Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Buying shares at the bottom of the market isn’t all it's cracked up to be. Instead, Ed McKnight offers a few ideas on what to do instead.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jennie is emerging from BLACKPINK’s shadow, with the release of her debut album as a solo K-pop artist ‘Ruby’.  While she’s known as a rapper in the industry, Ruby showcases her talent as a vocalist, with lush R&B infused tracks showing off the full range of her voice.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to share her thoughts on Jennie’s debut album.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"As much as hospitality can be a fluid and fickle industry with a lot of churn, it’s fair to say that Wellington has been buffeted by some tough times lately. Business closures have been tough on the capital’s self-confidence over the past 12 months, particularly when some legendary establishments have also ended up closing their doors.  "But I was encouraged to detect a clear upswing in morale amongst a swag of bar and restaurant operators, as I struck out on an urban food safari recently. With over 400 restaurants competing for your affection, the treasury of culinary temptations is phenomenal." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nesting by Roisin O’Donnell    On a bright spring afternoon in Dublin, Ciara Fay makes a split-second decision that will change her life. Grabbing an armful of clothes from the washing line, Ciara straps her two young daughters into her car and drives away. Head spinning, all she knows for certain is that home is no longer safe.  It was meant to be an escape. But with dwindling savings, no job, and her family across the sea, Ciara finds herself adrift, facing a broken housing system and the voice of her own demons. As summer passes and winter closes in, she must navigate raising her children in a hotel room, searching for a new home and dealing with her husband Ryan's relentless campaign to get her to come back.  Because leaving is one thing, but staying away is another.     One Hundred Years of Betty by Debra Oswald   Meet Betty: storyteller, feminist, eternally curious and phenomenally old. On the eve of her hundredth birthday party, Betty tells us her story.  Born into poverty in pre-war London, and growing up fast during the Blitz, Betty grabs the chance at a bigger life by migrating to Australia. On board the SS Asturias she meets three people who will influence the course of her life—Pearl, a good-hearted party girl; Athena, a Greek woman on her way to marry a man she has never met; and Leo, a German Jew who lost his family in the war.  In Sydney, Betty is making ends meet as a waitress at the famous Trocadero dance hall when she stumbles into a rushed courtship with Donald, a wealthy businessman, and dedicates herself to being the ideal 1950s suburban housewife. But life has other plans for Betty, and soon she must find a way to do more than survive.  Set against a century of world events and social upheavals, Betty takes us to the frontlines of the anti-war protests and the women's liberation movement of the 1970s, to the AIDS crisis during the 1980s, to Mexico and eventually becomes a TV screenwriter. Even in her nineties, Betty is still passionately engaged with the world, still surprising us.  From the creator of Offspring and bestselling author of The Family Doctor, One Hundred Years of Betty is the saga of a strong, intelligent woman born too early in time to make the most of her talents without having to fight for everything. It's about the defining force of motherhood, the family we make, and how the determination to live to the hilt, with all the joy and sorrow that entails, can lead to a life beyond one's wildest imaginings.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It can be hard these days to know if you’re buying from ethical sources, with drop shipping, exploitation, and cheap labour all common in the business world.   Kate Hall has cultivated a list of questions to ask brands before you give them your hard earned dollar, and, if you don’t have time to do it yourself, her Ethical Directory is filled with brands she’s already vetted.  Questions  Where are all your products/materials sourced from and how are they produced? (details of each material type if there are multiple)? - E.g. countries, certifications, including swing tags, packaging etc.   Where do your products end up at the end of their life?  How can they be recycled and kept in the resource loop?   How are your products shipped to customers?  e.g. packaging and carbon neutral shipping.   What is the NZ shipping cost  & where in the world do you ship?   Who makes your products?  (as specific as possible please)   How do you ensure  the people who make your products are paid a fair wage?   Aside from the people who make your products,  Tell me about your team culture and how your head office/staff are treated. E.g. living wages, bonuses, staff wellbeing.   What do you do with  returns/samples/unsellable items?   How do you foster diversity and equity in your business?  practical examples please. e.g. diversity of models/staff etc.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 22 March 2025, screen legend Lucy Lawless joins Jack to discuss her switch from acting to directing with a new documentary about lesser known tv legend, Margaret Moth.  Jack discusses when Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is at his best.  Estelle Clifford schools Jack on the world of Korean pop music.  Apple is under fire for its Apple Intelligence advertisements, as predicted last week by tech expert Paul Stenhouse.  And sustainability queen Kate Hall shares tips on how to ask brands about their ethical practices.  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 couple of weeks ago our Kiwi Trust (Save the Kiwi) visited Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari (Waikato) – not just for a board meeting, but to see how a modern-day “muster” and translocation looks these days.   It reminded me of a restoration exercise in a huge garden!   Imagine having a sizeable territory of pretty cool forest, surrounded by a predator-proof fence. We’re talking about 3400 Hectares of safe habitat for all sorts of New Zealand Native/endemic species from a couple of Kakapo to Takahe, stitchbird and saddleback as well as noisy kaka.   And oh yes, there are more than 2000 North Island (Western) Brown Kiwi thriving in there as well.   Thriving is the operative word.   It certainly didn’t always go that well in the past: the decline of North Island Brown Kiwi was about 2% per year, which triggered the then Prime Minister John Key suggest we should have a go at turning -2% into +2%.   John MacLennan (Scientist and Trustee of Save the Kiwi) came up with the concept of Kohanga Kiwi.  Imagine allowing a heap of kiwi to “do their thing” in such a forest and use that “Kohanga Kiwi” as a Nursery from which we can “harvest” plenty of birds to translocate to predator-controlled areas elsewhere – Capital Kiwi (Wellington), Tongariro Forest, Taranaki Mounga. Last year 222 birds were shifted to new and safe habitats in the North Island.   This year it looks like there will be even more travellers in the Kohanga Kaupapa!   Birds are caught during the day and at night with highly trained, muzzled kiwi dogs. The birds are tagged by bands or transponders, weighed and health-checked, before kept in a smaller forest enclosure. A day or so later, the birds are transported to their final destination: a forest that is protected from predators.   The cool thing is that this Maungatautari Muster is taking place in the forest and in the local Pukeatua Primary school (Handy to have a spare classroom to assist in the kaupapa!).  The kids follow what’s happening with the Scientists and volunteers who catch the birds. They record the sizes, the weights, the age, and whether the birds are male or female. They also observe the health checks and note everything down on their own observation sheets.   My goodness! I wish I was at such a primary school when I grew up, learning about the operations Manual of the Planet and how to restore our Ecological systems.  HQ of Maungatautari Muster 2025   Kiwi out of forest and back to school   Kiwi health check. Photo / Kim McGuire and the Maungatautari team  This photo is a really good example of female vs male. Gaia (left) is holding a sub adult female and Steven (right) a sub adult male. Both weigh just a little over 1.8kg, and yet you can see they carry that weight differently. The female has a longer body, flatter head, larger feet and curved bill. The male is a smaller bird, has a rounded head and much shorter body and smaller feet.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Residence    Cordelia Cupp, an eccentric detective, arrives at the White House in order to solve a murder which happened during a state dinner (Netflix). Good American Family  A couple adopts who they believe is an 8-year-old girl with a rare form of dwarfism, but questions soon arise concerning the actual identity of the adoptee (Disney+). The Leftovers   Three years ago, two percent of the global population disappeared without a trace. Now, 'the leftovers' in the small town of Mapleton try to move on with their lives in the wake of this inexplicable event (3 seasons, Neon).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple has been sued for false advertising over Apple Intelligence   As we predicted just last week, Apple has been sued in federal court, saying the features they were promised haven’t been delivered. The complaint says people would have reasonably expected the transformative features, but the delivery has been misleading.   One ad showed Game of Thrones and Last of Us actress Bella Ramsey asking Siri for the name of someone they had dinner with at a specific restaurant – capabilities Siri doesn’t have.     Google says news is worthless to their ad business   They ran an experiment in eight European countries, removing all news results for 1% of the audience, for 2.5 months. What happened? Zero impact on their business.   In an absolutely brutal statement, they said the value “could not be statistically distinguished from zero”. There are laws in the EU which forces Google to pay news publishers to use snippets of content in their results.   This study will no doubt give Google leverage in future negotiations - based on this study, it seems the news business needs Google more than it needs news.     TikTok’s ‘chubby filter’ has been removed   Instead of adding makeup or glam, fun vintage effects, or cartoon scenes, this filter added a few pounds. People started posting their “before and after” pictures, with some posting how surprised how good they looked when they were a little heavier. That didn’t go down well.    TikTok says they have removed the filter uploaded by one of its sister companies and will not be recommending the videos in its algorithm.        LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

House flies seem to be making a comeback after a quiet summer, and Kevin Milne has been wondering why you can never seem to catch the pesky insects.  He did a bit of research, and it turns out their reaction time and flying speed is much more than we can keep up with.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These little fritters are just the thing to make before corn disappears for another year and cherry tomatoes are still around for a bit longer too. Sometimes called hush puppies, they’re puffier than usual fritters, crispy and soft. Watch that the corn in them doesn’t leap out and bite you!    Make 6-8      Ingredients   1 large egg    3 tablespoons plain flour    ½ teaspoon baking powder   ½ teaspoon salt and pinch pepper    1 cup corn kernels    100g cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered    1 tsp cumin seeds   Small handful fresh coriander, chopped    Splash of iced water as needed   Cooking oil for shallow frying    3 tablespoons sour cream to serve   Pinch chilli powder to serve    Lime wedges to serve       Method  In a bowl whisk together the egg, flour, baking powder and salt and pepper. Stir in the corn, tomatoes, cumin and coriander until combined to a thick, chunky batter. Add a little iced water if it seems too stiff.    Heat enough oil in a small pan or saucepan to be able to shallow fry tablespoonfuls of the batter until golden brown. Cook in batches.    Mix chilli with sour cream and serve with fritters.       Variations Replace cumin with grated lemongrass.   Add 2 rashers of chopped bacon or ham.   Replace cumin with chopped basil or oregano and shower with grated parmesan to serve.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Firebrand  In Tudor England, Katherine Parr reluctantly agrees to become the sixth wife of the tyrannical King Henry VIII. Her consent to marry him carries great personal risk, given her predecessors are either vanquished, beheaded or dead. Perceived as a threat by Henry's courtiers, they start to cast doubts about her fidelity and turn the increasingly paranoid king against her.      The Electric State  An orphaned teen hits the road with a mysterious robot to find her long-lost brother, teaming up with a smuggler and his wisecracking sidekick.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite the polls, I reckon the last two weeks have been among the best for Christopher Luxon in his time as Prime Minister.   Sure, the numbers aren’t showing him and his government much love. School lunches still have their issues and the Treaty Principles episode is far from over, but at a time when Luxon faces significant pressure on the domestic front and a pretty grumpy voting public, you can’t deny his efforts at the Infrastructure Investment Summit and in India represent a full-court press in the government’s push for economic growth.    I know we don’t have big tangibles yet. I know we don’t yet have a Free Trade Deal. I know that if we do get one negotiated and signed, our biggest primary export sector may end up with very little. But at a time when most of us are feeling really glum about the economy (despite this week’s GDP figures), when unemployment continues to rise, and when our second-biggest trading partner and world’s biggest economy is being led by an erratic and highly-unpredictable President, the welcome that Luxon and his delegation received in India and the resumption of negotiations were meaningful. Sure, it’s a stretch to think get a comprehensive deal signed in the next 18 months, but you can’t argue we’re not in a better position today than we were when Luxon took over.    It’s my view that on several occasions as National’s leader, the Prime Minister has suffered from having a bad political radar. I think he’s made some misjudgements that perhaps MPs with more political experience would have been able to avoid. But of his many public-facing responsibilities, I think he’s probably at his best when he’s alongside international business and political leaders in salesman mode as it were, hustling.    I was at APEC in Peru with him last year. It was the same. The PM flew in and flew out.  The time zone was a dog. He was only the ground for about 48 hours. There were breakfasts and dinners, official meetings, multiple bilaterals all across town and twenty different leaders to meet. I just remember that when he landed, before he even went to his hotel or had a shower, after 17 or 18 hours in the air, Luxon insisted on swinging past the Australian delegation from an impromptu visit to Anthony Albanese. By anyone’s measure, it was a gruelling schedule with no down time, and Luxon always had to be ‘on’. And I asked him just before he flew home how he was feeling.   ‘You must be exhausted?’ I said.    Honestly, it was as though the possibility had never crossed his mind.    ‘Huh?’ He said.    ‘No... I love this!’ he said. I believed him.    There are plenty of levers governments can pull that impact economic conditions. This government’s critics will argue that a part of New Zealand’s current economic malaise is the result of its policies. Nonetheless, at a time when the world’s biggest superpower is spraying around tariffs and speedily retreating from its traditional international role, I do think there’s value —symbolic or otherwise— in a Prime Minister overtly hustling for his country. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone has heard a Train song.  Their signature blend of rock and pop was a staple of the 2000’s - the band winning multiple Grammy Awards and selling more than 10 million albums worldwide.  They’re most well-known for ‘Drops of Jupiter’ and the iconic ‘Hey, Soul Sister’.  Train has recently celebrated their 30th anniversary, and are making their way down under to tour New Zealand and Australia.  Frontman Pat Monahan told Jack Tame he’s very excited to be coming back to our shores.  “I think it’s been too many years.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Grid: The Inside Track on Formula 1 by Luke Smith   I've always vowed the moment the grid stops being the best part of my race weekend, it's time to stop working in F1. It's everything about the sport distilled: the sounds, the smells, the tension, the glamor, the people. This is the story of life in F1.   Luke Smith has spent over ten years reporting on Formula 1 from all over the world. The grid is his playground, the track his literal running track. In On the Grid he takes us behind the scenes of the past, present and future of Formula 1, telling its story through the eyes of the people who create it - not just the superstar drivers and larger-than-life team principals, but also the pit crew, the engineers, strategists, PR gurus, the fans and more.   There's plenty of thrilling drama, cutting-edge technology and glamour, but Smith also shows us the critical mid-race decisions, how that 50-pence screw in the wrong place could cause a GBP15m car to break down, how F1 has influenced not just the cars we drive but our fridges, life-saving medical equipment and even croissants.   On the Grid brings to life what the sport is really like, revealing the extraordinary minds and characters that give it such colour and intrigue, while also tracing the origins of the sport's traditions and impact beyond the track. For both long-time fans and newcomers, it's the definitive, access-all-areas account of the people, personalities and culture that make F1 stand alone in world sport.     Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin   From her first words to her first day at school, Little Alien can't help but get things wrong. She doesn't understand the world the way others seem to, and the world doesn't seem to understand her either. Her anxious mum and meticulous dad, while well-intentioned, are of little help.   But when Little Alien sees a documentary about the Voynich Manuscript - a mediaeval codex written in an unknown language and script - she begins to suspect that there are other people who feel just like her. Convinced that translating this manuscript will offer the answers she needs, she sets out on a journey that will show her a delicious taste of freedom.   So begins Little Alien's story, told from the perspective of an older, wiser linguist, whose guidance will help Little Alien navigate a world that makes her feel like she doesn't belong.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The era is coming to an end for Shihad as they perform one last time tonight at Wellington’s final Homegrown festival.  The iconic Kiwi rockband has been performing since 1988, but frontman Jon Toogood says they’ve been thinking about bringing it to an end for a while.  Chris Schulz attended their final Auckland concert last night, as well as their special show at the Powerstation on Wednesday, and has a few thoughts to share.  For more of Chris’ thoughts, click here.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"In a city awash with world-class hiking and biking trails, plus geothermal spectacles, it doesn’t take long to work up an appetite amid the sizzle of Rotorua. There are dining temptations aplenty, but here’s some tried-and-true belly-pleasers that I’d strongly suggest you reserve some stomach room for." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having children is a rewarding experience for many, but it also takes a lot of time and energy.  It can be very time consuming, and often leaves parents feeling exhausted, with little time for themselves. And what little time they do get, some parents may feel they’re being selfish.  New research shows that mothers who took time out from work and childcare to do things that were fun and pleasurable felt higher levels of vitality – feeling more alert and energised.  Dougal Sutherland has a few takeaways from this study:  It’s important for parents to have some me-time – this is more than just having time out; it’s actively doing something for fun and pleasure in life   It’s not selfish, it helps them to function better   Given the positive impact mothers’ me-time has on fathers, it’s actually something that benefits others too, so no need to feel guilty about it – and even if you do, go ahead and do it anyway as it will still work  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 15 March 2025, Train's frontman Pat Monahan tells the story of writing pop-hit ‘Hey, Soul Sister’ ahead of the band's show in New Zealand.  Jack discusses a forceful, coordinated international response to Trump's tariffs.   Formula 1 fans are in for a huge weekend with Liam Lawson racing in Melbourne. To fill downtime between qualifications and the big race, check out the new Drive to Survive season - Tara Ward discusses how the sport documentary series can't be matched.  And, Catherine Raynes discusses the brand-new book from F1 chaser Luke Smith.  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 few months ago, we chatted about the bumblebee project started at Tekapo School. The kids and teachers created some raised beds full of flowers that attract bumblebees.   We have four species here in Aotearoa. The big ones (Buff-tailed bumblebee) are the most common species and also the best pollinators we’ve got (kiwifruit, melons, blueberries, broad beans, etc). These insects are so important in our gardens!   For me they are the crucial pollinators on my tomatoes (and capsicums) in the tunnel house. The irony is that tomatoes do not produce nectar (to attract pollinators), instead bumble bees are lured to tomatoes for the pollen they can dislodge by vibrating the flowers (a buzz-movement!).  You could also pollinate your tomatoes by using an electric toothbrush that shakes the tomato flowers, but to be honest, I can’t be bothered with that.  Buzzing is achieved by vibrating the thoracic muscles very fast while leaving the wings in “neutral”. That same trick allows the hibernating queens to warm themselves up on the coldest mornings of winter.   Bumblebees are different from Honeybees in a number of aspects: they do not have a “hive” and don’t gather a lot of nectar. Their colony is usually small (≈100-150 individuals), and last no more than one summer. That’s it!   Now is the crucial time for the colony to look after the bumbles’ next generation: you see the Gynes (next generation queens) mating with male bumblebees. The fertilised queens will then look for a suitable place to hibernate – a place that could become the nest site for next spring: dry and dark and able to be excavated.   The kids at Tekapo school are inserting small holes in the steep banks around the playing field. Alternatively, they make some small wooden “nest sites” in sheltered areas, hoping that the fertilised queens use those as their winter abode.   I reckon that gardeners could create suitable holes like that to attract these pollinators – under a tree trunk, in deep, dry mulch at the base of a sheltering tree.   I am trialling a wooden bumblebee box in the shade of trees and shrubs; inside that box is a heap of botanical material from an old mouse-nest. I was told that the overwintering bumblebees seem to love the small of that old mouse nest and their poos. I suppose that’s the way they find their shelter sites in Nature too.    And here’s hoping I get a new colony of bumblebees in the garden before winter, so that the queen boss can raise my pollinators for spring this year…   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pope Francis has spent a month in hospital, struggling with bilateral pneumonia – but what exactly is this infection?    What is pneumonia?   It’s a serious infection of the lungs.   Bacteria and virus (or even a fungus) lodge themselves down in the lungs and cause an infection.   It’s often at the base of one or both lungs.   The body reacts to the bacteria or virus, causing a reaction to get rid of the infection, resulting in inflamed lung tissue with fluid or pus.       What are the causes and how do we know we have pneumonia?   There are two basic types: community acquired, and hospital acquired (hospitals are dangerous places for infections!).  Risk factors: a weakened immune system, which could be a result of age, a chronic illness like diabetes, asthma, some medications, smoking, or admittance to a hospital.   Viruses such as influenza, Covid, and RSV can cause pneumonia, which is why they are dangerous.   Main symptoms (can be sudden onset): cough, bringing up phlegm, fever/chills, chest pain, feeling short of breath.      How do we treat pneumonia?   It depends on the type.   It’s often community acquired and is diagnosed on exam with a chest Xray.   Treatment includes antibiotics, fluids, rest, paracetamol. If it’s severe and you have difficulty breathing – go to the hospital.   If it’s caused by a virus (influenza or Covid), it’s occasionally treated with an anti-viral medication, however, often paracetamol, fluids, rest are used. Some can end up in hospital with oxygen, or if severe, a ventilator till it gets better.       How do we prevent pneumonia?   This is a reason why vaccination so important, preventing things like influenza, Covid, pneumococcal.   Quit smoking.  A healthy immune system: eat a balanced diet, regular exercise, mange diabetes, or asthma.     If you’re short of breath with a temperature, see your doctor!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple Intelligence's most exciting features aren't coming anytime soon   At their developer conference last year, Apple showed off a Siri that can dive into your personal data and understand more about your life than ever before (“What time is Mom's flight arriving?"). But that type of personalisation is hard to deliver, and Apple now admits that.   "It’s going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features, and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year.”   They have delivered email, message, and notification summaries (which can sometimes be hilariously summarised), but they haven't delivered on the big headline grabbing features.   This is bringing back the bad memories from the launch of iCloud and Apple Maps – it just wasn't ready.     You'll soon be able to send encrypted messages between Androids & Apple   Apple will be implementing the new Rich Communication Services (RCS) message standard. It seems they're going all in on that now, after previously adopting it to allow things like high resolution images, emoji responses, etc. Interesting that this is happening, especially as the UK wants to ban encryption.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adolescence    A family's world turns upside down when 13-year-old Jamie Miller is arrested for murdering a schoolmate. The charges against their son force them to confront every parent's worst nightmare (Netflix). Dope Thief    Two lifelong friends pose as DEA agents to rob a house, only to have their small-time grift become a life-and-death enterprise, as they reveal and unravel a big hidden narcotics corridor on the Eastern Seaboard (Apple TV+). Formula 1: Drive to Survive The drivers, managers and team owners in Formula 1 live life in the fast lane -- both on and off the track. This docuseries gives viewers exclusive, intimate access to the people in one of the world's greatest racing competitions. Formula 1: Drive to Survive reveals the true story of the high-octane sport, which goes beyond the fight to be No. 1 (Netflix).  Season 6 released in late February.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No matter what age you are, you can always stumble across something that makes you feel old.   It’s Kevin Milne’s birthday next week, and he recently came across one such thing during a trip to his local mall: a bitcoin ATM.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Bag   When his beloved wife, Kathryn, is suspected of betraying the nation, intelligence agent George Woodhouse faces the ultimate test -- loyalty to his marriage or his country.     Hard Truths   Pansy, angry and depressed, lashes out at family and strangers. Her constant criticism isolates her, except from her cheerful sister Chantelle, who remains sympathetic despite their differences.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feijoas are in season! Soon we’ll be drowning in them, but for now they’re still a novelty and worthy of turning into something super special like these gorgeous little tarts.    Makes 12      Ingredients  2-3 sheets store-bought sweet short crust pastry    ¼ cup brown sugar   ½ cup milk   ½ cup sweetened condensed milk   1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract   60g melted butter   2 ½ cups desiccated coconut   2 tablespoons plain flour   1 teaspoon baking powder   12 slices of feijoa      Method  Preheat oven to 170 fan bake.    Lightly dust the work surface with flour and roll out the chilled pastry to a bit thinner than it comes. Using a cookie cutter, cut pastry into circles to line the holes of a 12-hole muffin tin.    In a bowl, whisk sugar, condensed milk, vanilla extract, melted butter and milk until smooth. Stir in coconut, flour and baking powder.    Spoon filling into the pastry. Top each with a slice of feijoa.    Bake in a preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until they turn golden brown and fully cooked. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes before removing from the muffin tin to cool completely.    Eat up! Or store in an airtight containing once cooled.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Canada will never be part of the United States!”   That was the defining line of Mark Carney’s first speech as Canada’s new Prime Minister overnight. It was not said in jest or as a joke. It said as a statement of firm defiance, a serious response to Donald Trump’s ‘51st State’ taunts.   I can’t think of a time in my life where so much in the World was changing so quickly, where so much we took for granted was being tipped on its head. I bet Mark Carney can’t either! Just a few weeks ago, his party was 25 points behind Canada’s Conservatives in the polls. He wasn’t even a politician! Now he’s Canada’s Prime Minister. There it is, I suppose... the power of Donald Trump.   It’s interesting how differently Mexico and Canada have approached the Trump Presidency. Mexico was kind of used to Trump’s hostility from his first term and its government has taken a softly-softly-gently-gently approach, delaying retaliation and hoping that negotiations will spare them the worst of the economic pressure. They’ve been surprisingly quiet. Canada’s opted for a much more combative response, from its big retaliatory tariffs to the ice hockey fans booing the US National Anthem, and the nationwide coordinated campaign not to buy American-made stuff.    The irony of Mark Carney’s rapid rise to Canadian Prime Minister is that his party’s support has come at the expense of a political opposition in Canada that was arguably much more closely aligned to the US Republicans and Donald Trump. It’s so ridiculous – Canada’s opposition leader has effectively been reduced to posting social media videos, insisting ‘Donald Trump hates me too!’   Fundamentally, no country is going to out-muscle the US in an economic fight. Not Canada, not Mexico, not Australia, and certainly not New Zealand. And I reckon what’s lacking at the moment is a more forceful, coordinated international response. Most countries are sucking up to Trump while keeping their heads down and hoping not to attract Trump’s ire. As Canada is bashed by tariffs, it seems absurd their King could possibly go ahead in welcoming Donald Trump to the UK for an official state visit.    Winston Peters is in Washington DC this week. From New Zealand’s perspective, I reckon there’s probably no better person for the job at this moment. And in those meetings, for now, we will no doubt continue to try and maintain a low profile.   That makes sense for now. You just have to hope that behind the scenes, like-minded countries are quietly coordinating on a longer-term strategy. Playing a small target game only makes sense until for whatever reason you do catch the President’s attention. It could be something so minor: a dumb tweet, a viral video, or an ill-advised comment from a diplomat. The temptation for leaders around the World is to shut up and hope their countries can slip by, unnoticed. But in the long term that’s no way to defeat a bully. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 8 March 2025, kiwi art legend Dick Frizzell shares his journey from Mickey to Tiki and back again, discussing his new memoir. Jack admits a new fixation. It's the season for sauces, chutneys and jams! Expert chef Nici Wickes talks all things bottling and jarring and a how-to for the perfect pear and sultana chutney. AI is advancing quickly and coming with a crazy cost - Paul Stenhouse gives the lowdown/.  Plus, sustainable queen Kate Hall has done the digging for us and reveals what's cheaper for fresh produce, the supermarket or local fruit and veg boxes? Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World famous in New Zealand, Dick Frizzell is a defining force in our art scene. You will know his work on Kiwiana icons like the Four Square man with moko and Mickey to Tiki. He has worked across many mediums and is about to release a memoir titled, Hastings: A Boy’s Own Adventure. Dick Frizzell joins Jack Tame to discuss his iconic work and upcoming book. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reviewers are saying Lady Gaga has dialed back to her purest form in new album ‘Mayhem’. The singer is drawing on the simplicity of her 2008 debut ‘The Fame’ that played with the idea of pop music. Estelle Clifford talks to Jack Tame about the new album. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dreamcount by Chiamanda Ngozi Adichie From award-winning author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists. Chiamaka is a Nigerian travel writer living in America. Alone in the midst of the pandemic, she recalls her past lovers and grapples with her choices and regrets. Zikora, her best friend, is a lawyer who has been successful at everything until — betrayed and brokenhearted — she must turn to the person she thought she needed least. Omelogor, Chiamaka’s bold, outspoken cousin, is a financial powerhouse in Nigeria who begins to question how well she knows herself. And Kadiatou, Chiamaka’s housekeeper, is proudly raising her daughter in America – but faces an unthinkable hardship that threatens all she has worked to achieve. In Dream Count, Adichie trains her fierce eye on these women in a sparkling, transcendent novel that takes up the very nature of love itself. Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow New from the author of Presumed Innocent, the #1 bestseller that redefined the legal thriller and is the basis for Apple TV+'s most-watched drama series ever (starring Jake Gyllenhaal). In Presumed Guilty, Rusty is a retired judge attempting a third act in life with a loving soon-to-be wife, Bea, with whom he shares both a restful home on an idyllic lake in the rural Midwest and a plaintive hope that this marriage will be his best, and his last.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The wondrous Ruapehu region never ceases to amaze me at its capacity to stir all senses, from its expansive platter of leisurely outdoorsy pursuits. It easily ranks as one of my all-time favourite playgrounds in New Zealand and I have revelled in its glories via a multitude of modes in recent years. I have savoured exceptional mountain bike trails, jet boating, quad biking and world-class hiking. Not to mention skiing. But in the autumn months, why not head to the heart of Tongariro National Park and take a ride to the summit of Ruapehu from Whakapapa village? The radiant Sky Waka, New Zealand’s longest gondola ride, fully warrants the stature as a signature Kiwi experience. I’ve always been in awe of the alpine engineering audacity of the Swiss – and the Sky Waka absolutely projects that same sense of spine-tingling prowess. Spanning 1.8km from the base station and zipping you up 390m, Whakapapa’s dramatically serrated volcanic landscape sweeps you up, as you gawp in wonder out of the glasshouse-like cabin, luxuriously appointed with heated leather seating! Situated at 2,020m above sea level, the cherry on top is Whakapapa Ski Area's Knoll Ridge Chalet which is New Zealand’s highest café.    As you gush superlatives over the horizon-searching views, it’s a novel perch to enjoy coffee from Pātaka, drinks in The Back Bar, or nosh in style while marvelling at the skyline from Knoll Ridge’s giant floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking The Pinnacles. I highly recommend “Tea at 2020m”, Whakapapa’s stirring take on traditional high tea. It’s actually considered the highest high tea on the planet, with a delectable tiered stand of sandwiches, savouries and cakes to work your way through. It’s currently available until the end of April, prior to the mountain’s seasonal switch to winter activities. After feasting on far too many tasty morsels,  the mountain trails were calling. There are over 10km of marked trails to strike out on, ranging from 20 minute strolls to 3 hours return alpine hikes. Without its snow-coat, it’s a compelling way to admire the dramatic terrain and its mash-up of volcanic rock, pumice, scoria and sand. Close to Chateau Tongariro, there’s a stack of tasty wee tracks. The Tawhai Falls walk is a heart-stealer, leading you through mountain toatoa and beech forest to a waterfall tumbling over the edge of an ancient lava flow. It’s one of two waterfalls used in Lord of the Rings that depicted Gollum fishing, hence its nickname is Gollum’s Pool. (Mangawhero Falls, very close to Waitonga Falls, is the other location that was cast as Gollum’s Pool.)   It was sad to see the sorry sight of the moth-balled Chateau Tongariro, although the local rumour mill suggests a wealthy Irish businessman is a hot prospect to breathe new life into the grand lady. Just behind the Chateau, Taranaki Falls is a return walk for even grander waterworks. Passing through a mix of tussock, alpine shrublands and beech forest, the track wraps around the lower slopes of Ruapehu, with vintage views of Ngauruhoe’s symmetrical cone. A flock of native birds, including whiteheads and grey warblers, serenaded my stroll all the way to Taranaki Falls, tumbling 20 metres over the edge of a large andesite lava flow which erupted from Ruapehu 15,000 years ago. If you’re up for a half-day advanced hike, I definitely recommend the Tupapakura Falls walk. It starts just out of National Park village, on Fishers Road. The track has been upgraded by the local community in partnership with the Department of Conservation. It begins with an easy 20 minute walk to the Taranaki Lookout, serving up panoramic wide-range perspectives of Mt Taranaki and Mt Ruapehu. Beyond this point, the trail becomes a back country adventure track, which will test your stamina in the Erua Forest. The track follows a ridge and then descends steeply to a stream. There are good stands of tawa, mature rimu, miro and totara to see along the way. Climbing from the stream, the track winds its way around bluffs to a sparkling lookout point with views of the long-drop falls. You’ll need at least four hours to knock off this 11km long track. Refuel? Reward yourself with a thirst-quencher at Schnapps Bar & Restaurant in National Park Village. Heading south? Synonymous with Ohakune as much as carrots, the famed main-street Chocolate Éclair Shop is worth the trip alone. Sinking your teeth into one of their celebrated giant cream-filled, chocolate-topped pastries is one of life’s great pleasures. Just north of town, a curious diversion is Horopito Motors. It’s featured in two classic Kiwi flicks, Smash Palace and Goodbye Pork Pie. Nicknamed Smash Palace, for a gold coin donation, you can see some film memorabilia and have a look around the yard. It’s quite a yard –  more like a vast car graveyard because Smash Palace are the biggest vintage car dismantlers in Australasia. It’s like an enormous op-shop for old cars.  They sell parts around the world

This last summer has seen a number of ZB talkback listeners complaining about scarlet runner beans mis-behaving. Two main types of troubles were reported: 1) suddenly no more bean pods were growing despite the plant getting to its normal height. 2) At the start of harvesting mature beans, the leaves begin to turn yellow – going down and down. Scarlet Runner Beans originate from Central America and they like well-drained soil (loam) in a sunny spot.  Plant the seeds under a tall support to allow the plants grow up and up, the root systems will survive the winter for next year’s crop. They are perennials!! These beans are Nitrogen Fixers. They don’t need much Nitrogen (they make their own), but love Potash and Phosphate.  They are long-Season growers with red flowers, pollinated by bees and bumblebees. Harvest the mature pods regularly and watering regularly to prevent them from drying out (not toooo wet, please!) What could cause the sudden troubles with the formation of bean pods? Lack of Pollination (not enough pollinators); Hot weather, especially when that happens at night – lack of water would make that worse. Bees sometimes “rob” the nectar from flowers by chewing them open. Leaving pods on the plant too long may reduce future seed production. I decided to contact my old friend and DSIR colleague from way back: Dr Keith Hammett, a well-known plant breeder and famous for creating amazing new varieties of sweet peas and…  Dahlias (also a perennial plant!) He came up with some great stories and a possible solution to the yellowing and ill-thrift of Scarlet runners: In the UK these climbing beans were grown as annuals: plant new seeds every spring. If you’d leave the tubers in the soil they were more than likely killed by frost. (“as would Dahlias” said Keith) In New Zealand’s warmer climate zones we can keep the tubers in the soil, so they will be able to successfully over-winter (they behave like Perennials). Interestingly, the perennial scarlet runners produce beans a little earlier than the sown scarlet runners. The comparison of Beans with Dahlias is quite interesting: We can leave Dahlia tubers in the soil for several growing seasons, but the performance of the older, perennial plants falls away. It is the build-up of previous year’s growth that tends to choke the plants. Top Dahlia exhibitors would only ever grow plants grown from cuttings; “Youthful tissue and all that… with no old stuff in the way” Keith has three tripods of Scarlet Runners (third season) on the go in his garden. One of them is showing those debilitating features with yellowing leaves…. He attributes that to stress and an old tuber giving up the ghost For what it’s worth… maybe a good idea to sow new seeds in spring?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Locally grown fruit and vegetable boxes are often seen as the more expensive option as opposed to buying produce from the supermarket. Sustainability expert Kate Hall is setting the record straight and debunking that myth. Kate tells Jack Tame buying non-organic produce from the supermarket would have cost her $22.13 more than getting an organic fruit and veggie box delivered right to her door. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rimapere 2022 Baron Edmonde de Rothschild Plot 101 Sauvignon Blanc $45 Why I chose it: Kiwi wine with a French accent Owned by the prestigious French wine group “Baron Edmonde de Rothschild” Sauvignon blancdoesn’t get much better than this”. Bottle age has mellowed the wine and added complex flavours. Prestige label “Plot 101” What does it taste like? Hand-picked, aged on lees and with 50% fermented in barrels to give the wine a rich texture while retaining a strong fruit emphasis. Serious, complex sauvignon. Why it’s a bargain: It’s not cheap but it is very good, which in my book makes it a good value wine. Where can you buy it? Glengarry Wines. Auckland $37.99. Food match? Most seafood dishes, my favourite is green-lipped mussel fritters. Will it keep? Good drinking now, should get even more interesting over the next 2-3 years. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the founders of Google has a new Company Surprise, surprise it's involving AI. But it's not trying to help you in your digital life - instead it's designed to create physical products and send them for manufacturing. The goal is to make the products 'highly optimized' for efficient creation in the factory. It's a small team at the moment, with no web presence.  ChatGPT can now code for you If you've got a Mac, the ChatGPT app now has the ability to connect to your developer tools, read existing code, and even make edits for you on "auto-apply" mode. There have been other tools that have offered this type of service, but it shows that ChatGPT wants to be the go-to app to get things done. This new “work with apps” feature effectively takes over control of an app for you, suggesting it could possibly start doing things for you across systems.  Would you pay $240,000 a year for an AI agent? Reports suggest ChatGPT is looking to go 'Pro Max Plus'.. whatever the term would be.. for a highly specialized AI agent they say is designed to assist with PhD research.  They're also looking at agents to replace “high-income knowledge workers” for $2,000 a month, and a software developer agent for $10,000 a month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Secrets at Red Rocks - (Neon, Sky Open from March 9) Based on the award-winning novel by Rachael King, this family-friendly local drama tells the story of 12 year-old Jake, who discovers a sealskin in Wellington and unleashes mythical creatures and dangers. Dope Girls - (TVNZ+) In London's murky underworld, a widowed single mother builds a nightclub and cocaine empire to support her family, soon becoming the most dangerous woman in a city shaken by war. Protection - (TVNZ+) Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley) stars in this British drama as a witness protection officer who must answers questions after a shooting at a safe house. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Preserving Time! Pear Chutney is just divine and we can have a general chat about preserving, noting that this is the season for making sauces, chutneys and jams, as well as bottling and freezing fruit and veges too.  Pear & Sultana Chutney This is a great all round chutney that is just as perfect with cheese and crackers as it is on roasted meats or vegetables.  Pear & Sultana Chutney This is a great all round chutney that is just as perfect with cheese and crackers as it is on roasted meats or vegetables.  Ingredients: 1 large onion, chopped finely 1kg chopped pears, not too ripe 2 apples, chopped 250g brown sugar 200g sultanas, feel free to go half n half currants/sultanas 300mls apple cider vinegar 1 tsp fennel seeds 1 tsp all spice 1 tspsalt ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper Method: Slowly bring all of the ingredients to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce the heat and let it happily simmer away for 1-1.5 hours until the onions and pears are truly softened. Mash or beat with an egg beater until it’s a little pulpy. Heat 4-5 medium jars in a 150 C oven for 10 minutes to sterilise. Pour boiling water over the lids to sterilise. Spoon the hot chutney into the hot jars. Run a knife around the inside of each filled jar to tease any air bubbles out. Wipe the rims clean and place the lids on tightly.  Wipe the jars clean and cool before storing in a cupboard for 3 weeks minimum. This chutney will keep for at least 12 months. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mickey 17 - (in cinemas) Starring Robert Pattinson. Directed by Bong Joon-ho of Parasite & Snowpiercer. A disposable employee is sent on a human expedition to colonize the ice world Niflheim. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. Spit- (in cinemas) David Wenham returns as John “Spit” Spitieri, the iconic crim of Australian cinema, in this sequel to Gettin' Square. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Blues lost by one point to the Canberra Brumbies last night at Eden Park. The match is the first time the Australian’s have beat the Blues at home since 2013. Beauden Barrett left the pitch at half time with a hand injury. Andrew Saville talks to Jack Tame about the Super Rugby match and the potential of America’s Cup returning to New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has consistently been in the news since he began his second term as US President. This week he has clashed with Elon Musk, paused tariffs on Mexico and Canada, threatened new tariffs on Canada, and spoken on behalf of Putin for the war in Ukraine. But what do Kiwi’s think of the President? Kevin Milne says a quarter of New Zealanders would have voted for Trump. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gas.  I think of all the things I knew (in theory) about parenting a new-born but had to experience in person to fully appreciate, it is the myriad curiosities of a two-and-a-half-week-old’s digestive tract that have left me the most befuddled.  I knew in theory that babies had to be burped. I knew in theory they often have problems and discomfort when digesting their latest feeds. I knew in theory that a baby with gas or an obstruction somewhere in his gut might even wake himself up. I guess I’m just shocked at the speed with which I’ve transformed into one of those parents totally obsessed with his baby son’s belches and bowels.  It’s the pain, that does it. When something’s trapped somewhere deep, the way his little face scrunches up and contorts, how he writhes and twists and clenches every muscle in his body. Often I’m holding him and he’s holding me, his tiny little hand gripping my index finger as he clenches, his fingers white and his face a crimson red with the strain and effort.  Before you ask, yes, I have tried various techniques for getting things moving at both ends. In fact, my social media feed these days seems to be nothing but baby osteopaths folding infants in half. There’s the classic baby-over the shoulder, pat on the back. There’s the stomach massage, the bicycle legs, and the deep squat. There’s the baby over the forearm, neck-supported facing out, and the baby-over-the-forearm, neck-supported facing in. My personal favourite is the wiggle-waggle, where you lift him under his armpits with one hand, and take his weight under his butt with the other. You gently move your hands in different directions to bring a range of movement to his digestive track, in the hope you will be rewarded with a range of movements in return. I knew we’d have disrupted sleep. I just never really accounted for the gas part of being up at night. His mum feeds him – not much I can do there – but the of course, one of us has to sit up imbed for a non-specific amount of time... just waiting. You can never be totally sure he’s been fully burped. There’s no finish line as it were. It’s a judgement call. And at 2.53am when your body is urging you to lie-down and go back to sleep (“Look at him, he seems fiiine”) – you know that if you pull the trigger too early, he’ll be waking himself up in twenty minutes, twisting and groaning in bed.  When you think about it, it’s pretty crazy that new-borns go from relying on the placenta for all their nutrients to instantly switching on the full length of the complex human digestive tract. It’s not like they ease into it. Alas, as our son’s milk intake has increased, his digestive tract has not quite kept pace. Put simply, the outputs don’t always match the inputs. It’s perfectly normal, of course, and he’s far too young to be hurrying up with a tray of black coffee and prune juice, but sometimes his stomach feels hard to the touch.  Cruelly, his preferred way of soothing his discomfort is to feed again, which then exacerbates the problem. At 19-days-old he’s not yet ready to listen to reason or comprehend the concept of a vicious cycle.  I’m back in the office fulltime this week after a wonderful period at home. But I can tell you already that my texts with my wife are gonna’ take on a grimly digestive line of inquiry. The thing about parenting is that while your share in your child’s discomfort you also share in their almighty relief. Especially when someone else is on clean-up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 1 March. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Music Reviewer Estelle Clifford talks to Jack Tame about Kiwi duo Foley.  The pair have released a brand new album 'THAT’S LIFE, BABY!', summing up their approach to life in a bright and punchy pop collection.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler It’s the day before her daughter’s wedding and things are not going well for Gail Baines. First thing, she loses her job – or quits, depending who you ask. Then her ex-husband Max turns up at her door expecting to stay for the festivities. He doesn’t even have a suit. Instead, he’s brought memories, a shared sense of humour – and a cat looking for a new home. Just as Gail is wondering what’s next, their daughter Debbie discovers her groom has been keeping a secret… The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz In The Plot, Jacob Finch Bonner was a washed up writer who stole the plot for a novel and then really hit the big time. Now in The Sequel, he's met an untimely death and his grieving widow Anna is picking up the royalty checks before writing a novel of her own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In all my travels, I’ve never encountered anything quite like it, particularly given its magnitude. Prising open the mighty King Country, Forgotten World Adventures (FWA) offers remarkable excursions, riding the rails of an abandoned railway line, stretching from the northern tip of the Ruapehu District to heartland Taranaki. It’s not only an enduring totem to our guts-and-glory pioneering heritage but a more modern-day manifestation of gritty Kiwi ingenuity – and repurposing! Based in Taumarunui, FWA is an incredibly enterprising tourism venture boasting a compelling platter of soft adventure excursions, prising open the legends, heritage and unspoilt scenery of the hinterland. Forgotten World Adventures re-opened 142 kilometres of this decommissioned railway line in 2012, including 24 tunnels and 92 bridges – all built from hand. Founded by Ian Balme, this Waikato farmer dared to dream big, turning a mothballed rusting eyesore into a visionary business. For the past three years, FWA has been owned and operated by Grant Ross and Laura Wackett. They both have a fascinating backstory, principally in international television production, while Grant was also previously a professional rugby player in South Africa and France.  Originally from Wellington, Grant is revelling in steering a homegrown enterprise, which was quite the baptism of fire given New Zealand was still wrestling with Covid when he purchased the business. He’s very hands-on and highly engaging with guests. It was fascinating to chat to him about the challenges and rewards of the job – like when a massive storm buried the tunnel entrances in a pile of mud! The prohibitive costs of constant track maintenance underpinned KiwiRail’s decision to pull the plug on the line’s operation in 2010. Taking nearly 32 years to build, the Stratford – Okahukura Line (SOL) finally opened in 1932 and linked up with the main trunk line through Taumarunui to Auckland. Working gangs sawed and blasted their way through the bush-draped hinterland to lay the tracks of this steel artery. It cost 2.5 million pounds to build this line, equating to billions of dollars today – the most expensive rail line in our nation’s history. They even built massive timber-trestle viaducts across the likes of the Mangatatoko Ravine, now overgrown in bush, because it would have been too difficult to maintain such a sky-high bridge. The engineering prowess was extraordinary. The line had been commissioned to transport products from the emerging farming, coal and logging industries.  At its peak, there were 15 stations in operation on this line – now, concrete platforms serve as sobering memorial slabs to a bygone age. FWA operate six unique guided adventures, whether you’re after a half-day excursion, full day or multi-day adventure. If you want to ride the entire 142km-long line to Stratford, that’s a two-day affair, but I plumped for the full-day rail car ride to the self-declared Republic of Whangamōmona. You can do it one-way in either direction, with a night’s stay in the irrepressible Whangamōmona Hotel. The historic hotel was built in 1912 and the area’s proud history is lustily showcased on the pub walls. But full drama ensued in 1989when  Whangamōmona threw a strop and declared its independence. It was prompted by local government reforms which carved up the boundaries of the Whangamōmona district, which resulted in half the district ending up in Manawatu-Whanganui, when most folk associate themselves with the Taranaki region. So they declared independence in the pub and continue celebrating Republic Day in January. You can even get your passport stamped at the pub counter. You’ll love the ebullient spirit of the hotel and its patrons, with excellent meals and comfortable accommodation. Arriving into the main street, with its heritage shop facades, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported into a Wild West movie set. It’s utterly enthralling, and home to one of New Zealand’s legendary watering holes. Meeting up with my FWA guide Ray, we set off from Whangamōmona, under bright blue skies, for our full-day ride back to Okahukura. Ray knows this wild region intimately, guiding since 2016 and prior to that delivering rural mail. He was an exceptional host on the rails, informative and effusively passionate about the region's rich heritage. This is certainly no train ride, but a unique self-drive rail journey in converted golf carts, where you’re in charge of the pedals. Petrol powered and limited to a top speed of 22km an hour, these souped-up golf carts originate from Arizona, but given the lush and vivid greenness of the surrounding landscape, they certainly don’t look out of place. I was half expecting a vast fairway to appear on the horizon. The weirdest initiation is feeling comfortable not steering the wheel, because you’re firmly affixed to the rails. No turning required!  The mining and milling heyday of the Forgotten World region may have long faded but th

A recent research article titled “happiness depletes me,” found that trying to be happy (which is defined as striving to experience as much positive emotion as possible and avoid negative emotions) leads to decreased feelings of happiness, and increased levels of loneliness and low energy. The basic idea is that trying to deliberately change your thoughts and behaviour to be happy means you tend to overlook small naturally occurring moments of happiness. The effort leaves you drained and more likely to make poor decisions such as overspending or overeating, which in turn make you feel unhappy. Not a new idea – brought to prominence in a book in 2007 by Russ Harris called “The Happiness Trap” So if your life isn’t going to be focused on finding happiness what should it be focused on? Happiness Trap suggests: Accepting that negative thoughts and emotions are natural and part of life, do don’t fight against them Enjoy positive emotions when they do occur, and pay attention to the small things in life Live life by trying to act in accordance with your values. One way of identifying core values for you is to ask yourself how you would like other people to describe you in 3 words. The 3 words you choose probably reflect your values. Use these to guide how you live your life. Happiness will occur at times as a pleasant side-effect but life overall will be more worth living. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are now in Autumn and that means some wonderful vegetables are needing to be sown or planted asap. Here in Canterbury, I germinated a row of seeds of French beans – a few weeks ago. They came up pretty quickly and hopefully our late summer will be better than our “summer summer” (which was pretty awful with lower temps and less sunshine than “average”). In the North Island Your final call for these beans is now. Well-drained soil, nice and moist and in a sunny warm spot, 10 cm separation and keep the weeds under control. Late summer is also great for peas. Honestly, these are going a lot better when it gets cooler, but seeing we have a longer day-length compared to the early winter situation, you’ll be able to harvest them in large numbers. Mind you, Peas can be planted through autumn and early spring. Their seeds contain a lot of “reserves” to grow in the cooler months; well-drained soils, friable and with compost. Chuck some pea-straw over the soil to help them along. But I am trying to get ahead of schedule to get some early peas. Broad beans, similar gig! Plenty of growth potential and they might ripen quite early too These are good greens for the winter (if you like them) Broad beans with pretty crimson flowers Carrot seedlings will also germinate at lower temperatures; Remember to create a soil that is free of lumps and stones, so that the carrots keep straight and do not “fork”. An extra handful of Phosphate will give them the impetus to grow nice roots. I start early so we’ll have carrots continuously for the next few months. Using the carrot “seed-tape” makes sense: they are nicely spaced and can be thinned when they take off, Julie seems to prefer the thinner, young carrots, whereas I cook the bigger ones as vegie strips in my Nasi Goreng. Broccoli is another suitable winter vegetable that can be planted now – in fact while there’s still some temperature in the soil they’ll grow well in the next few months – even if they slow down afterwards, you’ve got more than a month’s worth of advance before they start taking it easy – slow ripening means that they don’t all ripen at once, so pick the biggest ones as they mature. Most other cabbage varieties will also grow from now onSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is cash a good gift for children?  Personal wealth educator Lisa Dudson unwraps the idea with Jack Tame, and gives her tips on the best thing to teach our children about money.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Skype is shutting down on May 5.  It was the OG video calling app, but now Microsoft is all in on Teams. Microsoft has developed a way for users to port their Skype account over to a free version of Teams, or to export their data. It's nice that they're making the choices and options clear. There's one big piece missing though - the ability to call people using phone numbers. This is probably a good thing.. Microsoft has multiple services - Teams, Skype, Lync - over the years that have all largely done the same thing, but are just integrated into the wider ecosystem differently. They bought Skype in 2011 for $8.5b - 14 years ago!  Katy Perry is going to space! She'll be flying on Jeff Bezo's Blue Origin rocket in the next few months. She's making the trip with Jeff Bezo's fiancé - Lauren Sanchez - along with newscaster Gayle King (who is Oprah's best friend), a research scientist, a film producer and a former NASA rocket scientist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.