Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Passionvine Hoppers came up in conversation a week or so ago: a nuisance for gardeners, especially in the warmer north (but more and more a pain-in-the-South as well!).  I also remember that Aucklanders often called them lacy-winged moths. Shows you that entomological knowledge has always been slow to sink in up there in the North Island.   They are certainly not moths, these critters belong to a totally different insect order: the Homoptera, or sap-sucking bugs. Yes, these are some of the insects you can legitimately call “bugs” in entomological parlance.   LIFE CYCLE:   Eggs hatch in October – the timing relates to warmth in spring.   The tiny fluffy bums (“nymphs”) suck sap from a wide variety of host plants and slowly grow bigger and bigger. They also become nimbler and can hop greater distances as they grow larger in spring.   Late in spring (December onwards) the Fluffy Bums will moult their last moult and turn into a winged adult Passionvine Hopper.    One nymph of passion vine hopper (fluffy bum) and three winged adults in summer.  They will still suck sap from your favourite plants – they will also continue excreting sticky honeydew all over the plants and leaves below.   (And as we all know, honeydew is a perfect place for sooty mould to grow – black, ugly fungal material that looks as if a miniature fire has burnt your plants).  This is also the time for mating and female Passionvine Bugs will lay eggs in the autumn. They prefer to insert the eggs in thin branches, leaving a patterned oviposition site, which keeps the eggs in good nick during the winter months   CONTROL and PREVENTION:   Keep an eye on the new fluffy bums hatching in your garden right now! Those tiny nymphs often congregate in large flocks at the ends of new growth; they are still very feeble in their movement and won’t be able to escape a cloud of fly-spray aimed at them on a wind-still morning.  Small, young nymphs  Spray these young passionvine hoppers in October with a good dose of fly-spray.  In autumn there is a second chance for control: spot the new egg-sites on thin twigs and tendrils, cut these off and burn them in the fireplace (Fried Eggs!).  Eggs laid in thin twigs and curly tendrils    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 19 October 2024, uniquely talented author Michael Morpurgo joins Jack to discuss his love for fact within fiction, a memorable discussion with Roald Dahl, and the intriguing inspiration behind his new children's novel Cobweb.  Jack discusses team loyalty and his pride in wearing blue to Auckland FC's first match.  Chef Nici Wickes shares a quirky tip to ensure the icing of your Hummingbird cake stays light and fluffy.  And, in her new album, Kiwi musician Kimbra is circling back to her collaborative ways. Music reviewer Estelle Clifford delivers her verdict on the resulting sound.  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.

Amazon is joining other top tech firms with a foray into nuclear power   This deal is to explore the development of small modular nuclear reactors. AI needs massive amounts of computing power, and that requires electricity. Virginia's power demand is already growing 5% YOY and is expected to be double 2024’s level in 15 years.   In addition to that, Amazon is part of a $500 million financing round in a private company opening four small nuclear plants in the West.   The WSJ called it a "renaissance" of nuclear power. The approach seems to be a little different this time though - with smaller plants rather than large sites. The larger sites run billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule. These companies want to make sure they have the power when they need it.     And, Amazon will now also be delivering election night news   Their Amazon Prime Video Service will host a live broadcast of the results hosted by former NBC broadcaster Brian Williams. It's the first time the streamer has got into the news game. It says coverage will be an “informative, accessible and non-partisan presentation", which will reference third-party news sources across all political affiliations. Maybe the idea is for Brian Williams will be our guide to all the information being presented?    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rivals  David Tennant and Aidan Turner star in the small-screen version of Jilly Cooper’s novel set in 1980's England about a rivalry between two powerful men that takes over their lives (Disney+).   The Diplomat   British consul Laura Simmonds and her Barcelona colleague Alba Ortiz fight to protect British nationals in trouble in the Catalan city. Their diplomatic skills are stretched to the limit by the cases that walk through the Consul's doors (Neon). The Office Australia   Hannah Howard is the managing director of packaging company Flinley Craddick. When she gets news from Head Office that they will be shutting down her branch and making everyone work from home, she goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep in order to keep her “work family” together. The staff of Flinley Craddick indulge her and must endure Hannah’s outlandish plots as they work toward the impossible targets that have been set for them (Prime Video).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Return   After 20 years away, Odysseus washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The king finds much has changed since he left to fight in the Trojan War. His beloved wife, Penelope, is a prisoner in her own home and hounded to choose a new husband. Their son faces death at the hands of suitors who see him as an obstacle in their pursuit of Penelope and the kingdom. Odysseus is no longer the mighty warrior his people remember, but he must face his past to save his family.      Merchant Ivory   Archival footage and interviews provide insight into the partnership, both professional and personal, between director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I make a few versions of the mighty hummingbird cake but this is an easy, light, manageable version. I like to describe this cake as a banana cake that goes on a Jamaican holiday.   Serves 8-10      Ingredients    1 ½ cups plain flour   ¾ cups brown sugar    ½ cup desiccated coconut    1 heaped tsp cinnamon   ½ tsp each baking powder and baking soda   2 medium eggs   ¾ cups oil – I used grapeseed oil    2 ripe bananas, mashed – about 2 bananas   1 cup crushed pineapple + ¼ cup juice      Brown butter cream cheese icing    100g butter   250g full fat cream cheese   1 – 1 ½ cup icing sugar     Method  Heat oven 180 C. Grease and line a 23cm cake tin.    Take two bowls. In one put all the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, coconut, spices and raising agents. Whisk together.    In the second bowl, beat together eggs, oil and bananas. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients, add the crushed pineapple and the juice and stir to combine.    Scrape batter into the tin and bake for 45-55 mins or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Rest for 10 mins then turn out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.       Make the icing  Melt butter in a small pot until it splutters. Keep cooking until the spluttering subsides – 4-6 minutes – then it will begin to foam and brown. Cook, watching carefully, until it is browned and gives off a wonderful nutty aroma. Cool completely.    Beat cream cheese and browned butter and add the icing sugar gradually. Beat until smooth.    Split the cake through the middle and fill with half the frosting, using the remaining for the top of the cake. Serve and eat!    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A rare celestial object has made an appearance in the skies over New Zealand.  Comet C/2023 A3 hasn’t been seen in our skies in for 80,000 years, and with the length of its orbital period, it’s not going to be seen again by anyone alive today.  Kevin Milne caught sight of A3 passing by on Wednesday, and it got him thinking about the last time it passed by, and the next time it’ll show up.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I never thought I would support Auckland in anything.    I mean —duh— I’m from Christchurch. When I was a kid, it was a given that Aucklanders were nothing more than latte-swilling, overpriced-haircut-donning, ostentatious-sports-car-driving primadonnas.   My parochialism isn’t the only force working against Auckland City FC. When the brand-new club kicks off in its very first A-League match this evening, it faces the unique challenge that comes from trying to launch a new team and a new club in a competition which is already well-established.     Think about it. Most of the teams we support in sporting competitions have either been around since the competition’s inception or have built up a fan base over many decades.   I support the Crusaders because I was born and raised in Christchurch and when Super Rugby was established, they were everyone-in-my-life’s team.   I support Liverpool because when I was 6 or 7 and watched football highlights on the news, I asked Dad what English club we supported and stuck with that.    The Warriors inspire my loyalty because for all the highs and the lows —so many lows— they have endured for thirty years and never really shaken that underdog status. And they’re the New Zealand Warriors. Not the Auckland Warriors. So we’re good.    Theoretically at least, it’s a bit harder to inspire loyalty in a team that arrives late to the party. Especially when that team is the third Auckland-based professional football club to compete in the Australian top league. RIP the Auckland Kingz and the New Zealand Knights.    Also, I really love the Wellington Phoenix fan culture. And the club has been playing so well! Maybe I’m wrong, but there’s a risk that any rivalry in a Kiwi derby could feel a little forced, at least early on.    But, for all of that, Auckland FC has one massive dynamic working in its favour. People in the 09 are so ready for a proper football team. You see it every time the Phoenix play at Eden Park. You see it at All Whites games. You see it on the sidelines of how many thousand junior football games on Saturday mornings. Sure, it may take a few seasons to deepen the well of loyalty, but you would be hard-pressed to find a city or a market on Earth that isn’t hungrier for a team to support.    And so tonight, I’ll be there. One of more than 20,000 at a sold-out Go Media stadium. I must have a dozen friends attending. Some have already bought season passes.    You can hold the fancy haircut. Hold the latte. But I’ll be proudly crossing the Rubicon and dressed in blue. And if in years to come anyone should question my loyalty to AFC, well, at least I can say I was there from day one.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most famous foodies in the Southern Hemisphere, Donna Hay is one of the Queens of Cooking.   She’s known for her minimalistic approach to food styling, fresh and vibrant ingredient choices, and grounded recipes for busy people still interested in eating well.  Her latest book ‘Too Easy’ offers an array of delicious dishes like one-pan undone lasagna, crunchy chipotle chicken traybake, and sticky pork belly that won’t leave you slaving away over a stove for hours.  When it comes to her recipes, Hay seeks a quicker path from A to B.  “The one-pan undone lasanga, I realised I hadn’t cooked my children lasagna in a very, very long time, because even on the weekend, Jack, I’m not coming home and layering up all of that deliciousness and taking two hours out of my life for it to be consumed by two very hungry boys in a matter of minutes.”  “I guess it's just life that kind of dictates what, what I'm gonna try and twist and turn into a great recipe.”  LISTEN ABOVE    Donna Hay’s One-pan Undone Lasagne   If you love everything about lasagne except the time it takes to make it, then this is for you. This is not a traditional recipe for lasagne – it’s more for those wanting all the comforting gooey yumminess of lasagne but in an instant. Try it – you’ll love it!    Ingredients  2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil  1 brown onion, finely chopped  3 cloves garlic, crushed  600g (1 lb 5 oz) beef mince  1 litre (34 fl oz) good-quality beef stock  3 x 400g (14 oz) cans crushed tomatoes  2 tablespoons chopped oregano leaves  sea salt and cracked black pepper  250g (9 oz) fresh lasagne sheets, cut into 5cm x 21cm (2 in x 8½ in) strips  ¼ cup (5g/⅛ oz) chopped basil leaves, plus extra leaves to serve  mascarpone cheese topping  350g (12½ oz) mascarpone  1 cup (80g/2¾ oz) finely grated parmesan, plus extra to serve  1 x 125g (4½ oz) fresh mozzarella, drained and sliced    Method  Heat a large deep ovenproof frying pan over medium–high heat.    Add the oil and onion and cook for 5 minutes or until soft and golden. Add the garlic and beef and cook for 6 minutes, stirring, until the beef is well browned. Add the stock, tomatoes, oregano, salt and pepper and bring to the boil.   Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 35–40 minutes or until the mixture has reduced by roughly one-third. The mixture should still be quite saucy.   Add the lasagne sheets, a few at a time, and gently stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes or until the pasta softens. Remove from the heat and stir through the basil.    Preheat oven grill (broiler) to high.    To make the mascarpone cheese topping, combine the mascarpone, parmesan and pepper. Top the lasagne with small spoonfuls of mascarpone mixture and mozzarella. Grill for 10–12 minutes or until the lasagne is golden and bubbly.   Finish with extra basil and parmesan to serve. Serves 6     Cook’s note: If you have dried lasagne sheets, pop them into boiling water for 30 seconds or until pliable, drain and use as you would fresh sheets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dubbed the “most ‘Coldplay’ Coldplay album,” Moon Music is the band’s 10th album, and potentially one of their final ones. Chris Martin has confirmed that there’s a concrete plan for two more albums after this, before the band shuts up shop.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the band’s latest release.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins   An isolated Scottish island, accessible to the mainland only twelve hours a day. A famous (some might say infamous) artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared after visiting her twenty years ago. A present-day discovery that intimately connects three people and unveils a web of secrets and lies.  Welcome to Eris: an island with only one house, one inhabitant, one way out. Unreachable from the Scottish mainland for twelve hours each day.  Once home to Vanessa: A famous artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared twenty years ago.  Now home to Grace: A solitary creature of the tides, content in her own isolation.  But when a shocking discovery is made in an art gallery far away in London, a visitor comes calling.  And the secrets of Eris threaten to emerge....     Unfiltered: My Incredible Decade in Formula 1 by Guenther Steiner   Formula 1 sensation Guenther Steiner, author of the number one bestseller Surviving to Drive, takes readers into the heart of his ten years running Team Haas, packed with hilarious stories and unprecedented insight into the world of elite motorsport.  Fasten your seatbelts as Formula 1's favourite underdog, Guenther Steiner, takes you on a wild ride through his ten years at Team Haas.  From the first seeds of his idea to establish a new F1 team to the challenges of funding and building that team from the ground up, Guenther shares the real story of the origins of Team Haas, immerses readers in the high and lows of its first decade on the grid, and opens up about his departure from the team at the end of 2023.  As Guenther recalls his proudest achievements and the many, many disasters he has faced, he takes readers behind the scenes, into the pit lanes and garages, and out on to the circuits of the world's greatest race tracks. We spend time with drivers, mechanics, executives, sponsors, commentators and fans, and take in many personal moments too, all the while grappling with the big challenges and small details that keep the wheels of a Formula 1 team turning.  Told in his inimitable style, packed with hugely entertaining stories, outspoken opinions and unvarnished truths, this is Guenther at his very best – insightful, opinionated and completely unfiltered.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"After savouring Sri Lanka’s western coast, the nation’s famed cultural triangle serves up a bevy of World Heritage ancient treasures in the heart of the island. Travelling with On the Go Tours, we farewelled the city buzz of Colombo and drove east for several hours to Dambulla, home to the spectacular Dambulla Rock Temple. Sri Lanka has a long history of the presence and practice of Buddhism and this sprawling cave complex is quite the treasure-chest. The Dambulla temple is not only one of the oldest sites for Buddhist monasticism, but it has served as a pilgrimage site for twenty-two centuries. The massive cave temple complex is unique in Southeast Asia because monks carved the caves out from rock, towering 160 metres above the surrounding plains. There’s more than 80 caves across the site, but the major attractions are spread over five caves which contain statues and paintings of Buddha and his life." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our oceans are filled with a variety of things: sea creatures, plants, algae, coral, rubbish. Some things belong there, and some don’t.  Since ‘Litter Intelligence’ began back in 2018, citizen scientists have picked up, counted, and weighed over 621,000 individual pieces of litter from coastal survey areas across Aotearoa, more than 75% of which is plastic.   Sustainable Coastlines has launched their ‘Trash Species of Aotearoa New Zealand’ campaign, and Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall joined Jack Tame to discuss the most common species, and chat about the ways we can keep them from filling our oceans.  Key Litter Species facts:  Scollipop (lollipop sticks): 8,301 sticks recorded in Litter Intelligence coastal litter surveys. Lots near kids' playgrounds!   Gutterfish is part of the construction waste family, which makes up more than 20% of the litter removed from Litter Intelligence coastal survey sites, by weight.   Blue snackeral is from the food wrappers family, which Litter Intelligence data tells us has been collected a colossal 39,013 times.   Pauarade features a plastic bottle top, one of the most common items collected in surveys we find an average of 18 for every 1,000m2 of coastline.   Smoki (cigarette butts and filters) are the 8th most common trash species found in Litter Intelligence beach surveys, with the data reporting over 18,890 collected to date.  For more information visit the Sustainable Coastlines site here.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for 12 October 2024, culinary legend Donna Hay joins Jack to discuss what inspires her these days compared to ten years ago, and shares tips on cooking for a house full of hungry teenage boys.  Jack examines the difficulty of learning a new language at middle age.  Film reviewer Francesca Rudkin considers how small-budget kiwi film ‘A Mistake’ somehow landed A-List Hollywood star Elizabeth Banks.  Elon Musk hosted his robo-event, complete with new products and designs. Tech expert Paul Stenhouse dishes on the new taxis, vans and... humanoids.  And Kevin Milne and Jack celebrate how kiwi music legends Crowded House can sell out London's O2 arena, but still return to our smaller home-grown venues for their kiwi audiences.  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.

There are three reactions to the concept of “feeding your plants”:   1) Plants feed themselves through Photosynthesis (you don’t need to feed your plants!)  2) They’ll pick up elements in the soil that they need for growth and development, nobody feeds the plants in a native forest.  3) What’s scientifically needed for our gardens is a soil test that indicates which chemical elements are lacking in soil.  This is about the Science of Fertilisers.  This is the time of the year when soil temperatures are great for plant growth. Roots work over-time to extract minerals, dissolve them in water and transport them through the phloem bundles to the leaves of plants, where photosynthesis puts it all together and creates carbohydrates and chemicals that allow cell-elongation (growth).   Plants use three main elements for bulk growth “food”: Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and potassium (K), which are generally known as NPK (their chemical symbols).   N is used to make the green stuff: leaves and chlorophyll (LAWNS, LETTUCE, SPINACH, HEDGES).  P is good for root development and plant health (CARROTS, PARSNIPS, POTATOES, etc).  K (potash) is for sex: flowers and fruits (TOMATOES, APPLES, STRAWBERRIES, FLOWERING PLANTS).  Other elements needed for plant functioning are needed in much smaller quantities:   Mg (Magnesium), S (Sulphur), Ca (Calcium), Cu (Copper), Fe (Iron), Zn (Zinc), Mn (Manganese), and a heap more of those minor “trace elements”.  There are a few different types of fertilisers:   1) “General” Fertiliser – for general growth: usually something like N-P-K 7-3-6 or 12-4-13 (note how Phosphorus is usually less than the N and K).  2) Potato fertiliser: N-P-K 3-9-6, also good for carrots and parsnips.  3) Tomato or rose fertiliser - usually higher in potash (K): N-P-K 3-4-9. This helps to stimulate flower and fruit growth.  Of course, you can always use the general fertiliser (which tends to be highest in Nitrogen) and simply add a few handfuls of Superphosphate (P) if you grow root crops, or handfuls of Sulphate of Potash (K) if you want to up the dose of K (potash) for flowers and fruit.   Organic fertilisers usually have lower concentrations of elements, and they are often less prone to fertiliser run-off into water courses. Chicken poo (a “Natural” organic fertiliser) has a high content of Nitrogen which can burn plants – I would always send it through a cycle of composting before use.  These are very general comments on how to use fertilisers; some plants require a bit more detailed knowledge or would benefit from changing fertiliser regimes in different times of the year (Cymbidium orchids have a green-growth phase to make leaves in spring and summer – followed by a flower bud initiation in autumn and flowering in winter).   I use General fertiliser on my young tomatoes to get them growing up and create a strong climbing vine, before the flower buds are formed.   Once they start flowering, I assist the plants with more potash to keep on making fruit – I just switch to a higher potash fertiliser such as Wet&Forget’s Seaweed Tea.   Dog Pee fertiliser   Most homeowners let their dogs use the backyard as their own personal toilet. Urine is very high in Nitrogen. Too much nitrogen will burn the grass and create yellow patches after sensational, dark green growth (a dog will usually come back to the same patch – territorial “marking”).   The concentration of nitrogen in the dog’s urine depends on the type of dog, its sex, and what the animal eats. Larger dogs will pee more and cause more damage. Female dogs also tend to cause more damage than males because they squat and urinate in one concentrated patch whereas the males spray their urine over a larger area and in much smaller doses each time. Finally, diets high in protein can increase the concentration of nitrogen in the urine since protein breaks down to release nitrogen compounds.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon   Why I chose it:   This wine was selected by Gimblett Gravels’ winemakers as one of the top reds from 2022.  A hearty red at a mouth-watering price.  2022 was an average vintage, but this is a well below average price   Can be enjoyed now or stored in a cool place and enjoyed in 5 or 6 years time   A versatile wine that appeals to a wide range of tastes   What does it taste like?    A fresh and fruity red with dark berry and plum flavours and a seasoning of spicy oak. Moderately intense. A delicious wine that makes me reach for a second glass.   Why it’s a bargain:            Punches well above its weight   Where can you buy it?          Whiskeyonline, Auckland $16.99  Vitis Cellars, Auckland $113.64 (12 bottles)  Blackmarket.co.nz $113.94  Check your supermarket shelves  What’s a good food match?   Barbecued steak.  Drink now or later?   Now if you like bright, fresh and fruity flavours, in five years if you prefer more mellow and slightly savoury reds.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk's “We, Robot” event saw taxis, vans, and humanoids  Elon says it will be "the biggest product ever" calling them an “autonomous assistant, humanoid friend".    He gave us a glimpse into a future. At the party robots danced, served cocktails, and chatted with guests with a voice that sounded like a human. It's cadence and tone were offputtingly normal. When an event attendee told Optimus he was doing a good job, the robot looked up in acknowledgement, then said “You wanna get a photo?” and made a peace sign with its hand.  In a video they were watering plants, collecting packages, cleaning the kitchen after dinner, unloading groceries and unwinding with a board game with the family’s kids.  The marketing materials said they're designed to take on the dangerous and boring tasks in your life. The lofty goal is to have them ready to sell by the end of 2025, with a price-tag of somewhere around USD$30,000.    They unveiled a robocab with two seats, no steering wheel, and is controlled through a large touchscreen mounted on the dashboard. And then there's the robovan, which looks like a futuristic Airstream caravan who's worst enemy may be a speedbump.         LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disclaimer  When an intriguing novel appears at the bedside of a journalist whose career has been built on revealing transgressions, she is horrified to realise she's a key character in a long-buried story, one that exposes her darkest secret (Apple TV+). Sweetpea   Rhiannon Lewis doesn't make much of an impression - people walk past her in the street without a second glance. That is until she is pushed over the edge and loses control, and Rhiannon's life transforms (Neon). The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes  A second season of the local series about a group of volunteers with young onset dementia as they navigate the highs and lows of running a fine-dining restaurant under the guidance of renowned chef Ben Bayly (TVNZ+ from Monday 14 October).   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Mistake   A talented surgeon's life unravels when a new public reporting system for surgeons' performance is introduced. Her colleagues distance themselves, and even her partner, a hospital nurse, abandons her.     The Outrun   After living life on the edge in London, Rona attempts to come to terms with her troubled past. She returns to the wild beauty of Scotland's Orkney Islands where she grew up, hoping to heal.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bored of making the same old recipes? Is cooking becoming more of a chore? You might be stuck in a rut. Fortunately, Nici Wickes has some advice on how to pull yourself out and get back into the swing of things.  She recommends checking out cookbooks or magazines for some new recipes, eating out or trying new restaurants for some inspiration, and of course, taking a look to see what interesting things may be tucked away in your cupboards.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supermarket collectable schemes are a dime a dozen these days, with most franchises running a collectable promotion every year. Most buy into the scheme, collecting the stickers or cards and trading them in for a free product, but there are some out there who pass on them.  To Kevin Milne it feels like these people are just throwing away money, and wonders why people would pass on a free container or two.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As someone who considers themself at least semi-literate, with the benefit of a reasonable education and at least a passing interest in the world, I can confirm there is nothing quite so humbling in middle-age as learning a new language.    At short notice, I’m hoping to briefly visit a Latin American country for my work in a few weeks’ time, and in preparation this week I downloaded a few apps and subscribed to podcasts to try and re-up my Spanish.   My history with Spanish is one of big surges and even bigger retreats.    I studied it until seventh form at high school. I wasn’t very good but at least I learnt a few nouns and could ask some basic questions.    But when I moved to New York as a 24-year-old I decided to learn Spanish in a way I never had when I was a teenager. I moved to a Latin neighbourhood. I did thrice-weekly lessons on Skype, just speaking with a tutor friend in Mexico’s south.    After a few months of studying, I decided to visit her.     “Estoy excitado,” I said, trying to express my excitement at the impending trip. My tutor laughed and explained that’d just informed a conservative Catholic mother that I was horny.    “Gaah... estoy tan embarazada!” I blushed.    She bent over in laughter again. Turns out embarazada is not embarassed. Embarazada is pregnant.     It’s amazing what immersion will do though. When I visited Chiapas, I’d collapse in bed, exhausted at the end of every day from 12-hours of speaking. But after just a few weeks, I could swear I was just starting to dream in Spanish. That’s when you know it’s sticking.   Then, though. Oof. An almighty retreat. I fell out of lessons and Spanish fell out of my head. I eventually moved home and studied Māori, which I absolutely loved, but which has a similar vowel sound to Spanish. Often over the years when I’ve reached for the word, I’ve pulled a noun from the wrong language. And now, I’m embarrassed to admit that although my wife is Persian, in Farsi I can’t even say hello.   There are some people though, for whom language comes easier than others. I’m good with sound and speaking with false confidence but very poor with grammar. My brother is much more studious, but I swear he also just gets grammatical structure. It’s like he sees the matrix when he’s studying language.    I’m fascinated by people who can speak many languages. There’s a New Zealander named Harold Williams, who basically no one has ever heard of, who is considered one of the greatest polyglots in history. He was the foreign editor for The Times in London and spoke as many as 58 languages. As a lad in Christchurch in the late 1800s, he described having a ‘brain explosion’ when he was about seven-years-old. He bought himself the New Testament in every language his bookshop could order and taught himself that way.    Our historic comfort in our majority monolingualism is one of the great faults of New Zealand culture. It’s sloppy. Insular. It’s embarrassing to visit poor neighbourhoods in poor countries and realise that despite the relative lack of educational opportunities, kids can speak more languages than many or most of us can. It’s wonderful to see the revitalisation of te reo Māori, but New Zealand must still be one of the most monolingual developed countries on Earth.    So, here we go again. Like trying to start a lawnmower that’s been sitting in the shed for fifteen years, I’m pulling at the starter cord and pleading the engine to fire.    “The cat likes to sleep.”   “I would like to buy a ticket for the train.”   It’s so humbling to go so far back. Embarazada, even. And yet still so rewarding when you feel something stick. Excitado!   That’s the thing about language. More than vowels and consonants, it is the front door to culture, a gate to a whole new World.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rena Owen has cemented herself in New Zealand’s pantheon of film and television greats.  The award-winning actress has a packed acting career, with roles in everything from Once Were Warriors, to Star Wars, to Whina, to Shortland Street.   She stars in productions that create lasting legacies, conveying stories from the culture and history of New Zealand, and her latest work follows suit.  Taki Rua Theatre – Breaking Barriers tells the story of what became the unofficial Māori theatre company, an ensemble of artists breaking barriers, shattering cultural norms, and pioneering a bicultural partnership.  Owen joined Jack Tame to discuss the significance of the theatre, her acting career, and her upcoming film roles.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi soul musician Louis Baker has released his third EP, Medicine his first work as sole producer.   The EP reflects the bond Baker has with his craft, allowing him to connect with himself and communicate with the world.   Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on this new release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Sri Lanka has loomed large on my bucket-list for quite some time. Nicknamed the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, I’ve just ventured to the teardrop-shaped island nation for the first time and it smashed my expectations. Over the course of a week, I savoured Sri Lanka’s colourful cities, vibrant cuisine, ravishing landscapes, astonishing World Heritage treasures and glorious wildlife, which were all seamlessly stitched together by On the Go Tours and their Colombo, Caves and Kandy group tour." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney   Aside from the fact that they are brothers, Peter and Ivan Koubek seem to have little in common.  Peter is a Dublin lawyer in his thirties—successful, competent, and apparently unassailable. But in the wake of their father’s death, he’s medicating himself to sleep and struggling to manage his relationships with two very different women—his enduring first love, Sylvia, and Naomi, a college student for whom life is one long joke.  Ivan is a twenty-two-year-old competitive chess player. He has always seen himself as socially awkward, a loner, the antithesis of his glib elder brother. Now, in the early weeks of his bereavement, Ivan meets Margaret, an older woman emerging from her own turbulent past, and their lives become rapidly and intensely intertwined.  For two grieving brothers and the people they love, this is a new interlude—a period of desire, despair, and possibility; a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking.   For two grieving brothers and the people they love, this is a new interlude – a period of desire, despair and possibility – a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking.        The Siege by Ben Macintyre   Britain’s best-selling historian writes the first definitive account of the famous televised SAS storming of the Iranian embassy in London in 1980.  On April 30, 1980, six heavily armed gunmen burst into the Iranian embassy on Princes Gate, overlooking Hyde Park in London. There they took 26 hostages, including embassy staff, visitors, and three British citizens. A tense six-day siege ensued as millions gathered around screens across the country to witness the longest news flash in British television history, in which police negotiators and psychiatrists sought a bloodless end to the standoff, while the SAS – hitherto an organisation shrouded in secrecy – laid plans for a daring rescue mission: Operation Nimrod.  Drawing on unpublished source material, exclusive interviews with the SAS, and testimony from witnesses including hostages, negotiators, intelligence officers and the on-site psychiatrist, bestselling historian Ben Macintyre takes readers on a gripping journey from the years and weeks of build-up on both sides, to the minute-by-minute account of the siege and rescue.  Recreating the dramatic conversations between negotiators and hostages, the cutting-edge intelligence work happening behind-the-scenes, and the media frenzy around this moment of international significance, The Siege is the remarkable story of what really happened on those fateful six days, and the first full account of a moment that forever changed the way the nation thought about the SAS – and itself.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stats NZ has released the latest data from the Census, giving fresh insights into the lives of people across the country.  Kevin Milne has been taking a look at the latest numbers and there’s a couple things he found interesting, and some he wasn’t surprised by at all.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Although Working from Home might have been new for many of us under Covid, research in the area has been going on for decades. This international research, combined with studies carried out in New Zealand over the past 4 years, notably by Prof Jarrod Harr at Massey Uni, is pretty clear that from a wellbeing and productivity perspective the hybrid model of working is better than working in the office 100% or working from home 100%. Hybrid working gives the best of both worlds – 2 or 3 days in the office and 2 or 3 days at home.  Advantages of hybrid working include:   An increased sense of autonomy for workers – you have some choice over when/where/how you work. Higher levels of autonomy are associated with higher levels of wellbeing.  Less stress and better work-life balance.  You still get the advantage of social interactions when in the office.  Working from Home 100% of the time isn’t ideal – people report higher rates of low mood and loneliness. Also, higher rates of burnout, possibly due to not having clear stop/start times. Working from the office 100% of the time reduces autonomy and has poorer work-life balance.  The disadvantage of the hybrid model is not everyone’s job allows them to work from home for 2-3 days per week and these people see others as getting a perk they don’t have.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 5 October 2024, award-winning actress Rena Owen joins Jack to discuss the 30-year anniversary of Once Were Warriors, gearing up for the live action Moana, and the role of Māori theatre throughout her career.  Jack shares his love for maps and the remote, extreme, curious places he's drawn to when studying them. He considers the chances of a visit to Diego Garcia following the news that sovereignty of the island will be passed to Mauritius.  Sally Rooney's highly anticipated fourth novel is Booktok’s latest obsession – with influencers vying for advance copies and the book becoming something of a commodity. Book reviewer Catherine Raynes shares her thoughts on Intermezzo's literary merit.  How does Joker: Folie à Deux match up to the critical and commercial juggernaut of the first Joker film? Film reviewer Francesca Rudkin delivers her verdict.  And man-in-the-garden Ruud Kleinpaste joins Jack in studio to chat planting before the dry season sets in - plus, brings a special guest.  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.

It’s already getting dry in Canterbury, and I still need to do a lot of planting in order to save us from starvation. Juuls has planted Christmas spuds. Seed potatoes: “chitted” (meaning the “eyes” have started to run out) and the plants are doing well – shooting up in their large tubs on the deck. Every week or so we carefully add some soil on top of the stuff that’s already there, so that the main stem will produce more and more potatoes.   This is Julie’s “spud race” for the spring challenge at her work.   Potato fertiliser always has a bit more “P” (Phosphate) in it to encourage root growth and tuber growth. Jersey Bennes and such early varieties are probably the best to use before Christmas.   Potato-Tomato Psyllid   I don’t want to play Russian Roulette with this pest: it damages potatoes and tomatoes, so I prefer to keep potatoes well away from my tomato tunnelhouse.  It’s called Biosecurity!  Tomatoes   Should have been sown now in seed-raising mix and transplanted outside when the frost danger is over; in the tunnelhouse I don’t have that problem, so can bang them in as soon as they are 20cm tall with good roots.    I’ve got my favourite line up: Tigerella, Sweet 100, Black Krim, Artisan Blush, etc, plus some new stuff I uplifted from the Kings Seed Catalogue.    Initially feed them with general fertiliser and start using tomato/Rose fertiliser when flowers develop the new fruit – Seaweed Tea (Wet&Forget)  Broad beans are another must in our garden – I was lucky to have them survive the winter and self-seeded in the coldest months of the year   The related French beans need to be sown too – do a row every month or so, so keep the supply coming during summer and into autumn!   If you’ve never tried growing Witlof (endive) try sowing it now.      During spring and summer, you grow the root system sturdy and large. In late autumn harvest the roots and bury them in a tub with sandy soil in a dark spot (under the house). The roots will sprout these white and delicious chicons which taste wonderful and bitter; recipes everywhere! Even the French like them.  I usually keep up with my lettuce (COS!) and spring onions but will need to plonk in the peas and beans ASAP before the summer sun creates havoc.   These crops have a habit to grow in just about any soil condition. As long as they have good light and are not kept too dry.   Liquid fertiliser seems to be the best way to keep ’em happy, and when I chuck Seafood Soup and Seaweed Tea on them they shoot up with vapour trails   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People often fanaticise about sudden wealth – a windfall of money large enough to solve any problem.   But a large sum of money falling into your lap can be complicated and confusing to handle.  Lisa Dudson joined Jack Tame for a chat about the best way to handle sudden wealth so you don’t wind up losing it all.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan  Joan Hannington, a fiery and uncompromising woman in her 20s, is a devoted mother to her 6-year-old daughter, Kelly, but is trapped in a disastrous marriage with a violent criminal named Gary. When Gary goes on the run, Joan seizes the opportunity to create a new life for herself and her daughter. Adopting new identities and making new acquaintances along the way, Joan becomes a masterful jewel thief. She embarks on a thrilling, high-stakes journey that challenges her every limit, driven by her desire to create a secure home (Neon).     Last Days of the Space Age    In 1979, a power strike threatens to plunge the region into darkness in Western Australia, while the city hosts the Miss Universe pageant and the US space station, Skylab, crashes just beyond the city's suburbs (Disney+).     Brilliant Minds  Dr. Oliver Wolf is an eccentric but incredibly gifted neurologist who suffers from a rare condition that gives him a unique perspective on care, fueling his mission to change the way the world sees his patients. After his unusual methods result in his dismissal, he takes his unconventional approach to a new hospital: Bronx General, where he leads a team of bright young interns in tackling some of the world's most puzzling psychological cases. With their help, he must also challenge his own personal and social limitations by navigating all the expectations, politics and complicated relationships that come with the job (Neon).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A couple has been blocked from suing Uber for a car crash because they used Uber Eats   When you use Uber Eats you agree to a new set of Terms which state that you must use private arbitration to settle matters, rather than going to court. So, when the NJ couple got into a bad crash while in an Uber ride, a court says the Uber Eats clauses applied. They say they never recalled seeing that box, and also say their daughter used the Uber Eats account to order a pizza. The court said the mother had given her daughter the authority to sign the agreement when she handed over her phone.    Disney has done the same thing recently – initially arguing that a wrongful-death lawsuit because of an allergy at a theme park restaurant should be thrown out of court because of a Disney+ agreement the person had.   What does that mean when you sign up for a fast food app? Or use a business' website to perform services?  It’s a good reminder that the fine print is important. CNN, the US's largest news website, started rolling out its paywall   CNN's CEO was instrumental in rolling out the New York Times paywall - which is one of the most successful in the industry. Just like the NYT, only the most heavy users will initially be prompted to pay $3.99 a month for access. Those who just browse a few articles won't see any changes yet. One of CNN's Anchors said in an interview there were 300 people at each convention - so covering those large scale events isn't cheap! They need to develop new digital revenue streams that can offset declines in legacy TV.  CNN reached 117 million unique visitors in August across its website and apps. Its TV audiences' median age is 67 years old. The Times has roughly 10 million digital subscribers.        LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joker: Folie à Deux Struggling with his dual identity, failed comedian Arthur Fleck meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital.    Will and Harper   When Will Ferrell finds out his close friend of 30 years is coming out as a trans woman, the two decide to embark on a cross-country road trip to process this new stage of their relationship in an intimate portrait of friendship and transition.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’re going to love this avocado whip. Double the recipe so you can enjoy it as a dip for corn chips and/or crudités, on toast, or dolloped in tacos. Use whatever herbs you have on hand. We love using rocket and/or coriander.  Margo Flanagan of Two Raw Sisters offers up a recipe for Eggplant and Avocado Whip from their new cookbook ‘More Salad’ - now available in stores.  Ingredients   2 eggplants, cut into bite-sized   chunks   3 tablespoons cooking oil   1 teaspoon sea salt   Avocado Whip   1 avocado   1 cup chopped fresh herbs   1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil   2 tablespoons hulled tahini   2 garlic cloves, crushed   juice of 1 lemon   1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt   100 g (3 1⁄2 oz) feta, crumbled   1⁄4 cup chopped fresh herbs   2 tablespoons dukkah   1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil     Method  Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).   Toss the eggplant chunks on a baking tray with the cooking oil and salt. Roast for 25–30 minutes.   While the eggplant is cooking, make the avocado whip.   Process all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. (Alternatively you can use a stick blender.)   To assemble the salad, spoon all the avocado whip onto a flat, round plate. Use the back of a spoon to distribute it evenly around the plate. Arrange the eggplant chunks on top. Sprinkle over the feta, then the herbs and dukkah.  Drizzle the olive oil over just before serving.   Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.   Extracted from More Salad by the Two Raw Sisters. Photography © Food: Margo Flanagan and Lifestyle: Susannah Blatchford. RRP$49.99. Out 10 September 2024. Published by Allen & Unwin NZ. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know my idea of fun?    You’re expecting me to say sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll, wild parties, cocaine-fuelled late-night debauchery! Guilty as charged... that sounds like a bit of me.    But no, my idea of fun is a map.    I’ve got a huge, detailed one on my wall. Winkle triple projection, Pacific-centred, of course. I can wile away hours, whole afternoons, intercontinental flights, just staring at a map.  And when you stare at a detailed map, you’re drawn to curiosities. To extremes. And naturally of course you’re drawn into imagining or fantasising what those places might be like in-person, rather than simple a coordinate on your wall.    There are three remote, extreme, curious places on Earth I’ve always fantasised about seeing. One is La Rinconada, the highest permanently populated town in the World. It’s in the Peruvian Andes, a grim, freezing mining town with a violent crime problem and where a slab of the residents may or may not have mercury poisoning. It’s higher than Everest Base Camp. And if YouTube is anything to go by, it is about as far from a few nights at Denarau as it’s possible to be.    The next are the Kerguelen Islands, aka the Desolation Islands, a vast 7000km2 archipelago in the sub-Antarctic. It’s home to amazing wildlife and a few dozen French scientists. And it’s huge! The main island is 150km long and 120km wide. Have you ever heard of it? It’s one of the most remote places on Earth.   And my final isle of intrigue is Diego Garcia. My Dad first told me about it as a kid. Imagine a point in the middle of the Indian Ocean, below India and about halfway between Tanzania and Bali.    For decades, Diego Garcia has been home to one of the most mysterious and secretive military bases on the planet. Its strategic location, its military runway, its fleet of long-range bombers and its ability to reload submarines with weapons make it hugely important to the U.S and the U.K.   But that only came about by a brutal history.    Although Diego Garcia had no indigenous population, enslaved people were brought there to work on coconut plantations, and over several centuries developed their own language and culture. In the 1960s, the Brits decided to kick them out. In order to develop the military base, they forcibly evicted all of the local population to Mauritius and the Seychelles.    For decades since, Mauritius has fought for the island and its surrounding archipelago. Chaggosians, as people from the Chaggos Islands are known, have fought to return to their home.    But I’ve always assumed I would never be able to go. The island is rumoured to be a CIA black site. According to a recent BBC report, only three journalists have ever visited. One pretended to have a boat problem and was only there for an hour and half. Another stopped to refuel in a Presidential plane. The most recent visitor had to agree to incredible restrictions on her reporting, was barred from numerous areas and accompanied by minders at all times.   But yesterday came news from Diego Garcia. After years of terse negotiations and an ongoing legal dispute regarding a group of Tamil asylum seekers being detained on the island, the U.K and Mauritius announced sovereignty of Diego Garcia and the other Chaggos Islands will be passed to Mauritius.    Will it mean the Chagossians can return? Probably not. Under the deal, the long-range bombers, submarines, and the base will remain for at least the next century.    Its official status might have changed, but for those of us who trace the atoll across the World on our office wall, Diego Gacia will be no more accessible, and no less mysterious. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World of Music, Arts and Dance Festival has all the ingredients for a good time – food, dancing, arts, and an incredible line-up of local and international artists. English/Kiwi rock band The Veils were announced this week in the first line-up of acts to headline next year’s WOMAD festival. The enigmatic indie band have a reputation for their intense live performances, and they’ll be teaming up with a few classical musicians for their performance at the festival. Frontman Finn Andrews told Jack Tame that it’ll be a “pretty raucous affair”. He said that working with classical musicians gives them the option to lean into the extremes.  “It kinda just intensifies that even more. I think it's gonna be really full on and really quiet and intimate as well.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Their first album release in six years, ‘The Forest is the Path’ is Snow Patrol’s eighth studio album, coming after 2018’s ‘Wilderness’.  While promoting the album on X, vocalist Gary Lightbody described the work as a “new beginning”.   “We honour the past, deeply. But while we honour the past we also want to cherish the present and look to the future. So this is the beginning of something, and we are so excited to share it with you all.”  Music Reviewer Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman   Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favourite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s business now.  Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. As a private security officer, she doesn’t stay still long enough for habits or routines. She’s currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. Which was meant to be an easy job . . .  Then a dead body, a bag of money and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a deadly enemy?  Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty   Aside from a delay, there will be no problems. The flight will be smooth, it will land safely. Everyone who gets on the plane will get off. But almost all of them will be forever changed.  Because on this ordinary, short, domestic flight, something extraordinary happens. People learn how and when they are going to die. For some, their death is far in the future—age 103!—and they laugh. But for six passengers, their predicted deaths are not far away at all.  How do they know this? There were ostensibly more interesting people on the flight (the bride and groom, the jittery, possibly famous woman, the giant Hemsworth-esque guy who looks like an off-duty superhero, the frazzled, gorgeous flight attendant) but none would become as famous as “The Death Lady.”  Not a single passenger or crew member will later recall noticing her board the plane. She wasn’t exceptionally old or young, rude or polite. She wasn’t drunk or nervous or pregnant. Her appearance and demeanor were unremarkable. But what she did on that flight was truly remarkable.  A few months later, one passenger dies exactly as she predicted. Then two more passengers die, again, as she said they would. Soon no one is thinking this is simply an entertaining story at a cocktail party.  If you were told you only had a certain amount of time left to live, would you do things differently? Would you try to dodge your destiny?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Working from Home has been a topic of debate this week with the Government’s new directive on the subject.  Kevin Milne is a bit split on the issue, but there is one thing he’s clear on: surely propping up other businesses isn’t a valid reason to force people back into the office?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Singapore is so much more than just a steamy stopover between flights. It’s a sparkling melting pot of Southeast Asian culture, brimming with an ever-expanding arsenal of headline experiences. But alongside ticking off the likes of Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands, the Lion City’s biggest roar is reserved for the sizzling street food scene spilling forth in the hawker centre. Singapore’s harmonious multiculturalism and all its culinary influences positively sing on the plate. Come nightfall, Lau Pa Sat in downtown Singapore transforms into Satay Street, where a riot of meat on skewers and peanut sauce hold court." Read Mike's full article here.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sustainable living doesn’t just benefit the world around you, but it can also have benefits for mental health.   Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall joined Jack Tame to run through a few of the benefits that come with living more sustainably.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Planting from now on is becoming a much better idea. The chances of frost have diminished, but there will be still possibilities of “Spring Snow”, if you get my drift.   If you’ve had a look at the plants in your local botanic Garden, you’ll find what will grow well at your place. In many frost-free areas I’m thinking of Ngutu Kaka (Kaka Beak). This is a native plant that will look red and just amazing. It’s one of those plants I have always wanted to grow, simply because it looks stunning with those flowers, and it attracts the nectivorous birds.  As an old Trustee of “Project Crimson” (do you remember that organisation?) I am certainly a proponent of the Genus Metrosideros, which is the group of trees, shrubs and plants related to pohutukawa. Metrosideros carminea is one of those native gems that will wake you up in spring. Just look at that colour!  Just inhale the smell, and look at the insects associated with this native gem.   And then there are the not-so-native Vireya. They are Rhododendrons of tropical origin. They smell and love warm climates. My favourite one is Vireya tuba.      Originally from the mountains of Papua New Guinea, it grows up to 2 meters high and needs protection from frosts (grew well for us in Auckland and will do fine on the frost-free port hills). And its smell is just divine!   Winter flowerings. Bright and beautiful, but a native beetle has woken up too:   Lemon Tree Borer (Oemona hirta) will be on the wing soon. Laying eggs on damaged citrus branches or on pruned wood of citrus and many other native shrubs and trees.  The beetle grubs will create tunnels and cause a heap of damage! No more pruning and keep an eye on those grubs that will create havoc on citrus and other host plants.   And then there is our codling moth (which arrived all the way from Europe, many, many years ago). Moths lay eggs after flowering of the apple trees (and crab apples, and walnuts!) Out of those eggs hatch very hungry codling moth caterpillars that will tunnel into the developing apple fruits, spoiling them.    Control and prevention:   There is a cool spray called Madex3, used by commercial apple growers that value organic treatments. This Madex3 is a virus that should be sprayed a week or so after apple flowering (in the next week or two!). The virus will only kill Codling moth – very targeted! And may need a second spray a month or so later.   It’s available from some of the more switched-on suppliers in NZ:   Farmlands, Horticentre Hawkes Bay and Richmond, GoodtoGrownz.co.nz, just look for Madex3.   It’s not a cheap pest control material, but it will last for years in your freezer. And if you cleverly share a 100 ml bottle with your neighbour or friend it is the best and safest method of keeping the caterpillars out of your pip fruit.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 28 September 2024, frontman of legendary rock band The Veils, Finn Andrews joins Jack to chat new music, regrouping, and looking ahead to WOMAD 2025.  Jack considers his take on working from home versus in the office.  Film reviewer Francesca Rudkin offers her take on Brad Pitt and George Clooney's return to the big screen in Wolfs.  Mike Yardley dishes on $5 Michelin-star offerings in Singapore.  And Lianne Moriarty is back with a brand-new novel, Here One Moment, which book reviewer Catherine Raynes gives her thoughts on.  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.

What exactly is an abdominal hernia?   - It’s where an internal part of body pushes through weak part of your abdominal wall muscle, creating a lump that often you can feel.  - It’s very common, more common in men but can occur in any age from babies to the elderly.  - There’s several different types:   - Inguinal: occurs in the groin and can sometimes cause lump in the scrotum.  - Femoral: occurs where abdomen joins leg.  - Umbilical: the front of the stomach often around the tummy button.  - Hiatus: where stomach pushes up into the chest.  - Incisional: over a surgery scar   What causes hernias?   - Lots of different things: being overweight, coughing or sneezing, constipation, pregnancy.  - Some people have weaker abdominal walls, and hernias can occur more easily.  - Occasionally caused by injury from lifting – in which case can be covered by ACC   What should you look out for and are they serious?   - Most people notice a bulging lump in their stomach or groin.  - You may occasionally notice discomfort when bending over or lifting things.  - Generally they are small, and if they pop out they can be easily pushed back in. - Over time they can become bigger and cause more discomfort and pain.  - Occasionally the bowel can twist and not be able to be pushed back in and become strangulated. This is serious and requires urgent medical help.     What do about them?   - Your GP will take a history and examine you to diagnose a hernia, they may order a U/S if unsure.  - If it’s minor and not causing problems, just watch and wait.  - However, if it’s causing pain and discomfort, they may recommend surgery.  - An operation to fix the abdominal wall with stitches or what is called mesh, it’s often a keyhole surgery.  - You can try to avoid them by eating food with fibre so you don’t become constipated, not putting on weight, and careful lifting with your knees instead of your back.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your next smartphone will be on your face   Meta showcased their "Orion" glasses which they believe will be the smartphone of the future. They'll allow you to see 'holograms' of information or avatars of friends and colleagues, as well as have instant voice access to AI. This version of the glasses is the best we've seen when it comes to being an attractive pair of glasses that are light weight and have a high-quality projection screen that it's actually useful.   There's a tonne of tech around these, including a wristband that can interpret your hand signals to interact with the holograms and take actions. These glasses are not ready for primetime - they're costing $10,000 to produce. Right now you can buy the Meta Ray-Ban sunglasses, which are getting an upgrade. You'll be able to ask the AI to tell you about things you can see, thanks to video recognition tools.    Will a wildfire take out your dream home? A major real-estate site will give you a forecast   Zillow is one of America's go-to real estate listing platforms. They were the leader in providing a "Zestimate" of what your home is worth and will now lead the way to educate buyers on the potential climate risks to be thinking about. By the end of the year there'll be a section on each listing to show a risk score for the potential for wildfires, flooding, extreme temperatures, high winds and poor air quality, as well as the potential cost of insurance over time. Of those new listings added in August - 16% were at major risk of a wildfire and 13% at major risk of flooding.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nobody Wants This   An agnostic sex podcaster and a newly single rabbi fall in love, but can their relationship survive their wildly different lives and meddling families? (Netflix)    FROM   From the producers of Lost comes this tale of a nightmarish town that traps all those who enter. As the unwilling residents search for a way out, they must try to protect themselves from the terrifying creatures that come out at night (TVNZ+).   National Treasures   Explore NZ’s recent history - the wonderful, the hidden and the controversial. Join Scotty and Stacey Morrison, as they showcase unique historical objects and their personal stories. Made with the support of NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho (TVNZ+).  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Megalopolis  A conflict between Cesar, a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare.  Wolfs  Hired to cover up a high-profile crime, a fixer soon finds his night spiralling out of control when he's forced to work with an unexpected counterpart.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring is a funny old time for fresh fruit. The apples and pears have been in cool store forever, rhubarb can be temperamental and scarce, and the berries and stone fruit are not nearly ready, so we’re left with the trusty banana.    I love my banana cake studded with walnuts and sultanas but you can also leave them out if you prefer.     Ingredients  125g butter, softened   ½ cup sugar   2 medium eggs   2 large, ripe bananas, broken into pieces   Drizzle of golden syrup or maple syrup   70g walnut pieces   ½ cup sultanas    2 cups self-raising flour    ½ tsp cinnamon    ¼ tsp baking soda   2 tbsps plain Greek yoghurt   Splash of milk if needed – see note   Method  Heat oven to 180 C. Grease and line a large loaf tin.   In a standing mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.   Add a drizzle of golden/maple syrup, the banana pieces, walnuts and sultanas to the creamed mixture. Sift in the self-raising flour, baking soda and cinnamon and gently beat or stir to combine. Don’t over mix but make sure there are no remaining pockets of flour either. Stir in the yoghurt. If it’s too stiff a splash of milk might be useful too.   Scrape the batter into the tin. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean when placed in the centre. Leave to cool.     Note  Having made this loaf cake many times I can attest that sometimes the batter is a little stiff, other times not so. It’s likely due to the size of the eggs, the variance in the temperature of the butter or the thickness of whatever yoghurt I’m using. I aim for a dropping consistency so if it errs on the stiff side, stir in a splash of milk to make it more manageable.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My take on working from home versus working in the office is you can’t really say any one model is perfect for everyone in every business or workplace and every sector or industry. There are workplaces where working from home might be better than working from the office. There are workplaces where the traditional model holds true. And there are workplaces that’ll find themselves somewhere in between.  I work six days a week, and typically do five in the office and one at home. Newsrooms are noisy, distracting, slightly chaotic, open-plan environments. That’s why I love them! But I have to read a lot, and I have to process detail. Once a week, it is so good to escape the office and bury myself in detail at home, without the risk of being distracted every two minutes.  Maybe I’m giving the productivity argument too much credit. If the primary reason to get public servants to go into the office in-person is actually just to prop up Wellington businesses, it’s a pretty lousy reason. But I actually think the reaction to the government’s directive this week was a bit overblown. They didn’t say all public servants HAVE to work from the office every day. They just said working from home was not an automatic entitlement, and that arrangements would have to be agreed between employers and employees. Working from home arrangements should only be agreed when they don’t impact agency objectives. Am I missing something? That seems pretty reasonable to me. I don’t see anything about mandating. My read is it still allows for flexibility, so long as it doesn’t compromise the quality of an agency’s work.   And actually, this government is making a bit of a habit of issuing directives that don’t cost it a thing, but will be met with a similar reaction from a big slab of the public.  A prime example is the cellphone ban in schools. I’ve always supported it. I just think it’s common sense, and now even the opposition education spokesperson supports it, too.   And teacher-only days! Unions and schools might rightly be frustrated at any implication they’re wasting time or doing something that isn’t worthwhile. Many schools time their teacher-only-days for long weekends, and regardless, schools still have to be open for a specific number of days a year. Also, I think it’s a bit rich to suggest that teacher-only-days have a major impact on truancy.   But I for one was surprised to learn that under the current rules, teacher-only-days are only supposed to be held outside of term time. Is there really a compelling reason that shouldn’t be the case?   It’ll be a blow to morale for many teachers and schools. But that directive was all about parents. And I can tell you now, a vast majority of them are not going to marching in the streets to demand a return of mid-term teacher-only days. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.