Podcasts about Jack Tame

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Australia seems to have turned the corner on teenage vaping, with rates among young people dropping. Do we need to follow suit and crack down on vaping? Members of Local Government NZ have voted in favour of strong opposition to a rates cap. What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Globally, around 460 million metric tons of plastic is produced every year, and it's estimated that 20 million metric tons of plastic litter ends up in the environment. To try and mitigate some of the damage, Plastic Free July was launched in 2011. It's a key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation, which aims to work towards a world free of plastic waste. Founder and Executive Director of Plastic Free July, Rebecca Prince-Ruiz joined Jack Tame to discuss the initiative and challenge people to get involved. Find more details here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maren Morris is a country music superstar. She's a Grammy Award Winner and a five time winner at the Country Music Awards, breaking records and writing songs for iconic artists like Kelly Clarkson and Tim McGraw. And now she's entering a new era in her life and career with her latest album ‘Dreamsicle'. She'll be heading to New Zealand next year to ride the country music wave that's sweeping the country, performing shows in Auckland and Christchurch. Morris joined Jack Tame to discuss this next phase in her career, the meaning behind Dreamsicle, and next year's tour. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The release coming as a surprise to his fans, Swag is the seventh studio album of Justin Bieber – his first release in four years. With a range of guest appearances, the album returns to Bieber's favoured R&B sounds after his backslide into generic pop with 2021's Justice. Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the new album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last month we set a new household record. Blame the baby, the extra washing, the old house, the cold weather, the dehumidifier, and whatever else. But despite booking in hours of free electricity across the month, between the gas heating and electricity, our family energy bill for June 2025 was the highest it's ever been: $540. I know we're very comfortable relative to so many families, but even so, that has gotta change. But while of course there are things we as a family can improve upon, I'm very aware that there are only so many gains to be won from policing light switches and shower times. I'm seriously wondering about solar. I read an amazing set of stats in the New Yorker magazine this week about the scale and development of solar energy around the world. This is all big picture stuff... mainly the huge industrial solar farms, rather than household solar, but a couple of these numbers absolutely blew me away. First of all, solar power is now growing faster than any power source in history. Globally, a gigawatt's worth of solar panels is being installed every fifteen hours on average, which means if you set a stopwatch running right now, new solar panels equal to the entire electricity generation capacity of New Zealand will be installed and running by midnight on Thursday night. Next week? The same. And the week after that. And the week after that. Another fact. It took 68 years from the invention of solar panels for the world to install the first terawatt of solar generation. That was 2022. It took just two years to install the second terawatt of generation. And it's gonna take a year to 18 months to install the third. By next year, the International Energy Agency says solar energy will generate more electricity than all the world's nuclear power plants combined. By 2029, more than hydro dams. By 2031 more than gas and by 2032, more than coal. Globally, we are generating a third more energy through wind and solar than this time last year. The Chinese are miles ahead of anyone else on this, but even gas-guzzling America is changing fast. Why? Are we doing it because it's the right thing? The moral thing? The climate-conscious thing? No. The huge surge in solar is being driven by economics. Put simply, solar power is way, way, way cheaper than other forms of electricity generation. Between batteries and solar panels, the technology is only getting better and only getting cheaper. Ten years from now, as reported in that article, the International Energy Agency says solar power will become the world's main source of all energy... not just electricity, but all energy. I'm not naïve about solar's limitations. Few of us need reminding —especially given the last couple of weeks— that there are times when the sun doesn't shine. And right now, in the depths of winter, when our family's energy bill is the highest, is the time of year when solar panels on our rooftop would likely be generating the least electricity. But if I take a step back and think about solar in the context of the whole year, it makes increasing economic sense to me. In summer I reckon I could wipe off a massive chunk from our energy bill. And whatever savings I make then can contribute to offsetting the bills in the middle of winter. All I knew when I looked at my energy bill this week is the status quo isn't gonna be sustainable for our family. Rather than debating if we'll go to solar, the only question for us now, is when. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Her first album released as an independent artist, Period is Kesha's sixth studio album. With her taste for experimental pop on full display, the album is a return to Kesha's wilder, hedonistic, “hot mess” era, filled with brash and unfiltered music. The popstar says her goal was for it to create a safe space for people to feel fully embodied and liberated, unfiltered, and fearless. Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new twist on a classic tale. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is an iconic tale of star-crossed lovers, and in just a few weeks, it will be brought to life once more by Auckland Theatre Company. Although if you're expecting a classic performance, you're in for a shock – instead you'll witness a fast-passed thriller set in 1960's Milan, complete with Kiwi accents. The titular characters are played by Theo David and Phoebe McKellar and the two joined Jack Tame to delve into the development of the show and what it's like to bring this new variation to life. Performances are running from the 15th of July through to the 9th of August at ASB Waterfront Theatre – tickets are available here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley travels a lot. He's the resident traveller on Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, always trying something or some place new. As a result, he's tried out many of the apps available for travellers, and has a few he would call his favourites. Read his full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the cold and wet winter months, people often spend a lot less time in the great outdoors. This can be a bit of a problem, as recent research reveals that spending time outside can have quite a few psychological benefits. Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to delve into the findings. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investing isn't always easy, and while you may think you can afford to buy a new house or investment property, can you really? Ed McKnight recommends that before you take on those payments, try living with the decreased income before taking on that debt. He joined Jack Tame to delve deeper into the ‘Can I Invest' Test. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's be honest, so far as All Blacks tests go, this is a bit of a funny one. If you were just weighing the odds on paper, I suppose there's good reason why you might favour Les Bleus. I hadn't realised it until this week, but we're coming off a three-game losing streak against the French, and you'll remember last year's first All Blacks test in Dunedin was a nail-biting one-point victory. The All Blacks didn't scream cohesion. Add to that the fact I still don't think we have an emphatic answer for who should start at ten, and Tupou Vai'i, surely one of the World's best locks, is playing blindside flanker! And yet the French are playing eight debutants and have left a slab of their elite stars back home. If it were any other test nation, I think New Zealand Rugby would have the right to kick up a bit of a fuss about the whole situation. But given the French and their history of spirited unpredictability on the rugby football pitch, it probably makes sense to secure a dominant victory before moaning about the standard of the opposition. You can just imagine it, can't you? No sooner would we lodge a formal complaint than a French rugby team with a prop at first five or a winger throwing the line outs would intercept an errant pass in the 84th minute or accidentally charge down the match-ending clearance kick with their replacement fullback's face in a freak moment of sporting brilliance to pip the All Blacks for yet another famous victory. An All Blacks test is an All Blacks test and the first of the season always gets me fizzing, but truthfully I realised I'd crossed a curious little Rubicon of sorts this week when I noted in myself an even greater sense of excitement about a completely different Gallic endeavour which happens to coincide with tonight's game. The Tour de France kicks off tonight. And I dunno what it is, but over the last few years it has become appointment viewing for me on the international sporting calendar. I think the romance and agony of it all is just so alluring. The way that riders slowly decay over the three weeks and more than 3000km. The way teams have to work to secure individual victories. The spectators lining the road, running with the leaders, often getting far, far closer than would ever be allowed in any other sport. The psychology of it! It's madness. Imagine cycling for hundreds of kilometres in intense heat or over a mountain range, only to get back to your bus and know you have to do it again the next day. And the next day. And the day after that. I honestly thought after the Lance Armstrong saga that I was done with the Tour de France. But whether it's the Netflix treatment or the incredible, generation-defining rivalry of the World's two best riders, I'm very much back in the saddle. So there's my pick. I reckon the All Blacks are well-placed to blast the French in Dunedin. But if you haven't watched it in a while, and you want guaranteed sporting drama... hang around a few more hours tonight for stage one of Le Tour. You will not be disappointed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lorde has described her fourth album as her rebirth. ‘Virgin' is her attempt to make a document that reflected her femininity, which she described as “raw, primal, innocent, elegant, openhearted, spiritual, masc”. It deals with themes of gender identity, body image, and mental health, a more introspective album than its predecessor ‘Solar Power'. Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to share her thoughts on the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Muchamore is behind some of the best novels available to young readers. His CHERUB series is credited with shaking up young adult literature, with realistic language, unconventionally sophisticated themes, and portrayals of heroes that challenge tradition. His latest series tackles concepts like corruption, protection rackets, and late-stage capitalist failure, with a twist on the tale of Robin Hood. The ninth book in the series, Robin Hood: Fury, Fire and Frost, was released earlier this month. Muchamore told Jack Tame he's always been fascinated by the tale of Robin Hood – this very old story that has been passed on and reimagined over and over again. “It's this kind of legend that's been around for so long, and everyone gets to interpret it in their own way.” His version of the story is a more modern take, set in a contemporary world with a 12/13-year-old Robin Hood that's very similar to most modern children. That similarity can be something of a challenge though, as Muchamore explains that over his twenty years of writing for children, it's becoming a bit harder to stay in touch with kids. “You really do have to be humble and talk to kids, and listen to what they say.” “Kids are quite ruthless,” Muchamore explained. “They're always quite ruthless if you get something wrong or you use a phrase that isn't hip anymore or something like that.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$82 million. As we go to air this morning, that's a rough estimate for the amount of cash going up in smoke as Jeff Bezos marries his bride at a star-studded Venetian affair. Eighty-two million. And I thought my wedding was an expensive affair! Everything's relative, of course. $82 million represents just a fraction of the total wealth of the world's third-richest man. To try and appreciate the true magnitude of his $300 billion estimated wealth, I put his finances into a scale that I can better understand. If every Jeff Bezos dollar was one second —so that one minute was $60, and one hour was $3600— depleting Jeff Bezos' wealth would take more than 11,000 years. You're gonna think I have a particular thing for Jeff Bezos. I honestly don't. I was one of those bagging his fiancée's space flight a few weeks ago, but I swear it's nothing personal. I would just be so embarrassed to be spending that much money to get married in a place where it would appear a reasonable number of locals don't want me. I've spent enough time in media to know it's hard to properly gauge these things from the outside. Protestors say Bezos has bought half the city and that his bash is an obscene example of money trumping every other concern. But the local mayor says that anyone blocking up the canals in protest or hanging out with banners and signs represents a tiny minority of Venetians, and actually the vast majority of Venetians are happy to welcome Bezos, his big bucks, and his blockbuster mates. Consumption in these European hotspots is clearly becoming a greater sore point. The backlash to the Bezos wedding recalls the protestors in Barcelona who've been going around and squirting visitors with water guns to protest the impact of overtourism on housing and infrastructure in the city. Whether it's Italy, Spain, or Portugal, qualities that made coastal European cities so romantic and alluring in the first place are swiftly destroying them in the Airbnb, cheap flights, and mass-tourism age. Would you still go? I can confess to having visited both Venice and Barcelona during backpacking trips fifteen odd years ago, but I'm not sure I'd return anytime soon. Increasingly as I travel, I'm a little repulsed by the crowds at the absolute hottest spots. And I'm aware that like a driver complaining about a traffic jam, I'm part of the problem. The Mayor of Venice who has so staunchly defended the Jeff Bezos wedding says he's embarrassed by the protests. The wedding is a great source of much-needed revenue for the city, he said. Italy's tourism Ministry put out a report suggesting it could provide the city a tourism boost of more than $1 billion dollars. It's a great way to put Venice on the map. I dunno. I'm not sure Venice needs to be put on the map! Maybe I'm wired differently but watching the scenes in Venice has, if anything, made me less likely to go back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new season of Below Deck has set sail on our screens. The reality show has been running for over a decade, chronicling the high pressure, high stakes world of super yachts. Captain Kerry is the man at the helm of this season's superyacht, sailing the St David in Below Deck Adventure. Though many reality TV shows are hammed up for entertainment, Kerry told Jack Tame that on Below Deck, it's all “fair dinkum”. He says that everything is real, it's just a much more intense environment than a regular yacht season. “A season would be three or four months, we're doing it in six weeks,” Kerry revealed. “Where a lot of the stress comes into the job is turning the boat over – so when the guests leave, turning it over, getting it ready for the next trip, that's so much pressure.” When Kerry runs a yacht off TV, he says he'll give it three or four days between charters, and each charter is about a week, but on the show, they're doing nearly three charters a week. “Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, for six weeks.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone says the best time to travel with a baby is before it can walk. Makes sense, when you think about it. Most toddlers, once they've learnt to trot around the place, live for nothing more. All they want to do is walk. In fact, if you think about it, you really don't want to get close to even blurring the line between rolling and crawling and waddling away. The moment your child is old enough and independently spirited enough to drag themselves around, you're done for. There is no reasoning with an exhausted one-year-old on a packed 777. You can't calmly explain that actually the pilot has just put on the fasten seatbelt sign. You can't even vegetate them with a screen. As the old advice goes, if you're going to travel with a young one, you're best to do it when they're really young. Hold them tight and they'll mistake turbulence for rocking. Chuck them on the boob or the bottle if their ears are popping. And hey, you'll be at your destination in no time! Or not. As someone who usually prides themselves on embracing new experiences, even I'll concede that as our departure date approached, I felt an unmistakably growing sense of anxiety about our journey: 24 hours to Toronto with a four-month-old little boy and his eight-year-old brother. It all seemed so easy when we booked the tickets! The stress really kicked in the moment the taxi arrived to take us to the airport. Having purchased a special travel carseat secondhand, it was a rude shock to discover that it didn't really fit our cab like it fitted the cars in the instructional YouTube videos. Cue ten minutes of wrestling and cursing and a t-shirt neckline already drenched in sweat. Timing an 8pm flight with a baby means being at the airport at 6pm, which means getting a cab at 5.15pm. Our boy is fine in a carseat so long as he's moving. But when it's the beginning of a long weekend and everyone is leaving Auckland at once, nobody's moving. You're lucky to get more than a couple of car lengths without coming to a standstill again. By the time we arrived the airport he'd already screamed his lungs out and my blood pressure was sitting somewhere between concerning and see-a-medical professional immediately. Just 23 hours to go. I've travelled enough and been sat next or near enough babies to know a lot of the theory around flying with little ones, but the thing you only fully appreciate once you're in charge is how precarious any moment of peace always seems. They might be fast asleep in their mother's arms as the plane taxis to the runway, but he's never more than a little jolt away from potentially stirring and screaming. It's like you're cradling a pink, chubby little grenade who's missing a pin. He might go off and it might be catastrophic. He might scream and scream until all the babies on the flight slowly tip off each other, like a cadre of car alarms at 30 thousand feet. Or he might just sleep. The potential for either option is never more than a few seconds away. Of course, some things are just destined to go wrong. The moment you put your baby in the bassinet and he goes to sleep, there will be turbulence and you'll be forced to take him out, bright and alert as a little meerkat. The moment you successfully navigate the Row 48 bathrooms and their slippery changing table and make it back triumphant to your seat, you will recognise a familiar straining expression on your baby's face. The moment you're sure that your son couldn't possibly have any more burps and you just happen to lower that spill cloth for a couple of seconds, he will make sure to exploit that sartorial weakness so before long, his dried milk can mix in with that dried sweat from the taxi, earlier on. The moment you land, you will discover there's been a mix up with the luggage and the carseat that'll take a long time to fix and jeopardise your connection. It will be Lord of the Flies in the customs queue, you will miss your connecting flight and the replacement will somehow fail to have to transferred the infant's booking... so what, you ask, do you suggest we just leave him in Vancouver? Most of this isn't any one person's fault, but rather the inevitable hiccups when navigating the crazy logistics of internal travel. In fairness, Māni did about as well as anyone could expect of a four-month-old, but travelling long haul with a baby has certainly tested my enthusiasm for the whole new experiences thing. Sure, he might have spewed in the middle of the aisle while half the plane was watching him. He might have gone through a dozen nappies, three rompers, a cardigan and no fewer than five bibs, but next time I'll remember that I'm the one who needs to pack extra clothes in his carry on. After it all, there we were, more than 24 hours since we left home, pulling into a quiet street in a little town on Lake Ontario. It was almost 3.30am, local time, the dead of night. Māni's grandparents were waiting to meet their grandson for the first time. Māni's great-grandparents were waiting to meet him for the first time. Bleary eyed and teary eyed, we hugged and cried in the warm summer air. Sons, daughters, aunties, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Four generations, together. And it was all worth it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Their 27th album and their most theatrical yet, Phantom Island is the latest release from Australian psychedelic rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. It's a partner to their prior album, Flight b741, and was recorded during the same sessions, continuing on with the same themes, but with a more orchestral sound. Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to share her thoughts on the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queen of the stage, Alison Quigan is a mainstay in New Zealand's performing arts scene. You may know her best as Yvonne Jeffries, Shortland Street's maternally-minded receptionist, or from one of her many theatre productions, as Quigan has spent her career creating stories that portray the real lives of Kiwis on stage. She's back to her theatrical ways, directing a brand-new production by Sir Roger Hall, ‘End of Summer Time'. It's the story of retired cow cocky Dickie Hart and his wife Glenda's move to Auckland, a decision Dickie thinks is the beginning of the end. Quigan told Jack Tame that Hall's a great observationist, and it's his understanding of his audience that allows them to connect with his works. “He's been telling the story of this particular generation for 50 years, and he is very loyal to them and they are very loyal to him.” She started directing his plays in the late 80's when she took over Centre Point Theatre in Palmerston North, but as a solo show, this one is a little bit more complex than normal. “You're actually trying to create all the other characters with the actor, and obviously with the writer, and so it's a case of making sure that he's, he can get from A to B to C to D, to all of that, so he can get through to the end of the play,” Quigan explained. “So there's the practical part of understanding how a solo show works, but also reassuring and just loving what this other person can bring to the play.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I still remember the exact seat where I was sitting. It was 20 years ago, and I was primed for one of the key exams in my tertiary education. I'd passed Teeline shorthand at 40 words a minute. 50 words, 60 words, 70 words. To progress on my journalism course and ultimately earn a degree I had one final challenge: I had to pass a Teeline shorthand exam at 80 words a minute. We learnt Teeline from a wonderful tutor, a woman named Julie with exacting standards, a wicked sense of humour, and a way with words. She'd peer over your shoulder when you were tracing out different characters. “That's a squitty-looking outline,” she'd say with a wry smile. The moment I realised I'd passed 80 words a minute, I walked up to the front of the class and kissed her on the cheek. It took five months of work with daily lessons. I drilled myself with cassette tapes at home. But in a stuffy room on Madras Street, finally, I'd done it. But here's the crazy thing. That was the very last time I seriously used Teeline shorthand. That's no reflection on Julie. She was an amazing tutor, and shorthand skills had been fundamental for journalists for however-many decades. But back in 2005, what no one had apparently stopped to consider was whether those skills would be necessary in a world on the cusp on smart phones. What's the point in trying to keep up with shorthand when your phone can record a verbatim interview and even transcribe it in real time? Since our son was born, I've found myself thinking a lot about my shorthand experience in the context of AI. And I kept returning to a fundamental question: what skills and knowledge should we actually be teaching our kids? In the UK, surveys have suggested that 90% of university students are using AI to help with assessments. I'm frankly surprised it's not more. But educators around the world are trying to grapple with how to get around the likes of Chat GPT, Claude, and DeepSeek in assessing students' learning. So far at least, technology which purports to scan students' submissions for signs of AI is having mixed results at best. Many assessors are advocating for a complete return to in-person exams with hand-written essays. And yet in stewing over this, I couldn't help but wonder if in some ways that misses the point. It's like long division in the age of the calculator. Sure, it's a nice-to-know. But be honest. Do you actually use it? How many of us actually need manual long division skills in the modern age? What's the point in rote-learning historical dates when they are but a Google away? What's the point in learning where to place a semicolon when you can always spell and grammar check your work? When it comes to AI, instead of trying to work around it, I wondered, are we not better just to fully embrace it and try to teach our kids how to maximise the utility of the technology? Ultimately, two points have given me reason to pause. First of all, it occurs to me that we're not very good at foreseeing what skills will and won't be relevant in the workplace of the future. It was only a few years ago that everyone was urging young people to drop everything and learn how to code. Now, coding jobs are among the first ones being gobbled up generative AI. And it's easy in reflecting in my Teeline shorthand example to miss the even greater lesson. It's true, Teeline skills haven't been necessary or helpful in my almost-twenty years of journalism. But what has been helpful is the discipline that experience taught me. What has been helpful is the organisation skills, the accountability, the professionalism. In learning Teeline, I learnt shorthand. But more importantly, I learnt how to learn. Whether it's through long division, historical essays or anything else... surely that is the skill should aspire to educate in our kids. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Groundswell is calling on the Government to pull New Zealand out of the Paris Agreement. Do we see ourselves leaving - or will the agreement fall apart on its own? Biotechnology company 23andMe is being taken to court by multiple US states over plans to auction off customers' personal genetic information without their consent. Have we ever done one of these tests? What would happen if this data got sold? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A significant milestone happened in Kevin Milnes life recently – or shall we say a Milnestone. Wednesday marked 50 years since he and his wife Linda went on their first date, and he joined Jack Tame for a chat about marriage, relationships, and anniversaries. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At some point in their life, most women will experience menopause. It generally impacts women between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age New Zealand women will begin to experience menopause being 52. At menopause, the ovaries stop releasing eggs and menstrual periods stop. In most cases, if someone hasn't had a period for 12 months in a row, they are considered post-menopausal. Significant symptoms are experienced by approximately 70% of those experiencing menopause – common ones including anxiety, low mood/depression, hot flushes, brain fog, nausea, and fatigue. Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to discuss menopause, why awareness should be raised around it, and how to support someone dealing with it in the workplace. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Britpop legends Pulp are back after 24 years. They released their 8th album, More, which was recorded over the span of three weeks, starting in November of 2024. In the Bandcamp description for the album, Jarvis Cocker writes: “We hope you enjoy the music. It was written & performed by four human beings from the North of England, aided & abetted by five other human beings from various locations in the British Isles. No A.I. was involved during the process. This album is dedicated to Steve Mackey. This is the best that we can do. Thanks for listening.” Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to share her thoughts on the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nadia Lim is a chef with a finger in every pie. She's a MasterChef New Zealand champion, cookbook author, TV personality, dietitian, entrepreneur, and an inspiration for many in the kitchen. Her recipes and passion have shaped the way many approach food, the release of her cookbook Easy Weeknight Meals inspiring plenty of people to take up utensils. To mark the 10th anniversary of that very cookbook, a special edition is being released, complete with 16 bonus My Food Bag recipes. Easy Weeknight Meals 10th Anniversary Edition, published by Allen & Unwin NZ, RRP $39.99. She told Jack Tame that ten years has gone by fast – time moving faster the older you get. “I'm 40 this year and I started this journey out when I was like, 25, and gosh, the time's just flown by,” Lim said. “I've never been a great person at kind of, looking back in the past, but when anniversaries like this come around, it's a good time to kind of look back and stop, pause, and reflect.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who could possibly, in their wildest dreams, ever have imagined it? Who could possibly have foreseen that the world's wealthiest man and the world's most powerful politician might blow up their bromance in the most spectacular fashion? Elon on Don? Feuding? Nooooo. Say it ain't so! The curious thing is the pair of them do have a few qualities in common. Hypocrisy, for starters. Having pledged many dozens of times to pay down his country's debt, Donald Trump pushed forward legislation that will actually grow the debt by an estimated NZ$4 trillion. Having pledged to cut waste from the same government's spending, Elon Musk heroically cut support for HIV-positive mothers while simultaneously taking billions of dollars in subsidies and contracts that benefit his own companies. Another common quality? The speed with which they both go nuclear. In the space of a few hours we had Trump threatening to cut SpaceX funding, Musk threatening to decommission the rocket used to get US astronauts to space, and an accusation about the Epstein files made without any evidence, which nonetheless, I thought the White House was notably less-than-emphatic in denying. In my view, Elon Musk has been heading for a fall for a long, long time. I think his behaviour is erratic. Whether it's Nazi salutes or his public statements, I think he seems unbalanced. I think the reporting about his drug use is consistent with his appearance at the White House and the fact he's in multiple custody battles with multiple women over children he's barely spent any time with says an awful lot of awful about his character. And while, sure, at his best, he has achieved some extraordinary things, you only need to log in to X to see that one of the most productive human beings in the history of our species is these days dedicating an obscene amount of his time and energy to juvenile posts, lies and conspiracies on social media. Unlike Trump, Elon Musk isn't charismatic. He isn't funny. The more people see of him, the less they like him and his products. And despite his threats to start a third political party and take down Republicans who support the President's bill, he doesn't have anything like the pulling power or cult support of the President. In April, Musk poured almost NZ$50m into a single judicial election in Wisconsin and his candidate lost. If anything, Musk's money and his support hurt the guy's chances. Who knows where this feud is headed? Maybe they'll cool off and make up in a few days. Regardless, there will only be one winner. It won't be Elon Musk. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, former Labour Minister Stuart Nash 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! The Government wants state owned enterprises to pick up its game - or else? Chris Luxon has ruled out asset sales this term, but do we think they're on the horizon? The Privacy Commissioner has given the thumbs up to Foodstuffs' facial recognition software. Would we mind if this technology was rolled out nation-wide? 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! The Government's latest OCR update was delivered this afternoon - what did we think of it? Are we getting dangerously close to 'stagflation' territory? Should we stop contributing so much to MPs' KiwiSavers? Movie theatres are seeing a revenue decline - do you still go to the movies? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a decade of chart-topping hits, sold-out tours, and almost 300 million streams, Mitch James is stepping away from music for good. He's set to take the stage one last time for The Final Show – an emotional send-off at the Christchurch Town Hall on Saturday 24 May. Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to share her thoughts on Mitch James's final album. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's leading contemporary dance company Black Grace is celebrating 30 years this year - and their latest production offers an intimate look at a familiar emotion. Rage Rage was crafted as a response to the chaotic times we live in, and it features dance infused with physical theatre. Award-winning playwright Leki Jackson-Bourke and emerging dancer Justice Kalolo joined Jack Tame to discuss the project. "I think people will kinda get the themes we're trying to work with - without giving the show away too much. But there's something that's relatable to everyone who comes to watch." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's one of the curious things about the structure of modern liberal democracies. Whether its sharemarkets or political cycles or even media coverage, a lot of the big forces that shape our society are influenced by short-term incentives. It gets us into all sorts of pickles. Take the Three Waters and the crisis with water infrastructure in New Zealand. The main reason we find ourselves with a vast infrastructure deficit is because for decades, heaps of local councils haven't properly invested to maintain the pipes. Why didn't they invest? Simple. Investment takes money and money means rates. And with woeful levels of engagement with local body elections, big rates increases and pledges to spend millions on water infrastructure that no one could see or appreciate weren't exactly vote-winners. Councillors who wanted to be re-elected have been incentivised to defer spending for the future. Someone else's problem. Predictably, of course, it snowballed. I think we risk the same thing with the aging population and the future of superannuation in New Zealand. We know that in a few short years, as more baby-boomers retire, the cost for superannuation combined with the impact of an older population on the health system is going to massively increase pressure on the Government books. Treasury has been warning about it for ages. There are going to be fewer of us of working age supporting more of us who are retired. And yet since the advent of KiwiSaver, there have been very few big steps to address the fast-approaching meteorite. I'm pleased to see the Government move on Kiwisaver contributions in the Budget this week. It's well overdue in my opinion, and although it'll be a burden for a lot of businesses in the short term, I'd personally support steps that encouraged a greater rate of retirement saving in the future. It occurs to me that a massively underrated component in the Australia vs New Zealand equation is superannuation. Saving for super is compulsory in Australia. But not only are wages higher across the ditch, in six weeks, the compulsory employer rate goes to 12%. I'm not suggesting we instantly introduce a 12% rate here – businesses would be driven into the ground. But it's interesting to note that in Australia, for most workers, the tax on employer contributions is much lower than that in New Zealand. In the next few decades, Australians are set to retire with hundreds of thousands of dollars more than their New Zealand counterparts. I turn 65 in 27 years. I have no expectation that superannuation in its current form will exist by the time I get there. I have a sense of fatalism about the whole thing. It feels inevitable that I'll be paying for older generations to enjoy universal super, only for the settings to finally change once I'm on the home straight to 65. I do find one thing about the Government's move this week particularly curious. They've opened the door to means-testing KiwiSaver. Those who earn more than $180,000 won't receive the Government contribution. I don't claim to know what the best solution is. But there will be many working New Zealanders wondering, this week... if means-testing KiwiSaver benefits is acceptable, why shouldn't superannuation be means-tested too? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland FC's made a record-breaking start to their debut season and fans are hopeful the team can go all the way to the top. Saturday is the biggest chapter yet, with 29,000 people set to pack an expanded Go Media Stadium for the second leg of the semifinal with Melbourne Victory. Andrew Saville joined Jack Tame to discuss further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Forest House' is the latest album to come from NZ Best Country Artist Winner Jenny Mitchell. In her own words, the album is filled with songs that reflect everything that happens within the four walls of a house – new beginnings, endings, the good, bad, nostalgic, and everything in between. Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to share her thoughts on the release, as well as a personal anecdote. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another member is joining the Hall household and true to her nature, Kate Hall has been looking at how to keep having a baby a little more sustainable. She joined Jack Tame to talk about the reality of baby marketing versus what's actually needed, what they plan to do for nappies, and give a few tips for navigating offers of hand-me-downs. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Naked Samoans launched a new era of popular culture in New Zealand with bro'Town and their smash hit Sione's Wedding films. They were instrumental in pushing Pasifika humour into the mainstream, and are still going strong after three decades. They're returning to the stage this month for the International Comedy Festival, performing The Last Temptation of the Naked Samoans. David, Shimpal, Robbie, and Mario piled into the ZB studio with Jack Tame, setting a record for the most guests squeezed in for an interview. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

210 days ago, I was blinking into the sun at Go Media Stadium as Auckland FC strode out onto the pitch for their first-ever A-League game. The club was owned by a billionaire and the team's style of play wasn't immediately alluring – the very first goal in the club's professional history came courtesy of an opposition player. I knew about two of the players and had to keep cross-checking the action on the pitch with my gameday programme. Upon reflection, there were plenty of reasons why Auckland FC might not have taken off with fans quite as they have. And yet here we are, seven months on, in the semi-finals of the A-League. The crunchy end of the season for the team that has consistently drawn the biggest crowds in the competition. I can confirm I've crossed a sporting threshold this season. As much as I love the Crusaders, Auckland FC in my sporting priority each and every week. I've talked before about how the club really nailed the matchday experience. And let's not kid ourselves and imagine the season would have been quite the same if they hadn't been winning. But given they started from nothing, it's also notable the extent to which the club has actively tried to build and nurture a fanbase. It cannot be easy to snap your fingers and try to build a culture and fanbase overnight. But the club has held however many meet-and-greets. They've had an enduring outreach programme with local football clubs. They ‘ve held training days for kids and even made an appearance at my mate's local school fete last weekend. They've had autograph sessions and sponsor gigs and even shipped the regular season trophy around corporate offices in downtown Auckland – including this one! As an organisation, Auckland FC has hustled. And I think the same attitude permeates into their style of play. The players run hard. They try hard. And it's paid off however many times this season when the team has scored a goal in the dying seconds of a game to snatch a draw or even a win. I read an interview at the start of the season in which the players talked about their backgrounds. Apart from the captain, Hiroki Sakai, no one was a big league superstar, and honestly, they knew it. They were professional footballers, sure. But no one was signing perfume deals and earning half a million bucks a week. They had everything still to prove and the only way to do it was through graft. By the nature of an inaugural season, everything Auckland FC has done this year has been a first. But knock-out football is a different kind of pressure. It's a home-and-away semi, of course, with the away leg first. Part of me feels a bit anxious about that. Was it really in our interests to have a full week off before getting up for a critical match in opposition territory? Sport can be glorious, and sport can be cruel. Winning the Premier's Plate does not guarantee anything at this stage of the season. But like so many others, in a few short months, I've come to feel a deep affinity for this team. I now know the respective club histories of players who were effectively strangers in October. I know our defence is our greatest strength: Paulsen, Hall, Sakai, Smith, Pijnaker. That Louis Verstraete blends a technical finesse with an enthusiasm for a 50/50 physical challenge. That Francis de Vries will always whip in a ridiculously good delivery and Guillermo May is just waiting to lash it in with that left foot. I know how lucky we are to have had this season. How good it is for NZ football. And seven months since that first game, with the knock-out stages upon us, I know we can win. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, David Farrar from Kiwiblog and Curia 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! The Green Party has unveiled their alternative Budget - what do we make of it? How laughable are these ideas? Brooke van Velden made history in Parliament today by dropping the c-bomb to call out Labour for referencing the Andrea Vance column. Was this the right move? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley's on an adventure in London, experiencing luxury hotels and five star dining experiences. He joined Jack Tame to delve into some of his top destination dining picks. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne recently received an email, passed on by Jack Tame, about advice he gave on the show 18 years ago. He said that parents should buy an exercise book, tie a pencil to it and write in even the little highlights of their kids growing up. The listener did just that, giving his son a book filled with special moments and memories on his 21st birthday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's catholic leader says Pope Francis' legacy will live on under the church's new leader. 69-year-old Robert Prevost was elected the new pontiff after the fourth ballot of the conclave yesterday, taking the name Leo XIV. He is the first Pope from the United States and the first from the Augustinian order of the church. New Zealand Archbishop John Dew voted in the conclave, and says in the ten days of meetings leading up to the vote, they discussed what's needed in the church and the world today. He says everyone was saying while they can't have a copy of Pope Francis, his initiatives should continue. He told Jack Tame the new pope has been a natural fit. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a decade of making music, Chaos in the CBD has finally released their debut album. ‘A Deeper Life' is a labour of love from brothers Louis and Ben Helliker-Hale, a house album that pays tribute to their lives growing up in Aotearoa. Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the release. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The centre of the world. It's a funny concept, really, because on a planet with 8 billion people, the world's attention never settles on any one event or thing for much more than a moment. Most of the time you would probably argue that the world's attention is divided and scattered. It takes an historic moment, something really big, truly significant, to hone those 8 billion sets of eyes to one point. And to be there in person, to actually experience it for yourself is to be an eyewitness to history. I met a guy who was on his OE in Europe in 1989 when he woke up one morning and heard maybe something was stirring. He hustled to a train and ended up with his photograph in the New York Times, tearing down the Berlin Wall. Truthfully, I can't compete with that. But by the nature of my job, I guess I've been fortunate to witness some reasonably significant events, first hand. I sat there as Pope Francis addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations. I've seen Presidential inaugurations, Obama speaking on the mall. I was there in the room in 2016 when Donald Trump strode into a Philadelphia arena and formally accepted the Republican nomination for President of the United States. Something tells me that despite our geographic isolation, New Zealanders are good at sniffing out big historic moments. It could be a regal one – a royal wedding of a funeral? It can be a tragic event like witnessing the 9/11 attacks. Sport can be a good one. I saw Leo Messi score for Argentina at the opening game of the 2014 Football World Cup. That was special. And I was sitting on the finish line when Usain Bolt won the 100m at the Rio Olympic Games. Sometimes it takes luck. Sometimes it takes money. And sometimes it takes an exclusive kind of privilege that almost none of us will ever have. Take a papal conclave. There might be 1.4 billion Catholics on the planet, but only those cardinals who were in the room will ever truly know what it was like to be a part of that conclave. Just being outside in St Peters Square would be an incredible experience; the moment everyone saw the white smoke. But just imagine being inside. If you were to divide the number of followers worldwide by every man in that room, there are more than ten million Catholics for each individual cardinal. But only those cardinals will know what it's like to be there in person, to see the votes tallied, to hear the new Pope choose a name. The world's attention might have been focused on the Vatican, waiting for the smoke, but for this moment, only a tiny few were there. 133 eyewitnesses to a moment in history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! It's day two of the pay equity saga - what do we make of all this? Has the Government mishandled this? Was it a bad call to rush the law through the way it has? Should they admit they're just doing it for the money? Should we take Donald Trump seriously when he floats ideas like making Canada the 51st state? How much attention should we give statements like these? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although we all try, budgeting doesn't work for everyone. Instead, Ed McKnight has what he calls the 'Economist's Pay Routine', an alternative that allows you to budget without budgeting. He joined Jack Tame to break down the method. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of New Zealand's most treasured musical acts, Sir Dave Dobbyn, will perform at Auckland Town Hall, the first time he has hit the stage there solo. The 68-year-old has previously performed at the prestigious venue with his band Th' Dudes, but has never showcased his own set. That will change on June 4, when he and his touring band look to cover songs from his 45-year recording career. Announced as part of the Auckland Winter Concert Series lineup, Dobbyn and his band will perform everything from his celebrated anthems to “an extraordinary catalogue of deeper cuts”. Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to discuss the event. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prominent businessman, author and former politician Sir Bob Jones has died in Wellington after a brief illness - aged 85. Jones formed the New Zealand Party in 1983, which stood for 10 years. He received a knighthood in 1989 for services to business management and the community. Kevin Milne told Jack Tame he will be remembered as a terrific writer. He says Wellington already feels all the more grey for his passing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Macintyre captivates readers with true stories. He expertly unravels complex historical events, explaining sharp subplots and side characters while artfully deploying dry humour to make the true stories he tells digestible. His most recent non-fiction work is The Siege – a story of how in April 1980, six men stormed the Iranian embassy in London and took 26 hostages they held for six days. Macintyre told Jack Tame he was 17 when the situation took place, and since that point he'd always wanted to write about it. “It was the most dramatic thing I'd ever seen on television,” he said. “It was one of those stories that entered mythology very quickly – it became a sort of story of, sort of SAS daring do, and kind of you know, fighting against the odds, and you know, the story itself is much more complicated than that.” “I've really enjoyed writing this one.” Macintyre is coming to New Zealand for the Auckland Writer's Festival, delving into his work at three different events across the festival. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I was taken aback by how long it had been since I'd last come to town. It's amazing how time creeps up on you like that. One minute you're at Grandma and Grandad's place every few months, knocking around with your siblings. The next you're going through Grandad's drawers, packing him a bag of his most precious possessions. The next, you realise it's three years since you even drove down his street. State Highway One was an absolute shocker. I was driving the old straight line, heading South from Christchurch. Rolleston, Dunsandel, Rakaia. The storm was fierce. There was surface flooding and the rivers were up which obviously made things worse, but some of the potholes were so large they could've swallowed the irrigators that usually crawl the paddocks on either side of the road. Those irrigators have brought a lot of prosperity to mid-Canterbury. But not on Grandad's street. His place was an old state house on what Dad always called the wrong side of the tracks. Given the main trunk line cuts right through the middle of town, it's a literal thing in Ashburton. Dad reckons the family moved in in about 1967. A two-bedroom place, clad in a shocking baby blue, an 85m2 state house, on a 900m2 section. They don't do property like that anymore. The Tames had arrived from UK a few years earlier – migration had cost them everything they had. By the early 1980s, on his limited income, Grandad saved up and for $21,500 he bought the house from the government as a home for life. He spent his working life slowly chipping away and paying off the mortgage. The quarter acre dream. Grandad always had an amazing garden. He made the most of all that space. There were vegetable beds and fruit trees, a huge compost heap. Flowers out the front. Harakeke. We used to play games of hide-and-seek and go-home-stay-home before retiring inside for luncheon and tomato sauce sandwiches and vegetable soup. At home, our parents didn't put salt in our food, and it was always a thrill to eat a hot lunch prepared by someone less concerned by cholesterol readings. The neighbours back then were mixed. I remember Grandad telling us once that if we hit the tennis ball over the fence it was best to just get a new one. I doubt the Police were strangers to the neighbourhood. Inside, I used to curl up in Grandad's La-Z-Boy and read Grandma's gossip magazines by the fire. On the times we stayed over, I read old Biggles stories. We'd all get covered in Labrador fur. They had a faux grandfather clock in the living room with a mechanism that filled every silence. Click, click, click. Grandad lived in that house for 55 years. He raised his sons there. He lost his wife, there. When it finally came time to leave, my cousin found his war medals, hidden away in a clothes drawer. When I came around the corner, the rain was pelting the windscreen. It took just a moment to get my bearings. The little place next door was gone. A similarly vast section, where once there was a humble cottage, it was filled now with a tidy row of modern units. But there was Grandad's. Some of the baby blue cladding was missing. The harakeke and the flowers at the front had all been ripped out. I'm sure the veggie patch is done. But the house was still there. Tired, but still there. Nothing lasts forever. I can't say with certainty when I'll be back. But I know one day I'll come around that corner, and Grandad's place will be gone too. See 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! Wellington City Council has voted in favour of supporting lowering the voting age to 16 in local body elections. This is never going to go anywhere - is it? The Government's latest curriculum update involves teaching students about financial literacy. Do we think schools should be teaching this - or should it be taught at home? What do we make of Nicola's almost zero-budget one day on? Do we agree with Nicola's plan - or should she be going further? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samantha Fish is offering up nine new powerhouse songs on her latest album ‘Paper Doll'. It's Fish's 13th album, and the first she's recorded with her touring band, leaning into her strengths as a musician in a way she hasn't before. Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the new release. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ed Gamble is a man of many hats. Champion of the Taskmaster UK, podcast co-host, author, television host, standup comedian – on top of this, he's an absolute food fanatic. He's bringing a feast of comedy to New Zealand with his new show ‘Hot Diggity Dog', filled with his classic “ranting, raving and spluttering”. Gamble told Jack Tame he describes the show as a collection of things that have happened to him since he last did a show, including a bit about his disastrous honeymoon and one about buying a cat with his wife. “It's a lot more exciting than my description of it makes it sound,” he reassured. “I promise you'll be on the edge of your seat, even though it sounds incredibly tedious and middle class.” He'll be performing live in Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland – tickets available on TicketMaster. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.