Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Boiling Point A new four part British drama that picks up six months after the 2021 movie of the same name, and follows the staff working in a high pressure restaurant (TVNZ+). Feud Capote and the Swans: Tom Hollander, Naomi Watts and Chloe Sevigny star in this American drama about writer Truman Capote’s friendships with a group of high society New York women (Neon). The Choir An uplifting six part documentary series about the Detroit Youth Choir, as the inner city kids practice for a performance of a lifetime at Carnegie Hall (Disney+). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highly controversial fruit, feijoas have long held a special place in New Zealand culture. They’ve become a feature of kiwi iconography, their popularity seeing the flavour crop up in the least expected places. Kiwi author Kate Evans thinks of herself as the nerdiest of feijoa nerds, travelling the world and researching the fruit. She’s recently published a book on the subject, ‘Feijoa: A Story of Obsession and Belonging’. Evans told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that her obsession started with the fruit tree in her parents’ house, sitting under the tree as a child and eating them by the bucketful. “I lived overseas for about a decade, and when I was away, I just missed feijoas so much.” She said that whenever she managed to find one overseas, cutting it open would fill her with an intense nostalgia for home. “When I moved back to New Zealand in 2014, I was so excited to be here for an entire feijoa season.” The fruit is so ubiquitous in New Zealand despite not being native, which got Evans wondering how this South American fruit became such a cultural touchstone. Feijoas originated in South America and were imported over to New Zealand in the early 1900’s, where they were found to grow incredibly well. “It’s quite easy to grow them, you don’t really have to do much.” Despite the cultural love for Feijoas, the Colombians might have us beat with their festival dedicated to the fruit. “They make so many more things with them than we do,” Evans told Tame. Recipes for some of which, she has included in her book: feijoa mousse, carpaccio, and more, for those desperately searching for a new way to consume their crop. Learn where you can donate your excess feijoas here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fifth studio album from American rock band MGMT, 'Loss of Life' is the band's label debut on Mom + Pop, coming six years after the release of 'Little Dark Age'. The ten track album shifts between genres, Britpop, acoustic folk, power ballads with an 80's flair. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Day by David Nicholls 15th July 1988: Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows? Moscow X by David McCloskey A daring CIA operation threatens chaos in the Kremlin - its execution is foiled by a Russian woman with secret loyalties. CIA operatives Sia and Max enter Russia to recruit Vladimir Putin's moneyman. Sia works for a London firm that conceals the wealth of the super-rich. Max's family business in Mexico, a CIA-front since the 1960s, is a farm that breeds high-end racehorses. They pose as a couple, and their targets are Vadim, Putin's private banker, and his wife Anna, who is both a banker and an intelligence officer. As they descend further into a Russian world dripping with luxury and rife with gangland violence, Sia and Max's hope may be Anna, who is playing a game of her own. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're done seeing the sights of Gisborne and are after something a little more outdoorsy, Tairāwhiti is packed with adventures. Mike Yardley joined Jack Tame to run through some of his favourites, including tandem cycling, Tipuna Tours up in Tolaga Bay, and feeding the stingrays down the line at Tatapouri. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Australia workers have been given the right to ignore after-hours calls from work, unless it’s in their contract/role requires it or an emergency, following on from some European countries (e.g., France) who have done this. How likely are we to follow suit in NZ? It's unlikely that it will become law – since 2015 Health and Safety at work act neither Labour nor National govts appear to have been interested in putting in any more regulations. However, debate may increase in kiwi workplaces surrounding the topic. There are pros/cons to the discussion – some will feel it’s an example of a “snowflake” generation who do the bare minimum, others will see it as supporting people to switch off from work when they’re done. Some workplaces say things like “if you receive an email from me after hours feel free to ignore it until it’s your work hours”, which might be a compromise. We do that at Umbrella, it allows some level of autonomy and responsibility on both ends – I can send you an email at 11pm but don’t expect you to respond to it until you’re at work. You do need to be a bit careful about this as there can be an implied pressure to respond, particularly if the person sending the email is your boss. That links into the topic of how “psychologically safe” you feel at work to express your opinion (but that’s a whole other topic!) LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may have caught me talking about Psyllids, from time to time. Especially the Tomato-Potato Psyllid. This is an insect that appeared in New Zealand around 2006 and it makes a mess of the two main hosts: Tomatoes and Potatoes. The Tomato-Potato Psyllid. Photo / Supplied As a fanatic tomato grower, I always keep a serious eye out this thing and practice a lot of weed control (Solanum weeds – the overwintering hosts of my crops). I also use regular Neem sprays to stop the Psyllid nymphs (immatures) from developing on my tomatoes. Like most Psyllids, they are sapsuckers; taking the sweet sugars out of the plant to extract Nitrogen for growth of their bodies. They excrete the sweet materials as “honeydew” which in itself is a great food for other insects, but also birds and certainly black, sooty mould. Another Exotic Psyllid species came in the late 1990’s and is often found on Syzygium smithii, mostly known as “Monkey apple”, Lilly-Pilly, or the old name Acmena. It is often used to form fast-growing hedges. Black hedges, especially in the warmer north, due to copious amounts of sooty mould. Lilly-Pilly is considered a weed in our country, so the psyllid is perhaps helping to suppress this exotic plant somewhat. But in NZ we have our own, Native species too: On Pohutukawa and Rata, for instance (Trioza curta), and a species on Pittosporum (Trioza vitreoradiata). Both these natives suck juices out of the leaves of their host, causing distortions and dimples. Isn’t that causing some severe stress and damage to these native hosts? The creation of the dimples is also no doubt under the influence of toxins or enzymes injected by the young, sedentary nymphs. But the astonishing thing is that the actual health of the Pohutukawa, rata or pittosporum is rarely, if ever, severely affected as a result of these psyllids. Mind you, they've been living together now for many millions of years, and the evolutionary processes will have reached a nice balance between the sucker and its host plant. But when we take a detailed look at this symbiosis, we must ask ourselves the question why the Pohutukawa facilitates the psyllids by creating cosy little dimples? The answer can be found at a surprising location: the rear end of the larvae. You see, that's where the sweet excrement is being produced. Pittosporum psyllid being “milked” by a native ant. Photo / Supplied Native ant species will patrol the psyllids and collect any sugary waste products that may become available, and while doing so, they protect the psyllid nymphs and the leaves they are living on! Indeed, Pohutukawa and rata leaves with psyllids on them are almost always without any chewing damage. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taylors Estate Limestone Coast, Clare Valley Shiraz $20 Why I chose it - Hearty red for the months ahead. - Taylor’s produces some of the best value reds in Australia. - Australian wine sales to China, once their biggest wine market, have ground to a halt, resulting in many bargains if you are prepared to shop around. What does it taste like? - Dense, inky red with choc/mocha, cassis, anise/liquorice, vanilla, cigar box and spicy oak. Nicely layered shiraz with obvious cellaring potential. Why it’s a bargain? - Terrific quality for less than $20. Where can you buy it? - Whisky and More $16.99, The Good Wine Co. $17.99, New World $17.99, Countdown $16. Food match? - Hearty stews and casseroles. Will it keep? - Yes, good for 5 or 6 years if stored well. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk a lot about AI and how it might change things, but it's starting to have real world consequences Tyler Perry, who founded the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Network and is a prolific content creator, has said he's stopping plans to open more sound stages. He was due to add 12 sound stages to his Atlanta complex, but advances by OpenAI's video generator Sora has given him pause. Sora is an AI model that can create realistic and imaginative scenes from text instructions. It's not without its quirks, but there's probably a very good chance that in the time it would take to build 12 sound stages, the model might actually get better. We're seeing advances that quickly! Tyler Perry: "I had gotten word over the last year or so that this was coming, but I had no idea until I saw recently the demonstrations of what it's able to do. It's shocking to me." Think of the jobs lost through this - construction workers, stage crew, catering, production assistants... It did it... the first private spacecraft has landed on the moon Intuitive Machines' lunar craft successfully landed. It has some communications issues, but the CEO of the company confirmed the craft is standing upright and transmitting data successfully. Odysseus will now begin a suite of experiments that will hopefully provide data useful for a future mission and help to ensure the safety of humans when they eventually return. The mission is the first American lunar landing in more than 50 years, since the crewed Apollo 17 mission in December 1972. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Zone of Interest Winner of the Grand Prize at Cannes 2023, this historical war drama from filmmaker Jonathan Glazer (Under the Skin) centres on the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, who strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp. The Eternal Memory Chilean couple Augusto and Paulina have been together for 25 years, but Augusto was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease eight years ago. Both of them fear the day he will no longer recognize her. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you got a glut of plums like me? This little condiment - plum paste - is easy to make and it goes so well with all manner of cheeses and meats. Ingredients: 1.5kg whole fresh plums, washed (count them into the pot, I used 32 plums – see note) 1 ¼ cups water ½ cup sweet white wine or apple cider vinegar ¼- ½ tsp ground cloves, depending on your taste Sugar, white or raw – likely to be about 600-750g Method: 1. Cook plums with liquids and cloves until very soft and reduced a bit – about 20 minutes. Extract the same number of plum stones as you had plums. Mash or blend the pulp and weigh it. Add half its weight in sugar and return to the stove. Cook on a brisk simmer for 40 minutes or so, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. 2. It’s ready when a teaspoonful is dropped on a cool saucer, left to cool, then a finger dragged through it leaves a clear stripe. Keep cooking until it reaches this stage. 3. Line a swiss roll tin or similar with baking paper or lightly oiled foil. 4. Pour paste into prepared tin and refrigerate overnight. It will be gorgeously glossy. 5. Cut into squares, wrap in baking paper and store in fridge. 6. Eat with cheese or meats. Note: If your plums aren’t freestone count them into the pot, so you know how many stones you need to remove once they cook down. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s often believed that the music you listen to when you’re seventeen or eighteen is what sticks with you throughout your entire life. Kevin Milne recently stumbled across concert programmes from when he was living in London in the 70’s; how much of that has stuck around? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I never thought the previous government’s fees-free education policy made sense. I’m on the record from the get-go. I didn’t think it was a well-designed or considered policy. At an annual cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, the policy was expensive. I felt there were other priorities. The more cynically minded might even suggest that fast-tracking a fees-free education policy was a decision made with an impending election in mind, rather than the stated educational outcomes. The goals of the policy were to increase access for students from poorer backgrounds, Māori and Pasifika, and to improve educational outcomes. But short of a Scandanavian-style tax system, I actually thought New Zealand’s interest-free student loan scheme is pretty good. It strikes a fair balance and the barriers to access are low. And for every poorer student brought in by fees-free and who otherwise might have missed out on higher education, there were obviously dozens if not hundreds or thousands of middle-class kids who would’ve gone to university anyway, and now enjoyed an additional subsidy. Instead of a blanket fees-free policy, the previous government could have considered so many alternatives: - Increasing scholarships for students from poorer backgrounds, or for students from low-decile schools. - Re-introducing the 10% bulk payment incentive to student loans, whereby anyone who paid off more than $1000 in a voluntary payment, had ten percent of that payment matched by the government. - Means testing first year fees-free students. - Making the third year of an undergraduate degree fees-free, so students were incentivised to finish. - Greater assistance to students with cost-of-living support. Instead, although they held off making additional study years fees-free, the previous government stuck with their scheme. And the results have been damning. The total number of fees-free students has been decreasing. From the get-go, overall enrolments fell short of what was promised. Fees-free students have been dropping out. What’s more, the New Zealand Herald revealed over summer that the number of decile 1 first-year students has halved since the scheme began. The number of first year decile 10 students has increased by 40%. So much for improving access for students from poorer backgrounds. I was surprised National stuck with the scheme during the election campaign. But now at least, the government is moving to change the policy to make the final year fees-free, as per New Zealand First’s election policy. I note the Tertiary Education Commission acknowledged this week there was no discernible evidence the policy has increased access to low-socio economic groups. The policy has failed in its stated objectives. It’s a nice-to-have, not a need-to-have. It deserves to go. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tomorrow marks the 46th year of Round the Bays Wellington, an iconic community event bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate physical activity. Over 10,000 people are expected to take part in one of three distances, Sir Ashley Bloomfield among them. He’s taking part as a Pause Breathe Smile ambassador, which is a free mental health program for primary and intermediate schools. Bloomfield is doing the 5.5km event, telling Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that he’s been taking it easy with his training this week, to ensure that he’ll be able to finish the run. He said he’s been running in some capacity for his entire life, having run a few marathons and as well as having a group of friends he goes on Saturday morning runs with whenever possible. “That fellowship kind of aspect of it, spending time with friends and in terms of both physical and mental wellbeing, to me you couldn’t tick many more boxes than that.” One of the reason’s Bloomfield enjoys running is its accessibility. “All you really need is a pair of shoes.” Regular exercise is also known to be a benefit for those in high stakes environments and high stress jobs, both of which Bloomfield was facing in the last few years. “Being able to kind of decompress, as well as get out and keep active and fit was a lifesaver for me.” “Literally a lifesaver.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jennifer Lopez has dropped her ninth studio album, a sister to her 2003 LP ‘This Is Me... Then’. The genre crossing ‘This Is Me... Now’ is a confessional, a deeply personal insight into her love life and relationship with Ben Affleck. Released alongside was a 65-minute short film, ‘This Is Me... Now: A Love Story’, a high gloss blend of genres and styles to match the tone of the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anna O by Matthew Blake What if your nightmares weren’t really nightmares at all? We spend an average of 33 years of our lives asleep. But what really happens, and what are we capable of, when we sleep? Anna Ogilvy was a budding twenty-five-year-old writer with a bright future. Then, one night, she stabbed two people to death with no apparent motive—and hasn’t woken up since. Dubbed “Sleeping Beauty” by the tabloids, Anna’s condition is a rare psychosomatic disorder known to neurologists as “resignation syndrome.” Dr. Benedict Prince is a forensic psychologist and an expert in the field of sleep-related homicides. His methods are the last hope of solving the infamous “Anna O’” case and waking Anna up so she can stand trial. But he must be careful treating such a high-profile suspect—he’s got career secrets and a complicated personal life of his own. As Anna shows the first signs of stirring, Benedict must determine what really happened and whether Anna should be held responsible for her crimes. Only Anna knows the truth about that night, but only Benedict knows how to discover it. And they’re both in danger from what they find out. The World's Biggest Cash Machine by Chris Blackhurst From Chris Blackhurst, the former Editor of the Independent, comes The World's Biggest Cash Machine, a gripping and tightly reported account of how the Glazers, owners of Manchester United, became the most maligned figures in the Premier League, and how they changed the beautiful game forever. Manchester United's supporters span the globe and cross generations. But, with few exceptions, they are united in their anger with the American family who bought their club in 2005, plunging it into record levels of debt. The Glazers' reign has become synonymous with the financialization of football, and has coincided with fan protests and a decline of Manchester United's fortunes on the pitch . . . if not on the balance sheet. But what defines this secretive family, and do these astute businessmen deserve the opprobrium they receive? In this captivating account, informed by interviews with key figures behind the scenes, journalist and commentator Chris Blackhurst charts the gripping story of the world's biggest football club - as well as exploring the wider transformation of the Premier League into a playground for billionaire owners. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Criminal Record In the heart of London, an anonymous phone call draws two brilliant detectives -- a young woman in the early stages of her career and a well-connected man determined to protect his legacy -- into a fight to correct an old miscarriage of justice (AppleTV+). Strife Asher Keddie stars in this Australian drama about a small-time blogger who overcome professional and personal challenges while working towards creating a women-centric website (ThreeNow). The New Look This series explores the rise of fashion designer Christian Dior, as he attempts to bring colour and life back to post-war Europe (Apple TV+). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Communication is key to a healthy relationship, but not all conversations are simple to have. In the changing climate it’s important to be on the same page as your partner when it comes to sustainability, and how you implement it in your lives. But how do we have this conversation? What needs to be covered? Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall joined Jack Tame to give a few tips to ensure that you and your partner can be on the same page. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Is Me... Now: A Love Story Jennifer Lopez stars in a highly visual and musical reimagining of her publicly scrutinized love life. May December Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance, a married couple buckle under the pressure when a Hollywood actress meets them to do research for a film about their past. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Gazing across the ravishing seascape, Young Nick’s Head and Mahia Peninsula loomed large on the horizon, while directly beneath us, the photogenic allure of Wainui Beach and Okitu Bush casts you under its spell. It’s immediately self-evident why a beach house at Wainui is the epitome of aspirational real estate. What a sweet spot -no wonder the sun wants to be the first to see it. A year on from the damage and despair of a natural disaster, Gisborne and the Tairāwhiti district’s welcome mat is unmistakeably rolled out. Don’t be fooled by the enduring misnomer that the region’s roads are still too tricky to navigate or that visitors aren’t welcome. Nothing could be further from the truth. Gizzy and her surrounds is good to go and would love to see you." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As I was cutting firewood for the 2024 winter, I came across some brilliant tunnels in the timber and larger branches. Drywood Termites. The adults are ready to fly out, mate and make a new home in decaying wood; their wings are gorgeous, slate grey and rather delicate. You’ll find them attracted to lights, landing on the windows in the evening or near the front door. Termites are rather ancient insects. Fossils of termite-like beasts date back some 50 million years, and it looks as if their diet has more or less remained the same during that period of time: wood and cellulose materials. This could give the impression that termites are boring insects, and yes, that is exactly what they are. No matter how you look at it, boring is the only way to start or accelerate decay in wood, opening up trunks or branches allows entry of fungi and moulds. Our native termites are fond of rotting wood, and as such play an important role in the recycling of woody materials. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and forest fibres to faecal frass. Kalotermes brouni larva in dead wood. Photo / Supplied Only very recently in the geological history of Kalotermes brouni (our so-called dry-wood termite), humans came on the scene and obligingly built these enormous structures from large quantities of dead, milled wood, known as "houses". Especially in the good old days these houses were made from untreated local timbers. Lots of myths around our three species of Native Termites but the most important one is that the dry-wood termite really prefers wet timber and untreated timber. I remember in my old house in West Auckland, the bedroom was built from untreated timber; the gutter was leaking; the water soaked the weatherboards and studs, and the termites chewed their tunnels right to the paint-layer! Spectacular and clever way to control relative humidity in their wooden home! Prevention of native termite invasion is obvious: Use treated timber and keep it dry. We do have some invasive termites from Australia. Coptotermes acinaciformis and Coptotermes frenchi are quite a different kettle of fish. They do not require dead or wet wood and will happily excavate in living trees. In the Canberra region, where they are the most economically important termite species, colonies are often found associated with Eucalyptus trees from where they can invade houses. In contrast with our native termites, these Aussie chisel-beaks are basically a subterranean species. Nests are commonly hidden in amongst the root systems of a living tree and are therefore not easy to detect. But when they shift to another location, or extend their feeding grounds, these termites construct characteristic runways from mud. These earthen tubes usually originate from the soil and enable them to maintain their required humidity. If you find termites with mud “runways” please contact MPI – 0800 809 966. We don’t want those around!! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homeowners with a fixed-rate mortgage expiring soon likely perked up when forecasters started suggesting that interest rates could start falling this year. But the Reserve Bank isn't convinced the inflation beast is back in the bag just yet. With conflicting information and no guarantees on when, how far, or how fast interest rates will fall, how can you assess your position and determine the best pathway forward? Hannah discusses strategies on how to proceed when interest rates are sky high but anticipated to fall, why you should calculate the interest rate differential when you want to fix short-term, and why favourable conditions demand a focused mindset to maximise progress and avoid complacency. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A private spacecraft is headed to the moon Launched from Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon 9, the "Odysseus" will land on the south pole of the moon in search of water. Scientists believe ice exists amongst the rock in both the sunlit and dark sides of the moon, possibly from icy meteorites hitting the moon. If successful, Odysseus will be the first private craft to land on the moon. NASA has funded part of this journey though because it's carrying a range of their scientific instruments, including a laser retroreflector which will bounce back laser beams fired from earth and a tool to measure how the landing disturbs and sends up plumes of moon dust. An eye on methane from space Google joins the non-profit "Environmental Defense Fund" in launching a program to understand how oil and gas plants are emitting methane, believed to be one of the causes of climate change because it traps heat in the atmosphere. The satellite will orbit the earth 15 times a day. Data will be sent back every few weeks and fed into Google's AI and Earth technology systems for viewing. The group says that if they notice a significant leak, they're not going to specifically notify the plant, but would rely on regulators and governments to use their data as they see fit. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s that time of the year when the stonefruit season collides with the last of the blueberries so I thought I’d marry them up in this gorgeous cake! Ingredients: 3 medium eggs A generous half cup of caster sugar 1/3 cup oil – I used canola! Pinch salt 1 cup fruit – chopped quite small , I used peaches and nectarines 1/3 cup blueberries 1 1/3 cup self raising flour 1/3 cup yoghurt (can use milk see note) Method: Preheat oven to 180 C and line a 20-23cm round cake tin. Note the image depicts a VERY large version of this cake that I make to feed 25 hungry students! Whisk eggs well in a large bowl then pour in the sugar, salt and oil and whisk some more until well-combined. Add the chopped fruit and blueberries and mix well. Add in flour and yoghurt and stir until mixed and there are no pockets of flour remaining. Scrape into prepared tin and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Once cooled, either dust with icing sugar or make a vanilla icing and ice it. Make it your own: Use olive oil for a posher version Used tinned fruit salad and frozen blueberries in the off season Sour milk with a squeeze of lemon juice if you don’t have yoghurt LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a small world. Kevin Milne was in a café on Thursday and by complete chance, happened to run into someone he made a documentary about 45 years ago. He joined Jack Tame to chat about some of his favourite memories from the making of that doco. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame on Newstalk ZB is a captivating blend of insightful conversations, engaging interviews, and thought-provoking discussions. With Jack Tame at the helm, you can expect a refreshing take on current events, combined with his unique charm and wit.” But hey... don’t take my word for it. Take Chat GPT’s. That’s what happens if you tell the world’s best-known generative artificial intelligence bot to write a few sentences in order to convince someone to listen to this show. Pretty good, eh? I’ll be honest though, I was impressed by GPT when it was released, but not totally wowed. It seemed to get a lot of pretty obvious facts wrong, even when correct information was readily available on the internet. And I know these are relatively early stages in AI, but still, you’d think if Wikipedia has the real answer, Chat GPT wouldn’t make it up. The ‘wow’ moment with AI came for me yesterday. Open AI, the company behind Chat GPT, released a video generating model called Sora. You write a command, and working off your words, it generates a video clip up to sixty seconds long based on the detail and information you provide it. The examples released by Open AI are… extraordinary. Working off just a few lines of text, the model creates hyper-realistic video images. In one, a woman walks down a Neon-lit Tokyo Street, the light bouncing perfectly off the little puddles underneath her black boots. In another, a Victoria crowned pigeon twitches and shifts before the camera. In maybe my favourite example, two tiny pirate ships keen and tilt in the churning, swirling black of a hot coffee. Are all of the videos perfect? No. With a keen eye, you can notice some little imperfections. But from a visual effects perspective, they are probably more advanced than most movies just a few years ago. And here’s the thing; they were created in just a few seconds. I don’t profess to fully grasp the true capacity and risk of artificial intelligence. Obviously, it’s going to be disruptive, but sometimes it’s hard to distil the hype. But Open AI’s Sora programme was a wow moment for me. It’s amazing to me that a technology can create something so impressive, so realistic, both out of nothing, and out of everything. And again – in just a few seconds. And all I could think as I scrolled through the examples —the woolly mammoths lumbering through a snowy meadow, the movie trailer with a space man in a red wool helmet, the aerial shot of waves crashing against the California Coast, a homemade video of people in Nigeria thirty years in the future— all I could think was if this is where the technology is now, just imagine where it’s going to be in five years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"With five Grammy® wins and sixteen nominations, Howard follows up her massively acclaimed solo debut Jaime—a 2019 LP that landed on best-of-the-year lists from the likes of Pitchfork, the New York Times, and Rolling Stone – with What Now, drawing an immense and indelible power from endless unpredictability. Over the course of its 12 tracks, Howard brings her singular musicality to a shapeshifting sound encompassing everything from psychedelia and dance music to dream-pop and avant-jazz—a fitting backdrop for an album whose lyrics shift from unbridled outpouring to incisive yet radically idealistic commentary on the state of the human condition. At turns galvanizing, cathartic, and wildly soul-expanding, the result is a monumental step forward for one of the most essential artists of our time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Spy Coast – Tess Gerritsen Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement. But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA—to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives. Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. More accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information—and by her odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn. As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini Club’s maneuvers, Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned, but with the help of her friends—and the reluctant Jo Thibodeau—Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built. The Fury – Alex Michaelides This is a tale of murder. Or maybe that's not quite true. At its heart, it's a love story, isn't it? Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex-movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island. I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ― it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press sensation: a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind...and a murder. We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered. But who am I? My name is Elliot Chase, and I'm going to tell you a story unlike any you've ever heard. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Day After a brief college romance, Emma and Dexter pursue separate dreams, but meet on the same day each year to compare their progress in life and love. Arctic Ascent The professional adventure rock climber Alex Honnold embarks on a lifelong dream - an epic climbing quest across the remotest and toughest walls and peaks of Greenland. Superhot: The Spicy World of Pepper People A deep dive into a subculture fueled by spice: from the elite growers who strive to create new superhots to the chili eaters who chase the endorphin rush of consuming them; one chili headsets out on a quest to answer the spiciest of questions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Force of Nature: The Dry 2 Five women head out on a remote hiking retreat but only four return, each telling a different story. Detective Aaron Falk must find out what really happened before time runs out. American Underdog The inspirational true story of Kurt Warner, who overcomes years of challenges and setbacks to become a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback. Just when his dreams seem all but out of reach, it's only with the support of his wife, Brenda, and the encouragement of his family, coaches and teammates that Warner perseveres and finds the strength to show the world the champion that he already is. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Mike Yardley found himself in the stunning capitol city of Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur. He's got all the details on the sights to see, the best shopping locations, and the tastiest street food. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is cervical screening important? - In NZ approx. 180 to 190 women get cervical cancer every year. - Up to 80% have not been screening. - Cervical screening picks up changes early preventing cancer. What is the cervix? - Organ connects the uterus to the vagina. - Why it’s important: - Keeps baby inside the uterus while growing during pregnancy. - The canal through which baby passes at birth. - Canal sperm can travel up to fertilize eggs to get pregnant. What does a cervical smear do? - The smear scrapes some cells from the cervix. - The cells are looked at under a microscope for any abnormal cells, ones that could cause cancer, so they can be treated. - It’s traditionally every 3 years. - The Problem – it’s invasive to do and can be painful and off putting. What has changed? - A new screening test has been introduced, which can be done by a simple easy vaginal swab once every 5 years. - Most changes that lead to cancer in cervix are caused by the HPV virus. - The swab looks for the HPV strains that lead to cancer and do something about it. - Swab is much easier. It’s not painful and is only once every five years from age 25. - Easily accessed through your General Practice or clinic. One other important thing. - There is now HPV vaccine to prevent HPV infection. - Free for all adolescents and girls between 9 and 26. - This stops you from contracting HPV, thus preventing the cancer altogether. - Talk to your GP or Nurse. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The start of a new year is often a good time to check in on how your business is going. Just like we’d take our car in for a WOF, it’s just as important to get a WOF done on the mental health and safety of your business. Recent court case highlights that workplaces can be held liable for the mental distress and injury their workers suffer. At its most basic level, mental health and safety at work means making sure that workers aren’t being mentally harmed by the work they’re doing. Mental harm can occur through things such as exposure to traumatic material (e.g., a first responder), having way too much work for one person, or from things like bullying. Workplaces are legally obliged to identify risks to health (including mental health) and take steps to prevent or reduce these risks. This can involve things like providing EAP counselling to staff, training for managers about how to spot signs of distress in their people and support them, through to modifying workflows so it doesn’t all fall on one person. Some workplaces are really proactive in this area, and others are only just becoming aware of their responsibilities. For this latter group it might be helpful to get some outside support for this from an organisational psychologist. But can also start by actively engaging with staff around their experiences of mental stress and ideas they may have to reduce this. Often the best solutions come out of talking to people at the coalface. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dry conditions? Honestly, watering yourself silly is always an expensive exercise (especially in Wellington! Bottles of water are at least a dollar each…). Protect your soil from evaporation by chucking a heap of mulch in between your plants; I’ve just finished my firewood stash and the smaller branches are chippered into big bags of mulch. Timing is everything. Water tanks next to the house? Maybe now is a good idea to invest in some tanks, connected to your guttering, just saying… Raspberries: If you have harvested your spring-fruiting raspberries, they need pruning now. Get down on your hands and knees and prune off all the old “canes”; It’s easy to see which are old, brown canes with yellow old leaves and which ones are the new, fresh ones that will fruit for you next year. Raspberries also have this habit of producing heaps of runners and canes far, far away from the original bed! Either mow them down of translocate these new runners to a new row. They’ll survive that easily if done now, while the soil is warm. Add some fertiliser and everybody’s happy for next spring! Note: autumn raspberries still have a crop to go!!! Mid-summer is also the time to prune your plums when they have been harvested. I tend to do that now, with the summer heat still here. When you do it in late autumn or winter, the cooler, wetter weather can cause quite a few problems with diseases. Remember: stonefruit bears its fruit on young wood, but the European plums (such as prunes, Damson, and Greengage) tend to fruit heavily on 3–4-year-old branches. In our garden the Damson and Greengage are our jam work horses, so they can be shortened back to the well-established branches. Japanese plums tend to fruit on new wood, which means you can’t be as ruthless; Think ahead!! Vegies to sow/buy/plant: most of the winter crops: Prepare your patches – compost, dig-over, make friable with a fork Carrots in really good, stone-free soil. Well-drained and easy to penetrate for the roots (no forks in the carrots); Seed tape! Swedes and beetroots – again, well-drained soils that don’t stay wet too long (roots can rot in stagnant water Leeks – yep always a good winter vegetable, start while soil is warm (good germination) All the Brassicas can be sown or planted now, whatever you like; Caulies, Broccolinis, cabbages etc, etc. Protect from white butterfly larvae (still very prolific in the warm weather) – use “Success” (Yates) or fine netting that doesn’t let the mother whites onto the leaf surface. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An incredible team of people are heading off on a unique expedition to see first-hand how daunting the melting sea ice, warming seas, and changing weather patterns will be for Antarctica. Adventurer Peter Hillary, alongside Graham and Raewyn Henry, will lead 130 participants whose expertise spans science, business, art, and politics on a voyage of enlightenment down south. Antarctica is not your typical tourist destination, and while most people will never visit, the upcoming expedition is Hillary’s 43rd trip. “It is an incredible place,” he told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame. “Kind of unlike anywhere else on earth.” The objective of the trip is to immerse the participants in the solitude and expanse of the icy landscape and use that as a base for meaningful conversations about what can be done to stabilise climate change. “We have to connect with these places.” Hillary said. He told Tame that in the 19th century, Antarctica was rarely visited except by sealers and whalers, who proceeded to devastate the populations of those animals. “No one saw it and really, no one cared.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI generated images are getting an identifier Images created by Open AI's DALL-E technology will now come with a new label, a CR in a circle up in the top left corner. That's the mark that’s going to be on images produced by a range of AI companies. The only trouble there is it can pretty easily be cropped out. Open AI will also be adding metadata to the image file. While it's a nice idea, it's wildly impractical. If you take a screenshot of the image, the metadata disappears. If you post it online, the metadata isn't easily visible, or can even be wiped. But the same tech actually shows promise for verifying reality. The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) is working with camera companies, and even newsrooms, to embed metadata in real images to verify their authenticity. It will stay as the image is edited and be able to be verified using an online tool with the full history. You'll be hearing a lot about Gemini Google's Bard and Duet are being merged under the new name. Gemini will be the name of their large language model and there'll be Pro and Ultra versions. It's part assistant, part chatbot, part search engine — likely the future of Google. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online shopping is one of life's many conveniences. It allows people to simplify their shopping experience, and buy things from places or companies they might not be able to access in their day to day life. Kevin Milne told Jack Tame that the experience continues to impress. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quick, light, fresh and delicious, making it the perfect summer salad for you to share with friends and family. We love to serve this salad alongside our hummus, dukkha yoghurt flatbreads and smoky carrot falafels. Serves: 6 Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 1 cup bulgur wheat Boiling water 4 spring onion, finely chopped 180g cherry tomatoes, chopped 1 cucumber, chopped 3 stalks celery, finely chopped 1 lemon, zest and juice 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp sea salt 2 cups flat leaf parsley, chopped 2 cups mint, chopped Method: Add the bulgur wheat into a bowl and cover with boiling water. Cover the bowl with either a plate or a clean tea towel and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. The bulgur wheat will absorb all of the water and expand. If you have any excess water once the 20 minutes is up, just drain the bulgur wheat through a sieve. While the bulgur wheat is cooking, assemble the other ingredients. To a large mixing bowl, add the cooked bulgur wheat, spring onions, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, celery, lemon zest and juice, pomegranate molasses, extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. Gently toss everything together. Add the flat leaf parsley and mint. Gently toss one more time before enjoying. Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of the many, many, many things I’m bad at... perhaps in no department am I more lacking than in artistic talent. I am a truly appalling artist. I have no vision. I have no voice. I can’t sculpt. I can’t mould. I can’t paint. I have the sketching ability of a lesser-developed primate but without the novelty factor. I am a terrible artist. And so it was curious series of events this summer that led me to find myself with a head torch and overalls, dragging myself through the dank, dark, crawl space below the floorboards of one of New Zealand’s premier art galleries. My friend, Mike, was preparing for a show. And with his centrepiece installation in mind, he needed volunteers to drag themselves on their knees and their bellies, as he worked to reinforce the gallery floor. I’ve never really watched an artist at work. But Mike’s work makes him a bit unique. His studied engineering and worked as an engineer, before following his artistic passion to Columbia University. We met in New York. Now he uses his engineering skills and artistic talents to make big, bold, sometimes provocative public works. His most recent big work was a playground in Melbourne’s Southbank featuring huge boulders perched precariously on tiny little trollies. He reverse engineered a rubber compound to look just like the bluestone slabs which pave much of Melbourne’s city. When you look at the playground, you see rocks on wheels on concrete. But it’s all an illusion. A playground which looks dangerous, but isn’t. I remember Mike explaining to me the initial concept for his new show. I remember him developing it, tweaking it as he went. Watching him prepare meant bearing witness to a man repeatedly solving the kind of problems most of us would never even conceive of. How do you get a thin sheet of extremely rare, extremely expensive marble from Australia to New Zealand in one piece? How do you suspend hundreds of kilograms of steel in the air in a building with very few structural components? How do you get a giant palm tree through a not-very-giant door? Mike’s show opened last night. It features a series of crazy drinking fountain sculptures, with what Mike insisted had to be chilled, filtered water. Room temperature? Puh-lease. There’s a space with a table placed below a continuous drip from the gallery ceiling, some ten metres up. The drip falls down to a yellow dish cloth, which over time leaks a thin stream of water, feeding a plant. It’s very clever. And the piece de resistance of sorts: In the centre of the gallery is an 8 metre-high real, living palm tree with an NBA regulation basketball hoop. The backboard is a stunning piece of blue marble which looks like the sky. The hoop is entirely functional. You can dunk it, if you’re athletic enough. You can swing from it. At the show’s opening, people took shots and played pickup. As I studied Mike’s creations, I felt a weird mix of bewilderment, admiration, and envy. They were brilliant. Fantastic, in the true sense of that word. But not only could I not build any of the works, I simply couldn’t conceive of them in the first place. I’ll tell you what though, for those of us bereft of any artistic skills, it is one of life’s great pleasures to see and appreciate in a friend a talent you admire. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bitter Sweet Love is the fifth studio album from British singer-songwriter James Arthur, the thirteen track album releasing late last month. After a week long race for the top spot, Bitter Sweet Love surpassed the Reytons to take the number one spot on the UK Charts. The album is full of the contradictions surrounding love, Arthur having written the album during some post-tour blues, unsure if he wanted to continue with music. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Heiress - Rachel Hawkins With unexpected twists and heart-throbbing pacing, it draws you into a captivating mystery set within the claustrophobic Ashby House. The secrets hidden behind its closed doors, along with its notorious and heartless inhabitants, add to the intrigue. The Boys in the Boat - Daniel James Brown Told against the backdrop of the Great Depression, The Boys in the Boat is narrative non-fiction of the first order; a personal story full of lyricism and unexpected beauty that rises above the grand sweep of history and captures instead the purest essence of what it means to be alive. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mr & Mrs Smith A reboot of the 2005 Hollywood blockbuster sees Donald Glover and Maya Erskine play two spies who are assigned as husband and wife for a secret mission, and end up falling for each other. Griselda Sofia Vergara plays a real-life Columbian drug-lord who went on to create one of the most profitable drug cartels in history. The Greatest Night in Pop On a January night in 1985, music's biggest stars gather to record "We Are the World." The team goes behind the scenes of the event to see how all of the artists came together to make history. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Holdovers A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school remains on campus during Christmas break to babysit a handful of students with nowhere to go. He soon forms an unlikely bond with a brainy but damaged troublemaker, and with the school's head cook, a woman who just lost a son in the Vietnam War. To Catch a Killer A troubled police officer is recruited by the FBI's chief investigator to help profile and track down a disturbed individual terrorizing Baltimore, Maryland. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Fanning out from Ashburton and bounded by the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, Mid-Canterbury is a land of dramatic contrasts. Pancake-flat coastal plains give way to abruptly rising hill country, while large sweeping braided rivers, crystal clear alpine lakes and the serrated glory of the Southern Alps all add to the scenic medley." "It is an understated region ripe for discovery and exploration, particularly when you’re road-tripping the Mainland." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New recycling rules have come into place as district and city councils across the country standardise what can and cannot be recycled. Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall joined Jack Tame to run through these regulations and give an insight into whether recycling is as helpful as we think it is. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Had a great “break” around Christmas? No doubt a fabulous, lazy time with whanau and grand kids. The problem is: often some pests and diseases sneak into the system without you knowing! Codling moths in your apples After flowering, when the apples set fruit (the tiniest fruits that grow into apples!), this is the time when codling moth adults lay their eggs. During the X-mas growth the caterpillars will tunnel into your “codlings” (small fruits in old-fashioned English language!) and your task will be to try and get them out of those fruits. Good luck with that! Photo / Supplied Prevention is quite simple and effective: After flowering, spray your apples with Madex 2 (or Madex 3 if you need to use a lot); it’s organic and safe and contains the infectious particles of a virus that only kills codling moth. Spray every two weeks until Christmas and no caterpillars will enter your fruit! Green Vegetable Bug (Stink bug) They are slowly increasing in your garden right now; Adults are green, juveniles are black with reddish spots They suck juices out of a long list of crops, causing plants to reduce in vigour. Scouting is the term for your warfare: go out early in the morning and later in afternoon/evening to intercept these sap-suckers. Photo / Supplied Squash them till they smell somewhat like coriander and drop their bodies under the host plants they are feeding on. In no time you’ll find a lot of live bugs drop to the ground as well (that smell is a warning smell that makes them jump and lie-down very quietly). Knock them all off (the warning smell gets stronger and more bugs will jump!!) In no time you will have reduced the population to a fraction of what was there. Powdery Mildew Fungus lurking around the garden already! You might not see it just yet, but it surely is on your crops (Gherkins, courgettes, melons, cucumber and later apple and other fruit too) The infection started in late November and early December, when you were doing the Christmas shopping!!! If only you could have sprayed your susceptible plants then !!! You would have certainly reduced the trouble that you’ll face in a month or so. Photo / Supplied Copper and sulphur mixes (Nature’s Way Fungus Spray) are simple organic fungicides that will knock the mildew back; you can also use some hard-core fungicides if you like, but the idea is to be as early as possible! Have a look at the brilliant story in a recent NZ Gardener by Keith Hammett Oh, by the way… those yellow-and-black ladybird beetles on the mildew-infested leaves are not a great help at all: they actually eat the mildew and spread it around your garden! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BOB'S BEST BUYS Wine: Askerne 2022 Viognier, Hawke’s Bay $26.90 Why I chose it: - One of the best examples of NZ Viognier I’ve tasted. - Often blended with Syrah to give greater complexity and a silkier texture. - Delicious wine from a challenging vintage. What does it taste like? - “Ripe, almost luscious wine with tree fruit/apricot/nectarine, vanilla and musk-like flavours underpinned by a core of sweet fruit that helps make the wine very accessible now.” Why it’s a bargain: - Aristocratic wine at a working-class price. Where can you buy it? - Wines of NZ $22.49 New Zealand - First Glass Wines and Spirits, Auckland $22.99 - Advintage, Hawke’s Bay $23.99 - Vino Fino (NZ) Christchurch. Food match? - Apple Tart Will it keep? - Drink up LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Top artists have vanished from TikTok Superstars Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and Olivia Rodrigo's music has been removed from TikTok because their record label and TikTok can't agree on what to pay. Universal Music Group says TikTok is paying a fraction of the price of other social media sites. It's tricky though, because TikTok has been the source of many #1 hits recently as clips go viral, and that means streams on Spotify, downloads on iTunes, and concert tickets. UMG: "TikTok is trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music". TikTok's position: "It is sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters". Mark Zuckerberg got slammed on the Hill, but praised on Wall St They announced their 2023 & Q4 results and stock prices shot up 12% in after-hours trading. Investors are loving the new margins, the dividend, and buybacks. Revenues increased by 16% but its profits increased by 69%. The “year of efficiency” has doubled their operating margins from 20% to 41%. For the very first time too, they'll pay a dividend and signaled that they'll pay it regularly. Meta now has 22% fewer staff compared to last year, and Wall St doesn't seem to care it cost $1b to make those changes. The losses on the Metaverse —building the Oculus headset and supporting platform— increased to $16b for 2023. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian Russell Howard is returning to New Zealand for his sell-out tour- a very different version of New Zealand when compared to his previous visit, where he was granted exemption to pass through the borders during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Last time we came, the army were there. They greeted us by saying- you know you’ll be staying at a hotel for two weeks. We’ll ask about your mental health, you have to lie. I told them I’ll be fine, there’s no way I could tell the truth,” the comedian told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame. With the restrictions safely out of the way this time, Howard’s free to wander around New Zealand again, and potentially source some joke material from the local shops - he says he was particularly fascinated with what he saw in Auckland’s CBD. “We were in Ponsonby, and it was funny because they were clearly coming up with names that have no relevance whatsoever to what they’re selling. There was a place called the Stolen Girlfriends Club - they sell clothes! There’s a cinema called the Silky Otter, my interest was piqued because you’re looking at all these. Is the Women’s Bookshop all female authors? No!” Howard explained that seeing the picturesque images designed to appeal to travelers were less fascinating than observing the nation first-hand and building jokes from what he sees. To him, the standard mountainscapes were less compelling than spotting a restaurant that sounded like a ‘really specific Google search’, as he described Auckland’s Monsoon Poon. He’s used to taking comedic material out of his observations, as his standup specials, TV projects and TikTok videos show off his takes on the state of the world as we ping-pong from one crisis to the next- from controversial presidential administrations, economic downturns, pandemics, climate change, to a possible expanding war. “The audience is your master, your jury. There’s a great quote from Stephen Fry about the peculiarity of comedy. Comedy is so intangible, it’s surreal.” He promised his current tour will bring his signature energy to Kiwi audiences. As he explained to Jack Tame, New Zealand has a ‘gentle, lovely’ atmosphere with plenty of entertaining aspects that could sound absurd when played back to an international audience. “For instance, Rotorua calls itself Rotovegas, despite the fact that it doesn’t have a casino. That is innately funny, I love the idea of some American tourists wondering where the casino is and people from Rotorua going - there isn’t one,” he told Newstalk ZB. Howard’s standup tours have sold thousands of tickets to people all over the world, from the US, to the UK, to Europe, to Australia - allowing him to show off his jokes to different audiences and tastes. “I’ve got a load of stuff, it’s the final version before I record it for a special, so it’s as tight as a drum. I’m just putting it through New Zealand and Australia, to see if that works, to see what doesn’t work here.” His comedy manages to work 80 percent of the time, as he claims. Audiences clearly agree, as demonstrated by the high-ticket sales and millions - sometimes hundreds of millions - watching his social media content and ‘The Russell Howard Hour’ on television or YouTube. Celebrity appearances and connections bring in the viewers, but Howard holds his own and brings his comedic chops wherever he appears. “You have to figure out the right version of it. I don’t know the lay of the land, so I look forward to going to gigs and asking people how they feel.” He’s taking in New Zealand in February and observing our nation’s cities and stories - and he expects to discuss our response to the crisis in the Red Sea, our politics and our other ‘interesting’ aspects. As he told Jack Tame, he’ll never know when an off-the-cuff observation turns into a joke, or standup special, or tour highlight. LISTEN ABOVE Tour Dates Wellington 3rd February 2024, Michael Fowler Centre Palmerston North 4th February 2024, Regent On Broadway Whanganui 5th February 2024, Royal Whanganui Opera House Tauranga 7th February 2024, Mercury Baypark Arena Hamilton 8th February 2024, Globox Arena Auckland 9th February 2024, Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre Auckland 10th February 2024, Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre Hawke's Bay 11th February 2024, Toitoi Opera House See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

End of season strawberries are so jammy and sweet, they’re perfect for baking with. Makes one 20cm cake. Ingredients: 55g butter, softened 2/3 cup caster sugar + 1 tbsp 2 tsps pure vanilla extract 1 large egg 1 cup plain flour ½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp baking soda 3 tbsps poppy seeds 1/2 tsp lemon zest 1/2 cup plain Greek yoghurt or sour cream 140g fresh strawberries, quartered Yoghurt or whipped cream to serve Method 1. Preheat oven to 180 C fan bake with rack in middle. Grease and line a 20cm springform tin. 2. Beat butter and 2/3 cup sugar until pale and fluffy, then beat in vanilla and egg. 3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and poppy seeds and add these into the mix in two batches, beating on low and alternating with yoghurt. Stir in zest and half the strawberries until just combined. Spoon batter into prepared cake tin. Arrange remaining strawberries evenly over top and sprinkle with remaining one tablespoon of sugar. 4. Bake 35 minutes or until golden and a skewer comes out clean. Cool for 10-15 minutes before ‘springing the tin’ and allow to cool completely before transferring to a serving plate. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.