Farrar joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! It's day two of the Jevon McSkimming IPCA report. Is another investigation needed to get the public's trust back? What questions need to be answered? New polling shows Labour has gotten a boost since introducing the capital gains tax. Is this strictly a win for Labour - or do the Greens deserve some credit here too? Would you rather the council reseal your road with chip seal than asphalt if it saves lots of money? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Nikhil Ravishankar, William Dalrymple, and Stephen Rowe

Tonight is the grand finale, Oasis performing the final show of their reunion tour down under in Sydney, Australia. Every show was sold out, fans ecstatic they're able to see a band they never thought they would after their break up in 2009. Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame as the minutes tick down before the concert begins to provide a vibe check. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An extremely prolific author, Michael Connelly has published more than 40 books. He's created in-depth universes surrounding well-known characters like Mickey Haller in the Lincoln Lawyer and Harry Bosch, who's appeared in 24 of Connelly's novels. His universes continue to grow with a new addition to the Lincoln Lawyer series, ‘The Proving Ground', which sees Haller team up with a journalist to take on big tech, AI, and uncover a whistleblower in hiding, all with billions on the line. Connelly professes to be a fan of technological innovation, exploring things like the internet, DNA analytics, and data storage in previous novels. “AI was kinda like, primed for me.” “For every great discovery and invention, and move forward with technology, there's always somebody out there who is looking to turn it against is,” Connelly told Jack Tame. “And there were a couple of cases that really caught my eye, that made me, you know, say, yeah I know AI is gonna change the world for the better, but are we moving too fast?” Every week there's some new development with AI, whether it's a new problem, a new use, or a new integration into an already existing platform. “The Proving Ground is an exploration of it,” he says. “I don't wanna say it's didactic, or tells anyone how to think, but it does, you know, maybe raise a flag and say, ‘take a look at this.'” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

William Dalrymple: Empire, India, and Mamdani's remarkable win by Q+A with Jack Tame

It arrived in the hands of a waiter, who moved with the lightness and grace of a ballet dancer across the restaurant floor. It had a fleshy colour. A creamy, brown kind of hue. It was inflated to the size of a balloon, but the shape was slightly less uniform. “Asparagus,” said the waiter. “Prepared in this pig's bladder.” I don't know how many bladder-based meals you've had in your life but that was a first for me. The asparagus, I should say, was absolutely delicious. But not so amazing that I personally felt compelled to give up roasting food in my oven in favour of bladder cooking, from then on. I was dining at Eleven Madison Park. It's an extraordinary fine-dining restaurant at the foot of Madison Ave in New York, just across the way from the Flatiron Building. Tom Brady had his penthouse across the road. I once saw Rupert Murdoch walking his dog in the park outside. And the food at ELP is as fancy as the neighbours. As a winner of three Michelin Stars, Eleven Madison Park is widely considered one of the very best restaurants in the world. The Michelin Star system is certainly an effective marketing tool. It has been with me. I've sought out other Michelin-starred restaurants in New York, including when Kiwi Matt Lambert won a star for his work at The Musket Room. I've dined in Bilbao, where they have a higher concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere on Earth. I've lined up early and eaten at what was the world's cheapest Michelin starred restaurant – dim sum in Hong Kong. As much as anything, I've treated eating at most of these places as an experience. A rare treat. Not so much as a source of nourishment, but as food for memories. As the Michelin judges turn their attention to our restaurant scene, I just hope they don't come here expecting the absolute finest of fine-dining. I appreciate they look at a range of restaurants, but for a few exceptions, la-de-dah's not really us. We don't do fussy. We don't do fiddly. We do a more casual, relaxed style that befits our culture. Really good ingredients cooked well and more often than not, designed to be shared. It's funny, as incredible as my night was at Eleven Madison Park, the single best meal of my life wasn't at a Michelin-starred restaurant. There were no white tablecloths, no sommelier-curated wine list. It was in tiny, legally questionable firetrap of an apartment in Paris, that my best mate called his home. I'd flown in with another mate the day before, and the three of us had gone for a long jog by the Seine to try and kick the jetlag. On the way back home, we stopped by one of the local farmers' markets and picked up some gooey cheese, tomatoes, salami, and baguette. We sprawled out on the floor of the apartment, cutting off hunks of each and stuffing them into our mouths. It was heaven. And that's the thing about the best meals. Ultimately, it's not the truffle mousse or the poached dodo's egg or even the inflated pig's bladder that makes the magic, it's the people. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Christmas on its way, the season of spending is fast approaching. The allure of credit cards becomes stronger at this time of year as people try to figure out how they can afford everything they need to. Financial planner Lisa Dudson joined Jack Tame to give some advice on how best to balance credit cards and build good habits. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, political commentator and lawyer Liam Hehir 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! Zohran Mamdani is the new mayor of New York. He built his campaign on appealing to young and working-class voters - what does this say about the future of American politics? The Government will be cracking down on rough sleepers in some form - the details are still unknown. Do we think this is the right move? The Police Commissioner has written an op-ed to explain that Stuff shouldn't have published audio from the Tom Phillips case - but they're not taking legal action. What do we make of this? The Government wants Eden Park to host more concerts and events. Do we agree with this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're anything like me, the moment you saw the World's most famous art gallery had been robbed of the French Crown Jewels... one thing came to mind. It's silly really, because at the end of the day it's a crime. A serious crime. Nevertheless, it's hard to totally ignore the audacity and romance of it all. What's the difference between a robbery and a heist? Whatever it is that distinguishes those words... there is something seductive. We were told the thieves were organised, efficient, and used specialist equipment. I imagined a Tom Cruise-like figure firing a grappling hook out of a special gun, repelling from the ceiling and acrobatically navigating a room of invisible lasers, any of which if broken, would immediately trigger an alarm and a carbon dioxide pump that would starve the room of oxygen and suffocate the thieves where they stood. Alas, as more detail has emerged over the last two weeks, it's become clear the Louvre Heist was less Mission Impossible and more Mission-to-Mitre-10. The specialist equipment the thieves used? It was a plain old over-the-counter angle grinder like the second-hand Makita I have in my tools cupboard at home. I'd never thought about it before, but the problem with publicly displaying crown jewels worth tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, is that security in the display cases can only go so far. As well as being hard to access for potential thieves, in the event of a fire, the cases need to be openable in a few seconds. So they need to be super-secure. But also super-accessible. What could go wrong? What the thieves seemed to have worked out is that using an axe or a hammer was a bad idea. It would have potentially taken hundreds of blows to break through and get the goods. But the museum's own firefighting handbook lays out the best course of action for quickly getting into the Louvre's secure display cases: you don't smash, you cut. Although they've made a series of arrests, lessons abound for the French authorities. It's shocking they had such poor security camera coverage around the museum. But as more and more detail comes to light, I think there's a valuable lesson for all of us: The disguises. The thieves weren't in military fatigues. They weren't dressed in all black. They weren't wearing crazy masks like the ones in MoneyHeist. They were wearing the universal uniform of authority: high-vis vests. The great irony of a garment designed to be seen is that it has become so ubiquitous, we don't see it, even when it's being worn by thieves, in broad daylight, stealing some of the most valuable jewellery in the World. The Paris Police, who has street cameras trained on the area where the thieves parked their truck, sheepishly admitted this week that no one paid any attention to the men on the video feed. In their hi-vis vests, they looked like a regular construction crew, said a Police spokesperson. And Paris has heaps of construction. It looks increasingly likely the men will not get away with their theft. And though clearly they were organised, this was hardly the perfect crime. They dropped some of the jewels and left heaps of evidence at the scene. They tried to burn the truck but the gas tank wouldn't catch. The big question now is whether or not the jewels are still intact. Still, they have proved something. For the biggest heist at the World's most-famous museum in more than a hundred years, the biggest heist since the Mona Lisa was pinched way back in 1911, you only need three things: A charged battery on your angle grinder. An air of confidence and purpose. And most importantly, a high-vis vest. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With minister for children Karen Chhour and Labour leader Chris Hipkins

The All Blacks' Grand Slam Tour is due to start this weekend as they face Ireland in Chicago. The last time these two teams met at these grounds, Ireland beat the All Blacks in a historic 40-29 victory. Andrew Saville joins Jack Tame to preview the match, and discuss whether or not the All Blacks can take their revenge. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You'll know quiz queen Anne Hegerty best for her on stage persona – the Governess. She dominates tv screens every night on The Chase – with one of the best win rates of any chaser. And now, Anne will be on our screens in a brand new kiwi version of the tv phenomenon – The Chase New Zealand. She joins Jack Tame to share her secrets to trivia-based success. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Hall joins Jack Tame to share her experience with using reusable nappies for her newborn. She covers: How to wash them (a very commonly asked question on social media) Her favourite brands - Clever Wee Fox, Fluffy Ducks and Kekoa Her daughter is 4.5 months and has saved over 1000 nappies from going to landfill! LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maroš Šefčovič: Trump's tariffs and Europe's trade position by Q+A with Jack Tame

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! Bill Gates has cautioned against the 'doomsday' view on climate change and claimed there's more urgent things to worry about. Do we agree with the calls for calm? Education Minister Erica Stanford unveiled some new changes to the social sciences off the back of the maths and English updates - and some educators have voiced concerns? Do they have a point - or is this just a fear of change? Labour's capital gains tax has spent a full day in the public arena - do we think this will impact their changes of getting back into Government? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday on Jack Tame's show, I was talking about the new Springsteen film - Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere - and Jack asked me why there have been so many music biopics recently? It got me thinking about how musicians and their origin stories and struggles with fame have always made for good films, and we've always made them. But Jack is right, there have been quite a few biopics about musicians recently - think Better Man about Robbie Williams, A Complete Unknown about Bob Dylan, Bob Marley: One Love, Back to Black about Amy Winehouse, Maria about Maria Callas … and there's plenty more on the way. In 2028, each Beatle is getting their own film, thanks to director Sam Mendes. The truth of the matter is probably that they make money. Marvel and comic book superhero cinema dominance is cooling off, and so in recent years Hollywood has turned to the music biopic genre to replace it. It makes sense really. Like comic book heroes, many of these artists lives are steeped in mythology perfect to mine for drama, their stories are part of pop culture. And apart from paying for music rights - they aren't too expensive to make. And, we love them. We love the comfort of their familiarity and a bit of nostalgia. The music industry also love music biopics, it's a wonderful way for the industry to reconnect an artist with their audience and create new fans. The Springsteen movie is about the making of his acoustic, folk inspired album Nebraska. I listened to the album in the car on the way home from watching the film. Tick, job done. For me, the genre was revitalised with 2005's Walk the Line, which told the story of flawed genius Johnny Cash and his wife June's relationship. It told it - warts and all. Around that time, Ray, about Ray Charles, was also released, as was Control, the story of the troubled life and times of Ian Curtis, lead singer of new wave band Joy Division. Since then, we have been tapping our toes and reliving our own relationships with the music of Elvis, Elton John, Freddie Mercury and NWA. As popular as the genre is, and as much as we enjoy the ride, it's tricky for filmmakers to get these films right. Artists' stories often follow the same narrative beats so can be samey, but it can be risky taking a unique approach. Taking on a lead role can be rewarding for actors in awards season, but fans are judgy when watching an interpretation of their heroes. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is a good case in point. Aside from a few concert scenes, mostly we watch Springsteen record an album in his bedroom and studio while slipping into depression. It's hardly a glossy, mainstream rollicking ride. If you're looking for something to watch this long weekend, and watching Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen isn't your thing, then hunt out some of our own music stories - which have been turned into excellent documentaries. Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua - Two Worlds, The Chills: The Triumph & Tragedy of Martin Phillipps, Alien Weaponry - Thrash Metal and Te Reo Māori, Shihad - Beautiful Machine, Heavenly Pop Hits - The Flying Nun Story. So many good choices. It's also worth noting Life in One Chord - the Shayne Carter story - will be available to rent from DOC PLAY from November 6th. All beautifully told stories that enrich our lives. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Boyega has legendary status for his ability to say that he's fought with a lightsaber, stood up to the Empire, and been an integral part of a brand-new generation of sci-fi. John shot to fame as former stormtrooper Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, and has since carved out an incredible reputation as an actor, producer, activist and storyteller with real purpose. This weekend, John is in New Zealand for the Armageddon Expo's massive 30th anniversary event, and he caught up with Jack Tame ahead of the convention. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Saville joins Jack Tame to discuss the latest sports news. The NPC final, Canterbury vs Otago, who will walk away with the trophy? Jason Holland has retired as attack coach for the All Blacks, what's next for him? And the White Ferns exit the cricket world cup following a difficult run in Sri Lanka. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"An amusing story about the lengthy & complex arrangements around an appointment with an oral (dental) surgeon this week. Spoiler alert: My tooth fell out before I got there." Kevin Milne joins Jack Tame to share an interesting story about complications at the dentist. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was such a rookie mistake. I was tramping in the Kahurangi, last summer. The Douglas Range, 1000m above sea level. And after we'd pitched a tent, as the sun got heavy and the surrounding hills cast their shadows long and deep, I realised I'd screwed up, big time. Zzzzzz. Zzzzzz. Zzzzzz. What made the error so much worse was that it wasn't a bit of absent-minded forgetfulness. I'd carefully considered my options before loading my pack. It wasn't that I'd forgotten to bring long johns or pants. It's that I'd *chosen* not to pack them. Up top I had a poly-prop, jumper and jacket. But down bottom I had shorts… and that was it. Zzzzz. Zzzzzzzz. The only way to keep sandflies from biting is to keep moving. And the last thing you feel like doing after 8 or 10 hours of steady climbing… is keep moving. As if to wallow in my own stupidity, I ended up treading a middle ground. Moving just enough so as not to rest, but not enough to stop the sandflies from completely devouring me. Still, I've had worse experiences with them. I'll not forget my night at the mouth of the Heaphy River, where the swarms were so thick they hung in the skies like pockets of buzzing black smoke. Walking by, you had to make sure to close your mouth so as not to catch a bit of extra protein. And you know what? I'd still take a sandfly over a biting gnat. I once chose to visit one of Utah's national parks on a Sunday in the middle of biting gnat season. The locals call them ‘moose flies' which I suppose could be cos' they hang around moose, or just as feasibly in my experience because the gnats are a comparable size. It wasn't just the itching that killed me, though. My bare legs were soon covered in blood. I returned to Salt Lake City to discover every pharmacy closed for the rest of the weekend and spent the night lying in a tepid bath, trying to stave off shock. Often it's the obvious downside to natural beauty. If it's a beautiful natural landscape… there will be something that'll give you an itchy bite. At least there's one place on Earth you could still safely wear shorts. Sure, you might be a bit nippy striding down the streets of Reykjavik in your stubbies, but at the very least you could be sure there were no sandflies. There were no biting gnats. No midges. No moose flies. No mozzies. That was at least, until this week. Scientists have confirmed that for the first time, the World's deadliest creature has reached the last country on Earth. Iceland officially has mosquitoes. And while sure, Iceland is not the Amazon. They're not at risk of a Dengue Fever outbreak, You can still safely leave the Deet at home. The truth is that the discover probably represents more than just an ecological quirk. At an individual level, sure, it's a potential nuisance. But what confirming mosquitoes in Iceland says about the state of the planet is probably far more serious. 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! Is the Government right to get rid of its climate disclosure rules for listed companies? Did anybody actually care? Tomorrow's mega-strike is set to begin. Polls indicate over half of Kiwis support the strike. What do we make of all this? What's your secret to cooking a good sausage? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, CTU's new president Sandra Grey, and researcher Kali Mercier.

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts has slashed New Zealand's methane targets, saying they're more realistic for farmers. Q+A asks him what impact it may have on the country's international commitments and trade deals. . As Energy Minister, Watts is facing calls to do something about the energy industry. It follows the closure of multiple businesses which cited high energy prices as a factor. . Watts is also questioned about the sustainability of the local government sector as it tackles rates rises, infrastructure deficits, and low voter turnout. . Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand on Air.

Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger passed away this week. He served from 1990-1997 and secured National's largest ever victory in the 1990 election. Kevin Milne joins Jack Tame to share his personal experiences with Jim Bolger, who he once met at a café on the Kapiti coast. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been almost 15 years since the Pike River mining disaster in which 29 men lost their lives. A new film tells the true story of the tragedy and its aftermath through the eyes of Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse - 2 women at the forefront of the fight for justice. In the disaster, Anna lost her husband Milton. Sonya lost her son Ben, while another of her sons, Daniel, was one of just two survivors. The pair joined Jack Tame this morning to discuss the disaster and the film's release. Pike River will be in cinemas from the 30th of October 2025. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Dawning is a collaborative album from Icelandic composer and producer Ólafur Arnalds, and the late Irish singer-songwriter Talos. The album blends the two musician's iconic styles to take listeners on a journey of raw emotion and evasive hope, and serves as a reminder of the legacy left by Talos. All the artwork was made by Talos himself. James Irwin joined Jack Tame to review the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people think about money in terms of days. Wealthy people think about money in decades. Here's how to think about money differently: Based on this calculator. Ed McKnight joined Jack Tame to look at how Kiwis view their money, and why we should start counting decades, not days. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I flew to Greymouth the morning after Pike River first blew. I was there, in and out, for several weeks. I keenly remember those first few days of waiting. Of hope. Checking our phones. Checking our phones. Checking our phones. It's a cliche, I know. But time moves so slowly when you're watching a clock. I remember the calculations. How much air? Water? Food? I remember the international media pouring into Greymouth. I remember the despair on the Wednesday afternoon when the families were called in for an update. The mine had blown again. The men were all dead. One of the great privileges of being a journalist is that you get to meet lots of interesting people and experience lots of different things. I've certainly had more than my share of pinch-myself moments over the years. But for all the elections and Olympics and Donald Trump rallies I've been lucky to attend one the most memorable afternoons of my life was the afternoon of the Pike River memorial. You might recall it. It was less than a fortnight after the men went missing... a big public event at a racecourse just out of town. But instead of going, I decided to stay the afternoon in Greymouth. And I've never experienced anything like it. It. Was. Empty. Not a car. Not an open shop. Not a soul. You could walk down the painted line in the middle of the road. There was no one. Everyone was gone because a piece of everyone was gone. The loss was absolute. It still seems a bit surreal. Mining has never been the safest industry, and the Coast has more than its share of tragic history hidden in its magnificent bush-covered valleys, but that almost every player on a rugby pitch could go in for a shift and never come home – in modern New Zealand – is still shocking to me. I watched Pike River the film this week. I found it very affecting. It's interesting to note the director Rob Sarkies also directed Out of the Blue, the film about Aramoana. He waited 16 years after the massacre to make and release that film. He's waited almost as long for Pike River. He's really got a knack for sensitively telling some of the most painful-but-important New Zealand stories. But there's a big and obvious difference between Out of the Blue and Pike River. The Pike River story still isn't over. Police and the Crown Solicitor are still deciding whether to lay criminal charges. After all of those days waiting to see if their boys might have somehow survived, all of those weeks and then months and then years to see if the mine could be re-entered, if they could recover the remains of their loved ones... The families of the Pike 29 are still waiting. The media left town. In a way, the World moved on. But you get the sense, after 15 years, that a little part of Greymouth is still hollowed out. Still waiting for justice. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cillian Murphy and Tracey Ullman are the stars of new Netflix movie 'Steve', adapted from a book written by Max Porter. And Kiera Knightley stars with Guy Pearce and Hannah Waddingham in another book adaptation. Francesca Rudkin joined Jack Tame to give a rundown of the two movies, including their highs and lows. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog writer and Curia pollster David Farrar 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! It's been a controversial couple of days for the Māori Party. Do we see the party splitting apart? Do we think Labour will officially rule out working with them before next year's election? A new poll in the Post has indicated Chris Bishop is the successor in waiting for Luxon - what do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With 1News reporters Yvonne Tahana, Abbey Wakefield, and Ali Pugh; artist and activist Tāme Iti; former Auckland Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse; NZ Initiative local government specialist Nick Clark; and ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar.

Raised at the bottom of the world, Sam Cullen is on his way up. The Invercargill-born musician is rising in the music world, having already performed on the main stage at Rhythm & Vines, as well as playing on some of the coolest stages around the country. He's been working quietly behind the scenes on his self-titled debut album, which is set to release soon. Some of the songs on the album, he revealed to Jack Tame, are about five or six years old. “It's kind of been less of a, I'm going to sit down and write an album,” Cullen said. “But the last five years of my life, these are like, the best songs I've written and haven't released yet.” Only being 25 years old, this means the songs were written throughout the early days of his adulthood – resulting in themes of coming of age and entering adulthood weaving throughout the album. “I'm pretty proud of it and excited to have it out.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A couple of interesting quotes came to light this week – one from the late Jane Goodall and the other from Queen Camilla. Kevin Milne joined Jack Tame to chat about the two quotes and his thoughts on them. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fifth solo studio album from American musician Jeff Tweedy, Twilight Override is packed full. It's a triple album, with a total of 30 tracks, created with the intention of overwhelming the ‘ennui' that was being squeezed into his life with his own creative works. He's credited the prolific output to his belief that creativity “eats darkness”. James Irwin joined Jack Tame to review the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Whites were playing Poland yesterday in the build up for next year's World Cup. I saw about half of the game. Although we ultimately lost, my main takeaway was that we looked alright. All Whites of old would have faced potential humiliation in a game against Poland – not this team. But for whatever reason I was also struck by one of the challenges that led to a yellow card in the match, and the way in which the players reacted. To be clear, it was nothing special. A heavy, clumsy challenge, but one which happens in every top tier football game and probably every Sunday league golden oldies 40+ social game too. The tackle came in. The ref blew his whistle. And in a moment, players from both teams immediately crowded him out. I don't get it. I don't understand why football, of all sports, lets players rush the referee, getting right up in their face to theatrically plead innocence or insist that an opponent should be more harshly sentenced. Sure, the rules state that players can be penalised for dissent, but it happens so rarely. Instead, you see them rush the ref all the time in top level games. Sometimes half a team will run in. It can take minutes to restore order. I get that sport is emotional, but it's a curious exercise to compare what football will generally allow players to do to referees with other, more violent sports. In rugby, there's no way referees would stand for it. There's a very clear process. If you've got a problem, your captain is welcome to bring it to the ref, but if any other players push the line, they risk being penalised. Most players get it pretty quickly. In American football, if you give much more than a ‘yes sir' to one of the officials, you'll be penalised for unsportsmanlike conduct or ejected from the game. They have trialled similar things in football. They looked at a blue card option in which referees could sin-bin players for dissent. They looked at rules where only captains could approach referees. But so far it hasn't been adopted in the top leagues with the most money, the most viewers, and the most influence. Apparently one of the concerns is that cracking down on player treatment of referees will suppress some of the emotion in the game, and emotion makes it fun to watch. But I dunno. I reckon by being so loosey-goosey and allowing ten or a dozen players to all get up in the ref's face at once, they've ended up incentivising histrionic behaviour. Now, if a player makes a heavy tackle and knows they're probably in the wrong, they have to go up and scream and yell and stamp their feet at their supposed cruel treatment, because they know the other team will be making just as much of a scene, trying to get them punished. It's like an arms race – you have to match your opponent's outrage. Football is a near-perfect team sport. It's beautifully simple. The barriers to entry are basically non-existent. The scope for creativity and flare is vast. But if there is one way the beautiful game might be improved just a bit, it's the way players treat the referee. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk, Race Relations Commissioner Melissa Derby, and global tax expert Michael Keen.

A bit of a change in focus for Jeremy Redmore. While most will know him from the rock band Midnight Youth, Redmore is going through a bit of a creative evolution, turning his attention to children's music. But it's not the sugar-rush pop you might be expecting, the music instead following a —surprisingly emotional— narrative. Redmore told Jack Tame it all started when he was writing a children's book about the superpowers that can be found in singing – the way you can find identity and energy through song. “That was a book about singing, so I had to have a song,” he said. “I did the song, and I really enjoyed releasing kid's music.” It was at that point he started wondering anyone else felt this way about the power of singing, and so he started researching. “Turns out there's all this amazing stuff that happens when kids sing and adults sing as well, but especially when people sing in groups.” “So I had the opportunity to record an album of songs, and I thought, let's make this really intentional.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taylor Swift has released her hotly anticipated 12th album 'The Life of a Showgirl'. It's a shift away from the bleakness of her previous album 'The Tortured Poets Department', Swift describing it as a 'vibrant and lively' project. However while it's a departure from TTPD, it's almost a return to for the pop superstar, filled with upbeat pop and soft rock songs - the album centring around her relationship with her fiancé Travis Kelce. Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame to give his thoughts on the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring has sprung and it's the perfect time to pick up a few simple, sustainable habits that connect you to nature. Kate Hall has a few suggestions that she joined Jack Tame to delve into, including: Plant and swap: Sow quick wins like salad greens, radishes, and herbs. Share or swap seeds and seedlings with neighbours. Line-drying: The spring winds are free! Ditch the dryer and line-dry for that “fresh air” scent and big energy savings. Clean-out & donate: Spring clean time! Sort your wardrobe, kids' toys, or kitchen gear. Donate or swap rather than binning - it keeps items in circulation. Eco-picnics: Pack homemade snacks in jars and containers, bring reusable cups and cutlery, and enjoy local parks or beaches waste-free. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the Mangle-Munching Forest there's a Nickle-Nackle tree, growing Nickle-Nackle berries that are red as red can be. I'll be very careful so as not to give up the end, but would you believe it's been fifty years since first those words were penned? That first sentence I read you is from Lynley Dodd's Nickle-Nackle Tree. It's a kid's counting book that's a bit of a Dr Seuss-ian take on New Zealand birds. And it was first published in 1976, five decades ago next year. Truthfully, I don't think I've opened The Nickle-Nackle Tree since it was read to me as a kid. But after our newborn son was gifted a copy, it didn't take long to commit most of the Nickle-Nackle Tree to memory. My son can't crawl or speak or catch himself when he topples over, but he can put out his fat little hand and turn the pages as we read. Lynley Dodd enjoys a bit of market dominance at our place. We've got heaps of kid's books, but there's just something about the language of her stories that gives them that extra degree… that extra edge. Whether it's Slinky Malinky or Zachary Quack or a Dragon in a Wagon, her rhyming is technically flawless. The cadence has a perfect, musical quality. If you've ever written a poem and tried to perform it aloud, you might appreciate it – that flow is much harder to achieve than you might think. Lynley Dodd's books use such rich language: jumbly! Rapscallion! Skedaddled! And I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know this until my son was born, but she illustrates her books herself, and she does a beautiful job. Of all her work, of course, Hairy Maclary is top of the pops. It's amazing to me how those stories connect with different children. When my friends in New York had a kid a few years ago, I sent them the complete Hairy Maclary, expecting that it'd be discarded soon enough for plastic monster trucks and iPads and big city things. Truthfully, I thought it might be a bit quaint for them or perhaps lost in translation. After all, America doesn't have dairies! But my friends and their son loved it. And I mean really loved it. Today, their book has that wonderful, taped up, slightly tatty quality of having been read hundreds of times. And that's the thing about children's books. They're designed to be read aloud, and they're designed to be re-read and re-read and re-read again. It takes a special kind of genius to write a re-readable story that's still fun for its reader to say aloud. That doesn't drive its reader mad! And think about the impact someone like Lynley Dodd has had. The countless moments of joy she's sparked. Is there anyone in New Zealand who couldn't finish this sentence: Hercules Morse, as big as a …? Of course not. I reckon children's storybooks are an art form for which a lot of people grossly underestimate just how talented you need to be in order to absolutely nail it. You know what I mean? It's the sort of thing that seems easy enough but is far more complex than most of us imagine. And I say art form, because finding a blissful blend of story, language, and images, something that delights children and adults, really is an art form. It's taken becoming a parent for me to properly appreciate just how talented the best of the best really are. And if the current reading habits in our household are anything to go by… I'd put Dame Lynley Dodd right up there. Five decades since she started publishing, her books haven't lost any of their magic. They delight my son today as much as they delighted me when I was a kid. They haven't lost a scintilla of relevance or appeal. Funny eh… how quality stands the test of time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.