Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Toxic Town - (Netflix) Based on a true story and featuring an all-star cast, this British drama follows the story of three mothers involved in the Corby toxic waste case as they battled to hold those responsible to account. The Mission - (Netflix) A documentary series that sees reporter Marc Fennell investigate a 1980s art heist in the Australian Outback, unravelling a true-crime story of bizarre revelations. Running Point - (Netflix) Kate Hudson stars in this American sports comedy about a reformed party girl who has to prove herself when she’s unexpectedly put in charge of her family’s basketball team. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Wenham is an Australian actor who has really made his mark. From Lord of the Rings, Van Helsing and Lion, he has a new film out, ‘Spit’. The film is a sequal to the 2003 movie ‘Gettin’ Square’. David Wenham talks to Jack Tame about the role. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne had his first experience with an online art auction.  He said it was better than the movies … although unsuccessful.  Kevin told Jack Tame about how one piece sold for more than double the expected price.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a sports fan, I suppose it was actually a genuinely meaningful moment. I was sitting on the couch last night. 7.28pm. Sleeping baby in my arms. Remote in my hand. A decision to make. Do I watch Moana Pasifika play the Highlanders? Neither of which is my first choice team but Super Rugby is Super Rugby and it was a local derby, no less. Or do I switch channels and watch the Phoenix play Melbourne City in the A-League? Again, not a result I was particularly invested in or angsting over but a game I knew enough about to at least know it was being played. It’s kind of ridiculous, the extent to which our household has been caught up in the Auckland FC ride. After we attended the first couple of games – and loved it – my wife ended up splurging on memberships for the rest of the season for me and our 8-year-old boy. From a live sport perspective, they’ve absolutely nailed a couple of fundamentals. For starters, there is an amazing family atmosphere. They’ve had various play areas for the kids: blow-up football arenas, a huge artificial beach behind one of the goals for the kids to make sandcastles, and an enormous blow-up slide stretching the length of the northern embankment, sliding down which on day one I very nearly lost my shorts. Games kick off at 5pm so you’re home with the kids by 8pm at the latest. I think one of the most under-rated qualities is the stadium. Warriors fans know this, too. Go-Media (Mt Smart) was a sell-out last weekend for the derby. 27,000 people. The atmosphere was incredible! And while most games don’t get quite that many fans, it’s always closer to full than empty. You never get that feeling you sometimes get in big stadiums, when it feels like you’re watching a game in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. I really hope sports administrators take note: it is so much better to watch live sport in a full mid-size stadium than to watch it an empty big stadium. Anyway..back to my decision. My vote with the remote. In some ways, I reckon the real measure of Auckland FC’s success is the stuff on the periphery. The stuff that’s bigger than the team. I’m not naïve enough to think they’ll keep winning forever! Since the start of the A-League season, our boy has become obsessed with football. He spends hours in the backyard practising skills and accidentally kicking his ball into the neighbour’s swimming pool. He went and picked up ‘The Encyclopaedia of Football’ from the library, and makes me read to him as his bedtime story the excruciating detail contained within. Last week I had to read a whole chapter on football pitch turf preparation techniques. He’s eight! He sat there, transfixed, as I ran through a paragraph on the drainage system at Wembley. And, if I’m honest, I have been affected too. At least I realised I have, last night, when instead of picking the game I would’ve picked to watch every Friday for the last thirty years, I switched from an exciting, close game of Super Rugby to the A-League instead. I switched from an exciting, close game of Super Rugby to the A-League instead. I wonder how many households in New Zealand might be doing the same.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Groove Armada are legends of dance and electronic music. Tom Findlay and Andy Cato make up the duo – and have been pumping out tracks for over a quarter of a century, building a reputation as one of the best. They’ve captured the magic... they’ve reached iconic status... they’ve had to cancel gigs because they were scared too many people would turn up. And they’re coming back to New Zealand to round off our summer with a bang. The pair are set to play at Auckland Domain next weekend before heading down to Queenstown, Christchurch and Wellington. Ticket information can be found at endeavour.live/groovearmada LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 22 February 2025, Groove Armada are bringing their genre-defying discography down under and catch up with Jack to chat raves, record deals and regenerative farming. Every parent has a birth story - and now Jack does too. Making the most of stone fruit season, Nici Wickes share a delightful peach and blueberry tart recipe. Tara Ward dishes all on the brand-new season of The White Lotus. And, Chris Schulz took one for the team and danced the night away at Australasia's biggest two-day festival Electric Avenue. He gives some insight into the spectacle. 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.

Hagley Park plays host now to the biggest two-day festival in all of Australasia, Electric Ave, and entertainment reporter Chris Schultz is there live.  "It really is something, the city is maxed out - you can't get accommodation, there's queues for food places all over town. Its that busy down here."  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jackie – Public, Private, Secret by J. Randy Taraborrelli About first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The book includes a number of details about Kennedy's private life that had not previously been made public. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins What if the key to happiness, success, and love was as simple as two words? If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated with where you are, the problem isn't you. The problem is the power you give to other people. Two simple words-Let Them-will set you free. Free from the opinions, drama, and judgments of others. Free from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you. The Let Them Theory puts the power to create a life you love back in your hands.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the alluring, unmistakable truths about Hanmer Springs is that the gorgeous alpine haven has stayed true to its roots. It’s been a sanctuary for the weary and the leisure-seeking for centuries. With a long and storied legacy as a hot-spot for healing mind, body and soul, Hanmer Springs proudly remains a premium alpine spa destination, whether you’re a loved-up couple looking for a weekend escape, treating the whole family to some elemental treats, or you’re after some personal pampering. And it’s just an easy90 minute drive from Christchurch Airport, through the bucolic North Canterbury hinterland. Nature is the unbeatable balm to sooth the soul and spark your spirits in this secluded high-country basin. My first stop was at the resort village’s crowning glory, Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa. With a lustrous back-story, the hot springs were developed as a publicly-owned bathhouse in 1884, fortuitously chiming with that insatiable Victorian passion for geothermal water and its therapeutic qualities. Prior to that, pounamu-gathering Māori had used the area as a resting place for centuries, while returning soldiers were sent to Hanmer to recuperate, after both world wars. (It’s great to see the historic old Soldiers’ Block, next to the pools, is currently being restored and set to reopen on Anzac Day.) Hanmer Springs is my runaway favourite place to get into hot water. But before surrendering to the sweet sensation of this watery wonderland, my body was in need of some professional panel-beating, so I headed to The Spa Hanmer Springs. It’s one of New Zealand’s busiest day spas, so book in advance and take your pick from the slew of exquisite treatments, from facials and feet retreats to the full body affair.  I was booked in for a Spa Signature Massage, which is a full body relaxation massage. But as I chatted to my charming therapist Sophie about my various aches and pains, she switched up the treatment into a deep tissue recovery massage. Spending copious hours on the keyboard and long-distance driving, plus several days of line-trimming my jungle-like garden into a presentable state had all taken its toll. Over the course of an hour, Sophie’s skilful techniques dealt to all the knots in my lower back, and released the stress and strain from my muscles. It was a liberating, corrective massage and I floated out of the spa like a happy little cloud.  Luring over half a million visitors annually, the adjoining thermal pools complex is a sizzling attraction, where you can hop-scotch between the 22-strong network of rockpools, aqua therapy pools and sulphur pools. The latter are completely natural, containing unfiltered mineral water, with a soft and silky feel and piping hot at 42-45C. You can also laze in the highly-sociable hexagonal pools, loll about in the freshwater lap pool and lazy river, or enjoy some high-action spills on the waterslides, headlined by the nation’s biggest slide Conical Thrill, and the recently installed hydro slides, Violet Vortex and Waiau Winder. I lolloped around the pools on multiple occasions during my stay. They’re just so good. https://hanmersprings.co.nz/ After enjoying some body therapy, I dabbled in some retail therapy from the eye-catching assortment of independent boutiques, homeware and gift stores clustered around the tree-lined main street. There’s a host of temptations, but I’m a big fan of Homestead and the Ada Design Store, for beautiful gifts and artistic home décor. Sweet tooths? The kids go crazy at the Lolly Pot, while a perennial go-to for nearly 25 years is Fudgelato, for fresh and creamy fudge and gelato. (Great name!) Two-wheeled pursuits are a big draw in Hanmer and after far too much indulgence, I had excess calories to burn. Pop into Hanmer Adventure’s main street store who will get you pedalling in paradise, with a full range of rental bikes to choose from, from e-bikes to basic hardtail. They’ll get you geared up too, with helmets and gloves. There’s nearly 20 mountain bike tracks around Hanmer Springs, spanning all levels of expertise and endurance. If you’re up for a gentle introduction, Hanmer Forest Park’s Camp Walk Loop is a cracker, under a vast canopy of mature trees, while Alligator Alley and Snakes & Ladders are excellent trails too for easy-riding. www.hanmeradventure.co.nz A family-favourite on foot in the Hanmer Heritage Forest, off Jollies Pass Road, is the Forest Amble Walk and the animal sculpture trail. These whimsical wooden sculptures were created by Christchurch sculptor, Andrew Lyons, crafted out of a felled Redwood. The sculptures include a friendly giant, a hawk, a dog, possum and orangutan. The 30-minute return walk follows a flat and easy track and it’s very embracing -  suitable for toddlers, buggies and the elderly. Where to dine? Fuel up for your day’s adventures with a cranking breakfast at the Powerhouse Café. Located in a historic hydro power station which celebrates its centenary next year, y

Lots of panic questions about Monarchs this year: in Auckland they are recorded as “pretty rare”, whereas in Christchurch I see them quite regularly and they’re doing fine in my garden. There are always some troubles with wasps. These predators are quite keen to chew the monarch caterpillars to pieces and take the protein back to the wasp nest as food for their larvae. It sounds awful and it looks awful; the common-German wasps (and Paper wasps) are, after all, imported pests that don’t belong here. Keep your plants with caterpillars under netting; the wasps can not access them. Another trick is to grow your swan plants in large pots, which can be moved to new sites when wasps discover the precious cargo; the wasp’s GPS system is disrupted when you change the position of the swan plants. Running out of food is often bad news – caterpillars starving Always keep an extra plant or two under curtain netting, so female monarchs can’t lay eggs on those spare food plants!! It also pays to reduce the number of eggs/caterpillars per plant (birth-control) I must confess: I had some trouble managing the number of caterpillars this year: they we sometimes eating the tops of the naked swanplants… and in pairs!! I tend to keep my caterpillars inside the tunnel house, so that the female monarchs couldn’t get at them to lay more and more eggs “Go Fly to Auckland and Do something with your Life” is what I usually say…  Sometimes caterpillars are found limp and dying This is often caused by predation by brown soldier bugs (Cermatulus nasalis) who stick their sucking tubes into the caterpillars and slowly such them dry. Look for the soldier bugs (brown version of the garden stink bug!!) and get rid of them! Accidents do happen, especially when the last instar caterpillar does its very last change from Caterpillar to Chrysalis. That in itself is a tricky manoeuvre: the caterpillar hangs from a small patch of silk while it takes its skin of. The trick is then to hook its chrysalis “claws” into the same white silken pad, so it can hang there as long as it takes to change into an adult butterfly. There are a few videos that capture the way a caterpillar becomes a chrysalis; have a look at how the caterpillar manages that without falling. But sometimes things go horribly wrong and if you discover a fallen chrysalis soon after the accident happened, you can carefully pick that very fragile creature up and literally hang it back where it needs to be… Very delicate “First Aid”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Things You Didn’t Know You Can Compost Composting isn’t just for fruit and veggie scraps. There are plenty of surprising household items that can break down naturally and keep waste out of landfill. Pet Hair & Human Hair – Full of nitrogen, hair helps balance your compost pile. Nail Clippings – As long as they’re free from polish. Cardboard Toilet Rolls & Egg Cartons – A great source of carbon (browns) for your compost bin (most people don't put enough browns/carbon into their compost and it gets stinky, so this is a great accessible one) Natural Wine Corks – Chop them up for faster breakdown. (Avoid plastic-based ones!) Used Paper Towels & Napkins – As long as they’re not soaked in chemicals or grease. Coffee Grounds & Tea Bags – Tea bags must be plastic-free (many contain microplastics). Wooden Toothpicks & Bamboo Skewers – Break them into smaller pieces for easier decomposition. Old Cotton & Wool Socks – Only 100% natural fibres (no synthetics or elastane- unless the elastane is plant based, which is quite rare). Dead Houseplants & Cut Flowers – If they haven’t been treated with pesticides. Pencil Shavings & Uncoated Paper Scraps – A good source of carbon-rich material. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sprained ankle, one of the most common injuries seen at practice. What is a sprained ankle? Injury that occurs when you roll, twist or turn your ankle in an awkward way. Commonest injury when the sole of foot turned inwards – called an inversion injury – damages outside of ankle. The injury strains or tears the ligaments that help hold and stabilise the joint. What are the risks of a sprained ankle and main symptoms? Obvious risk is playing sport – rugby soccer where the ankle ‘rolls’ Uneven surfaces, being unfit, improper shoes causing you to fall, landing awkwardly after jump, higher risk if previous sprained ankle. . Main symptom one:  immediate pain after roll the ankle,  difficulty walking swelling and painful to touch. Bruising  and restricted movement of the ankle, popping sound, sensation  when the injury occurs.   How do we teat them? Immediate treatment: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Pain relief with things such as paracetamol. If not settled in 48 hours see your doctor to: Examine the ankle, may order x-ray to make sure not broken. Get physio involved to start exercise program to get the ankle back to normal. May take up to 6 weeks to heal. In severe cases : may use a ‘moon boot’ or walking boot to immobilise the ankle till swelling goes down. How do we prevent them? Warm up before sports ankle support if previously injured. Good fitting shoes important ( high heels a risk!) Stay fit, practice balance exercises. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crypto has been under investigation for allegedly trading unregistered securities, but the newUS Government has now stopped investigations. Coinbase gave $75 million to pro-crypto PACs and made a seven-figure donation to Trump's inaugural committee, not to mention the CEO's additional $1.3 million in personal contributions. Coincidence? Expert Paul Stenhouse talks to Jack about the issue, and why the US government is turning off its EV chargers. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zero Day -  (Netflix) Robert de Niro makes his small screen debut in this political conspiracy thriller that follows former US president George Mullan as he is called out of retirement to locate the source of a devastating global cyberattack. A Thousand Blows - (Disney+) Hezekiah and Alec, two best friends from Jamaica, fight for survival in the violent melting pot of Victorian London's East End; they come up against Sugar Goodson, a dangerous, veteran boxer. White Lotus - (Neon) A brand new season of the critically acclaimed drama about a group of spoiled, overprivileged guests staying at a five star luxury hotel and the staff who have to tend to their every need.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This tart is so very buttery and rich yet somehow summery and fresh too! It’s the perfect tart to take to a picnic, and if you pack a jar of whipped cream on iceyou’ll achieve true picnic hero status.  Makes 25cm tart  Ingredients: 2 sheets sweet short pastry, or make your own (see below)  200g butter, softened 150g caster sugar 3 medium eggs 200g ground almonds 4 tablespoons plain flour 4 fresh peaches, peeled and quartered 150g fresh blueberries 1 tablespoon liquid honey or maple syrup Instructions:  Heat oven to 200 C and place a metal tray in to heat up.  Line a 25cm loose bottom tart tin with the pastry. Sweet short pastry is very forgiving so just patch it up as you need to to get full coverage. Prick all over with a fork and chill in the freezer while you make the frangipane filling.  To make the filling, cream the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add in the eggs, beating well between each addition. Stir in the ground almonds and flour and mix until just combined.  Spoon the frangipane into the chilled pastry, spreading it evenly. Top with the peaches and blueberries.   Place tart on preheated tray and bake for 35 minutes or until filling is set and tart is golden brown. Cool.  Brush top with warmed honey or maple syrup before packing up to take to the picnic.  Serve slices with whipped cream.  Shortcrust pastry 200g plain flour Pinch salt  100g butter 1 egg yolk  2-3 tablespoons ice cold water Blitz the flour, salt and butter in a food processor until it resembles bread crumbs. Drizzle in egg yolk and some of the iced water and continue to pulse and drip in remaining water until it comes together.  Turn out on a bench and bring it together to form a disc. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before using to line a tart tin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Francesca Rudkin is back with Two Oscar nominated documentaries, both screening exclusively on the streaming service DocPlay. No Other Land - This film made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective shows the destruction of the occupied West Bank's Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the alliance which develops between the Palestinian activist Basel and Israeli journalist Yuval. Black Box Diaries - Journalist Shiori Ito conducts an investigation into her own sexual assault, aiming to bring the prominent perpetrator to justice. Her pursuit evolves into a significant legal case, revealing the antiquated judicial and societal frameworks in Japan. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chiefs beat the Crusaders yesterday but almost double.  Both teams were coming off impressive wins in the first weekend of Super Rugby last week.  Sports Reporter Andrew Saville talks to Jack about the tournament, Joseph Parkers disappointment, and the Kiwi football derby tonight.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While we await the name of Jack's baby boy, Kevin Milne joins the show to discuss the Do's and Don'ts if you're not one of the parents.  "I reckon is that if you don't like the name that someone else has given their child, don't say anything negative." LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the end, it was just over an hour. Just over an hour between being asleep on the floor of Auckland hospital, to standing, bewildered under the delivery suite lights, helping to dress my newborn son. Mava had been induced on Sunday – the scans had suggested that all was ok but that our baby was small for his age. We spent an oddly serene day waiting for the induction medication to kick in. They give you a dose every two hours until you go into labour but sometimes it takes a few hours to work and sometimes it takes days. It was actually lovely, in a way. Mava and I both read for hours in-between the doses. We went for coffee and a stroll in the domain, Mava constantly assessing baby’s every shift and every hint of a contraction. My goodness, though, when it happened... it happened. Zero to one hundred. A blur.  I won’t labour you with all of the details but it’s become clear to me that there's a reason every parent has a birth story.  It was surreal. It just felt like a week’s worth of crazy experiences happened in the space of fifteen minutes. It was beautiful, wild, traumatic, thrilling... it was animal. All these things.  Mava was incredible. I felt so proud of her, and yet so helpless at the same time.  And weirdly through it all, I felt calm. I’m not bragging. I’m not saying calmness was a good response – honestly I was probably just a bit stunned – and it turned out our son was too when he came out. They hurried him off and chucked him on the oxygen and he regained his colour. I took my cues from our amazing midwife and the other hospital staff. She wasn’t freaking out too much and so I didn’t either.  The scans were right – our son was small for his gestational age. But he what lacked in size he made up for in his capacity to feed. There can be no doubt he has inherited my skin tone, my hair colour, and my appetite. This morning is the longest I’ve been away from him in his life, but at five days old I know him well enough to know that right now he is probably feeding.  Isn’t it incredible how instinct works? Out of the womb, almost blind, and yet he absolutely throws himself at the boob. Head back, mouth wide, latch! Who taught him that?!  A few random takeaways: 1) The placenta. Wow. That thing could feed a family of four.  2) We had three nights in hospital and a couple more in Birthcare afterwards. If our experience of the New Zealand healthcare system this week is anything to go by, it is being completely held together by migrant workers: Indians, Filipinos, Europeans, South Americans, Pasifika... they were fantastic. For all the justified concern over the health care system as a whole, we had a really positive experience and felt so grateful to the people working in what are often very tricky conditions.  3) Women's bodies, eh? To have the capacity to grow an entire human being, from his skinny little frog legs folded up at his belly, to his tiny little fingernails to the lightest fur on his pink little cheeks. To grow him, birth him, and then, having done it all, having done everything... to immediately switch to nourishing him day and night. What can I tell you about our son? He’s got his mum’s eyes. He sucks his thumb. His first music was the Koln Concert and he made sure to stay up to watch Will Young and Tom Latham  score centuries against Pakistan. His name will be finalised soon enough. When he’s bulked up a bit, he’s got a long list of visitors waiting to meet him, too.  After five nights away, yesterday I put our son in his carseat and drove him home. His older brother ran home from school and cuddled him on the couch. Through the madness and exhaustion of the week, running on caffeine, sugar, and love, we sat there together, a family. It was perfect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The sun is out and iconic Kiwis are returning to our shores.  Model and actress Rachel Hunter is back In New Zealand for the summer, teaming up with Uber Eats to bring Kiwis to the beach.   She revealed to Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that she’s actually over for around three months every year, splitting the rest of her time between LA, London, and the various retreats she does in places like India and Bali.  “I’m very lucky,” Hunter said.  Since she spends so much time away from our shores, she’s seen the country change with every visit, but much still stays the same.  “There’s like, y’know, the things that you eat, the dairies, y’know, the beaches, the places especially during the summertime, when everyone goes off on their breaks ... you can't help but be pulled to memories of your childhood.”   “Skylines change, I mean, so is the rest of the world,” she told Tame.  “But I think fundamentally, when we come back to our homeland, you can’t help but provoke those really amazing times growing up.”  Hunter is involved in quite a few projects, but a brand new one is releasing pretty soon.  ‘Human Spirit’ is her new podcast, releasing on the 20th, to which she says they have some “great New Zealand guests” involved.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US indie folk band The Lumineers are back.   Automatic is the group’s fifth studio album, and has members Jeremiah Fraites and Wesley Schultz travelling “new sonic and thematic terrain” after twenty years of partnership.   There’s a vulnerability and intimacy to the music, with vocalist Schultz pushing his vocals to the limit.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to share her thoughts on the release.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes   Lila Kennedy has a lot on her plate. A broken marriage, two wayward daughters, a house that is falling apart, and an elderly stepfather who seems to have quietly moved in. Her career is in freefall and her love life is . . . complicated. So when her real dad—a man she has barely seen since he ran off to Hollywood thirty-five years ago—suddenly appears on her doorstep, it feels like the final straw. But it turns out even the family you thought you could never forgive might have something to teach about love, and what it actually means to be family.    The Peacock and the Sparrow by I. S. Barry   Shane Collins, a world-weary CIA spy, is ready to come in from the cold. Stationed in Bahrain off the coast of Saudi Arabia for his final tour, he's anxious to dispense with his mission—uncovering Iranian support for the insurgency against the monarchy. But then he meets Almaisa, a beautiful and enigmatic artist, and his eyes are opened to a side of Bahrain most expats never experience, to questions he never thought to ask.  When his trusted informant becomes embroiled in a murder, Collins finds himself drawn deep into the conflict. His budding romance with Almaisa—and his loyalties—are upended; in an instant, he's caught in the crosswinds of a revolution. Drawing on all his skills as a spymaster, he sets out to learn the truth behind the Arab Spring, win Almaisa's love, and uncover the murky border where Bahrain's secrets end and America's begin.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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