Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Labour and childbirth can be a frantic time for everyone involved.  This week Kevin Milne is reminiscing on the birth of his second child - and the drama that came with it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Sandwiched by mountains on one side and the sprawling white-sands beach on the other, the urban jungle of Los Angeles seems to melt away on arrival in Santa Monica. This beloved beachside city bursts with personality, offering quintessential encounters with the Southern California coastal lifestyle." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 15 February 2025, certified Kiwi icon and international supermodel Rachel Hunter joins Jack to catch up about her time back in New Zealand, and the importance of her spiritual side.  Jack discusses his view on the school lunches debacle.  Out of New Zealand's biggest BBQ festival Meatstock, Nici Wickes celebrates National Lamb Day with a divine marinade.  Fresh off the back of a brand-new Bridget Jones film, Jack and Francesca Rudkin debate a rising trend in cinema...  And Dougal Sutherland considers the best ways to handle life's big changes.  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.

I’ve been thinking recently about major life changes that families go through and how these can be at the same time very challenging, yet also an opportunity for amazing growth for individuals and for families.   This was sparked by three things:   The impending arrival of Jack’s baby.  The recent arrival into our family of our first grandchild.  Our daughter moving out of home to go to uni in Auckland (which is where we are this weekend), which will make me and my lovely wife officially “empty nesters”.  In any family, these types of events are major milestones, and I think for all of them, there’s no real way of fully preparing for them. All the wisdom, guidance, and advice —however well intentioned— from others can properly prepare you for such a step-change in life.   A metaphor that springs to mind for me is a ship setting off to sail in unchartered waters. These trips can be exciting, nerve-wracking, anxiety-provoking. There is the potential in these journeys to go wildly off course or become beaten down by the elements and ending up floating untethered in the middle of nowhere.   Rest assured there are some good tips to follow to help people navigate these journeys – they won’t ensure smooth sailing but should help weather the storms.   Have some good rhythms in your daily life that help provide stability and reassurance. It could be having a daily routine around exercise or a daily practice of prayer/meditation; maybe a general agreement to always come together at a particular time (e.g., for dinner together). Have these as general guidelines rather than rigid rules.  As much as possible keep the bookends of your day consistent – have a usual time for getting up and going to bed. Sleep-ins and big nights are okay (and sometimes will be needed!) but try and let these be the exception rather than the rule.  Practice forgiveness – when we’re navigating uncharted waters, we can often get stressed and speak or act in a way that we don’t usually (even more if we’re sleep deprived), which can have an effect on those around us. Practice assuming that other people usually act from good intentions (just like you do) and work to actively forgive those who inadvertently do or say the wrong thing.   Hopefully that will help navigate times of family change!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few weeks ago, I came across one of my favourite Native trees: the Tree Fuchsia. Most people in the world that grow house plants know Fuchsia as an elegant producer of flowers. I took my Dutch Cousin to Banks Peninsula, and he simply thought I was taking the micky: how can you have a Fuchsia species that grows up to 12 meters? The flowers are beautiful and the bark is outstanding – literally. But the seeds are something else again, dark purple, soft and edible.   Instead of eating these seeds raw or cooking them into a jam, I felt they were miniature purple plums that could be planted to become new Fuchsia seedlings, and that’s what became my new harvesting project.   These seeds are tricky to germinate, simply because they are so tiny. Soak them in water as soon as they are soft and ripe, try to remove the flesh or pulp, and spread the seeds on a good, wet seed-raising mix in a shady spot.    When they germinate, put them into a lighter, warm, moist place and keep your fingers crossed.   And just a few days ago I noticed our Damson Plums were ripening quickly (despite Canterbury’s awful weather this “summer”). The plums were falling off the tree, so I reported this feature to my Gardener Supreme, and decided to harvest them right-away.   Now, the “normal” way to harvest these beautiful plums is by going up a ladder and grabbing the fruits within reach, chucking them in a bag before going down the ladder and tossing them in a large bucket on the orchard floor, before climbing back up.  The “Straight shoots” at the top often do not bear fruit – they are a waste of time climbing.   After grabbing all the plums, way up high, you can start the process of creating one of the best Jams in the World (see recipe at the end).  As many people know by now, it’s best to prune stonefruit trees soon after harvest – it keeps the tree shorter and easier to manage next year and it opens the damson tree up to wind and space on the inside.   I thought: “maybe it’s a good idea to prune at the same time as harvesting!”  Two birds with one stone and not too long on the ladder with arthritis, etc.   So far, it’s worked pretty well. Heaps of fruit and much quicker retrieval of the ripe fruits.   Of course, when consulting Lynda Hallinan’s book on Damsons, I discovered that I was certainly not the first one to come up with that idea.   And you know what? The Jam that Julie chucked into the jars is absolutely amazing!    Jam Recipe – a Mix of Lynda Hallinan’s recommendations and Julie’s moderations   For a kilo of Damson plums:   Boil them up in half a cup of water.  Bring to a gentle simmer, until it’s “red and pulpy”.  Add 750 grams of sugar. Stir until dissolved.   Boil for 10 to 15 minutes… keep an eye on it so it doesn’t get burnt.  Take out all the stones with a slotted spoon or tongs (the reason is simple: those stones can break your teeth!!).  Test the mixture for “setting” – not too tough, please!   Chuck them into the sterilised jars.     Now think about some croissants from Le Panier filled with damson plum jam!     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lockerbie: A Search for Truth    Dr. Jim Swire searches for justice following the death of his daughter Flora in one of the worst air disasters in history: the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. On December 21, 1988, 259 passengers and crew, as well as 11 residents on the ground, were killed when a plane exploded over the quiet town of Lockerbie, Scotland. Thirteen years later, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was convicted of the crime and later released on compassionate grounds.   In the wake of Flora's death, Jim is named head of the UK victims' group and, after years of relentless campaigning, becomes instrumental in bringing Megrahi to trial. However, Jim's absolute trust in the justice system is sullied forever when he comes to believe, to his horror, that Megrahi could be innocent. As the truth shifts under Jim's feet, his life starts to crumble, losing his job and ignoring his living family for this crusade for truth and his desire to find those responsible for her death (TVNZ+ and TVNZ1 from Sunday).    Friends Like Her    In the wake of a catastrophic earthquake, a friendship between two women in Kaikoura turns toxic when a surrogacy deal goes wrong (Netflix).    High Potential    Morgan, a single mom with three kids and an exceptional mind, helps solve an unsolvable crime when she rearranges some evidence during her shift as a cleaner for the police department. When they discover she has a knack for putting things in order because of her high intellectual potential, she is brought on as a consultant to work with a by-the-book seasoned detective, Karadec. Together they form an unusual and unstoppable team (Disney+).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BOB’S BEST BUYS   Valentine’s Day Selection Wine: Pegasus Bay Gewurztraminer 2024 North Canterbury, $30   Why I chose it:   Gewurztraminer is an aromatic wine with punchy aromas that often resemble flowers (in this case rose petals).     National Lamb Day Selection Wine: Trinity Hill 2021 The Gimblett, Hawke’s Bay, $39.99   Why I chose it:   It’s NZ Lamb Day today and I wanted to choose a wine that would make a great match with lamb. Lamb is high in fat, which makes it a high flavour meat. Cabernet Sauvignon is a thick-skinned red grape that is also high in flavour making it a perfect partner for lamb.   Trinity Hill 2021 The Gimblett is a blend of Cabernet Franc 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 46%, and Petit Verdot 4%. The wine even has a subtle minty character which gives it a built-in mint sauce-like component that’s perfect for lamb.   What does it taste like?   Dense, intense red with cassis/dark berry, chocolate/mocha, vanilla, cigar box, and spicy oak flavours with a touch of mint. Approachable now with good ageing potential. A powerhouse red that was built to enhance the flavours of NZ lamb. It’s from the Gimblett Gravels, a premium red-wine region in Hawke’s Bay,   Where can you buy it?   Whisky and More, Waikato, $34  Liquor Legends, Auckland $34   The Good Wine Co, Auckland $35.99   Will it keep?   Yes, with careful storage this wine will still deliver pleasure after 5-10 years or more    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Gulf of America is official   President Trump ordered it to be changed in official government documents on Wednesday, which has prompted Google Maps and Apple Maps to make the change too.  Google said it made the change in line with its "longstanding policy" of reflecting name changes updated in official US government sources, but, the change is only for US users. It'll still be the Gulf of Mexico in Mexico and the rest of the world will get Gulf of America in brackets.   Google has had to turn off reviews on that location though, because internet users have bombarded it with one star reviews and comments.  Microsoft's Bing Maps are yet to update it.     Apple is expected to launch a new low-end phone next week   CEO Tim Cook teased the launch saying it'll be an opportunity to see the “newest member of the family”.  It's widely expected to be the new version of the iPhone SE, whose current model is the only remaining iPhone with a physical home button. It's expected to get the A18 chip, which is in the current iPhone 16, and will debut the Apple's new homegrown modem.      Meta's laid off thousands of people this week   They've cut 5% of their workforce, which is up to as many as 3,600 people. They have publicly said they're targeting staff who aren’t meeting expectations, to make way for strong AI talent. This is now the third time they've started the year with layoffs.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy  Bridget Jones finally has some luck in her life; she has a great job as a screenwriter, her family and a new boyfriend; the fact that he is over twenty years younger than her isn't the only thing that is causing problems.      September 5  During the 1972 Munich Olympics, an American sports broadcasting crew finds itself thrust into covering the hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s face it, NZ grows great lamb! So on this day, National Lamb Day, we’re celebrating with a delicious lamb dish that relies on the fruitiness of a quince and spicey harissa marinade.   Serves 4-6       Ingredients    1-1.5kg Butterflied leg of lamb, or use steaks, loin chops, or even shoulder chops      Marinade    1 red onion, finely diced   4 cloves garlic, crushed or grated    2 tbsps. vinegar   1 large tablespoon store-bought harissa    1 tablespoon quince paste (can use apricot jam)    2 tablespoons olive oil    1 tsp salt      Method  Mix all the marinade ingredients together and spread over the lamb. Leave overnight if you can, but a few hours will do the trick too.    Heat a BBQ hot plate to medium and cook the lamb, basting with excess marinade as it cooks. Turn as needed and let little bits char a bit.   Serve with salad and a scatter of coriander or parsley.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I suppose it was inevitable that something would go wrong.    It wasn’t like the new school lunch providers all had the opportunity to ease into their work. They didn’t do huge practice runs or slowly build capacity over time.    For most of them it was a case of going from zero to one hundred. Day one of the school year and they had to be zipping along in fifth gear.    And all you needed were photos of a few mishits and word of a few schools with missing lunches and news spread on social media in a way that blunders never would have under the last school lunch regime.    Think about it: last year, all anyone had to compare school lunches to was the previous regime, when schools were provided with nothing. Now, there’s a different precedent.    If we’re honest, there is also a political dimension at play. David Seymour is so attached to the school lunch funding cuts. But he’s a polarising figure, especially in education communities. And just as he is happy to make soak up political support for being the guy making the funding cuts, I’m sure there are more than a few educators who are quietly willing Seymour to fail.    All that being said, I don’t think anyone who’s seen the examples of some of the stodgy offerings being sent out to schools (or not being sent out, as has also been the case) could possibly argue with the young students who’ve reportedly been comparing them with dog food. I was listening to Newstalk ZB the other day when someone said that presentation doesn’t matter. It’s simple; the kids don’t eat the meals then they can’t really be that hungry.    For anyone who’s actually spent time around children will know just how naive and misguided that is. Sure, if we were in the midst of a full-blown famine, you might reasonably expect kids to eat any old slop. But mercifully, we’re not in a famine. And actually, hungry kids don’t always act rationally. Most young children would prefer to go without kai for an afternoon than be forced to eat a tray of dog food. You probably would too. Presentation matters. I was discussing it with a mate this week, who said the whole thing still annoys him because it should be parents’ responsibility to feed children and not the New Zealand taxpayer.   Sure, I said. In a perfect World, I totally agree. But unfortunately, this ain’t it. For whatever reason, there are thousands of kids who without school lunches would not be eating three meals a day. Even if you think it’s all the parents’ fault, none of those kids can choose their folks any more than we chose ours!    And here’s the thing I think risks being lost in this episode: full bellies aren’t just good for the kids who would otherwise be going without. They’re good for all of us.    At a moment in time when the government is literally soliciting for ideas to drive economic growth, there are few things that will drive our future productivity like better educational achievement. Kids who are hungry do not learn. An investment in a full belly today is an investment in growth in twenty years’ time. It’s an investment in skills, in businesses, in innovation.    The new school lunch programme is off to a lumpy start (literally). Teething issues were inevitable, and I really hope it’ll improve.    But I can tell you this much, for all the concern over the state of the books, the savings made from the school lunch programme are worth nothing if the kids don’t eat. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most legendary couples on the New Zealand theatre scene, Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Michael Hurst have acting resumes that range from pimps, to politicians, to animated versions of Buzzy Bee.   They’ve been in countless productions together, but it had never been just the two of them on stage until their most recent stage work - In Other Words.   In the show, the two play a married couple dealing with the onset of Alzheimer's, and it had a sold out run in Auckland last year.   This year, Ward-Lealand and Hurst are taking the show across the nation, which Ward-Lealand told Jack Tame they’re thrilled to be doing.  “It would be rare to find a New Zealander who hasn’t had some connection in some way to some, either member of their Whanau or friends, or friends of friends who’ve experienced dementia,” she said.  Despite the serious topic, Hurst says the play isn’t particularly heavy.  “It certainly confronts it, but it’s levity and uplifting and the human condition, and caring, and all of those things – and music. So all of those things which are part of the dealing of it.”  Although there is levity in the play, Ward-Lealand and Hurst have taken care to represent the symptoms and reality of Alzheimer’s, which they say has been well received by audiences.   “The feedback that we’ve had from people has been really, really humbling,” Ward-Lealand said.  Dates and Venues  Clarence St Theatre, Hamilton  Hamilton Arts Festival  22nd & 23rd Feb    Circa Theatre, Wellington  27th Feb – 2nd Mar & 5th – 8th March    Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch  13th – 15th Mar     Dunedin   TBA 2025    Wānaka   TBA 2025    Opera House, Hastings  4th Apr     Q Theatre, Auckland   11th-12th April    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nadia Reid has returned.   ‘Enter Now Brightness’ is Reid’s fourth album, releasing five years after the last and coming from a period of reflection during the Covid lockdowns.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Seventh Floor by David McCloskey   A Russian arrives in Singapore with a secret to sell. When the Russian is killed and Sam Joseph, the CIA officer dispatched for the meet, goes missing, Artemis Procter is made a scapegoat and run out of the service. Traded back in a spy swap, Sam appears at Procter's central Florida doorstep months later with an explosive secret: there is a Russian mole hidden deep within the upper reaches of CIA.  As Procter and Sam investigate, they arrive at a shortlist of suspects made up of both Procter's closest friends and fiercest enemies. The hunt soon requires Procter to dredge up her own checkered past in service of CIA, placing her and Sam into the sights of a savvy Russian spymaster who will protect Moscow's mole in Langley at all costs, even if it means wreaking bloody havoc across the United States.     More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova   Maddy Banks is just like any other stressed-out student at NYU. Between exams, navigating life in the city, and a recent breakup, it's normal to feel overwhelmed. It doesn't help that she's always been the odd one out in her picture-perfect Connecticut family. But Maddy's latest low is devastatingly low, and she goes on antidepressants. She begins to feel good, dazzling in fact, and she soon spirals into a wild and terrifying mania that culminates in a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.  As she struggles to find her way in this new reality, navigating the complex effects bipolar has on her identity, her relationships, and her life dreams, Maddy will have to figure out how to manage being both too much and not enough.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"January’s horrific wildfires in Los Angeles County have understandably raised questions about whether it’s appropriate to visit destinations close to the fire grounds and the Pacific Coast Highway. But the clarion call from LA’s tourism leaders is to remind the world, ‘we are open and would love to see you”. Over a million of the city’s jobs rely on tourism. It’s also worth bearing in mind that, while devastating, the wildfires have impacted less than 2% of Los Angeles County. Late last year, I tripped the LA coastline, lapping up the scenic beach scene in Malibu, nicknamed “Bu” by the locals and stretching across 40km of coastline. Eastern Malibu, particularly the stretch directly below Pacific Palisades, felt the force of the wildfires, with hundreds of beachfront homes reduced to ashes (Central and Western Malibu weren’t affected)." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Living a sustainable lifestyle can often put you at odds with the mainstream perspective, as Kate Hall knows well. So how do you navigate disagreements and deal with other people’s opinions when trying to live up to your values? Here are a few tips from Kate:  Lead with Positivity  Don’t instigate or engage in conversations about sustainability unless they were started or consented by the other person - otherwise you'll end up sounding like you're 'preaching'. Most likely more change and cohesion will come when you simply go about your life and others observe you.     Focus on What You Can Control  Put your energy into the changes you can make, rather than getting caught up in others’ opinions.     Grace for Yourself & Others  Give yourself and those around you room to learn and grow without judgment.      Build a Supportive Circle  Surround yourself with people who support or share your values (what my current tour is all about!) but avoid echo-chambers where everyone thinks the same. Keep a balance of diverse perspectives.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 8 February 2025, Kiwi acting legends Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Michael Hurst join Jack to discuss carrying a whole show on their own and heading nationwide in their latest stage work In Other Words.   Jack ponders whether taking time for the good stuff is in keeping with the modern day.  Long weekenders rejoice - Nici Wickes delivers the dos and don'ts of a good platter and shares her favourite ways to personalise the offerings.  Plus, Tara Ward discusses the perfect long weekend watch in 'Miriam Margoyles in New Zealand'.  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.

Struggling to save money? Ed McKnight has a few tips that are backed by science that should help with your finances.    Mental accounting Having rules of thumb (like 50% of spending to needs, 30% to wants and 20% to savings) actually works.  It also helps people save more, especially if you are using different bank accounts (e.g. a needs account. A wants account. A savings account).    Big goals vs small goals People save 82% more if you say "I'll just focus on savings $100 a week." Rather than "I want to save $5k".    The Save More Tomorrow approach    This method takes half of an employee's pay increase and adds it to a savings account, repeating every time they get a pay rise.   During this study people went from saving 3.5% of their pay to 13.6%.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m proud of Jack. His gardening skills are increasing, with useful observations every day. Last week it was Passionvine hoppers, and they are indeed showing an upward trend.   The window for control ceased in Spring (spraying the tiny fluffy bums with a simple fly spray) but for now there is little you can do until March/April, when you look for the distinctive egg patterns laid on thin, woody twigs by adult female hoppers:   In Autumn cut off those dead and dying twiglets with eggs and burn them in the fireplace. Saves you from a heap of fluffybums being born next spring.  Something many gardeners don’t often see early enough is the beginning of Powdery Mildew. White powdery fungal deposits on leaves of cucumbers, pumpkin, squash, oak trees, hydrangeas, beans, grapes, apples, pears, rose – it’s on a lot of different plants.   Most gardeners find the symptoms too late. If you keep your eyes open you can find it starting right now in small patches on the leaves.   The cause: long-term moisture on surfaces of leaves/plants or a dry spell followed by relative humidity and dew.   For instance, when you have warm days and cool nights, you get dew, condensation!   The name says it all: “Powdery Mildew”. The small white patches are a dead give-away, and so is the presence of characteristic black-and-yellow ladybird beetles – they spread the fungal spores around.  Preventative control: spray with Yates Natures Way Fungal spray (a mix of Copper and Sulphur that stops further spread).   And then there are caterpillars (the juvenile stage of butterflies and moths).   Up North the Fall Armyworm is invading the paddocks and vegetable gardens; in your cabbage patch the larva of white butterfly is having a go. In my tunnel house, the tomato fruitworm and green loopers plus a dash of other cutworms damage all sorts of crops and ornamentals.   Luckily, we now have a few rather good and safe insecticides that will deal to caterpillars: Yates Success ULTRA is not toxic to beneficial creatures that naturally control caterpillars and other pests. It is also usable on edible crops.   A new group is Diamide Insecticides such as Chlorantraniliprole. Lawn Grub Control, Turf Insecticides or Leafroller and Codling Moth sprays (Altacor).  But the most important thing to do NOW is keeping your eyes open in the garden!   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK government is trying to get eyes on your iPhone data – regardless of where you live  Reporting from the Washington Post says the UK government has issued a secret order to Apple to effectively give it backdoor access to all the data, even the encrypted data that it stores in iCloud.      It's an offense for a company to reveal they've received this type of order, under the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act of 2016. Apple is expected to stop offering encrypted backups in the UK, but if it also meets the demand to offer a backdoor to encrypted data, then other nations like the US and China are likely to ask for the same thing.  While the position from most law enforcement has been that it makes it easier for terrorists and child abusers to hide, the US, Canada, Australia, and NZ are now in favour of encryption to stop Chinese hackers.      Tinder wants you to find the "relationship" you want   Tinder has more than just a stack of profiles to swipe through at random, there's also an explore page which has let folks connect based on interests like Animal Parents or Gamers. But now you can also look for those who are wanting the same style of relationship as you. There are now categories for serious daters, those looking for a long-term partner, non-monogamy, and short-term fun.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Miriam Margoyles in New Zealand  In preparation for her first New Zealand film role, the irrepressible Miriam Margolyes embarks on a road trip around our beautiful country (Sky Open on Sunday 9 Feb at 7.30pm, also streaming on Neon).      Apple Cider Vinegar   Two young women advocate for wellness remedies to cure deadly illnesses, unraveling their lives as they unknowingly - and knowingly - mislead the world (Netflix).     Grace    Written by the critically-acclaimed screenwriter Russell Lewis, this adaptation of the bestseller by Peter James stars John Simm and follows the Brighton-based Detective Roy Grace, who has hit rock bottom in his life. His wife Sandy disappeared six years ago, and Roy spends all his time investigating cold cases. Meanwhile, his different ways of working are being questioned by his bosses, risking his job. However, things look set to change when his colleague Detective Glenn Branson asks for his help on a difficult case (Neon).     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Presence   A family becomes convinced they are not alone after moving into their new home in the suburbs.    Alien Weaponry: Kua Tupu Te Ara   Two teenager brothers attempt to storm the world of thrash metal while performing Māori anthems that channel the power and pride of their culture.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I love to keep entertaining super casual and that often means building a platter. It’s the ultimate in minimal effort creating something that looks like a magical feast. Platters are endlessly customizable, meaning you can work with what you’ve got and work to YOUR budget.   Try these three simple and affordable recipes next time you’re serving up a platter of deliciousness.       Roasted grapes   1-2 bunches of grapes – any colour   Drizzle of quality olive oil    1 tsp thyme or rosemary (optional)    Sprinkle of sea salt    1 tsp honey (optional)      Brush grapes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Whack them on a lined tray and roast them at 180 C for 20-30 minutes. Whilst still hot drizzle over honey if using. Serve with crackers and blue cheese.       Cheat’s Smoked Salmon & Chive Dip    150g cream cheese   95g tinned salmon, use the smoked one    2 tbsps. finely chopped chives + extra    Decent squeeze of lemon juice    Salt & pepper to taste      Blend all ingredients in a food processor. Sprinkle with extra chopped chives and serve with cheesesticks for dipping.       Baked brie   1 whole brie or camembert cheese    Few sprigs fresh rosemary, thyme and/or oregano   2 tablespoons white wine or sparkling wine    Grind of black pepper    2-3 thick slices good quality bread, cut into batons    2 tablespoons olive oil   ¼ teaspoon sea salt    2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley    Wedges of lemon       Turn oven to 180 C.    Place the cheese round on a sheet of baking paper big enough to wrap the cheese and then into a large ramekin or other ovenproof dish that holds it snugly. With the tip of a sharp knife make 3-4 cuts across the top of the cheese. Insert herbs into these. Splash over wine and grind pepper. Wrap up tying or twisting the paper to enclose. Bake for 15 minutes or until soft all the way through.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am very particular.    I’m a big believer that a Tidy House makes for a Tidy Mind. I like things to have their place. I like routine and I hate clutter.     Both of my televisions are mounted on the walls with their cables hidden away. I use organisers to secret my stereo cords, and a cluttered benchtop makes me feel so unsettled that I insist on having nothing on it. Nothing. Our microwave is hidden away in a cupboard. Our toaster is hidden in a drawer. And when it comes to electric gadgets, that’s as far as I’m prepared to go. An air fryer? You’ve gotta be kidding me. Despite my wife’s protestations, I still refuse to buy an electric kettle.    Therefore, for most all of adult life I’ve made coffee the same way. An Italian stovetop, a little Bialetti number. You put the water in the bottom, coffee in the funnel, put it on the element and wait for the espresso to brew. It spits out the top of the shaft after about 5 minutes and 12 seconds of steady heat. It makes you wait, just a little. But it’s worth it: a rich, black espresso, creme on the top. I love the smell, I love the taste, and I love the ritual.    I figure my Bialetti brew lands in that perfect middle-ground between freeze-dried instant coffee and the in-home espresso makers which have steadily become ubiquitous in our kitchens. It’s coffee for someone who cares about coffee, but doesn’t require a gleaming chrome spaceship taking up 4sq metres on the kitchen bench.   But am I missing out?    Truthfully, I’m starting to second guess myself. Last year, a family member very generously offered to shout us a fancy espresso maker as a wedding gift. I gently demurred at the time.  It’s not that I think they’re totally gimmicky. They’re not popcorn-makers or at-home candyfloss machines.  But it’s funny, my parents got a machine a couple of years ago with a grinder and steamer and pitcher for the milk and Dad thrashes it every morning.    My sister has an even fancier new number and brews velvety rich flat whites in those fancy see-through mugs. She says she hasn’t bought a coffee since. And I can see how the economics add up. If you replace two cafe-bought coffees a week with a $500 dollar machine, add in the milk and coffee costs, you’d have paid it off by the next Rugby World Cup.    To the best of my knowledge, only one other person in my life has consistently made coffee the same way as me. But as my brother sheepishly admitted to me last night, he’s just ditched his Italian stovetop for a big, fancy espresso maker he bought in a Briscoes sale.    “It’s great bro!” he said.   “You just push a button.”   You just push a button.    You see, I think that’s it.    Sure, maybe it’s the cables on the benchtop that puts me off. The sound. The cost of a big fancy coffee machine. Or maybe in a world that’s always changing and where nothing is guaranteed, starting every day in exactly the same way with exactly the same ritual and exactly the same brew... maybe starting the day by waiting on a simple process and a humble pot... maybe that’s what makes the coffee taste so damn good.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In less than a week’s time, Kiwi musician Nadia Reid will release her fourth album: ‘Enter Now Brightness’.   It’s her first album in five years, born from a period of reflection during the Covid lockdowns beginning in 2020.  The album is a record of “poise and great beauty”, documenting the sound of a “cellular shift” and pain giving way to tenderness and joy, the biography on her website reads.  She told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that the album took two years to write.  “At one point I thought, well, I don’t have terribly much to say,” she said, referring to the stagnancy of lockdown.  “But it turns out I did have... I had, I wrote 12, we recorded 12 songs, 10 of which made it onto the album.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The debut album from Young Franco, ‘It’s Franky Baby!’ is filled with experimental tracks and collaborations.  The 10 tracks cover a range of genres, Franco taking inspiration from disco, rap, punk, and dance music from all over the place.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to share her thoughts on the DJ’s first release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Far from being just a port town, Picton has blossomed into a fully-fledged holiday gem.  Wrapped in forest-clad hills, the Picton foreshore is studded with a swag of hospo spots and heritage treasures like the Edwin Fox, in addition to being an alluring launch-pad for savouring Queen Charlotte Sound." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney   Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life.  Grady calls his wife to share some exciting news as she is driving home. He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by the cliff edge the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there. . . but his wife has disappeared.  A year later, Grady is still overcome with grief and desperate to know what happened to Abby. He can’t sleep, and he can’t write, so he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible — a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.    A Dangerous Game by Mandy Robotham   Seven years after the chaotic aftermath of World War II, London has is coming alive again, with jazz clubs and flickering cinema awnings lighting up the night sky. But for widowed Helen 'Dexie' Dexter, she's still a woman in a man's world. She longs to prove herself as an officer in the London Metropolitan Police, yet she's stuck intervening in domestics and making tea for her male colleagues.   Then Harri Schroder arrives, seconded from Hamburg to the Met. Haunted by the loss of his wife and child, Harri is unlike any man Dexie has ever known. Compassionate and sharp-witted, he sees her not as a threat, but as an intelligent, canny officer full of potential. And when Harri is tasked with hunting down a Nazi war criminal-turned-respected-businessman, with connections to the upper echelons of British society, it's Dexie he turns to for help. But as their bond deepens, a deadly fog engulfs London. Dexie and Harri must expose the fugitive before he vanishes, risking everything for justice - and each other.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne had a bit of a run in with some credit card fraud last weekend.  Upon trying to make a few purchases, he found his card blocked due to 7 suspicious attempts to withdraw money stemming from the US.  He joined Jack Tame for a chat about the experience and the lessons he learnt.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2024 was a hard year for many. If you didn’t lose your job, you might have spent a lot of time worrying about losing your job or ending up in the unenviable position of trying to do more with less! It’s not surprising that there are high rates of anxiety, stress, and burnout in the workforce.   However, at the same time I’ve noticed over the past 12 months a bit of a worrying trend in workplaces to dial back on things that support staff mental health and wellbeing. There are some suggestions this is because in a tighter economic environment that these topics are seen as “nice to haves” or a bit “soft and fluffy” and therefore should be dialled back.   This new survey from the UK highlighted that if businesses understood staff mental health and wellbeing from a different perspective, they would quickly realise that it’s more important than ever to invest in staff wellbeing. Could it be that protecting and enhancing the mental wellbeing of workers is the key to increasing our productivity, something that is on the minds of many this year?   The Deloitte’s survey looked at the financial sector and found there was more symptoms of burnout compared to other areas of industry and the cost of this was over $10k per person per year.   If we dive into what those symptoms are —exhaustion, making more mistakes at work, poorer work performance— then it’s easy to see how poor mental health can affect the productivity of a business. Also, in some workplaces being exhausted and making more mistakes at work could lead to some potentially fatal consequences (e.g., mistakes with machinery).   Other research has demonstrated that businesses who are supporting the mental health of their employees have lower levels of sick leave and better financial performance. Helpful to know in light of the WHO data indicating that globally about 12 billion working days per year are lost due to depression and anxiety, which costs over $1.7 trillion annually!   So, what can businesses and staff do? I think the first thing is to change how you think the reasons for supporting people’s mental health at work. If you can figure out what is contributing to poor wellbeing at your place and do something to address it, you’re putting your business in a really good position to weather the next 12months which, by all predictions, are still going to be somewhat rocky.   For people in the workplace, you might have already found that requests for support for mental health and wellbeing have fallen on deaf ears. You might want to subtly change how you frame these requests, by asking for support to help maintain the viability and productivity of your organisation.   On a more meta level, the government, in its current push for more efficiency and productivity, might be really interested in this data and to think about how protecting and supporting workers’ mental health could be a win:win situation.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 1 February 2025, Kiwi muso Nadia Reid joins Jack from halfway around the world ahead of the release of her first album in five years, ‘Enter Now Brightness’.  Jack finds common ground with RFK Jr. on his attitude towards ultra-processed foods and America's big-food industry.  You can't beat a classic for a summer BBQ - Nici Wickes delivers a classic ol' Kiwi bean salad.   And Francesca Rudkin dishes on Nicole Kidman's saucy new erotic thriller Babygirl.  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.

The tiniest critters can be the biggest pain in the you-know-what when it comes to your body and your garden. The mere fact that they are sooo small does not help to discover them in time.   That kind of goes for most of the members of the Order ACARI – a huge range of critters such as Bird mites, Follicle mites (we all have them in our eyelashes), chiggers, scabies mites, ticks and —of course— plant mites.   A week or two ago I discovered the very first Acari on Julie’s Frangipani bush in the glasshouse. Just a few innocent little acari, known as two-spotted spider mites with the elegant scientific name of Tetranychus urticae.   Literally a couple of days ago I discovered this:   Massive “spider webs” made from the smallest and softest silk on the planet. All strands very close together, keeping the inhabitants safe from whatever may be mite predators.  Spider mites are often a real pain in the warmer areas of the garden – especially the glasshouse, tunnel house, and very sheltered areas with warm sunlight. Their trouble-making is very simple: damage the tiny cells on leaves by rasping, and remove the moisture inside those plant cells.    That leaves the cells without their contents, and they simply dry out.   The most important stuff they grab is the green chlorophyll that’s inside those cells; those cells will be filled with air, thereby becoming bleached, light yellow and grey.   Spider mites use the massive silken constructions as easy runways to get from leaf to leaf and partner to partner.  Their numbers increase rapidly, and the damage follows…   Once you have had a close look at the leaves, the silk and the runways, you’ll find the little scrapers: 4 pairs of legs, a few dots on their body, and some movement.   Once you spot them it pays to have a go at controlling these vast colonies before they really cause severe damage.  Organic control can be achieved via Yates’ fatty acid spray (NatraSoap). That stuff works on tiny critters with a sensitive skin. An alternative: Neem Oil or Conqueror Oil.   Repeat sprays are recommended to catch the tiny babies after they come out of their eggs.   Biological Control is another way to reduce the population.  Phytoseiulus persimilis is available from BioForce Ltd, who sells the product Mite-E™. It’s a parasitic mite that eats the eggs of the spider mites and even the juveniles and adults of that pest.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Head lice, otherwise known as nits or kutis, is one of the most frustrating medical conditions parents have to face. It’s very common and often seen in school outbreaks.   What are head lice and who gets them?   They’re small insects found on the head. They live on hair and suck blood from the scalp.  They lay eggs on the hair – looking like little grains of sand stuck to hair.   Anyone can get them; it has nothing to do with poor hygiene. They do not carry disease.   Only humans can get them, and they’re spread through direct head contact. Often found on children who sleep together or play together. Often spread by school outbreaks.    They can’t live when not on the head and die quickly.      How do you know you have them?   Sometimes can see live insects moving on the scalp.   Nits, headlice eggs look like small grains of sand stuck to hair that can’t be brushed out: often found around the ears and back of the neck.   Intense itch sometimes, kids often scratch at their hair.   Scratching can cause sores to develop on the scalp.  Often causes redness, swelling scalp.       What do you do about them?   Two things:   You need to kill the live adult insects using a special shampoo and get rid of the eggs stuck to the hair.   Use head lice shampoo ‘Dimethicone’ twice, one week apart. It’s not an insecticide, it suffocates the live head lice.   You then have to comb out the eggs stuck to the hair, so they don’t hatch.   A few times every day for 1-2 weeks: use a fine-tooth nit comb, wet comb with the conditioner and comb till no eggs coming free.       Any other things to think about?   If one child gets infected in the family, check the rest of family and treat with shampoo on the same day.   Tell your school – school outbreaks are common.   It’s difficult to prevent.  Never ever use fly spray or kerosene (sometimes promoted): dangerous!     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More robotaxis are headed to the streets   Tesla is starting a robotaxi service in Austin in June. They'll be fully autonomous, with no human driver behind the wheel. As far as we know, these will be standard Teslas using just cameras to understand their surroundings. That's unlike Waymo and others which use Lidar radar technology.   Tesla has been testing out the full driverless function in San Francisco, but with a safety driver behind the wheel. They’ve also enabled self-driving at the Tesla factory so when a car is complete it drives itself to the loading dock. Sims & Sims 2 are being re-released   To celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary, the two games are being re-released. If you want to dive into some nostalgia, Windows 10 and 11 users can download from Electronic Arts or Steam. No love for Mac users though.   Did you know there's a Sims movie in the works? No release date yet, but it's expected sometime this year. Mark Zuckerberg is annoyed by leaks   Facebook/Meta has typically been very open with staff hosting Q&As at regular Town Halls, often giving unscripted and unfiltered thoughts and observations. But Mark is watching what he says now because the leaks are being too frequent. Their head of security said in a leaked memo that they will fire staffers who leak.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paradise   A security service team is tasked with safeguarding a former president (Disney+).     Rogue Heroes   During World War II, eccentric young officer David Stirling is hospitalised in Cairo after a training exercise accident. Bored, he starts thinking that the accepted war methods are wrong and hits on a radical plan. He fights for permission to recruit the toughest, boldest and brightest soldiers for a small undercover unit that will create mayhem behind enemy lines. More rebels than soldiers, Stirling's team are every bit as complicated, flawed and reckless as they are astonishingly brave and heroic (TVNZ+).     The Recruit  A fledgling CIA lawyer gets caught up in a dangerous game of international politics when a former asset threatens to expose the nature of her relationship with the agency unless they clear her name (Netflix).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When NZ green beans are in season, I love to make this salad to have on standby to have with everything! It’s divine and whilst canned beans work just fine, if you go the extra mile and cook your beans from scratch you won’t be sorry.   Makes 5-6 cups       Ingredients  Salad   2 cups sliced green beans    3 cups soaked and cooked beans (or use canned)    ½ red onion, sliced very thinly   1 cup diced red, green or yellow capsicum   ½ cup diced cucumber, skin on   ½ teaspoon sea salt    ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper      Dressing    ¾ cup sugar — any will do, I use white!   1 cup apple cider vinegar   ¼ cup olive oil     Method  Lightly cook the green beans by pouring boiling water over them and leaving them to sit.   Simmer the dressing ingredients together until the sugar has dissolved then set aside to cool.    Toss all the salad ingredients in a big bowl or container, pour over dressing and chill until ready to eat.    It will last for at least a week in the fridge, and you can keep adding to it as vegetables come to hand or out of the garden!       Nici's Note You can use canned beans, if you wish, though they tend to be mushier than I like — but they are irresistibly convenient!     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Babygirl  A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern.     You’re Cordially Invited  A woman planning her sister's ideal wedding and the father of a bride-to-be discover their destination weddings at a remote resort are double-booked. When both parties decide to share the small venue, chaos ensues and disaster awaits.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump’s wasting no time, we can be sure of that. Whether it’s his executive orders, Greenland, or his extraordinary Cabinet appointments, the President’s strategy in office is obviously to move quickly, to flood the zone. For his opponents, there is just so much to be outraged about they simply can’t keep up.     Of the many crazy things to observe, RFK Jnr’s confirmation hearing this week has been a standout for me. Obviously, the guy is wacky and unconventional but having someone with his history of campaigning against vaccines in such an important public health role is extraordinary, even by Trumpian standards. Potentially dangerous, for sure.    But I don’t want to talk about vaccines, I want to talk about food. Because despite his unconventional persona, despite how much I disagree with things he’s said about vaccines and actions he’s taken in the past, not everything about RFK’s health philosophy should be discounted. Not everything’s loopy. When it comes to his attitude towards ultra-processed foods and America’s big-food industry, I’m 100% on Kennedy’s side.   In a nutshell, he reckons America’s ultra-processed food industry is making Americans less healthy. The combination of processing, the use of artificial, engineered ingredients, factory farming, and excess sugar has contributed to alarming health outcomes.   And honestly, I agree.    Speaking personally, I think I might have first adopted a food philosophy of sorts when reading Michael Pollen – he of the simplest food rules (‘Eat Food, mainly plants, not too much). But for a long time now, my personal philosophy on food is the more it’s been processed, the more it’s been tinkered with and optimised and engineered, the more numbers it has for ingredients, the worse it probably is for your health.    Don’t get me wrong – I love a bit of junk food. But life’s too short to only eat numbers. I’d much rather have a big wedge of carrot cake or a slab of ginger crunch from a fancy café than a junk food that comes in a package. I’d rather have a pizza from an independent pizza place or an Uncle Man’s Malaysian laksa than a large combo and a Coke from one of the big chains. I know they’ve made big efforts to improve their offerings, but speaking personally, it’s almost 18 years since I had anything from the likes of McDonalds, BK and KFC etc. I doubt I’ll ever eat that stuff again in my life.    In America, of course, it’s much worse. Everything is processed. Everything comes in a packet. Every aisle at the supermarket is a middle aisle. I’ll never forget when a Kiwi mate came home for a month over summer and accidentally left a bag of bread in the pantry of his New York apartment while he was overseas. He returned after four or five weeks, expecting to find a writhing blob of blue penicillin in his pantry, only to discover a bag of bread without a single spore of mould, anywhere. Yeesh, we wondered, if that bread can survive a month in a warm cupboard, what’s it doing to us?     And yet on average, despite spending twice as much on healthcare per capita than other large, wealthy countries, life expectancy in the U.S is five years lower. Bananas, eh? They spend twice as much per-person, only to live five years less.    We can’t pin it all on ultra-processed foods, but diet certainly plays a role.    About half of the trillion US dollar supermarket industry is ultra-processed food. That’s about NZ$850 billion every year.   If RFK Jnr is confirmed and can break through some of the vested interests that underpin that industry, honestly, all power to him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 years ago, David Gray was renowned for how famous he wasn’t.   He had a cult of fans and listeners hooked on his sincerity and plainspokenness – but he hadn’t quite broken into the mainstream.    And then came his career-making album White Ladder, recorded in his home and going on to become one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century so far.   His lasting success has led him to the release of his 13th album Dear Life.   The album is heavily influenced by themes of mortality, which Gray says have been present in his writing and works since the death of his father.  “I was up close and watched him die, and that changes your perspective on things,” he told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame.  “Just like watching one of your children being born – it's a privilege to be there.”   “Obviously when you see the sort of parentheses that hold our fragile little lives, you reassess everything.”  Gray also cites the western obsession with agelessness and anti-aging as an influence, as well as the deaths caused by Covid-19.  “This all I ambiently fed in, I think to probably my natural inclinations.”  The songs in ‘Dear Life’ are very direct, Gray says, explaining that they were “born standing up” and ready to go.  “They’re not cutting any strange angles away, they’re not hiding themselves,” he told Tame.  “That’s not to say that they don’t play games within that fixed gaze... there’s a lot of humour, there’s a lot of delicacy.”  “But it was just such a pleasure to write.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Released early January 2025, ‘The Human Fear’ is Franz Ferdinand’s sixth studio album, focusing on the concept of “searching for the thrill of being human via fears" as described by frontman Alex Kapranos.   The album touches on fears such as social isolation, the fear of leaving an institution, and fear of staying or leaving a relationship.   Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the album.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nemesis by Greg Hurwitz   Evan Smoak is a lone wolf operator. It goes with the territory for a former off-the-books government assassin. He certainly can't afford to go up against one of the few people he likes and trusts in this world. But Tommy Stojack, a gifted armorer and gunsmith whom Evan relies on, has crossed a line. And when Evan confronts him, instead of clearing up a deadly disagreement, he comes under attack. Now it's war. Tommy's got problems of his own though. He promised a dying comrade that he'd be there for the man's son and now the boy's in a world of trouble. The very last thing Tommy needs is Evan showing up with vengeance on his mind. The scary thing? Evan isn't even the most dangerous threat to arrive on the scene . . .    The Crash by Frieda McFadden   The nightmare she's running from is nothing compared to where she's headed. Tegan is eight months pregnant, alone, and desperately wants to put her crumbling life in the rearview mirror. So she hits the road, planning to stay with her brother until she can figure out her next move. But she doesn't realize she's heading straight into a blizzard. She never arrives at her destination. Stranded in rural Maine with a dead car and broken ankle, Tegan worries she's made a terrible mistake. Then a miracle occurs- she is rescued by a couple who offers her a room in their warm cabin until the snow clears. But something isn't right.   Tegan believed she was waiting out the storm, but as time ticks by, she comes to realize she is in grave danger. This safe haven isn't what she thought it was, and staying here may have been her most deadly mistake yet. And now she must do whatever it takes to save herself-and her unborn child.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the summer break Mike Yardley took advantage of the gorgeous weather to take a trip to the South Island’s Tasman Bay.  He joined Jack Tame for a chat about his family holiday in the south, visiting sun-drenched spots like Kaiteriteri, Motueka, Mapua, and hitting the pedals on the Great Taste Trail.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the school year kicking in soon, the time has come to complete the costly task of back-to-school shopping. Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall has a few tips on picking sustainable options that could save you some money.    Start at Home    Use unfinished exercise books by removing used pages and calling it new.  Deep clean old lunch boxes, sharpen short pencils, and repair cracked rulers.  Embrace resourcefulness - clever parenting and saves money!      Treasure Hunt for Supplies    Before you visit a store, turn finding existing school supplies into a fun game with the kids. Ask school leaver families if they have leftover supplies, or share your extras with others.     Shop Second-Hand    Explore second-hand stores for pens, pencils, books, and folders. Unique and vintage stationery can often be found here. Shop at places like All Heart Store who have high-quality second-hand stationery and office supplies - second hand and supporting an amazing charity.      Ditch the Plastic    Avoid plastic adhesive covers; try reusable options like DIY fabric covers.     Opt for Sustainable lunchware    Invest in eco-friendly options like Bento Ninja’s stainless steel lunch boxes with dividers to minimize single-use packaging.     Challenge the “New Only” mentality Push back against the stigma around second-hand school supplies – value doesn’t decrease with use.  Cover books with fun, second-hand fabric and embrace vintage stationery for a unique touch.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our holiday on the West Coast of the South Island (Punakaiki) was just what we needed – weather in Christchurch was cold and wet, but on the West Coast sunny and warm.   I re-discovered a tree I have missed since leaving Auckland 14 years ago: Rhopalostylis sapida is its name. Gardeners know it as the Nikau Palm.  There are two species in the New Zealand Territories: R sapida is the common Nikau in North Island and South Island, occurring mostly on the coast from Okarito in the West and Banks Peninsula in the East.  It also occurs on Chatham Island and Pitt Island and the variety that grow there is a lot more elegant, especially in the younger form: the fronds (leaves) have a more drooping attitude, a bit like the traditional palms in the tropics. I reckon we should have a taxonomic discussion about its identity (a different species?).   The Nikau on the offshore Islands of the Hauraki Gulf show a similar elegance (Little Barrier, Great Barrier etc etc). I must say: I prefer those drooping forms over the tightly growing leaves pointing towards the sky.    Flowering takes place in Spring and Summer and the colours are wonderful.   The seeds that are formed a year later are one of the Kereru’s favourite snacks. These birds’ ecosystem service is to disperse the seeds through the forests – a lovely job!  So… if you find Nikau seeds and want to have a go at germinating them: chuck them in water for a few days and take out the seeds; the flesh is easy to remove. Plant the seeds in good seed-raising mix (or even in a plastic bag!) until they germinate. Plant them in tall pots – keep them in shade.    When they start to grow (My goodness… they are slow!) ensure that you give the palm’s roots some space. When transplanting be careful not to damage the roots, especially the tap root!   The second Native species in New Zealand occurs in Raoul Island (Kermadec Islands group). Its scientific name is Rhopalostylis baueri. This is a gorgeous form with large leaves and beautiful drooping habits. They are great to grow in large containers. I found some of these baueri (often called Rhopalostylis baueri var cheesemanii) as Christmas present for my local gardener at home.   It’s one of those finds that fills a space in my heart too and it gives us a few years of “advantage” to get that beauty growing. Plant in shade, out of frost sites and be very careful with the roots.   In Punakaiki I learned exactly how much that time advantage is:   Nikau take about 40 years to start forming a trunk   They can grow to 15 meters tall   Have “rings” around their trunk where old leaves were attached, so you can more-or-less guess how old the tree is: two or three rings per year Do the Maths!   Too slow? Sorry to hear that.  LEAVE YOUR LEGACY! IT’S WORTH IT  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 25th January 2025, legendary singer songwriter David Gray tells Jack how mortality and relationships inspired his new album ‘Dear Life’.  Jack spent his summer holidays tramping in the backcountry, he reflects on the solitude and lack of connectivity in the bush and whether that will last as technology improves.  Cameron Diaz has released her first movie in a decade, Francessca Rudkin reviews her comeback film.  Open AI can now complete tasks for you - only catch is a pretty hefty price tag. Tech commentator Paul Stenhouse has all the details.  And Ethically Kate, Kate Hall has some sustainable back to school tips.  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.

BOB’S BEST BUYS   Wine: Balvonie Prosecco, Marlborough $34.59   Why I chose it:  It is the only Kiwi Prosecco I know of  Prosecco may be the world’s most popular sparkling wine  100% Glera   A popular style, everyone loves Prosecco   A perfect summer wine   Have a Prosecco tasting and compare it with Australian and Italian Prosecco   What does it taste like?     An attractive, creamy sparkling wine with an appealing mellow freshness and restrained mousse. An initial marmite-like yeastiness faded quickly leaving a clean, mouth-cleansing sensation in its place. It could easily be mistaken for an Italian Prosecco.   Why it’s a bargain:   It’s not cheap but it is good and certainly worth the price.   Where can you buy it?   On the Balvonie website.    Food Match:   It's versatile, good with most seafood.   Will it Keep?   Drink up.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OpenAI's latest tool can complete tasks for you.  The biggest thing is that the operator can take actions for you using its 'computer vision'. Basically, it takes screenshots of the webpage, then can click with its virtual mouse and keyboard to complete things, like book a flight, or a restaurant. It's a big step forward because traditionally to do these things you needed to use APIs - structured data messages with explicit details. Now you can write a sentence and the AI will just do it. No preparation needed.    Excited? Well, it's available now, but only for those with the $200-a-month ChatGPT Pro service.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Severance  Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and personal lives; when a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, it begins a journey to discover the truth about their jobs. Season 2 has just been released (Apple TV+). The Night Agent  While monitoring an emergency line, an FBI agent answers a call that plunges him into a deadly conspiracy involving a mole at the White House. The second season released earlier this week (Netflix).   Karen Pirie  After the promotion to Police Scotland's Historic Cases Unit, Karen Pirie reopens the cold case of a murdered barmaid. Her investigation unearths flaws in the original 1995 inquiry (Neon).      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An MC is responsible for ensuring an evening runs smoothly, keeping everything in line and keeping the guests entertained amid the various speakers and events.  However, there’s one line commonly said by the MC that Kevin Milne wishes they’d do away with.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in Action  Fifteen years after vanishing from the CIA to start a family, elite spies Matt and Emily jump back into the world of espionage when their cover is blown (Netflix).    We Live in Time  Almut and Tobias are brought together in a surprise encounter that changes their lives. Through snapshots of their life together —falling for each other, building a home, becoming a family— a difficult truth is revealed that rocks its foundation.   As they embark on a path challenged by the limits of time, they learn to cherish each moment of the unconventional route their love story has taken, in filmmaker John Crowley's decade-spanning, deeply moving romance (in cinemas).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.