Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 18 May 2024, award-winning Australian comedian Rhys Nicholson has crossed the ditch to bring their charm and wittiness to the NZ International Comedy Festival. This week, Jack experienced tragedy with a shocking tree pruning. Tara Ward spills on Bridgerton's latest serving of high society seduction and scandal in Screentime, while clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland dissects a brand-new report estimating that bullying in the workplace costs New Zealand employers around $1.5 billion a year. Plus, Jack and Sav try to keep up with how many sportsmen have been arrested in the past 48 hours. 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.

Workplace bullying has come with a high price tag. It’s estimated that it costs New Zealand around $1.5 billion a year, 50% of the costs arising from the impact on female workers. Dougal Sutherland told Jack Tame that the report should really slap organisations and businesses around the head, as it demonstrates the sheer extent of the problem. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An ARIA award winning comedian and judge on Ru Paul’s Drag Race Down Under, Rhys Nicholson is quite the entertainer. They’ve brought their wittiness, charm, and laughs across the ditch this week as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival. Last night saw them delight Auckland crowds, and this morning Nicholson joined Jack Tame to discuss their career, Drag Race, and the Comedy Festival. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever since moving to Christchurch I have been trapping pests: stoats and possums, rats and mice. Think Predator-Free New Zealand! Mice are quite common here on the Port Hills; rather rural with heaps of herbage, seeds, and grasses, plus good seed crops in the gardens. Mice are an important food source for rats and stoats. They also eat heaps of Native New Zealand Invertebrates (caterpillars, beetles, weevils). In summer the mice have a great time, breeding like mice. In autumn the wusses get a bit cold and look for shelter in people’s homes and ceilings as well garages. I have about 10 mouse traps employed and they’re going off regularly. Big populations at the moment, be warned! A few weeks ago, I attended a lecture by Pete McClelland, one of New Zealand’s unsung heroes when it comes to pest eradication. Pete has been managing huge projects on Subantarctic Islands and Tropical islands for many years. Fascinating stuff and very much one of the inspirational tools to create a Predator-Free Aotearoa. Of course, he was always dealing with the famous exotic pests that somehow gained entrance to an ecosystem that never had those pests before. From Donkeys to Deer and from Ferrets to Rodents, Feral Cats to Foxes and Rats to Mice. Mice are often seen as the small (almost cute) creature that is probably the least impactful pest on the world list. Many people would be surprised to learn that these ubiquitous mice (Mus musculus) are a complete pain on many isolated islands in Hawaii (Midway atoll), Gough Island (in the south Atlantic), Marion Island (in the Southern part of the Indian Ocean), to name just a few important Nature reserves with Albatrosses and other ornithological gems. The mice on these islands have climbed up the ladder of the ecosystem so cleverly that they can attack huge albatrosses at night (while they are incubating their eggs). They do this by chewing open the tops of the birds’ heads, eating the brains and simply keep on extending the damage, which ultimately becomes fatal for those birds. Should you wish to see the horrific pictures of these massacres, caused by, simply google the names of these islands and the words “mice” Summing up: Not uncommon on islands, those adaptable mice, causing ecological damage, and oh yes, New Zealand is an island too, remember! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wine: Neudorf 2023 Tiritiri Chardonnay, Nelson $29 Why I chose it: - Terrific Chardonnay, like a good French Chablis - Neudorf is one of the country’s top chardonnay producers - NZ is a top Chardonnay producer - 2014 Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay – 100 pts What does it taste like? Taut, vibrant chardonnay with pronounced oyster shell/saline, hazelnut and subtle nutty oak flavours. Impressive purity and power with good cellaring potential although it can certainly be appreciated now. Why it’s a bargain: -Worth at least twice the price Where can you buy it? -Neudorf Wines, Upper Moutere, Nelson $29 Food match? -Seafoods, especially oysters. Will it keep? -No rush, keeps five or six years? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everything you know about Google Search is about to change Google’s famous ten blue links will be replaced in the USA thanks to AI. Forget typing in keywords, Google now wants you to ask it questions and it will give you answers. No more links, but paragraphs of answers. "AI overviews" will appear when the technology determines it's the fastest way to answer a user. This is rather terrifying for news organizations who have already sounded the alarm that their digital revenues will plummet if traffic is reduced. Anyone who has a business that relies on search traffic for inbound leads should be nervous too. Information from your blog posts and landing pages will be sucked up and the content will be used for the answer, but you may never see the lead. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT has hired a Google Search veteran, and now the race for the "search engine 2.0" is on. Reddit posts are being used to train ChatGPT It's a great treasure trove of content, written and moderated by humans, going back almost two decades that OpenAI hopes will boost their AI efforts. Reddit's shares popped on the news. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ First has introduced a new bill that would fine those who do not use the public bathroom of their designated sex. Winston Peters announced the bill to ensure all non-domestic public locations have “clearly signed unisex and single-sex bathrooms. Kevin Milne thinks the only positive of the bill is that it won't become law, but has some alternatives he thinks could be adopted instead. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ oranges are some of the best in the world, I think! Gisborne and Kerikeri produce the finest citrus and this cake is one to really highlight them. It's a simple cake but is so versatile. It makes a decent tea cake or serve it warm with custard and cream for a dessert. Serves 6-8 Ingredients 1 large orange, chopped roughly, skin and all 1 ½ cups sugar 200g butter 3 eggs 1 ½ cups plain flour 1 heaped tsp baking powder Pinch of salt Custard and whipped cream to serve Method Pre-heat oven to 170 C fanbake. Grease and line a 20cm round cake tin. Blitz orange in a food processor. In a large bowl beat together the sugar and butter until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, beating after each addition. Mix in the dry ingredients and the blitzed orange and beat briefly. Don’t beat for too long or the flour will make for a tough cake. Scrape into prepared tin. Bake for 50 minutes then check with that a skewer inserted comes out clean – it may need 5 or 10 more minutes. Serve with custard and whipped cream. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was my fault. One of those things that came about because of whole lot of factors, but which can ultimately be boiled down to doing too much at once. Work, family, life. I was too stretched. Too stressed. And something gave. But why did it have to be the trees? This will sound really crazy, but I only realised afterwards that maybe the single-biggest reason I bought my home, was the trees. We’ve got a section that slowly slopes down, so the backyard is at a lower level than the main living area. It means you would step in off the street, walk into the main living area on the top storey, and suddenly be eye-to-eye with a huge wall of green. A jacaranda, a plane tree, a karaka and a pohutakawa, all of them probably decades old, and with enough thickness in the coverage that you couldn’t see beyond them. I would step out of Auckland, the noise and the traffic, and into this perfect green sanctuary. A cocoon. Tui, blackbirds, piwaka, they loved it. The problem with a perfect green canopy with no light passing through is my neighbour noticed no light was passing through. She asked if we could prune the trees. Just to let some morning light through. They must have been almost twenty metres high. I wanted to do the neighbourly thing. A lovely guy came around and surveyed the canopy. “We’ll do it on Thursday.” he said. I think it was a communication thing, which is another reason why I take the blame. If anyone should be able to communicate, it’s the professional communicator, right? But my wife and I were at work all day, and by the time we got home, it was done. The trees weren’t just pruned, they were pruned. Metres taken out of them, right across the top. A straight, brutal cut. Like a bowl cut, but for trees. With all of thickest green canopy, the leaves that provided such a dense, rich canopy, the favourite branches for tui and the piwakawaka, gone. I walked into my lounge, where previously I’d stare out at a wall of green. I stared out at a wall of houses. I looked at the stumps of the branches, and I felt tears prick in my eyes. My wife didn’t hold back. She walked in the front door, looked at the trees and tears streamed down her face. The neighbour was delighted at how much light was now passing through. Two nights have passed. Both nights I’ve had broken sleep, lying there thinking about the trees. My wife isn’t much better. She said she felt we damaged their wairua. I can rationalise it. The trees aren’t dead. And I do know they’ll grow back. It may even be that their prune encourages rich, fulsome, rapid new growth. And when there are more leaves and coverage instead of stumpy branches, it’ll be a whole lot less brutal. But no amount of fertiliser or hugs can really speed up the process. We’re looking at years before they are back to where they were. And honestly, I feel terrible about it. I feel stupid. I feel guilty, and I feel grief. Yeah. I grieve for my trees. I know that in the future I’ll laugh about it, but right now it is a very painful lesson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday saw the release of Jordan Rakei’s fifth studio album The Loop, an album he’s wanted to make since he was 19. He took his 35 acoustic demos and refined them down to 13 tracks, recorded over two “action-packed” weeks with an orchestra, choir, and band. Rakei says it’s his most ambitious project to date, inspired by becoming a father. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five Bad Deeds by Caz Frear Teacher, mother, wife, and all-around good citizen Ellen is juggling nonstop commitments, from raising a teen and two toddlers to job-hunting to finally renovating her dream home, the Meadowhouse. Amidst the chaos, an ominous note arrives in the mail, People have to learn there are consequences, Ellen. And I’m going to teach you that lesson. Right under your nose. Why would someone send her this? Ellen has no clue. She’s no angel—a white lie here, an occasional sharp tongue there—but nothing to incur the wrath of an anonymous enemy. She’d never intentionally hurt anyone. But intention doesn’t matter to someone. Someone blames this supposed “good person” for all the bad they’ve experienced. And maybe they have reason to? Because few of us get through life without leaving a black mark on someone else’s. Could the five bad deeds that come to haunt Ellen explain why things have gone so horribly wrong? As she races to discover who’s set on destroying her reputation and her future, Ellen continues to receive increasingly threatening messages... each one hitting closer to everything she cherishes. You Are Here by David Nicholls Sometimes you need to get lost to find your way Marnie is stuck. Stuck working alone in her London flat, stuck battling the long afternoons and a life that often feels like it's passing her by. Michael is coming undone. Reeling from his wife's departure, increasingly reclusive, taking himself on long, solitary walks across the moors and fells. When a persistent mutual friend and some very English weather conspire to bring them together, Marnie and Michael suddenly find themselves alone on the most epic of walks and on the precipice of a new friendship. But can they survive the journey? A new love story by beloved bestseller David Nicholls, You Are Here is a novel of first encounters, second chances and finding the way home. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Staying sustainable when out and about can be something of a challenge, but the key lies in what you bring with you on the go. Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall has mastered the art of reducing waste while on the go, and joined Jack Tame to run through her essentials. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mortgage rules are changing, but what does this mean? Will it be easier to get a mortgage? Harder? Andrew Nicol of Opes Property joined Jack Tame to discuss the changes that come with the updates to the Credits Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allium Rust on garlic has become quite an issue of the past 10 years, not just in Canterbury, where I live, but in many places of New Zealand. Many people complain that this fungal disease strikes in late winter/early spring and the only thing that stops it from hammering the garlic plants is by regular spraying with Copper or copper/sulphur fungicides (Organics!). And regular might be as frequent as every fortnight. Rust is transmitted by air movement – the spores float with the wind and can travel from great distances. If you are in a densely populated area with many gardeners that grow onions, shallots, leeks, and other Allium species, the spores will be all over the place. Traditionally garlic used to be planted on the shortest day (third week of June) and harvested around the longest day (Just before Christmas), but I’ve done some trials now for the last half a dozen years or so to bring those dates forward by at least a month and a half. With rather little success, to be frank – I still need to spray regularly and when I am on the road and miss one of the sprays, the leaves will turn that yucky yellow-orange with the rust. This year I decided to go inside my tunnelhouse; A week ago (on the 4th of May) I planted a few narrow beds of garlic in-between the lingering Tomato plants The tomatoes are still going for at least another month which gives the garlic enough time to develop leaves and do some photosynthesis. The beds go north-south and will be in full sun during the winter months, especially when the tomatoes are pulled out near the shortest day. At the moment, while the soil is still relatively warm, the garlic will have enough heat to sprout the leaves in record tempo. Just when the development of the bulbs starts to take place the spores start flying outside, but with a bit of luck those spores will find it hard to gain access to my tunnelhouse. Fingers crossed! Varieties available from farmers markets and Garden Shops: Printanor is the common old garlic variety you buy at “New World”. Often it is imported from China and treated to stop it sprouting That means no good for planting!! Buy some planting cloves that are either organic or simply not treated. At farmers market you can sometimes purchase interesting varieties: - Californian Red Turban – can grow into huge bulbs (15 cm diameter bulbs) - Macedonian – strong flavour – and somewhat oily - West Coast Miners – rather good, large cloves too - Hard-neck garlic; gets little flowers/bulblets up the stem – edible as soft green salad component, in mid-spring - Elephant garlic is actually a leek, with a swollen stem – not a garlic – very mild flavour Shallots can also be planted now! Well-drained soil, shallow planting (tip just above the ground) – 15 cm spacing. Cover with ground sheep dags (KINPACK) or fine, rich compost. Keep moist but not overly moist, because that encourages rotting. Harvest when the foliage dies down (in my case Early to Mid November) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Amid the treasury of winning attractions across the West Coast, sampling its spoil of historic pubs, steeped in character and heritage is an irrepressible draw. They are keepers of the past and bridges to the present, proudly speaking to our pioneering history, of heady gold and coal rushes, and trail-blazing development. A starring specimen is Formerly The Blackball Hilton, located at the foot of the Paparoa ranges, just 29km from Greymouth." "From Blackball, it’s a short drive to one of the most powerful heritage sites on the West, the Brunner Mine Memorial Site. In a region wrenched by many a mining disaster, this magnificently preserved site is a memorial to New Zealand’s worst mining disaster of all. Strung along the slopes of a deep gorge carved out by the Grey River, Thomas Brunner not only named the river, but the mine bears the name of this intrepid overland explorer, who discovered the vast black coal seam in 1847. Straddling both sides of the river, and crowned with a dramatic suspension bridge, every twist of the pathways around the 2km-long loop walk leads you to vestiges of the old mine." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tattooist of Auschwitz Six-part series based on the international bestselling novel by Heather Morris, inspired by the real-life story of Holocaust prisoners Lali and Gita Sokolov (Neon). Dark Matter A man is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could've lived, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from a most terrifying foe: himself (Apple TV+). Bodkin A group of podcasters set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three strangers in an idyllic Irish town. But when they start to pull the strings, they find a story much bigger and stranger than they could have imagined (Netflix). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 11 May 2024, Jack spoke to kiwi filmmaker James Napier Robertson about his fascination for dysfunctional characters in real life stories and new film Joika. Research has revealed that manual cars will essentially be extinct in the next five years, and Jack considered how engaging automatic cars are to drive. Chef Nici Wickes brought us a winter warmer in the form of a pumpkin & kūmara soup with pesto, and music reviewer Estelle Clifford continues to celebrate NZ Music Month following the release of Jordan Rakei's new album The Loop. Plus, Jack told Francesca Rudkin about his embarrassment following a run-in with actress Anne Hathaway. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fascination for dysfunctional, outsider characters in real life stories has led James Napier Robertson across the stage, small screen, and big screen. The filmmaker has found huge success telling kiwi stories like The Dark Horse starring Cliff Curtis, and 2020's Dame Whina Cooper biopic. Napier Robetson is going global with a story about one of the only American women ever to take part in the Russian ballet, Joy Womack, in his new film Joika. He told Jack Tame that he’s been really struck by Joy’s story, even back when he saw it just by chance. The filmmaker joined Tame to discuss the journey of making the film. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Idea of You A 40-year-old single mum begins an unexpected romance with a 24-year-old boy band singer. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Many years after the reign of Caesar, a young ape goes on a journey that will lead him to question everything he's been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple's iPad launch went as expected They announced a new M4 chip just months after the M3, and put it in their iPad Pros. These chips are blazing fast. Oddly, the iPad Pro is thinner and lighter than the iPad Air - which makes no sense. The lineup is getting super complicated, with each iPad flavor now almost having its own accessories. They are leaning into the Pro part of the iPad though. Final Cut can now bring in external projects and use media on external drives. The new "Final Cut Camera" gives pro-level control on both iPhone and iPad and allows the output to be streamed back to an iPad where four cameras can be monitored and recorded. The iPad Pro is becoming a TV control room in a device. The new ad though, missed the mark It showed creative objects —instruments, paint, a record player— being crushed into an iPad. Yes, it can do it all, but at what cost? Actor Hugh Grant called it a “destruction of human experience". It's starting to show the fine line marketers are going to have to walk with AI too - how do you show that something is helpful, but not going to take away from the 'human experience'. Do we really want fully synthesized music? Digital paint brushes? A robot to become our friend? Maybe all this AI will send us back to non-internet connected cameras, notebooks, and picnics in parks with friends? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Kāore te kūmara e kōrero mō tona ake reka” speaks to humbleness. The kūmara does not speak of its own sweetness. Kūmara softens and sweetens a regular pumpkin soup beautifully. These bowls of golden goodness are a true celebration of our national vegetable. Serves 6-8 Ingredients 1 large onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, diced 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons turmeric 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger 1 small butternut pumpkin, peeled and chopped roughly 500g yellow or orange kūmara, peeled and chopped roughly 4 cups vegetable stock or water 1 cup coconut milk Salt and pepper to season 6-8 teaspoons sour cream to serve 6-8 teaspoons pesto to serve Bread to serve Method In a large saucepan, gently fry the onion and garlic in olive oil for 5 minutes. Add turmeric, ginger, pumpkin, kūmara and stock. Bring to a boil then simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables are soft. Use an immersion blender or food processor to blend to smooth, return to the saucepan and taste for seasoning. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour in coconut milk and bring to the heat then serve in bowls with a dollop of sour cream and pesto on each. Serve with bread. Pesto Ingredients A few big handfuls fresh watercress, rocket or basil ¼ cup roasted almonds, cashews or walnuts Juice from one lemon ¼ teaspoon sea salt ¼- ½ cup olive oil Method Use a food processor to blend together whatever greens and nuts you’re using,, lemon juice and salt. Drizzle in the olive oil until you have a chunky sauce consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quite the achievement has been made in Kevin Milne’s family. The first in their family, his 34-year-old son Jake has run a marathon. Unlike in the past where supporters would have to make the trek out to the course, these days family from around the world was able to watch the race live from the comfort of their own homes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five years. That’s it. According to research this week, manual cars will be essentially extinct within five years. It shouldn’t really come as a great surprise, I suppose. EVs don’t require a manual gearbox, and already this decade there has been a pronounced decline in the production of new manual cars. My first car was a manual. So was my second. The last thing I did before I moved overseas in my twenties was drive with my brother from Auckland to Christchurch, the long way. We shifted up and down, through the gears, all the way around the East Cape. Everyone I knew back then learnt to drive in a manual, unaware of the redundancy that lay around the corner. My dad had strong views on the subject. Automatic transmission seemed kind of posh. My friends, whose parents had cooler, newer cars than our family van (which wasn’t exactly hard) all had automatics. The first time I drove one, I left it in Drive when I switched it off, and freaked out when I couldn’t re-start it. Dad always said that a manual gave you more control. He was right, of course. If you learnt to drive a manual, you were connected to your vehicle and to the road in a way that was never replicated in an automatic. Subconsciously you’d read inclines, you’d assess the breadth and tightness of corners. Is that a corner for second or will I glide around in third? You listened to the car. Most obviously, you used both hands and both feet. I remember how satisfying it was to master a hill start in a manual car. All-four limb coordination. The way you ease the handbrake off, and perfectly balance the clutch and the gas so you don’t move an inch, and balance perfectly against the incline. How good?! Driving’s changed. These days most modern cars are fancy computers on wheels. They beep at you with lane assists and prompts. And the vast majority of cars which people sit their licenses in are automatic. I haven’t owned a manual in 12 years. But even today, when I drive over the mighty Takaka Hill, I always use the tiptronic gears. Better control. Less work for the brakes. Connection to the road. There’s no changing the course of progress on this one. Nor should there be. Whatever benefits there are to getting the World off fossil fuels surely outweigh the downsides. But it doesn’t mean I won’t miss the steady glide up and down through the gears. Driving an auto isn’t really driving. It’s commuting. Driving a manual... that’s the real thing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With non-stop flights from Auckland, Doha is becoming an increasingly popular through-route for travellers on their way to Europe. Mike Yardley dipped into the city, describing it as eclectic and exotic, with a real melting pot of cultures. “It does intermingle well,” he told Jack Tame. “You’ve got the fusion of cutting-edge modernity and timeless tradition all in one.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cryptic Clue by Amanda Hampson In ZigZag Lane, in the heart of Sydney’s rag-trade district, tea ladies Hazel, Betty and Irene find themselves in hot water. Having already solved a murder, kidnapping and arson case, and outwitting an arch criminal, they have proved themselves a useful resource and earned the respect of a local police officer. Now he needs their help to solve a plot that threatens security. As if that’s not enough, Irene gets a coded message directing her to the spoils of a bank robbery, which sends the tea ladies on a treasure hunt with an unexpected outcome. There’s also trouble brewing within the walls of Empire Fashionwear, where an interloper threatens not just Hazel’s job but the very role of tea lady. It’s up to Hazel to convince her friends to abandon their trolleys and take action to save their livelihoods – before it’s too late. The Everything War by Dana Mattioli From veteran Amazon reporter for The Wall Street Journal, The Everything War is the first untold, devastating exposé of Amazon's endless strategic greed, from destroying Main Street to remaking corporate power, in pursuit of total domination, by any means necessary. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A distinctive figure in the New Zealand musical landscape, Delaney Davidson has dropped yet another album. Out of My Head has a more theatrical feel, co-producer Mark Perkins’ synth atmospheres creating a cinematic soundscape for the twelve-track album. The album is filled with songs written over the global pandemic lockdown period, with notable guest appearances from Marlon Williams and Reb Fountain. Despite the circumstances in which they were written, music reviewer Estelle Clifford told Jack Tame that there’s a kind of freedom and joy to a lot of the tunes. “I love it,” she said, giving the album a 10/10. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Co-founder of the hugely successful ‘The Naked and Famous’, Thomas Powers is stepping out from behind the curtain. The musician is positioning himself centre stage with the upcoming release of his debut album, ‘A Tyrant Crying in Private’. He told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that the transition has been both easy and difficult. “In one respect, it’s easier, like I don’t, it’s easier for me to get things done and I’m very used to the process of completing things,” he said. “But actually in the promotion of the music and putting it out there into the world, I’m totally unconfident because times have changed.” The music market is quite youth-oriented Powers said, and it feels disingenuous to pretend to be young online. “That’s been a real hurdle.” For most artists moving from a group act to being judged on their individual merits is daunting, but Powers has no such issue. “I think I just know myself now and I don't feel insecure about who I am as a person,” he told Tame. “So making art, that’s easy. I can do that. I can do that all day long.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Night Caller A lonely taxi driver haunted by his past reaches out to a late-night talkback radio host, forming an on-air friendship which escalates into a dangerous obsession (TVNZ+). A Man in Full When real estate mogul Charlie Croker faces bankruptcy, political and business interests collide, as he defends his empire from those attempting to capitalize on his fall from grace (Netflix). High Country Detective Andie Whitford gets transferred to the High Country, where she is tasked with investigating the mysterious disappearances of five locals lost in the Victorian wilderness (ThreeNow). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Golda Faced with the potential of Israel's complete destruction, Prime Minister Golda Meir must navigate overwhelming odds, a sceptical cabinet and a complex relationship with U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as millions of lives hang in the balance during the tense 19 days of the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Back to Black Singer Amy Winehouse's tumultuous relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil inspires her to write and record the groundbreaking album "Back to Black." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne has found some success in his garden. The birdbath, a Christmas gift for his wife, has been attracting some clientele after five months free of visitors. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been reports that this has increased since COVID, particularly online. People usually think there is a particular “personality type” that engages in bullying and therefore in order to stop it we just have to root out those particular people. Whilst this is true to some extent (e.g., people who are more narcissistic and want to advance their career tend to engage in bullying behaviour more), what research shows is that bullying behaviour is more likely to occur in workplaces where there are high levels of stress. Research found that when people had high workloads there was more bullying at work, and that this rate was increased even further when people were feeling insecure about their jobs. So, when people are feeling stressed and under pressure they behave in negative ways towards others – “hurt people hurt people”. Particularly relevant at the moment when we have high workloads and people feeling very insecure about their jobs due to current economic environment and also because Pink Shirt Day coming up on 17 May. What can done: - Organisations need to be alert to the increased risk at the moment. - Leaders need to create an environment where people feel comfortable speaking up when something they don’t like is happening (this is called psychological safety). - Pay attention to the small seeds that might start to take root – not technically bullying but being rude or uncivil towards others —Prof Geoff Plimmer from Victoria Uni calls this “workplace incivility”— like a virus that can spread through an organisation. - The Mental Health Foundation and Umbrella Wellbeing are running a free webinar about online bullying for Pink Shirt Day LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the thyroid and what does it do? -A small butterfly shaped gland at the front of your neck. -Produces ‘thyroid hormone’ which is very important in regulating the body. -Does a range of things from: keeping us warm, to regulating heart, brain, muscles, bowels. What happens when your thyroid slows down and becomes underactive? -We start to get a range of symptoms affecting all parts of the body, that are often very subtle and difficult to pick up. -In particular weight gain and tiredness and feeling cold. -Other symptoms may be constipation, dry skin, hair loss, muscle pain, depression, cholesterol issues. Who gets it and what are the causes? -More common in women over 50. -Also more common those with issues such as Type 1 Diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. -However, anyone can develop an underactive thyroid including babies (very rare) and children. -Most commonly caused by immune disorder called ‘Hashimoto’s Disease’ where body turns off the thyroid and starts to shut the thyroid down. -Other causes include some medication, previous thyroid treatment, iodine deficiency, How do you diagnose and treat? -Your GP will do a simple blood test on how your thyroid is working. -Sometimes if the changes are very small so we just monitor. -However, if it’s causing symptoms it’s treated with thyroid medication to replace the missing thyroid. -Often need to take medication for life with periodic blood tests and medication may need dose changes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In NZ we have five wasp species that can cause problems: three paper wasp species, two Vespula species. First of all, the paper wasps. They are now flying around your garden, where the males settle themselves on easy-to-spot places (“lek sites”) to attract females. Yes, autumn time is what it’s all about: fertilise the females, who will hibernate and start new colonies in spring. Male paper wasps vying for the attention of females. A blast with some fly spray will sort them out quickly and it will also reduce the number of fertilised wasps that over-winter. Some paper wasp nests are still in operation as the last-born wasps emerge. The best way to get rid of these nests is by going out on cool evenings in the dark. No muckin’ around, 4 or 5 seconds worth of fly spray is more than enough. If you use a residual insecticide you’ll find that the wasps will not survive a return to their autumnal nest. German Wasps and common wasps (Genus Vespula) nest in cavities (hollow trees, wall cavities and hollow trunks of trees, in your ceiling or roof space, etc). Both these two species sting – no sense of humour! These wasps are often found eating honeydew in native forests, especially in the South Island. They will also hunt for insects (protein) in your garden (Monarch butterfly caterpillars and other sizeable insects) to feed their young ones in the nest. This is what these Vespula nests look like: layered with many cells in which the larvae (juveniles) develop and get fed by the workers… a little bit like bees! The nests are constructed from masticated wood fibres, collected during spring and summer; nice and warm, waterproof, and quite environmentally friendly! The Vespula species are tricky to control, kill, and remove. It is best left to professional pest controllers, but if you want to have a go yourself here are some tips: - Work out where the entrance of the nest is – sometimes there are a few entrances. - Get yourself some wasp powder (such as Kiwicare no wasps). - Wait till well into the evening (as temperatures go down in autumn). - Head-torch on, wasp powder ready. Approach the nest confidently and squirt the powder into the opening – no muckin’ around! - Retreat smartly and turn the torch off as soon as you are able when retreating (the wasps cleverly assume that the person with the torch is an invader!). - You’ll hear the buzzing noise increase soon after your attack – because the wasps’ wingbeats stir up the powder and they can’t control that dust-like insect killer! - Next morning have a careful look to see if there’s anyone still alive. If so, come back again the next cool night Oh – yes: DO NOT wear togs! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s expected to be focused on the iPad which hasn't had a refresh in a while. Predictions: - OLED screens, the tech that the ultra-high quality iPhone screen has had for five years now. - A larger iPad Air - 12.9" version, like the Pro range. - A new magic keyboard design, which is metal and feels more laptop like. - New ways to interact with the Pencil, possibly adding new squeezing features and haptic feedback. To me, it further complicates the iPad vs MacbookAir purchase decision, unless something changes at this event. An iPad isn't quite a laptop, but with the M2 chip also expecting to be announced, maybe the convergence between iPadOS and MacOS is closer? One noticeable change: the time slot. The 'Scary Fast' event was in the early evening for NYC, this one is at 10am, 7am PT, which means Asia will be able to see it before they go to bed. Is it partly because Apple needs to boost sales in China? Maybe! Huawai is seeing massive growth in the premium phone market in China. iPad sales are also not up to Wall Street expectations. Unlike phones which get hammered every day, iPads tend to have a longer life and so need a good sales pitch to get folks to upgrade. Also, there is still no in-person crowd. Seems Apple is sticking with its pre-recorded format. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who can resist a gooey, melting, light-as-a-feather soufflé? Once you’ve mastered these little beauties, you’ll be impressing friends with them in no time. Makes 6 x 150ml ramekins Ingredients: For 1st baking: Butter & plain flour for coating ramekins 50g butter 2 heaped tbsp plain flour 300mls milk 50g grated aged cheddar or Gouda 1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried) 3 eggs, separated ¼ tsp salt, pinch of black pepper For 2nd baking: 100mls cream, slightly whipped (or sour cream) 60g grated cheese, perhaps a pecorino. Method: 1. Preheat oven to 160 C. Rub 6 ramekins, or other oven proof dishes or even a Texas muffin tin, with butter then dust lightly with flour. 2. In a saucepan melt the butter over a medium heat. Add the flour and stir continuously while it cooks and thickens to a paste – about 1-2 minutes. 3. Take off the heat, whisk in the milk, a little at a time until it has all been added, then return to the heat and cook it, stirring with a wooden spoon, until you have a smooth and thick white sauce – about 3-4 minutes. Add cheese and stir until it has melted. Stir in the thyme and allow to cool slightly. Lightly whisk in the egg yolks, one at a time, then add in the seasoning. Cool to warm. 4. Whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form. Fold ¼ egg white mixture into the cheese sauce to ‘loosen’ it, then fold in the remaining egg white. Spoon the filling into the moulds to 2/3 full. 5. Place ramekins in an oven dish to cook in a water bath, pouring enough boiling water into the dish (around the moulds) to come half way up the sides of the moulds. 6. Bake 20-25 minutes until they are risen, ‘just set’ and still a little wobbly. Remove ramekins from the water bath and leave to cool for 10 minutes (don’t worry that they sink a little) then run a knife about each and invert onto a tray or into an oven proof casserole dish. They can remain like this in the fridge for 2-3 days. 7. About 15 minutes before you are ready to serve, heat oven to 180 C fan bake. Divide the cream between each soufflé, pouring over the top, and sprinkle with extra cheese. Bake for 15 minutes or until risen again and golden. Serve immediately. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I dunno what happened. I used to crave nightclubs. Dancefloors. Parties and drinks and the euphoria of thumping music, sweaty bodies, raised voices, and a big night out. But at some point in the last couple of years, I went through that cliched transition that so many of us experience in life. My idea of a good time now? A few hours to myself and a bit of DIY. Headphones in. Podcasts on. Ryobi batteries charged and caulking gun at the ready. Life knows no greater bliss. When you own an old house there’s always a project. Autumn’s project was among the more complex I’ve tackled in the 18 months I’ve called my home my home: I have two sets of twin split awning windows in my kitchen, right next to my sink. But when I first bought the place and moved in, I realised you couldn’t open them. Why? For some reason... a reason that still isn’t entirely clear, someone had nailed the windows shut. What’s more, once I pried them open, I could see the hinges had been painted over, and were clogged with decades-old dried paint. Week one I opened the windows, removed the nails, oiled the hinges and stripped the paint. It was an oddly splendid morning. Me, my podcasts, some noxious chemicals and a paintscraper. How could something so dull be so nourishing? I couldn’t wait for Week Two. I sanded the timber, dried the rot, caulked the gaps, taped the interior windows, scraped and oiled the hinges. When I found that one rusty hinge had snapped and the window sagged out of place, I bought an extra-durable titanium drill bit to drill through the metal and carefully refixed the hinge to the inside of the frame. Another satisfying day’s work. Week Three I primed them, re-oiled the hinges, lined the windows with draft-stoppers, and played Russian Roulette with rainclouds for the first coat of paint. I opened them ajar on matching angles, like sails in the wind, partially to dry the paint and partially to show them off to my wife when she got home. “Oh, wow... great job!” I could tell she was only acting impressed for my sake, but I took the compliment all the same. It’s curious to me how strangely relaxing it is —therapeutic, even— to chip away at a relatively menial DIY project. There’s something primal in it. Something so human about using your hands to make something. I wiled away hours each week, I exhausted my podcast downloads. And each week I was able to stand back and assess a little bit of progress. Week Four. The home straight. I began with a window paint scrapper. Someone previously had painted the outside of the windows without using tape where the glass met the frames, and there were areas where the wobbly paint lines strayed a long way onto the windows themselves. I’d done three of the four windows, flicking away the old paint with the edge of the scraper’s razor blade. I got to the last window. The most prominent window. The one you stare through when you use the sink. And as I flicked away paint right at the bottom of the glass, something gave way. It was less of a crack and more of a crunch. Maybe I dug just a little bit too hard with the corner edge of the window scraper’s razor blade. A month’s worth of me time shattered around me, as a huge split spread up the glass in the centre of the window. Ahhh yes. So therapeutic. So relaxing. So good for the soul. Until it isn’t. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An expansion on her second studio album, Bewitched: The Goddess Edition features four new songs from singer-songwriter Laufey. In her own words the album is “a love album, whether it be a love towards a friend or a lover or life”, Bewitched dealing with a variety of romantic themes. According to Estelle Clifford it could’ve come straight out of the 1935, an old-school movie quality to the first four songs on the album, the rich jazziness of her complimenting the vibes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earth by John Boyne It’s the tabloid sensation of the two well-known footballers standing in the dock, charged with sexual assault, a series of vile text messages pointing towards their guilt. As the trial unfolds, Evan Keogh reflects on the events that have led him to this moment. Since leaving his island home, his life has been a lie on many levels. He’s a talented footballer who wanted to be an artist. A gay man in a sport that rejects diversity. A defendant whose knowledge of what took place on that fateful night threatens more than just his freedom or career. The jury will deliver a verdict but, before they do, Evan must judge for himself whether the man he has become is the man he wanted to be. The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour and Jude Dobson This is the astounding true story of one of the last female special operations agents in France to get out alive after its liberation in WWII. Born in 1921, Pippa Latour became a covert special operations agent who parachuted into a field in Nazi-occupied Normandy. Trained by the British, Pippa was lauded for her fluency with languages and her coding ability - attributes she put to remarkable use when she posed as a teenage soap-seller, often selling her wares to the German soldiers and sending back information via code to England. Incredibly brave - Pippa knew she could be instantly shot if her cover was blown - she concealed her codes on a piece of silk that she threaded through a shoelace and wore as a hair tie. She bicycled around the region, often sleeping rough and foraging for food. During her time in Normandy, Pippa sent 135 secret messages conveying crucial information on German troop positions in the lead-up to D-Day. Pippa continued her mission until the liberation of Paris in August 1944. For decades, Pippa told no one - not even her family - of her incredible feats during WWII. Now, for the first time, her story can be told in full. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lie Grace Millane was a twenty-one year old British tourist whose disappearance in Auckland after a Tinder date in early December 2018 sparked international attention. A 26-year-old man, Jesse Shane Kempson, was subsequently charged with her murder on 8 December 2018 after a highly publicised investigation. Grace’s body was found in the Waitakere Ranges to the west of Auckland the following day. Millane’s case was a turning point in history – an appalling 21st century dating app crime investigated to a live, fascinated, audience (in cinemas). The Fall Guy After leaving the business one year earlier, battle-scarred stuntman Colt Seavers springs back into action when the star of a big studio movie suddenly disappears. As the mystery surrounding the missing actor deepens, Colt soon finds himself ensnared in a sinister plot that pushes him to the edge of a fall more dangerous than any stunt (in cinemas). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thank you, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story Follows the history of Bon Jovi, featuring personal videos, photos, and music that provide a look at Jon Bon Jovi's life and the band's journey from New Jersey clubs to global fame (Disney+). The Dry After living it up in London, Shiv returns home to Dublin, where she must navigate new relationships, family drama and her own questionable life choices, all while trying to stay sober (TVNZ+). Food Rescue Kitchen A new heartwarming New Zealand show that sees six top chefs create a three-course meal for the community out of rescued food (ThreeNow, Three at Saturday, 7pm). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Crisp, clear days sets the stage for cracking autumn adventures in Sydney. If you’re planning a fresh fling with the Emerald City, here’s a roundup of some winning picks to rev up your city-break, from bucket list classics to seasonal treats and in-the-know gems." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Fashion Revolution movement, a week-long fashion activism campaign. The campaign was prompted by the collapse of the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh, killing over a thousand people and injuring around 2,500. It aims to bring awareness to the way fashion and clothing are created and consumed, promoting sustainability. Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall joined Jack Tame to discuss the campaign and this year’s Fashion Revolution Week. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you want something to think about? Something that sets fire to your garden? Go and visit your local Botanic Gardens, they’re everywhere in Aotearoa! I know… we are really lucky in Christchurch. Best Autumn performers: liquidamber, smoke bush, Japanese Maple, ash, sycamore, poplar, birch and even some willows. To me, all these autumn colours remind me that our planet has been on the re-using bandwagon for 3.8 billion years,and the display is absolutely dazzling! This is the time for Dahlia flowers. Dahlia Joal Jay Jay. Photo / Supplied Julie’s pick of the bunch – it just about hurts your retina! Talking about bright colours: a Yellow Ginko biloba (the maidenhair fern tree); ancient gymnosperm When leaves form a carpet, it looks pretty impressive. Oh… use male trees only as females smell!!! Here’s a great native; always providing colour, so needed in winter too. Pseudowintera colorata – pepper plant Sequoiadendron giganteum, the giant redwood from the USA. Yes you’ll need to wait a few weeks for it to grow massively, but you’ve got to think “long-term” in this game. The bark is lovely and soft. This particular one (in Christchurch botanic gardens) has been host (for many, many years) to one of our most rottenest pest weed in the garden: Poison Ivy!! But have a look how stunning this turned out to be… as long as someone takes the time to control that ivy! And then, for folk with a decent-sized and shallow water feature (a lake or “lakelet”) this caught my eye a long time ago when visiting the Okefenokee swamp (on the border of Georgia and Florida) A Taxodium distichum (Swamp Cypress) can live in water and has pretty knobbly knees or pneumatophores that allow the roots to breathe air above the level of the water. These swamp cypresses also take a long time to age, but their Pneumatophores will show quite quickly when the tree(s) start to settle One word or warning: don’t fall over them, keep an eye on where they are, otherwise you’ll end up pretty wet. Sometimes you encounter a tree that you’d never expect in Aotearoa: The Wollemi Pine! (Wollemia nobilis) This Conifer species belongs to the Araucaria Family of trees (Araucariaceae) and was considered extinct in Australia some 2 million years ago. It was re-discovered in 1994 in a canyon NW of Sydney. Fewer than 100 mature specimens still exist and propagation and planting of new trees in suitable habitat is aiming to save this species from extinction. Your Botanic Gardens are involved in exactly this kind of restoration of endangered species! And collaboration is the key to these projects – even gardeners can be involved! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BOB’S BEST BUYS Wine: OTU Otuwhero Estate Chardonnay, 2023 Hawke’s Bay $20 Why I chose it: - Discovered it in a recent blind tasting - Excellent wine from a challenging vintage (La Nina, wet) What does it taste like? - Silken texture with grapefruit, green apple, lemon curd and a touch of whipped cream. Why it’s a bargain: - $20 or less Where can you buy it? - New World - Devonport - Shop around Food match? - Versatile - Seafood pasta dish - Creamy chicken fettucine Will it keep? - Drink up LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NZ International Comedy Festival is kicking off next week, and to kickstart the shenanigans Chris Parker will be hosting the annual Comedy Gala. The kiwi comedian has cemented himself as one of the country’s favourite comics, having done everything from stage shows and stand-up to podcasts and books. He’s just returned home from the Melbourne Comedy Festival where he did a total of 22 shows alongside line-ups, a podcast, and various other gigs over the course of a month. He told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that there’s a lot of people, and a lot of kiwis looking for something familiar. “I’m doing sort of customer service, sort of trying to figure out where my audience is,” Parker said. “And I’m like, ‘oh I see. They’re mostly kiwis who are feeling homesick and want to hear an accent again.” The set he performed at the Festival was titled ‘Give Me One Good Reason Why I Shouldn't Throw My Phone Off This Bridge’, a title he said was a dramatic reaction to being on his phone too much. “I keep sort of having those like, ‘what if?’ moments. I don’t know if you feel like whenever you’re driving over the Harbour bridge and you’re just like, ‘what if?’” Parker asked Tame. “I have that with my phone every morning, or I just want to crush it, you know? Just because I’m just done with it.” Parker appreciates that he built his audience through social media, but he does worry about the impact social media and technology has on those who use it, their attention spans, and the way they connect with others. “When we first had the internet, which is such a joyful place where we talk to men in their forties in chat rooms, and now it’s sort of dissolved into this, you know...” “This actually unpleasant place,” Tame chimed in. “It’s very interesting,” Parker agreed. This is the crux of the show, he explains, the relationship and dependence we have on social media, Parker even saying that he might go cold turkey on it. He compares the assortment of media consumed in one moment to canapes at an event, a chiropractor video next to world news next to a pasta recipe similar to a bao bun, a prawn twizzler, and a burger all on one plate. “That’s a lot of different stuff to be consuming in one moment.” Speaking of canapes and events, Parker rejects the notion that hosting the Comedy Gala is a rough gig. “I am, you know, a serial showoff,” he told Tame. “So, all I’m gagging for is the stage time, and I get more than anyone else! No other acts, it’s me for an hour.” The awards are a beautiful thing, he said. Being able to see his colleagues at their best in a four or five minute act, six if they go overtime, it’s wonderful. “It gives a real gauge on how we’re going as a country in terms of our, you know, comedic landscape, which is like, we’re sharper and funnier than ever." “We were storming Melbourne,” Parker revealed. “They were getting angry at how good, at how funny New Zealand was.” In Parker's opinion, this is an amazing time for New Zealand comedy, and while we do celebrate it, we could be better. "Please go out and support live comedy." "Stop watching comedy on your phone, get out, put your phone in the bin, get out of the door and go take a punt on a comedian that you've never heard of before." The International Comedy Festival begins May 3rd in venues across Auckland and Wellington, with select shows occurring around the country. ‘Give Me One Good Reason Why I Shouldn't Throw My Phone Off This Bridge’ will be touring New Zealand from June 20th, visiting Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, and Rotorua. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The TikTok clock has started, and TikTok is saying it's not even looking at it. Parent company ByteDance posted overnight that it doesn't have any plans to sell TikTok. Reuters is reporting that a source says it would prefer to just shut the app down in the US, their algorithm is their secret sauce, so selling the app would be selling the algorithm. Get ready for a showdown. TikTok's CEO says the law and the US Constitution is on their side. The US says it has concerns TikTok could be used by the Chinese government to spy on Americans, which TikTok strongly rejects. To complicate matters, 60% of Bytedance is owned by investment Firms including large (and likely influential) US investors. Meta's pumping billions more into AI The company had planned to spend up to $37 billion this year but now says it could be closer to $40 billion. They certainly have the cash though, profit was $12.4 billion for Q1, more than double Q1 last year. A staggering number of people are dependent on Meta, with Zuckerberg saying at the earnings call more than 3.24 billion people use one or more of its apps every day. WhatsApp is a big driver of that usage. He also made a plea to shareholders to trust that the money will come at some stage with AI & Metaverse products, just as it has for Reels and Stories which initially didn't make any money. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This dessert is an easy French classic and any fruit can be used really – feijoa, peach, plum, prune or the original, cherry. I’m only using raspberries as I’ve recently been late-season raspberry picking! Serves one Ingredients: Butter ½ cup fresh raspberries 1 medium egg 2 tablespoons caster sugar + extra 1 tablespoon plain flour 1 tsp vanilla extract ¼ cup milk Cream to serve Method: Preheat the oven to 180°C and generously butter a small ovenproof dish. Scatter raspberries into dish. Whisk egg with the 2 tablespoons sugar, add flour and whisk until smooth. Whisk in vanilla and milk. Pour batter over fruit, dot some butter over the top and bake for 20 minutes or so until just set in the centre and golden. Serve with a final sprinkle of sugar over the top and drizzle with cream. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although the ANZAC services in Wellington may be bigger, there’s a reason Kevin Milne sticks with his local services. There’s just something about the things that happen in small towns that really appeals. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Wednesday this week the former Green party co-leader James Shaw will address parliament as an MP for the last time. And in a moment when his party is reeling from a combination of scandal and tragedy, his valedictory marks the end of an undervalued career. Many of the politicians who join our so-called minor parties are idealists. They’re not like some Labour or National MPs (more than a few of whom I reckon secretly dream of becoming Prime Minister). They join because they really intensely believe in the political philosophy or kaupapa. And in the case of the Greens, it’s my view that sometimes activism comes at the expense of more pragmatic strategy. Ahead of his valedictory address, I went back and looked up James Shaw’s maiden speech in parliament from back in 2014. What stuck out to me was how much he talked about overcoming political divisions and tribalism, working together, reaching across the aisle to make connections and compromises with politicians in different parties. That might sound like bland political speak, but actually, politicians in New Zealand don’t talk about compromise all that much. In the U.S, Republicans and Democrats often talk about working across the aisle —even if that’s bollocks, these days— but the way New Zealand’s system is structured, usually the only compromise we see for really big legislation is between coalition or support partners in government together. As an MP, James Shaw did not achieve everything he wanted. Our biggest-emitting industry doesn’t pay for its emissions. Tax reform never got done. But it’s interesting to reflect on what big legacy changes have and haven’t survived the change of government. The Māori Health Authority, Three Waters, Auckland Light Rail, Te Pūkenga, the Oil and Gas ban; so much of the last Labour government’s policy and work programme has been scrapped. But one big piece of work has endured. Despite ACT’s continued opposition, the Zero Carbon Act has survived the change in government. Why? I’d suggest a major part of the reason is the way James Shaw went about crafting that legislation. He didn’t charge ahead by himself. He very deliberately worked across the aisle. He developed a close relationship with National’s then-climate spokesperson Todd Muller and worked to gain the support of every MP in parliament, but one. The whole purpose of the legislation was that it would survive the changing winds and ups-and-downs of politics over time. And here we are. I think there’s a good argument to be made that the single most significant piece of enduring legislation from Jacinda Ardern’s time in government, was a piece of work developed by an MP who wasn’t even in her party or Cabinet. The Zero Carbon Act is a victory for compromise. A victory for putting aside differences and uniting around common goals. And although James Shaw’s style and strategy may not have always have been appreciated by everyone in his own party, the result speaks for itself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Musical trio Khruangbin is well known for their blend of classic soul, dub, rock, and psychedelia; the group emerging in 2010 and going strong fourteen years on. They’ve played 18 tours to nearly half a million people, selling out iconic venues such as Red Rocks and Radio City Music Hall, the latter twice. Two weeks ago, they released their fifth album A La Sala, and just last week they took to the stage at Coachella. They have a music-forward approach to their craft, and the group’s drummer DJ Johnson told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that it’s been that way since the start. “The music always comes first,” he said. Johnson said that the music determines everything that happens in the backend, album titles being one example. “We’ve been asked like, ‘what’s the next album gonna be called?’ And it’s like, well, we don’t know yet because the music doesn’t exist yet.” They’ve described the album as a creative homecoming of sorts, bassist Laura Lee telling Tame that while the band has grown and evolved, touring the world and playing stadiums, it's nice to strip everything back. “The amount of voices and opinions and, you know, tugs and pulls in various directions have grown, and I think there was a desire to just get back to square one.” A La Sala is free of collaborations, guests, and features, and although they are proud of the collaborations they’ve made, Lee said it felt like so long since they’d made music just the three of them. “As we were getting back to that place, we realised that the creative was in less, and not in more.” Johnson said that while it does have the same kind of magic as when they were first making music, the growth and evolution they’ve gone through has impacted it. “We went back to more or less the way that we used to approach the material when we first started, but with a renewed sense and a maturity in which we’re approaching it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.