Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 26 July 2025, a man with up close and personal access to Tour de France, Kiwi bike mechanic Craig Geater joins the show to discuss his 21 years of experience on the Tour, his former years as Lance Armstrong's personal mechanic, and what it's like to travel behind his Jayco Ulula crew as they ride the mountains.  Jack considers the unstoppable force of a viral moment.  Francesca Rudkin gives her thoughts on whether the new Fantastic Four film meets expectations.  Mike Yardley shares the sights and sounds of ancient British city York.  And Estelle Clifford shares her favourite tracks from Yorkshire-born musician Billie Marten's new album Dog Eared.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Times are tough, many businesses unable to survive the cost of living crisis and downturned economy.  Cultural institutions and smaller businesses alike are closing up shop, and Kevin Milne is dismayed by the loss of Kiwi enterprises.  One in particular, the colourful Matakana ceramics firm Morris & James, is particularly saddening for him.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of Kiwis making withdrawals from their KiwiSaver due to hardship is on the rise.  In the year to June, more than 50,000 were made, compared to 18,000 five years ago.  Early withdrawals can have compounding effects on someone’s financial future – so what other options are there?  Lisa Dudson joined Jack Tame to delve into the topic and offer up some other ideas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week we started to look at the jobs bugs do on Earth. This topic was launched by some teachers during the Blake Inspire sessions, out there in Nature. It became a bit of a game to question what their role is in ecological systems – especially critters that are usually perceived as a pain in the bum.  Gardeners often complain about almost every creature that inhabits the soil; holes and tunnels, little hills of clay, and messy poos in vegetable gardens, lawns, and orchards are often not seen as beneficial; but many certainly are!   These insects are the larvae and pupae of Crane Flies. Soil cleaning and dead wood in the soil – recyclers maintaining soil health.   Pollinators are everywhere: butterflies, flies, native bees, wasps, parasitic wasps, hoverflies, beetles, thrips – it’s a huge gig on the planet!   These laay eggs in their hosts. Population control.  Geotrupes spiniger – the Paua dungbeetle, introduced in New Zealand to put dung back into the soil. It not only puts fertiliser where it is most efficient but also returns carbon back into the soil where it is most needed (rather than in the air!).   Then there are Mosquitoes! One of the most hated insects in our garden: some species bite humans.  Males do not bite – they are great pollinators of our flowers. Mozzies are food for native birds, dragonflies, spiders, etc.  Those famous mosquito larvae (often known as “wrigglers”) go up and down the pond and other water habitats. The very cool and useful thing they do is cleaning the “bacterial soup”.    Wrigglers are also food for native aquatic insects: backswimmers, water-boatman, water striders, native fish, etc. If you think about it: Mozzies do some great jobs. To fuel this ecological system, all we need to do is make a tiny donation…   … and be a bit more tolerant!   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the news?  Fonterra has announced an On Farm Services incentive programme for qualifying farmer-shareholders.   The scheme allows farmers who meet their cooperative difference standard, a baseline performance and efficiency standard, to receive what is effectively a $1,500 yearly subsidy to invest in on-farm technology or services.   Ranges from animal performance tools from genetics companies, as well as pasture and data optimisation tools, and on-farm planting to improve carbon sequestration.   Pasture Management: Apps and dashboards, AI and satellite imagery to manage and optimise pasture on farms. Data optimisation: Farmers deal with so much data flowing in through so many on-farm touchpoints, some services aggregate all that info into key insights farmers can rely on to make good decisions.   Animal performance: Animal testing on their cows.     Why it matters   Obviously a massive deal – this contributes so much to on-farm costs and gives farmers a comfortable buffer to experiment with more technology that could be a massive help.   It contributes to the trend of growing tech use on-farm by farmers.   In a 2023 survey by DairyNZ, 18% of farmers reported using cow wearables (smart monitoring devices like collars or ear tags), compared to 3% in 2018. This growth translates to more than 820,000 cows now equipped with devices.  It’s great news because technology is helping farmers be more efficient in a world where they face more regulation and compliance requirements.   Fonterra/NZ has a great reputation internationally for producing highly efficient, high-quality milk that's desirable compared to many other countries.   It drew the attention of food conglomerates Mars and Nestle, who are kicking in to help fund the subsidy.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington Black   Follows the 19th century adventures of George Washington "Wash" Black, an 11-year-old boy on a Barbados sugar plantation who must flee after a gruesome death threatens to turn his life upside down (Disney+).     The Game   Detective Huw Miller is haunted by one case he failed to solve. As he settles into retirement, he suddenly thinks he has found the elusive killer in the shape of his new neighbour Patrick Harbottle (ThreeNow).    The Hunting Wives   Sophie trades city life for East Texas and falls into a wealthy socialite's magnetic orbit - where a clique of housewives hide deadly secrets (TVNZ+).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s no other way to say it – this cake is magical! The way the simple batter settles into layers of custard and sponge seems impossible and yet it works, and the tamarillos are all tart and jammy and YUM.        Ingredients  3 large eggs, room temp   2/3 cup sugar   90g butter, melted   1 ½ cups milk, lukewarm   1 tbsp vanilla extract   Generous 1/2 cup plain flour   1 ½ cups scooped and chopped tamarillos  Icing sugar for dusting cake   Whipped cream or yoghurt to serve      Method  Preheat oven to 190 C. Grease and line a 20x20cm cake tin with baking paper.   Put a saucepan on with milk and butter and heat to lukewarm – this will melt the butter.   Separate eggs into two mixing bowls.    Beat the egg yolks and sugar until pale and light. Add in flour and mix until combined. Slowly add warm milk, beating until everything is well mixed together.    Beat the egg whites until the stiff peak stage. Fold this into the batter gently, a third at a time until completely combined. The batter is very thin at this stage, but don’t worry.    Pour batter into the baking dish and scatter over chopped tamarillo. They will sink into the cake as it bakes.   Bake for approx. 50-60 minutes or until the top is browned and cake doesn’t wobble.  Cool and dust with icing sugar.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps  Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, the Fantastic Four must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer.    Four Letters of Love  Nicholas and Isabel are made for each other, but as destiny pulls them together, family, passion and faith drives them apart. As they embark on journeys of heartache and misplaced love, fate soon contrives to pull the threads of their lives together.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the end it was only a matter of time.   It took a day or two of virality for the CEO caught cheating in the now truly infamous Coldplay kiss cam to publicly announce his departure from the company. I’m frankly surprised it took much longer for the woman caught canoodling in his arms to do the same thing. She was, after all, the Chief People Officer for the same company. On top of what I can only imagine is a personal calamity, the incident strikes me as a fairly grave professional conflict of interest. Indeed, the company that employed them both has announced that she is now gone, too.  I’m not gonna pretend to be all high and mighty. Like however many hundreds of millions or billions of people around the World, I found myself titillated by the video. It’s so dumb. So clumsy. Perfect fodder for a viral sensation.  But in the last few days, as the stories have continued, I’ve also found myself thinking a bit more about what the whole thing says about us more generally.   As consumers and sharers of information on the internet, loling, liking, and sharing, there is no way for us to collectively manage a degree of proportionality in a viral screw-up.  They did the deed and they can suffer the consequences, you might argue. Sure, but at the same time, these people didn’t commit a crime. They have been dishonest, absolutely. Unprofessional? For sure. But while I don’t want to be too much of a downer, I can only imagine that right now, it feels like the price they’ve each paid is the complete and absolute destruction of their entire lives. And even if you do think that in this instance they deserve the consequences whatever they might be, what’s to say you’ll feel the same way the next time someone goes viral? There is no controlling the wildfire. And once it’s shared and shared and shared again, the scale of a viral humiliation compounds faster than at any point in human history.    And how about their families? Would you want to find out your husband or partner or parent was cheating? Most of us might say yes, painful as it might be, that truth in that situation is for the best. But what if it meant a fifth of the world’s population found out at the same time? What if it meant every student at your kids’ school knew what had happened and would bring it up for the next twenty years.    Again, I’m not being miserable and saying it wasn’t funny. It was funny! My point is that once a moment like this hits the internet, there is absolutely no controlling it. And there’s a little sliver of this whole saga that has felt a bit Black Mirror.  A few years ago, I read that amazing book, ‘So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed’, by Jon Ronson. It had some extraordinary examples of people who’d gone viral for saying or doing really dumb, offensive things. But it also articulated something primal, something a bit ugly, a hunger in as a species to hunt as a pack, and the collective glee we take in casting someone aside and making an example of them in public.    No policy, no force on Earth can stop a viral moment. It just has to burn out. There is no firebreak, no finger in the dyke. That video will have been viewed by eyeballs in every country and on every continent. But while that video said a lot about human nature, arguably its spread around the world has said just as much. Are you not entertained? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who else could pull off the animal transformation of one of the world’s biggest rockstars but Wētā FX?  Wētā is well known for its visual effects mastery, and so when Robbie Williams said “make me an ape!”, it’s only natural that they were the ones for the job.  The man responsible for Williams’ simian visage in Better Man was Visual Effects Supervisor Luke Millar, who was nominated for an Oscar for his work.  A visual effects supervisor is responsible for coordinating all the different elements that comprise the visual effects of a production – most of which is invisible in many movies.  He told Jack Tame it’s about balance – everyone always wants more for less, and so being creative and efficient is the name of the game.  When it comes to Better Man, Millar got involved after working on the pre-visualisation work for the musical sequences before shooting began.  “After seeing a couple of those sequences, I read the script, and that was me,” he said.  “I was all in at that point to, to want to take on the challenge.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Written over the course of twenty years, from 1993 to 2019, 'Strange Visions 1' details the apocalypse in a sci-fi infused, post-modern satirical manner.  It’s the work of underground artist, producer and engineer Quaint, part one of a project called 'Polar Extremes'. Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the album.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It’s undoubtedly Britain’s equivalent to our Queenstown Lakes district. Windermere and the Lake District is England’s favourite national park, a sprawling tourist honeypot that stretches across hundreds of square kilometres of rugged Cumbrian countryside, woodland valleys, shimmering tarns and lakes – all backed by strikingly craggy mountains. It was the 18th century Romantic poets who captured the world’s imagination, igniting the region’s first tourism wave. Since then, the stature of the Lake District has only grown as a getaway destination, the wave has never crested, culminating in the district securing World Heritage status just eight years ago." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While we all have difficulty remembering and placing faces sometimes, some people are unable to do it altogether.  Prosopagnosia, otherwise known as face-blindness, is a psychological condition that renders people unable to recognise faces – sometimes including their own.  Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to delve into this rare condition.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Polkinghorne by Steve Braunias   In Polkinghorne, literary journalist Steve Braunias takes readers on an extraordinary and often chilling journey through the most high-profile murder case in modern New Zealand history.   With unparalleled access to the key players, Braunias offers readers his unique insight into the investigation, the trial and the astonishing revelations that kept the New Zealand public utterly transfixed. The death of Pauline Hanna in her home in Remuera, and the arrest of her husband, eye surgeon Dr Philip Polkinghorne, led to an epic trial that played out like a scandalous expose of rich Auckland life. Braunias pieces it all together and presents it as an unforgettable opera - including an extraordinary encounter that will leave readers stunned.   Fascinating, engrossing, and filled with unforeseen turns, Polkinghorne goes deep inside the courtroom case that shocked a nation and explores the lusts and torments that we try to conceal. This is a must-read for true crime enthusiasts and anyone who has followed the case and wondered about the truth behind the headlines.     Broke Road by Matthew Spencer   A young woman is found dead in her isolated town house in rural Red Creek, an up-and-coming wine tourism destination outside Sydney. No forced entry. No signs of struggle. And her geologist husband has an alibi, though it’s not exactly solid. While a tabloid journalist is quick to spin her own damning narrative, homicide detective Rose Riley is questioning everything she sees—especially in a rapidly developing community that already seems on edge.  While Riley and her partner, Priya Patel, work the case with a local detective, crime reporter Adam Bowman follows his own leads. Then forensic evidence matches that of a pair of unsolved murders elsewhere in two other married women, murdered months apart yet in the exact same manner. Riley realizes she’s dealing with a serial killer. But one whose victims weren’t random. These women were chosen, watched, and targeted for a purpose.  As the secrets in this small town emerge, the suspects mount. Now Riley must unearth the deadliest secret of all—the true motive behind the murders—before another woman dies.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just spent a week with 30 teachers in various environmental locations of Auckland. The Sir Peter Blake Trust do this every year under the umbrella of BLAKE Inspire.   Learning outside is part of the curriculum: water quality, Matauranga Māori, rockpools, school gardens (with pigs etc), climate change, StarDome, political policy simulation, corporate sustainability, and good, old nature nerd stuff in forests and reserves.   Often the question comes up: what good do Mosquitoes do? And beetles? And weta?, etc.   Those are also the questions I receive on talkback radio – makes sense?   Teachers can use this knowledge in the curriculum and hence create Nature Literate students.   We need those invertebrates (they really don’t need us!).   In fact, when it comes to bugs that “invade” our homes, it pays to remember that we built our homes right on top of theirs. They are pretty generous about that, really: nice house you built on top of mine – might just move in with you!   They find keratin (wool) and carpet beetles are the expert in recycling that stuff – been doing it for millions of years. That’s their job! No-one else can eat and digest keratin.  They find spilled spaghetti bolognese behind the stove: roaches have been recycling food waste and other organic materials for many, many millions of years! No worries – yum!    They find warm appliances on stand-by (TVs and Sky Boxes, amplifiers, etc). That means that microscopic moulds grow inside – enter booklice! They graze those moulds.  Some (tiger slugs) slither towards the cat bowl, where milk and biscuits are the basis of their human-house diet. In nature they clean up all sorts of random protein and old food items.  These are the caterpillars of the Indian Mealmoth. In our pantry they eat old, spilled muesli and in your garden shed they clean up mouldy slug and snail baits without any medical problems what-so-ever.  And there are many more “Jobs on the Planet” that are filled by Invertebrates, Fungi, Birds, and loads of organisms that literally run our planet  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for 19 July 2025, Oscar-nominated visual effects artist at Wētā FX, Luke Millar joins Jack to discuss just how he turned one of the world's biggest pop stars into a chimpanzee for the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man. Plus, Millar shares his insight on AI's role within filmmaking.  Jack pays tribute to the legendary Fat Freddy's Drop producer Chris Faiumu.  Kevin Milne tells of his attempt to forge a pop music career with the help of the Fat Freddy's band.  Orange you glad it's citrus season? Nici Wickes shares a delicious orange cake recipe that stays fresh for days.  And Dr Bryan Betty drops in to discuss the newest weight loss medication available in New Zealand: Wegovy.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new weightloss medication is now available in New Zealand – accessible on a private, nonsubsidised script.  Dr Bryan Betty joined Jack Tame to discuss Wegovy – what it is, how you use it, the side effects, and why people are seeking medical treatment for their weight.    What is Wegovy?   A once-weekly injection for weight loss known as a ‘GP-1 agonist’.   It mimics a hormone in the gut that reduces our desire to eat and controls sugar in the blood.   Developed originally for diabetes but found to help with weight loss, especially at higher doses.   The same drug at lower does is known as Ozempic, which is used for diabetes.     Is obesity a problem in New Zealand? Why medication? Shouldn’t we just eat better and move more?   We do have problem in New Zealand with obesity – it's a major heath issue.   Over a third population is classified as obese, and it costs the economy $2 billion a year in healthcare costs.  A good diet and exercise are critically important for weight loss.   However once above BMI 30, it can be very hard to lose weight despite a person’s lifestyle, so medication can be a useful adjunct for some people in weight loss.     How do we use it and are there side-effects?   Once-weekly injection. You adjust the dose every month until you reach the maximum dose.   Side effects can include nausea, bloating, loose bowel motions, burping.   More serious ones can occur but are very rare: pancreas inflammation, bowel obstruction.   Most people have few issues.     Is there a cost and how long do you take it for?   It is not funded by Pharmac and costs about $500 a month or $6000 a year.   Many studies now show that when you stop, the weight can go back on.   There is a shift to thinking these medications may need to be used long-term, much like a blood pressure or diabetes medication.   It is safe for long term use.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weddings aren’t cheap – well, most of the time.   In New Zealand, the average wedding costs between $35,000 - $45,000, but depending on your tastes and needs, it can grow much higher.   The recent wedding between Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez cost somewhere between $20 million and $50 million USD – roughly 200 times more than what the average Kiwi spends.  However, one columnist points out that compared to their wealth, Bezos and Sanchez actually spent quite little.  So Kevin Milne is wondering, is it Bezos who’s being excessive, or is it the rest of us.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ChatGPT is ready to take on more involved tasks   Agents are the next phase of the AI evolution, in which the AI can go away and can complete multistep tasks on its own. So, you could give it a bunch of information —PDFs, emails, spreadsheets— and ask it to find the narrative or insights and create a PowerPoint. It'll then go away, do it, and let you know when it's done. There's less hand holding and more 'reasoning' from the AI.    It can also browse the web for you and take actions in the browser on your behalf –imagine a scenario where you could give it a photo of the contents of your fridge, give it your food preferences, tell it to come up with a meal plan, and even order the additional ingredients for you.     Valuations are skyrocketing for these companies   Bloomberg is reporting that OpenAI rival Anthropic is in the early stages of planning another investment round that could value the company at more than $100 billion.     The mad scramble for talent is getting crazy   Meta just poached two of Apple's key Artificial Intelligence leaders for its Superintelligence Lab. Two staff from Anthropic (Claude, the ChatGPT rival) left for another AI company, but quit after just a few days and returned to Anthropic.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Untamed   In the vast expanse of Yosemite National Park, a woman's death draws a federal agent into lawless terrain, where nature obeys no rules but its own (Netflix).    Sneaky Pete  Marius, a fraudster, finds himself followed by a dangerous criminal whom he once robbed. Soon, he disguises himself as Pete, his cellmate from the past, for safety (Netflix).    Game On   NZ Netball legends return for a high-stakes tournament, battling international stars to prove they've still got it. But they won't do it alone - six promising young athletes will join them. Can the past & future of netball unite? (ThreeNow)    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grace: A Prayer for Peace   Artist Robin White (Ngāti Awa) has spent more than five decades creating work which ranges from iconic New Zealand landscapes to collaborative tapa cloth. Grace: A Prayer for Peace, directed by Gaylene Preston, traces White’s evolution as an artist, and her creative response to the world around her.   Filmed in Aotearoa, Japan and Kiribati, the documentary follows her working with collaborators and reflecting on what drives her creativity. Grace offers a meditation on living a creative life in motion — shaped by community, faith and a deep engagement with the Pacific.    Universal Language   Two women find frozen cash, try to retrieve it. A tour guide leads tourists around Winnipeg sites. A man quits his job and visits his mother.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This cake is literally crammed full of the intense and fragrant flavours of oranges, and it stays moist for days. A slice with a cup of tea seems to make the world a better place.     Makes one loaf tin cake but doubles nicely if you wish to make a larger cake.      Ingredients  1 cup raw sugar    Rind of 2 oranges + 1 lemon – avoid the white pith, I use a potato peeler   Flesh of one orange    1 egg   ½ cup oil, I use grapeseed or olive oil    ½ tsp salt    ½ cup thick natural yoghurt   2 tbsp. lemon juice   1 ¼ cups plain flour    2 tsps. baking powder       Method  Preheat oven to 180C fan bake. Grease and line a loaf tin with baking paper.   In the bowl of a food processor blend the sugar and citrus rind until the rind is chopped very small. Add the orange flesh. Blend until smooth.   In a mixing bowl beat the egg and sugar/citrus mix together until it is thick and creamy. Add the oil and salt and continue beating until mixed.   Stir through the yoghurt and lemon juice. Add the flour and baking powder and combine until just mixed (over-mixing will produce a tougher, drier cake).   Pour the thick batter carefully into the tin, smooth the top if need be for a better-looking cake at the end.   Bake for 35-45mins, until a skewer comes out clean. Leave for 10 minutes to cool before turning out of tin.   Ice with vanilla and citrus zest frosting.      Nici’s note:    To avoid your precious baking from slumping, leave it to settle and cool slightly before turning cakes and muffins out of their tins.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I played the trombone in high school.    I know what you’re thinking: squeaky-voiced Jack running through a few scales on his big brass slide? Hello Ladies...    But honestly the fact that my instrument was seen as a bit quirky was kind of an attraction for me at the time. What the trombone wasn’t —at least back then— was very cool.   To my mind it was good for jazz band and good for a blast in orchestra, but I wasn’t creative enough to find or even search for a different sound with my trombone. Brass had its place and that was that.   But the year after I left high school, Based on a True Story hit record stores. I’d never heard of Fat Freddy’s Drop, but I was played a song by a friend and I bought the album the day it was released. I know it was 2005, because I can literally remember buying the CD from a Sounds record shop. I can remember walking down Madras Street in Christchurch with it burning a hole in my bag, so excited to play it.   Let me tell you, I’ve never thrashed an album so much in my life. The way it starts off so sparse, those simple plunking piano keys, and then builds and builds and builds.    The sound was so exciting. So different. So cool.  Man, I thought. If I’d known this kind of music existed, this blend of dub and reggae and jazz and soul, with its brass component, too! As much as I have enjoyed Glenn Miller arrangements, I might have branched out a bit further with my high school music mates and the old ‘Bone.   I’m no celebrated music afficionado but it occurs to me that Fat Freddy’s Drop are a prime example of musos’ musos. They’re a band which loosely formed from a crew who just like jamming. They’re a band that loves to play live, that still just loves to improvise. And, at least from the outside, they seem utterly unconcerned with the trappings of rock’n’roll stardom, with glossy magazine covers, fame and riches. Forget your 3-minute, four-chord tricks to sell into the top 40 radio stations, if you’ve been to a Fat Freddy’s concert, you’ll know it can be hard sometimes to know when a song begins and ends.    I also think there’s a real, distinct New Zealand flavour to their music. There’s something Pacific, something relaxed, unshaven, and unconcerned. The sound of the Kiwi summer road trip. For the year I lived in the States, I’d always crank it up any time I had an American in my apartment as if it were a statement of identity.  It probably says a lot about the band’s aspirations, motivations, and priorities that despite their incredible international success, the individual members of Fat Freddy’s Drop aren’t all household names in this country. I know next to nothing of their private lives. And of all the members, I reckon I’d only have been able to name two, off the top of my head, if you’d asked me earlier this week: Dallas (friend of the show), the singer, and Mu.  Chris Faiumu founded Fat Freddy’s Drop. He produced their music, and as DJ, his beats, blends, and samples were the foundation of so much of their art. I feel my experience with his work will be similar to that of so many others in New Zealand and around the world. I feel really saddened by news of his death, and so grateful, so grateful, for the music he made that seriously has enriched my life. 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.

"Steeped in Roman heritage and swooned over as Britain’s premier spa destination, Bath’s architectural flourishes and all-encompassing grandeur underpins my love affair with the city. I recently reacquainted myself with its atmospheric charm in a whistle-stop romp around Blighty with Trafalgar’s Real Britain tour. Adeptly helmed by travel director Selene, this is Trafalgar’s fastest-paced UK tour, delivering a whistle-stop experience with some of Britain’s most desirable destinations. If you’re short on time but want to tick-off a swag of top-billing icons, it’s a cracking option." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell   He’s the perfect man. It’s a perfect lie.  Nina Swann is intrigued when she received a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, an old friend of her late husband, who is looking to connect after her husband’s unexpected death. Nick is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…  Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband, Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t share the feeling that something isn’t right.  Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever.     The Phoenix Pencil Company by Alison King   Monica Tsai spends most days on her computer, journaling the details of her ordinary life and coding for a program that seeks to connect strangers online. A self-proclaimed recluse, she's always struggled to make friends and, as a college freshman, finds herself escaping into a digital world, counting the days until she can return home to her beloved grandparents. They are now in their nineties, and Monica worries about them constantly—especially her grandmother, Yun, who survived two wars in China before coming to the States, and whose memory has begun to fade.  Though Yun rarely speaks of her past, Monica is determined to find the long-lost cousin she was separated from years ago. One day, the very program Monica is helping to build connects her to a young woman, whose gift of a single pencil holds a surprising clue. Monica’s discovery of a hidden family history is exquisitely braided with Yun’s own memories as she writes of her years in Shanghai, working at the Phoenix Pencil Company. As WWII rages outside their door, Yun and her cousin, Meng, learn of a special power the women in their family possess: the ability to Reforge a pencil’s words. But when the government uncovers their secret, they are forced into a life of espionage, betraying other people’s stories to survive.  Combining the cross-generational family saga and epistolary form of A Tale for the Time Being with the uplifting, emotional magic of The Midnight Library, Allison King’s stunning debut novel asks: who owns and inherits our stories? The answers and secrets that surface on the page may have the unerasable power to reconnect a family and restore a legacy.    LISTEN ABOVE See 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.

Technology has improved in leaps and bounds over the years – going from landlines to brick phones to smartphones in relatively quick succession.  However, as technology has improved, it’s also become increasingly difficult to repair for one reason or another. Gone are the days when you can pop your battery out of your phone and put a new one in.  Kevin Milne recently tried to buy a new battery for his iPhone, and ran into an annoying problem when trying to get the real deal.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winter dormancy is the best time to shift a tree or a shrub (or plant a new one), especially when they originate from a “temperate climate” (the kind that shed their leaves and hail from UK, Europe, North America, etc).  When considering shifting a sub-tropical/semi tropical one, wait a little to just before spring sets in (mid-end September).  These sub-tropicals do not really like to be dumped into a wet and cold soil for many weeks of deepest winter – it could kill them!  Besides, as discussed last week, with these cold and wet soils all kinds of Root Rots (Phytophthora, Armillaria, Pithium, etc) might terminally affect your trees.   Here are some ideas to make it work as well as possible:   1) Consider the size of the tree – smaller ones are much easier to (trans)plant than big ones.   2) Get a “trenching spade”. These long, narrow, sturdy blades are much more efficient at digging into cold, wet clay soils than the ordinary, wider spades.   3) Destination site – select the site where the tree has to go and dig a rather huge hole – you can’t really dig big enough, as no matter what the root ball will be, a lot of extra drainage is always going to be beneficial. Drainage away from the root ball to be planted helps to avoid Root Rots.  Mix in some pumice or compost in the loose soil material, so that it will become friable and nutritious with organic material; the tree will appreciate this new site as it has plenty of drainage and food.  4) Original site: with the trenching spade dig a circular shape around the tree’s root-zone – remember that the wider you go, the heavier the root ball will be, you might need a bit of neighbourly help to lift the bugger out! Approx. 30 to 40 cm radius from the tree’s stem is pretty good   Try to get as many roots across as possible as the tree will re-establish better.   5) Levering with the trenching spade, remove the tree and its root ball out of its original site and transport it on a wheelbarrow to the destination site. If the soil starts to fall off the roots, use a hessian sack to wrap it all up before moving.    6) Plant the tree at destination site as soon as possible to prevent drying out. The level of the tree’s soil should be the same at the new site – don’t plant it deeper than it was before! In the unlikely event of destination site being too dry, fill the planting hole with water before the shift.  7) Stake the new tree to anchor it. Provide it with a bit of wind-shelter (windbreak) for the first year or so, firm the soil around the roots. Top-dress in spring with some slow-release fertilizer.   If you’ve lost a lot of roots in the shift, prune the tops of the tree to restore the root/foliage balance.  8) I prefer to add some 3-4 inches of mulch over the root zone to keep moisture in and keep roots cool in summer. Keep the mulch away from the stem of the tree to avoid collar rots.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for 12 July 2025, country music superstar Maren Morris joins Jack to discuss bringing her Dreamsicle tour to New Zealand, and just what a dreamsicle is...  The latest Superman has hit big screens, and Francesca Rudkin shares her thoughts on this iteration of the classic.  Nici Wickes shares a recipe for the perfect pie and makes a special announcement.  Plus, Justin Bieber dropped a surprise album overnight: "Swag". Music reviewer Estelle Clifford had her ears on it immediately and shares her thoughts on what Bieber has delivered.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wine: Thomas Barton Reserve Saint-Emillion 2023 RRP $36.99    This is a classic wine option targeted at red wine drinkers who like a wine with some firmness yet plenty of fruit and lots of style. A bouquet and palate of Doris plums and blackberry, baking spices suggesting clove and vanilla, a lick of smoky oak (with a hint of bacon), then clay earth suggestions.    The tannins have some grip, and the acid line adds freshness, offering an overall classic right bank flavour profile and texture. Core fruits also include a fleshy softness from the Merlot and dried herb with chalk-like tannins from the Cabernet Franc.     The Food:   I have enjoyed this wine in New Zealand, and also recently in France, with the best matches being pork belly with apple sauce with smashed potato, and Shepherd’s pie. For vegetarians, a vegetable lasagne with lots of spinach in a rich cheesy bechamel works a treat.    The season:   2023 in France was a challenge for many and not for others, it just depends where your vineyards are located. Dry and sunny in July with hot spells through August. A generally lower crop harvest. This also meant some stressed vines, but an overall decent harvest. The proof is in the wine.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Secretary of State was impersonated using AI   Concerning news this week as it was revealed that at least three foreign ministers, a US governor, and a member of Congress all received outreach from the fake Rubio, according to a State Department cable.   The impersonator reached out to people using Signal, an app that allows you to choose any username you want – the impersonator used a fake state department email address to make it look legit. At least one of the targets was sent a text message, but at least two were sent Signal voice messages.   We're at a point now, or will reach it very soon, where we're going to need to figure out how to verify if the person you're chatting or talking to is who you think they are.     Nvidia becomes the first $4 trillion company   Apple was the first US company to hit $1 trillion in 2018, first to hit $2 trillion in 2020, and the first to hit $3 trillion in 2022, so by that math, it should have hit $4 trillion in 2024, but Nvidia beat them.   Nvidia only became a $1 trillion company in 2023 - two years ago!   For context, $4 trillion would be like giving all 5.3 million New Zealanders USD $750,000 (NZD $1.2 million).    Samsung is exploring new wearables   The electronics maker, who is known for leading with tech advancements, says they're exploring how people may want to interact with AI. Their current thinking is that the device shouldn't be carried, so are looking at glasses, earrings, watches, rings, a necklace, and would be a companion to a phone.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Too Much   Jessica, a New York workaholic is reeling from a broken relationship. She takes a job in London, where she plans to live like a Bronte sister. When she meets Felix, a walking series of red flags, their unusual connection is impossible to ignore (Netflix).    Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story    Interviews, outtakes and never-before-seen footage provide insight into the chaos and creativity behind the making of Steven Spielberg's legendary blockbuster “Jaws” (Disney+).    Outrageous Fortune    It’s 20 years this week since the classic New Zealand comedy-drama stormed onto our screens - and the series remains as entertaining as ever.    The Wests are a one-family crime wave with a proud tradition in thievery, larceny and petty crime, until now... When patriarch Wolf is sent to jail, his wife Cheryl decides it's time for the family to go straight (TVNZ+, YouTube).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Superman   When Superman gets drawn into conflicts at home and abroad, his actions are questioned, giving tech billionaire Lex Luthor the opportunity to get the Man of Steel out of the way for good. Will intrepid reporter Lois Lane and Superman's four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help him before it's too late?     Heads of State   U.S. President Will Derringer and British Prime Minister Sam Clarke have a not-so-friendly and very public rivalry. However, when Air Force One gets shot down over enemy territory, they find themselves on the run and working together to thwart a global conspiracy that threatens the entire free world.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve been eating too many of the Daily Bread lamb pies lately as our local coffee hut here at the beach has started stocking them. They are too good, but they’ll send me broke, so I’ve worked on recreating one at home and it’s sensational! Meltingly tender lamb and a mix of spices that just hum with flavour.   Makes 4-6 single serve pies      Ingredients  2 tablespoons olive oil    1 large onion, diced    800g-1kg diced lamb, I used 2 rumps    2 cloves garlic, chopped    1 heaped tsp turmeric powder   1 tsp each coriander powder, ground cumin, paprika    ½ tsp ground ginger    1 tsp sea salt & ¼ tsp white pepper   400g tinned crushed tomatoes   Water    300g flaky puff pastry    Egg wash    Sesame or cumin seeds for pie tops      Method  Heat the oil and sauté the onions until softened. Add in diced lamb and brown. Add spices and cook for 2-3 minutes until your kitchen smells glorious.   Add in crushed tomatoes and enough water to just cover the meat. Cover tightly with a lid and cook for 1 hour until lamb is very soft.    Shred some of the lamb with two forks, leaving some pieces whole. Cool.   Make the pies: Preheat oven to 190 C and place a tray in to heat.    Use half the pastry to line the pie tins (see note). Brush the pastry edges with water or egg wash. Fill with cooled filling.   Roll and stretch remaining pastry until it is very thin, and use for the lids of the pies. Seal the edges well.   Use a sharp knife to slash the tops of the pies with a few times – this let’s the air escape. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame or cumin seeds.    Bake on the preheated tray for 40 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.    Leave to sit for at least 10 minutes, for ease of eating.      Nici’s Note:    Use a 6-hole Texan muffin tin instead of individual tins.      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.

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.

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.

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.

Kevin Milne is encouraging people to spend a little more time outside this weekend.  The New Zealand Garden Bird Survey ends this weekend, which aks people to record the number of birds they see in their garden over the span of an hour.  Last weekend saw Kevin take part in the Whale Count, but he thinks most people will have better luck with the birds.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The White Crow by Michael Robotham   As the daughter of a London crime boss, Police Constable Philomena McCarthy walks a thin blue line keeping the two sides of her complicated life apart.  On patrol one night she discovers a child in pyjamas, wandering alone. Taking Daisy home, Phil uncovers the aftermath of a deadly home invasion, as three miles away a prominent jeweller is found strapped to an explosive in his ransacked store.  The crimes are linked, and all the evidence points to Phil’s father as the mastermind.  Phil’s two worlds are colliding, trapping her in the middle of a vicious gang war that will threaten her career and everyone she loves.  Who can she trust – the badge or her own blood?     This Is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen   Widow Mimi lives on idyllic Mackinac Island where cars are not allowed and a Gibson with three onions at the witching hour is compulsory. Her granddaughter, Addie, is getting over the heartbreak of her fiancé, Brian, dumping her and cutting her out of the deal for the brilliantly successful video game, Murderscape, they invented together (with Addie doing most of the heavy lifting).  When Mimi gets an invitation from local socialite Jane Ireland--a seventysomething narcissist who is having an affair with her son-in-law--to a charity auction, it is the perfect excuse to get Addie to join her for the weekend. What Mimi isn’t telling Addie is that a blackmail threat from Jane looms over the party’s invitation.  In case the scene wasn’t already set for a turbulent weekend, a big storm rolls in, trapping everyone in the mansion. And then, Jane’s body is found. Soon Mimi and Addie are caught in a dangerous game, relying on their skills (Mimi loves a crossword puzzle, and Addie is a brilliant game designer, after all) to narrow down the suspects. When another body turns up, the sleuthing pair realize someone else is playing a deadly game, and they might not survive the night. . . .    LISTEN ABOVE See 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.

So far, this winter of ours has been pretty wet. Yes, complaining might not help at all, but it pays to do something about the soaked soil.   Inundation is a health hazard for plants: constant wetness causes a range of diseases, many of which will be fatal. Drowning roots stuff the oxygen balance, causing severe stress, discoloration of leaves, blisters on stems and leaves, leaf-fall, and die-back of branches.   Often the plant, shrub of small tree will become infected by one of the root-rot species.   The name Phytophthora comes to mind as it is quite violent in the way it attacks whole rows of plants.  Once a tree is infected there is very little you can do to “save its life”. If you are quick to diagnose this root rot fungus, you can try some Plant Health Buxus Blight Buster – follow label instructions and spray the affected trees/shrubs regularly.   I reckon that a prevention of stagnant water is the best way to save you a heap of trouble: dig some narrow ditches that will take the water away to lower levels. It pays to have a garden with a decent amount of “fall”, allowing the water to move off the premises.   Then there are plants we keep in large outdoor pots. And like our indoor plants, the most common cause of death is overwatering of those plants.   Our winter deluges outside can be lethal.   Ensure that your large outdoor pots have plenty of drainage holes in the bottom   Check that those holes are not clogged – check them every now and then   Remove the trays or saucers (which are handy to keep moisture around the roots in summer but not in wet old winter).  Our climate disruption is becoming worse every year, and I don’t see it turning around any day soon.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 5th of July 2025, Theo David and Phoebe McKellar join Jack as stars of ATC’s fast-paced 60s twist on the original tale of star-crossed lovers, Romeo & Juliet.  Jack considers his French sporting viewing picks for this weekend.  Mike Yardley shares his favourite apps for anything you may need while travelling.  And how does the latest Jurassic franchise instalment rate? Francesca Rudkin dishes on the latest on the big screen.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Open AI’s talent is being poached for eye-watering numbers  Being paid $100 million to join a team sounds like something from the NFL or NBA, but it’s happening in Silicon Valley too. OpenAI’s talent is being poached by other tech giants, with Meta reportedly offered signing bonuses that large to steal talent and offering salaries in the millions.    Could website and content owners cash in on AI?   Cloudflare wants to help. When newspapers, magazines, and other content creators started putting their content online it was largely free, and even if it wasn’t, they still allowed Google to crawl it since having your website be discovered was worth it. That math shifted over the years, and now with AI those same content creators are debating if they should do something different this time around.    Cloudflare —a content delivery network— has a new feature aimed to help websites if they want to start charging for AI bots and agents to scrape their sites and use their service. They’re offering an auction system or a flat fee, and Cloudflare will be the broker for the transaction.       LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This City is Ours    A long-time member of organised crime falls in love with Diana, prompting him to reevaluate his life and contemplate a future beyond his criminal activities (ThreeNow).    Hospice Heroes A new documentary series that introduces us to the staff and volunteers of one of New Zealand’s largest hospice facilities as they help terminally ill patients (ThreeNow).     Quick round-up of the return of three blockbuster shows:   Tour de France: Unchained (Netflix)   The Bear (Disney+)   Squid Game (Netflix)    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jurassic World Rebirth  Zora Bennett leads a team of skilled operatives to the most dangerous place on Earth, an island research facility for the original Jurassic Park. Their mission is to secure genetic material from dinosaurs whose DNA can provide life-saving benefits to mankind. As the top-secret expedition becomes more and more risky, they soon make a sinister, shocking discovery that's been hidden from the world for decades.     The Great Lilian Hall   Broadway actress Lillian Hall pours her heart and soul into preparing for her next big role but finds herself blindsided by confusion and forgetfulness. She strives to make it to opening night while holding on to her fading memories and identity.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If I was to enter Mousse Masters, the competition currently underway to find New Zealand’s top chocolate mousse, this would be my entry – simple, classic and utterly delicious. It’s as much about the mouthfeel as it is about ensuring the distinct flavour of using a quality chocolate comes through. Mousse Masters is a one-of-a-kind competition for pro chefs and promising young chefs. It's designed to captivate the food service industry, showcase the magic of Weave Cacao’s couverture chocolate drops, and celebrate the artistry of New Zealand's chefs and bakers.   Serves 2-4      Ingredients  ½ cup cream   2 small egg yolks   1 tablespoon caster sugar    70g very dark good-quality chocolate, chopped (check out the Weave Cacao website)   ½ cup cream, whipped with 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or rum or orange zest or espresso)   grated chocolate to serve      Method  Bring the first measure of cream to the boil. Remove from the heat.   In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until pale, then slowly pour over the hot cream whilst continuing to whisk so the eggs don’t curdle. Add the chopped chocolate and let stand, covered, to allow the chocolate to melt. Allow to cool.   Fold the whipped cream gently into the cooled chocolate mixture. Pour into four cups or glasses or ramekins and refrigerate until set -at least 3-4 hours. Have patience!   To serve, grate over some more chocolate because, well, why not?!    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.