Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

I’ve recently been reading a few books about Bees and Bumblebees; in the past I worked on mosquitoes and beneficial pest controllers, got stung by a Japanese hornet (no, not the “giant murder hornet”, but it was big and it did hurt!) and slowly come to the conclusion that entomology should have been my hobby a lot earlier in life. There are so many stories! We know Honeybees and Bumblebees as “pollinators” of flowers, especially our food crops. In this insect group (Hymenoptera) the Honeybees and the four species of Bumbles are all exotic creatures imported as slave labour. Without them our diet would look a lot poorer. As gardeners we know too well that these pollinators are welcome visitors to our garden: my tomatoes would never fruit without those bumblebees; (the honeybees never get into my tunnel house – tomato is not their gig!). Every pollinator has its own range of flowers to work on – the reward, of course, is to extract some nectar to feed babies and queens. This teaches us to create a heap of “wildflowers” under the apples, pears, plums and peaches, near raspberries and strawberries. The diversity of these wildflowers attracts a wide range of pollinators. It is exactly what you’d need as a TEACHER if you want to do a unit on bumble bees, or a topic for “mini-beasts” in the curriculum; identify what visits which flower. But these wildflowers also attract other nectar hunters: mosquitoes! Males only – they are the pollinators! They also fertilise the females who then lay eggs on the edge of ponds and water features. Woah! Hang on for a moment!! I know what you’re saying… The mosquito wrigglers grow up in the pond/water feature, where they consume the bacterial soup that makes those water habitats so “dirty looking”; Mozzie larvae clean your water! Water cleaning mosquito wrigglers. Photo / Supplied Last but not least: the variety of flowers you plant in your garden also attract a variety of pollinating flies, beetles and parasitic wasps. Those flies and beetles give birth to babies (larvae) that are often predators of aphids, mealybugs and scale insects, as well as caterpillars and other plant “pests”. The Parasitic wasps (pareasitoids) will lay eggs inside their host; these eggs hatch into wasp larvae that will devour your garden “pests” from the inside-out, controlling a heap of damaging insects that give your plants a hard time. Parasitoid on Fennel. Photo / Supplied. For every job an insect does certain plant species receive a benefit; everything is connected to everything else… This why my garden has many different species of flowering plants, spread willy-nilly under fruit trees and near vegetables. I also make sure there are bumble bee nest boxes near my tomatoes and small bamboo “bug motels” in which some tiny native, parasitic wasps create their home … The more bio-diversity, the fewer troubles in your quarter acre paradise! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Half of mortgages are due to be refixed over the coming 12 months and many of those will be rolling onto much higher interest rates than where they are right now. While predictions last year were that interest rates would start easing towards the end of this year, it now looks like it won’t happen until mid-next year, if not later. And while the OCR hasn’t shifted since May, banks have continued increasing their interest rates, unnecessarily adding to the pressure. Yet despite all this —and the extensive media coverage that mortgage interest rates and the cost of living has been getting— people are still not prepared for what they’ll do when their mortgages come up for refixing, and how they’ll cope with this increase in cost. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Her name was Siri, she had to change it It was annoying enough when colleagues or friends couldn't greet her with "Hey Siri" without setting off their phone's assistant, but the latest changes to iOS has made it even worse. Now you don't need to say the "Hey", which has forced 26-year-old Siri Price to change her name. She now goes by "Siz". She says she loved the name Siri because it means “beautiful woman who leads you to victory”. For Apple, it means “Speech Interpretation and Recognition Interface”. Microsoft Teams is going to be significantly faster It's been completely rebuilt and is said to be 2x faster than the current version and uses half the memory - which is great news because Teams really dragged down your computer's performance. "Classic Teams" will stick around for a bit, but all new features will be added only to the new Teams moving forward. For those who use new Apple desktops and laptops - it'll also work natively with Apple Silicon. It'll be a slow rollout until December when it'll become the default in Enterprise plans. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This snack is a combo of a cheesy cob loaf (you know that thing where you hollow out a cobb loaf and make a fondue in the middle to dip bread into?!) and a Welsh rarebit, that magical cheese toast that’s made with a sauce loaded with cheddar, Worcestershire, mustard and ale. My version is super fast and easy to make and it’s just the thing for a weekend lunch or snack. Makes 4 toasts Ingredients ½ medium-sized onion, diced finely 2 rashers bacon, diced roughly 1 tablespoon butter or oil 4 slices sourdough, lightly toasted (or other quality bread) 4 big tablespoons creme fraiche, sour cream or cream cheese 100g grated good quality cheddar cheese + extra 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar Decent grind black pepper Small handful parsley, chopped fine Method Heat oven to 180 C. Fry the onion and bacon in the butter/oil until onion is softened and bacon has given up its fat. In a small bowl mix creme fraiche, cheddar, balsamic, pepper and parsley until combined. Mix in onion and bacon. Spoon the mixture onto each toast slice, spreading to the edges. Place on a tray, sprinkle over some extra cheese and bake for 15 minutes until the topping is golden. Eat while hot! Make it your own: Use tinned tuna or salmon in place of bacon and add some capers Stir in a teaspoon of wholegrain mustard instead of balsamic Leave out the bacon and stir in chopped spinach and chives for a vegetarian option Use parmesan for the cheese and basil in place of parsley See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julian Dennison and James Rolleston are familiar faces to fans of kiwi films. The pair started acting young, starring in Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Boy, respectively. The award-winning actors returned to New Zealand screens October 5th with the highly anticipated local feature film Uproar, a story about connection and finding your place in the world, set during the Springbok protests of 1981. Dennison plays the protagonist of the film, Josh Waaka, while Rolleston plays his older brother Jamie. “Jamie and Josh are both Māori and go to a very Pākehā school,” Dennison told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame. “So, it’s about Josh finding his Māoridom, also finding himself.” While the outdated fashion might be the first difference viewers notice, it’s not the only part of the film that kiwis might find unfamiliar. “It was hectic,” Rolleston told Tame. “The things that were happening back then, around the Springbok tour.” “Before the film, I just knew that there were some marches that didn’t go too well, that kind of thing. I wasn’t too clued up about it.” “They don’t really teach you at school,” Dennison agreed. In terms of the characters themselves, Dennison found himself acting from experience. “I felt like I could relate to him a bit,” he told Tame. “Going to an all-boys school that was predominantly European.” “That thing of being too brown for school, but also being too white for some cliques outside of school.” The film is a journey of self-discovery for Josh, not only finding himself beyond where he fits in school, but also within his family and culture. Both actors are hoping that this film will be an inspiration for people to find those cultural connections, to connect with their Māoridom in a way they hadn’t previously. “I hope people walk out of there going, “Yeah I’m going to start the journey.”” “You see the Māori ways come up in the film,” Rolleston said. “Which is good for people to see, especially our young people.” “I feel like this film is going to bring up some good conversations,” Dennison told Tame. “I think this movie will, you know, cultivate people to talk about this stuff.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ignoring all the politics and policies, there is one key thing that sets the political parties apart: their colour. Throughout the election campaign politicians have been seen wearing their colours like a uniform, on their ties, their blazers, even their dresses. Kevin Milne wants to know why and how this came to be. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ed Sheeran has dropped another album. Autumn Variations’ fourteen tracks are based around the life situations of Sheeran’s friends, written from their point of view. The title is a reference to Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations, fourteen short musical portraits of the composer’s friends and acquaintances. The album was released on September 29th, 2023, and had been previewed in concerts and live performances. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sustainability expert Kate Hall joined Jack Tame to chat about op-shopping versus sustainable fasion. Which is better? How does affordability play into it, and what are some of the concerns? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This program is increasingly becoming a Community Information Resource that assists our native plants and critters – no apologies here! We read in the news that the DOC is translocating rare/endangered birds and lizards to keep them safe and increase their populations. Gardeners can do exactly the same thing for our butterflies and moths – we even have a New Zealand Moths and Butterfly Trust that does exactly the same thing, so why not join them and enrich your quarter acre Paradise? Monarchs are mating and looking for places to lay their eggs. We all know their food plants: Swan plants (bit boring in my opinion!) can be sown right now – Kings Seeds and other seed merchants have these popular plants in stock; Moths and Butterfly trust also stocks a heap of different seeds for Monarchs. Germination is good at warmer temps, and 21 degrees is recommended. Fabulous Asclepias species with colourful flowers are also suitable host plants – more my gig! Prettier relatives of the swan plant. Photo / Supplied Whatever you sow: aim for heaps of plants and keep some of them in large pots as “spares” for when famine breaks out. Admiral Butterflies love nettles to lay their eggs on; if you have a safe space you can try the native Ongaonga stinging nettle. Just be careful, they are ferocious (Hence their name Urtica ferox). Red admirals are keen on that tree nettle (ferox) but will also feed on perennial nettle (dioica). Yellow admirals tend to go for the smaller nettle species as food for the caterpillars. I have both admirals in abundance here in the Halswell Quarry. The reds seem to overwinter here too. Red admiral (left) – Yellow admiral (right). Photo / Supplied Just be aware that red admirals may not be as common in the Auckland region, so extra food plants might make them be a little more “regularly observed”. They are plentiful in the south though, the yellow admirals are pretty common right around the motu. For our Blue Butterflies (commonly known as “Blues”), sow some Trifolium, Medicago or Lotus, as well as lucern, trefoil and clover species. Note how these plants are members of the Fabaceae (they are Legumes!). Copper butterflies and boulder coppers (in the Genus Lycaena) are absolutely beautiful, mostly orange-coloured insects that fly quite erratically through the landscape, often not too far from their preferred host plant on which the caterpillars feed. By planting the appropriate species of Muehlenbeckia (complexa or australis, not astonii) you'll find the butterflies often “in attendance”. The Bolder coppers are often characterised by a deep purple-blue reflection on the wing scales. Photo / Supplied Their food plant is Muehlenbeckia axellaris (creeping pohuehue). More butterfly details can be found of the Moths and Butterflies Trust website: https://nzbutterfly.info/ LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a urinary tract infection and who gets them? -Referred to as a bladder infection or cystitis -Bacteria gets up into bladder causing the infection -Sometimes if untreated can go up into the kidneys – more serious infection is called pyelonephritis -More common in women – most women will get one at some point -Less common in men – often related to an enlarged prostate as get older How do you recognise them? -Burning passing urine -Increased frequency of urination -Sudden urgency to pass urine -Abdominal pain -Smelly or cloudy urine -Children can also get urine infections: temperatures, or suddenly bed wetting at night -Elderly: can be very difficult to diagnose. May present with confusion or a fall. -Often the GP or nurse will do urine test or send-off sample to the Lab. How do we treat them? -Antibiotics from doctor or nurse -If its straightforward your pharmacist may be able to give you antibiotics -Drink plenty of fluids -You need to see a doctor if you haven’t improved in three days, develop shakes, have a spiking temperature, or increasing pain Can you Prevent them? -Stay well hydrated, cranberry juice may help prevent them -Post-sex voiding urine sometimes advised -Avoid wearing tight-fitting underwear -Make sure to wipe after bowel movements, going front to back -Treating constipation if present, as it puts pressure on the bladder -They can be recurrent and may need ‘preventive antibiotics. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taylor Swift broke Google Search with cryptic clues about her new album She's re-releasing 1989, so we're about to get Taylor's Version of Shake It off, Blank Space, Style, and Bad Blood, as well as some previously un-released songs which she's calling "from the vault". Taylor teased in an Instagram post: "you can tell me when the search is over, if the high was worth the pain". The Swifties figured out that if you Googled Taylor Swift, there were 89 word puzzles giving clues to the names of the tracks. If the puzzles were solved 33 million times (Taylor is 33), then they'd be revealed. Google was so overwhelmed they had to shut the puzzles down for a bit, but they got them back and the job is done - Taylor has now revealed the track names. Phew! Facebook's AI play is celebrity themed chatbots When you use "Meta AI" on Facebook you'll get to interact with themed chatbots that look and sound like celebrities you'll know: Snoop Dogg will be “Dungeon Master”, who will assist users to play adventure games. Kylie Jenner will be “Billie”, a “big sis” referred to as a “ride-or-die companion”. Naomi Osaka will be “Tamika” an anime-obsessed bot. They want AI to be more about entertainment than fact. Meta says they've put lots of guardrails to steer away from sensitive topics. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changing Ends This British sitcom tells the semi-autobiographical story of comedian Alan Carr’s life growing up in 1980s Northampton (TVNZ+). The Messenger An Australian drama about an accidental hero who receives a series of mysterious messages scribbled on a playing card that sets him on a strange journey (TVNZ+). Maryland The story of two estranged sisters who have to learn to love each other again after the death of their mother, who they discover was a leading a double life (ThreeNow). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scoring at the rate of a try every six minutes, the All Blacks have wiped Italy off the map at the Rugby World Cup in Lyon. They beat them 96-17, scoring seven tries in both the first and second half of the game. Newstalk ZB’s voice of rugby, Elliott Smith, told Jack Tame that from the opening try to the full time whistle the All Blacks were relentless and ruthless. He said it’s hard to judge Italy’s performance when the All Blacks strangled them out of the contest from minute one onwards. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

L.A.B vocalist and guitarist Joel Shadbolt has that certain something you can't quite put your finger on. He’s a combination of pure talent and palpable drive and edge from his vehicle of choice – a Harley-Davidson. Shadbolt fronted L.A.B as they skyrocketed through the charts with reggae-funk song ‘In the air’ staying in the top 10 for 73 weeks. Shadbolt told Jack Tame that they’ve had a great week, the band walking away from the Panhead Rolling Stone Aotearoa Awards with Best Single. He said they’re still trying to figure out how to divvy up the prize ring up between the members of the band. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever lost? Car keys? A wedding ring? Your dignity, perhaps? I’m not really a loser. Well, I’m a loser. But I’m not a loser of things. I’m not a misplacer. At least not yet. Against the odds, I’ve managed to go several years with the same pair of wireless earbuds without any major incident. And but for a very occasional misplaced bikelock key, perhaps my worst-ever losing of something was when I foolishly parked a rental car in a Las Vegas casino’s underground carpark and spent about 2 hours walking the rows trying to listen for the bleep’bleep. Certainly I’ve never lost anything that comes close to an F-35 jet. This for me was the stand out story of the week. Not the election campaign or the U.N General Assembly. The mystery of the missing F-35. It started on Tuesday, when a sheepish young man made a call to 9-11 asking if there had been any reports of a plane crash. He’d ejected, he said, while flying a F-35B Lightening II jet. Why exactly did he eject? We don’t really know. But he was only a mile from Charleston International Airport – an airport I’ve flown in and out of before – and he ended up parachuting down into someone’s suburban backyard. This is only a hunch, but if he was the one who hit the eject button, I’m guessing that pilot is feeling just a little sheepish. Because despite his ejection, the plane continued flying. Not just a few miles, but a full hundred kilometres. The F-35B is the most advanced fighter jet in the U.S military arsenal. It can take off and land vertically. And apparently the jet’s capacity for stealth shouldn’t be underestimated. Because maybe the most extraordinary thing about this whole situation is that it took more than 24 hours to find and report the debris field from the crashed F-35. To be clear – it didn’t go down on the battlefield. It didn’t go down in the ocean. A $170m fighter jet went down in a field in South Carolina and it took the mightiest military with the most advanced technology more than a day to find it. Forget transponders or radar or GPS, at one point the military was asking the public to call a special hotline with any information. 0800-missing-jet-who-am-I-speaking-with? You see, this is why I never believe in deep state conspiracies. As seductive as it might be to imagine an all-powerful government pulling the wool over our eyes and manipulating the global order, people always underestimate the incompetence factor. If America’s military can lose a state-of-the-art fighter jet in their own backyard, what hope do any of the rest of us have for our house keys? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1)’ is the debut studio album from American musician Teddy Swims. The album is a blend of pop, soul, and R&B, featuring ten songs, two of them singles. His music features various heavy topics, substance abuse, mental health, and in an interview with the NZ Herald Swims admitted that he “made a promise to [himself] that when [the album] does come out, [he] will put [himself] into therapy.” The title of the album is tongue in cheek reference to that. “I named it that to buy myself a couple more months of freedom, of being a traumatised little s***.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The brilliance of Buller is ablaze in spring, as the sun-splashed countryside and lush pastures positively vibe with the vivid lime greens of new and verdant growth. Like a frisky spring lamb, I was itching to frolic far and wide, while exploring the wonderful West Coast. Point the car north from Westport and venture over the vast bush-clad heights of the twists and turns of Karamea Bluff, thickly robed in rimu and matai forests." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mental Health Awareness Week is upon us, and Dr Dougal Sutherland has five ways to wellbeing to offer, plus some potential work-related activities. Take Notice – get together a bunch of people at work for daily or weekly mindfulness or yoga sessions – if you’re lucky, work might pay for them. Give – give time, or money or resources —good example is volunteering: sports coach, church youth group, charity shop, meals on wheels— lots of evidence to show this not only helps the community but also is good for personal wellbeing. Be Active – schedule in some activity every day —make it like any other meeting in your diary— just do it – might be something you could do with others at work as having a buddy helps with accountability and makes you stick at it. Connect – really important in this age of hybrid working —virtual connection is good, but nothing beats face to face— is there a way to encourage everyone to be in the office on certain days and then when they are there making connecting with each other a top priority. Keep Learning – keep going from te wiki o te reo Māori —or learn a new skill at work— do some professional development. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the time for planting. I’ve never been so busy as last week in the vegetable garden – even got to catch up with some serious pruning back-log. Gardeners can be very useful creatures that support our native and endangered trees, shrubs and climbers. Some of our endemic taonga are literally on the brink of extinction and planting these botanical specimens in appropriate places is like putting your eggs in many baskets. 1) Metrosideros bartlettii is also known as the Bartlett’s Rata; it occurs naturally in the far north of our country. Being a “rata” means it is closely related to pohutukawa and other species of Rata. But this one is pretty unique: its bark is grey-white and feels (and sheds) like tissue paper. The flowers are not red, but white and look just like Pohutukawa or rata in shape Rare? Oh yes: just 13 adult trees are left in our country; of the five “genotypes”, just one has been propagated from. Some trees are on private land – not sure about their future safety. Browsing animal pests (think possums, deer, goats etc) are the main cause of decline. And now we have myrtle rust as well! Myrtle Rust on Metrosideros. Photo / Supplied 2) Tecomanthe speciosa – the Three Kings Vine – is an absolute stunner of a liane. It is readily available in garden centres and can grow in a wide range of climatological conditions. As a climber it needs good support from other trees – it also needs lots of space, moisture in the soil, and it prefers to have the roots in the shade. The plant starts to bloom after 2 or 3 years growing up (patience!) – but will reward you with large, creamy-white tubular flowers in clusters, attracting native birds. Tecomanthe can be grown from seeds or cuttings; it’s frost tender, so plant it in areas that are subtropical. Rare? It’s the rarest plant in the world: One vine was discovered on Great Island (Three Kings Group, NW of Cape Reinga) in 1945; Feral Goats (who else?) were the cause of this plant’s decline. That original plant is still there – but struggling, since the eradication of goats have caused huge forest growth, shading that particular specimen. 3) Ngutukākā (also known as Kākābeak). Clianthus maximus and Clianthus puniceus are two species that originally occurred in Northland and the Auckland Region, especially Hauraki Gulf. Its history in European times involves Captain Cook’s 1769 Nature Nerds Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, who “discovered” the plant at Uawa (Tolaga Bay) in Tairāwhiti. The brilliant red flowers were visible from the ship and common on hill sides. That likely indicates that Maori were keen on Ngutukākā (trading them?) and planted them in many places. Browsing animals cause havoc (deer, goats – who else? – stock, pigs, hares) but also introduced garden snails and native kowhai moth caterpillars. On my last trip to Tairāwhiti it was wonderful to see ngutukākā everywhere, especially near schools. Thank you Graeme Atkins!! This is the modern mahi following on from the Maori History. As relatives of kowhai (pea Family) these plants can fix Nitrogen from the air and therefore can grow in nutrient-poor soils. They like to grow in light-spots (where trees have fallen over and caused an opening in the canopy) or slip faces. Seed is viable for a long time. The red flowers are a beacon for tui and bellbird and other nectar feeders. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BOB’S BEST BUYS Wine: Robert Mondavi 2021 Private Selection Buttery Chardonnay, California $21.99 Why I chose it: - Popular style - Buttery character is a by-product of malolactic fermentation What does it taste like? - Smooth, soft-textured chardonnay in a “big and buttery” style with spicy oak, vanilla. Mellow wine with a little heat on the finish. A crowd-pleasing style that lives up to its description. Not my kind of chardonnay. Why it’s a bargain: - Offers great value if you like the big and buttery style. Where can you buy it? - New World $21.99 (on special) - Whisky and More $20.99 (six-pack $119) Food match? - Rich chicken dishes Will it keep? - Drink it up See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Goodbye Cortana, hello Co-Pilot. Co-Pilot will live in the right-side panel of your PC and allow you to connect with data from across Office, the web, and other apps on your computer. There won't be separate apps anymore, just one Co-Pilot to call on. Microsoft wants it to become "your everyday AI companion". They showed the AI being able to use data from your calendar and email to write text messages. Or, asking Co-Pilot to set your computer to dark mode, arrange your windows, it's going to make your settings panel obsolete. Microsoft Paint is getting new features, such as layers, background removal, and AI integrations to help you create and manipulate images. Just type what you want the image to be, and the AI will generate it. The free upgrade will be released on September 26. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The responses to a quick-fire question in the Leaders’ Debate has gotten Kevin Milne excited. Turns out that both Chris Hipkins and Chris Luxon both voted ‘yes’ to change the New Zealand flag. The last flag referendum was a long, expensive, pointless process, as an estimated $25 million dollars was spent only for the flag to remain the same. However, Kevin has a plan and wants a new flag before the Olympics rolls around in July. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supermodels Apple TV+’s new documentary series looks back on the careers of four supermodels - Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington - and how they dominated the modelling world during the 1990s (Apple TV+). Annika The return of the Scottish series starring Nicola Walker as a detective working for Glasgow’s marine homicide unit, investigating the unexplained murders that wash up on shore (Neon). Big Boys A heartwarming British comedy about two young men who strike up an unlikely friendship when they’re thrown together at university (TVNZ+). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It Lives Inside Desperate to fit in at school, Sam rejects her East Indian culture and family to be like everyone else. However, when a mythological demonic spirit latches onto her former best friend, she must come to terms with her heritage to defeat it. 2nd Chance Richard Davis invents a concealable bulletproof vest, and shoots himself 196 times over the course of his career to prove its effectiveness. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This crustless tart is such a lovely dish to make in spring when mint and parsley are going crazy in the garden. It’s a great way to get some greens into you! Serves 6 Ingredients 50g butter 1 bunch spring onions, sliced thinly 500g frozen peas 150g ricotta cheese OR use cottage cheese 2 tbsps cream Small handful each mint leaves and parsley leaves, roughly chopped 2 large eggs 100g parmesan, grated 2 tbsps gluten free flour ½ tsp sea salt and decent grind of pepper A little olive oil Method Preheat the oven until 190 C. Grease a 23cm springform cake tin and line with baking paper. Gently fry the onions in butter until soft then add the peas and gently cook for five minutes or until they’re thawed. Using a food processor, blend half the onion and pea mixture with ricotta/cottage cheese and cream until quite smooth. Add remaining ricotta/cottage cheese, herbs and eggs and briefly blend until mixed. Transfer to a bowl, add the rest of the onion/peas, half the parmesan cheese, flour and season with salt and pepper. Give it a good stir and pour into the prepared tin. Drizzle a little olive oil on the surface and scatter the remaining cheese on top. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes until the top is golden brown, the middle is set and edges are pulling away from the sides, an indication it is cooked. Rest for 10 minutes before removing from the tin and cut into wedges and serve with a salad. Make it your own: Replace half the peas with 2 cups shredded raw spinach. Replace peas with chopped asparagus when in season. Add chopped bacon or flaked smoked salmon to the mixture. Crumble over chorizo sausage before baking. Use basil or coriander in place of the parsley. Use sour cream or cream fraiche instead of cream for extra tanginess. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Rainbows is the fourth studio album by English singer and songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae, released on 15 September 2023 by Black Rainbows Music and Thirty Tigers. The album is a multi-genre mix of the progressive R&B-neo soul sound of her previous works but it also contains rock, jazz, and electronic elements. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A road trip is made by the food stops along the way I reckon and when I called into a café I’d long wanted to visit in Ngātea recently their scones blew me away! They were so darn delicious, moist (or as I like to say ‘damp’) and super cheesy. The owners, Sarah and Simon, kindly shared their recipe and top tips with me. Makes 6-8 scones Ingredients: - 1 ¼ cup tasty cheese, grated - loosely packed 1 ¼ cup mozzarella, grated - loosely packed Extra cheese for topping - 2 ½ cups self-raising flour - Generous pinch of salt - 2 cups yoghurt Method: Preheat oven to 180 C fan bake. Put all ingredients in a large bowl. Bring the mix together with a large spoon. Once you have a big ball of mix and lots of dry bits on the bottom of the bowl, use your hand to push all of the dry ingredients into a wet ball. Turn out onto a floured bench and shape the mix into a 20x10cm rectangle, about 5cm high (you don’t want the mix to be too flat). Cut with a sharp knife or dough cutter into 6 large or 8 medium sized scones. Spread out on a baking paper lined tray and top generously with more grated cheese. (See note) Bake in a preheated (oven must be preheated!) for 15 mins for medium sized and 17mins for large sized. Cool slightly then slice and spread with loads of butter! Notes: Replace the yoghurt with a can of sprite or soda water (335mls) which gives them a lovely crust Use 2 ½ cups of pizza blend cheese You want some of the topping cheese to spread down the side of the scones on to the tray so you get the really crispy bits on the edges. These scones also freeze well and are excellent to add to lunchboxes. They are good cold but if reheating are best reheated by slicing in half and toasting in the oven for a few mins. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mother-Daughter Murder Night – Nina Simon Nothing brings a family together like a murder next door. The whodunit sees an older, high-powered businesswoman convalescing in a sleepy coastal town with her adult daughter and granddaughter. When the granddaughter discovers a body while kayaking and becomes a suspect, the trio, all fiercely independent, must come together to solve the crime, uncovering all sorts of secrets in the town along the way. The Secret Hours – Mick Herron Monochrome is a busted flush - an inquiry into the misdeeds of the intelligence services, established by a vindictive prime minister but rendered toothless by a wily chief spook. For years it has ground away uselessly, interviewing witnesses with nothing to offer, producing a report with nothing to say, while the civil servants at its helm see their careers disappearing into a black hole. And then the OTIS file falls into their hands... LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Instantly appealing, Skopje brims with time-honoured charm and some quite recent epic transformations. There’s a distinct sense of quirkiness that adds to its overwhelming good looks. The pint-sized country dodged the ravages of war, after declaring its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In light of the recent medical strikes, Kevin Milne has been thinking about doctors. Are our medical professionals overqualified? Do we make it too hard for many bright motivated students to get into med school? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With tax changes and policy changes promised by differing parties – where should the election feature in your financial plan? Plenty of people have spent the past year holding off on financial decisions, on the expectation that a change in Government would have a material impact on their wealth creation plans – but is that a sound strategy, or a risky one? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is what I got in my inbox a week or so ago: As New Zealand prepares to go to the polls, the reputation of the country’s favourite vegetables are at stake in the country’s very first VegElection. Be a part of history and let your taste buds be heard. Voting closes 30 September 2023. Cast your vote on Yates' website. Everyone who votes goes into the draw to win one of three $500 National Gardening Week hampers containing Kiwis’ favourite vegie seeds and everything to kick start a bountiful summer garden. Good old Yates! Imagine asking people what their favourite vegetables are, especially since some of them are quite a pain to grow! Example: rogue potatoes that pop up everywhere in your garden. The trouble is they are hosts for the Potato-tomato psyllid, a bummer of a creature (exotic!) that always manages to suck the living daylights out of my precious tomatoes!! For the record: my favourite edibles are Tomatoes, Witlof, Cos Lettuce, asparagus, and Spring Onions. Asparagus are my only crop that needs constant weeding – it doesn’t want too much “competition” at root level, so I always hack away at little weedlings on a regular basis. I mulch and cut the old asparagus ferns in autumn, add compost and fertile molecules (liquid fertiliser: Seafood Soup) and keep everything nice and clean and gorgeous. Our reward: first crop of asparagus came out on the last day of August! To my absolute delight two other crops appeared in the asparagus bed in winter: Seedling plants of the red Cos lettuce, as well as spring onion seedlings. Both are doing well in the asparagus bed, no doubt self-sown by the plants in the next door vegetable bed. They literally have all the space they want and grow fabulously with the regular seafood soup applications. What about the “competition”? - you may well ask. Asparagus have their roots at least 4 inches below ground level. Spring Onions and Cos lettuce don’t go much deeper than 2 inches – so no major fighting in that department. Asparagus are thin and lanky and won’t cast a great deal of shade on the Cos and onion; and the little shade caused by lettuce is not going to bother asparagus (which initiates from well below the ground and is above the soil for just a few days!). All I need to do is keep up the liquid fertiliser molecules so everybody has a feed. Oh – and by the way: the red Cos is a hardier version of the green Cos lettuce when you get frosts! Weedy vegetables? Oh yes – and I love them. Especially since they seem to work together in an ecological fashion Competition? Nah, collaboration! Great candidates for the Vegelection … Just before National gardening week on 11 October See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The iPhone 15 is the first to use USB-C Huge! The European Union voted to approve legislation to require smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, portable speakers, and other small devices to support USB-C charging by 2024, and Apple has delivered globally. It's part of the EU's goal tackle e-waste, but also allows consumers more options for accessories. An additional bonus: The USB-C connector allows for direct recording of video to an external drive, allowing the iPhone 15 Pro to be used just like a professional digital film camera on set Pro Res 4K up to 60 frames per second for the first time. Apple's SOS service now assists drivers Now extended to roadside assistance in the USA with the AAA - which is a huge help for those who travel to the parts of the US where your provider's cell signal is spotty. They now have you covered for flat tires, breakdowns, etc. NZ saw its first use of the SOS service just last week to rescue hikers in Canterbury, after first becoming available in May. They found themselves cut off by rising waters near Arthur's Pass. Interestingly - Apple hasn’t announced what it will cost, they've only said so far that it's free for the first two years. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dear Child: A German psychological thriller about a mysterious woman’s escape from captivity and her links to an unsolved disappearance years earlier (Netflix). Blue Lights: This police drama set in Belfast follows new recruits Grace, Annie and Tommy as they learn the ropes win a high-pressure environment (ThreeNow). The Morning Show: Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon are back for a new season set in the cutthroat world of an American TV morning news show (AppleTV+). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vitale Lafaele has lived a life of challenges, adversity, and bravery. Arriving in Auckland from Samoa during the 1970s Dawn Raids era, his childhood was characterised by poverty, discrimination, and bullying. Lafaele told Jack Tame that he would never take back the hard times, and that it taught him a lot about life. He served for seven years in the New Zealand army and the Police for 30. Lafaele was the first Samoan to gain the command of an area in New Zealand and the first Polynesian to reach the top level in any of Auckland's three metropolitan police districts. He’s told his extraordinary journey in his book ‘A Canoe Before the Wind’. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Haunting in Venice: In post-World War II Venice, Poirot, now retired and living in his own exile, reluctantly attends a seance. But when one of the guests is murdered, it is up to the former detective to once again uncover the killer. Blue Beetle: Jaime Reyes suddenly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology called the Scarab. When the Scarab chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he's bestowed with an incredible suit of armor that's capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the superhero Blue Beetle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maybe I’m just too close to it, but my sense is that a big slab of the New Zealand public is thoroughly sick of the election campaign already. People are done. They’re fed up. They’re spent. And for the days of the week in between significant sporting fixtures, they’re dead keen for a different kind of contest that doesn’t seem so negative and bleak. And this morning, I’ve got the answer. Before I share it though, you’ve got to understand, I’m not usually one to gush about reality TV. It’s not that I’m too cerebral or hoity-toity. It’s not that I spend my evenings annotating James Joyce and listening to Baroque compositions in a leather armchair, it’s certainly not that I don’t own a TV. It’s just that sometimes I find some of the shows a bit formulaic. This one will be different. On Monday night, a new season of Celebrity Treasure Island begins, and as much as I’m excited about the comedians, and the middle-aged sporting stars, one celebrity contestant in particular marks what I think is an extraordinary new high in reality TV casting. Competing in the Papura team and raising money for I Am Hope, is none other than Tame Iti. Yes, that Tame Iti. Tame Iti of the discharging-a-shotgun-at-Waitangi Tame Iti. He of Te Urewera raids. Tame Iti, former member of the NZ Communist Party. Former champion wrestler. Tame Iti, actor, artist. Tame Iti, lifelong Māori rights activist. This is what makes New Zealand great. Only in New Zealand could a person like Tame Iti, with his extraordinary life and history, be happily cast in a survival reality show alongside the former captain of the Warriors. To be fair, Celebrity Treasure Island has consistently set the standard for entertaining New Zealand telly. I know there will be some people rolling their eyes but trust me - that’s only because you haven’t seen it. The thing that makes the show so genius is how it has become such a glorious reflection of our culture. The cast is always diverse. They’re always characters. And as much as they each want to compete to win, the programme as a whole never takes itself very seriously. It’s incredible self-aware and self-deprecating. It’s moving. It’s emotional. If you do decide to do it, to get yourself in the mood, watch Tame Iti’s Ted talk on Youtube. It’s a simple speech called Mana: The Power in Knowing Who You Are. It’s the most moving and affecting Ted talk I’ve ever seen. So that’s my recommendation for you this week. If you feel like the election campaign has turned into a daily exercise in talking down New Zealand, give Celebrity Treasure Island a crack. Tame Iti, artist. Tame Iti, activist. Could he soon be Tame Iti, Celebrity Treasure Island champion? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big win for the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup. They've beaten Namibia 71 points to 3, while playing in Toulouse this morning. Newstalk ZB’s Elliott Smith told Jack Tame that as far as the All Blacks are concerned it went virtually as good as it could’ve gone. That is until the 72nd minute, when Ethan de Groot was red carded for a high hit on Namibian player Adriaan Booysen. Smith said that de Groot was likely to get a six week ban that could be mitigated down to three, and potentially down to two if he’s eligible for the tackle school ruling. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lovers A British drama about the relationship between Janet, a supermarket worker who doesn’t care about anything, and Seamus, a self-centred, political broadcaster (Neon). Bay of Fires An Australian crime dramedy about a successful CEO who is forced to escape to Tasmania with her children to avoid a murder plot (TVNZ+). Alone The most intense and genuine reality adventure series on TV is back, with new seasons on both TVNZ+ and Netflix. Ten individuals try to survive alone in the wilderness for as long as they possibly can, with limited access to survival equipment. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guts is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo, released on September 8, 2023, by Geffen Records. Two singles preceded the album's release: the lead single, "Vampire", was released on June 30, 2023. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"But like an edgy antidote to the chocolate-box gorgeousness of gabled Amsterdam, the Netherlands’ second-biggest city, Rotterdam is a contemporary, design-focused urban masterclass that will soon seduce you." Check out Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Normal Rules Don’t Apply - Kate Atkinson A dazzling collection of eleven interconnected stories from the bestselling, award-winning author of Shrines of Gaiety and Life After Life which offer the gimlet eye and delightful social critique that have made Atkinson one of the most lauded writers of our time. In this brilliant volume, nothing is quite as it seems. Adventures with Emilie- Victoria Bruce A mother and daughter's wild journey to rediscover the wonder and restorative power of nature. “I'm here because I want to test the very limits of my own resilience and reassure myself that no matter what's happened to me, I'm not ready to lie down and die.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I clearly remember Maggie Barry, John Key and Nick Smith, Steven Joyce and Nathan Guy launching Predator-Free NZ in July 2016, 7 years ago! This was a big gig; and it’s still going. If you think about it, it’s a huge task and incredibly collaborative, with scientists, DOC and heaps of New Zealand Volunteer trappers. Make no mistake, the army of ordinary kiwis and backyard engineers are really contributing to the reduction of exotic pests in our ecosystems. I can see the improvements in our biodiversity simply by looking from my window on the Port Hills in Christchurch! The most important predators we are targeting are mice, rats, stoats, ferrets, weasels, Possums, hedgehogs and – oh yes – feral cats! Add domestic dogs kept off lead in kiwi habitat and you’ve got the line-up we’re aiming for. I realise this is a little bit more than the original target line-up, but I have my own reasons for including mice, hedgehogs and uncontrolled dogs. Mice: they’re everywhere and actually (kind-of) do the ecological job of a tree weta. Mice are predominantly seed and nuts eaters. Walnuts, hazelnuts, etc. Fatty materials allows them to successfully overwinter in your garden. They also eat a heap of insects and they are important food for rats! (Mice keep rat numbers up) Simple mouse traps are a great idea around the house – cheap traps, baited with peanut butter or Nutella or hazelnut spread. Shelled walnuts work well too. Contrary to popular belief they don’t really go for cheese! I have them all around my house and even in the ceiling. I set my traps near the wall – that’s where they run to keep “out-of-sight”. Rats do a lot of damage to birds and lizards. They raid nests and eggs. Most people are not aware that they also go for juicy, large insects (weta and other large, native critters). Rat traps are a large version of mouse traps and they can be used on their own around the house, or inside a wooden tunnel, which gives the rat some cover and shelter as it explores the smell of the delicious bait in the trap. Great baits are peanut butter and Nutella, as well as fish and moldy cheese. One thing that rats are keen on is a trajectory that leaves them unnoticed. Traps near a wall or along a fence line seem to be working best. Make sure you don’t “contaminate” the lure with your bare hands – good idea to wear gloves so the rat doesn’t… well… smell a rat (I mean a human!!). Stoats are a lot trickier again – they really will avoid open spaces. And they are clever. You’ll also need a much heavier artillery (trap) than rats, as stoats are able to survive the smack of a rat trap; they also have the ability to escape from these traps by wriggling out. A “DOC 200” is the heavy duty trap to use here. These metal traps are usually built inside a wooden box with attractive lures (salted rabbit meat or fresh rabbit cuts, eggs, and believe it or not: mayonnaise!). Eggs are often a visual attractant to these mustelids. I have always been disappointed by the clever stoat’s ability to avoid my traps. I rarely trap these buggers. Stoats can kill young kiwi (up to 800 gram body-weight) and they are ferocious hunters. DOC 200 stoat trap. Photo / Supplied Ferrets are another step up in the predator game – they’ll kill adult kiwi and large prey; you won’t find them in urban areas – they are creatures of the farm and forest edges. They also require some serious knowledge to trap, plus an even heavier gauge of trap. Just so you know: I am a member of the stoat and ferret conservation society… In the Netherlands! That’s where they are native and that’s where they are in ecological trouble due to the declining populations – how ironic! I actually used to have a pet ferret in Holland – wonderful animals! Possums are the last species I’ll mention in this segment. We have about 70 million of them in our forests and gardens. They mainly feed on fruits, shoots, and leaves: 21,000 tonnes each night, which is about the same as the weight of the sky tower. They alter the composition of our native forests. Possums get protein from eating birds (and nestlings). Possums really need a Timms Trap, baited with apple, cinnamon and such delights. I often use flour and icing sugar mix and smear that on the tree near the trap – it really “lures them in” Timms Trap. Photo / Supplied The modern form of the old Timms Trap is the Flipping Timmy. This trap can be attached to a tree trunk, so the possum climbs up and ends up in the trap Great websites exist on trapping the pests; have a look and join the team of New Zealanders keeping their gardens and local reserves and parks predator free. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s important to know what you mean so you’re clear on what you’re aiming for. Wellbeing could be defined in at least one of 3 ways: Feeling good, happy, satisfied with life (sometimes called hedonic wellbeing) Having meaning & purpose in life, leading a fulfilling life, accepting who you are (eudaimonic wellbeing) Leading a life full of rich & varied experiences – doesn’t mean you will necessarily feel positive in the moment but leads to longer term broader view of life incorporating different perspectives LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft wants you to use its AI so badly, it'll cover you if you get sued Copyright, and infringing it, is one of the biggest concerns many corporates have about diving into the AI game. There are so many open questions that they're not prepared just yet to take the risk. It's a huge departure from most 'terms and conditions' of services, where companies do almost everything they can to distance themselves from the user. They don't want to be held liable! But Microsoft says if you use the filters and guardrails they've implemented, then they'll back you. That's quite the commitment, especially as Microsoft and OpenAI are already being sued for allegedly recreating licensed code without crediting the engineers. If you're a Google fan, you'll soon be able to visit the Mountain View campus Add this to your San Franciso travel itinerary. Google is turning 25, and to celebrate they're opening a visitor center on its famous campus in Silicon Valley. Like any good American tourist attraction there'll be a store, where you can explore and purchase Google products - like their phones, tablets and laptops. There'll also be a community space for events, a cafe and public art. BMW is pulling the handbrake on its heated seat subscription Ahead of its US launch, BMW has shelved plans to offer this service in your brand-new car on a subscription plan for $18 a month! It actually launched in some places, including NZ. It seems buyers weren't impressed - a BMW board member says: "People feel that they paid double – which was actually not true, but perception is reality, I always say. So that was the reason we stopped that.” Typically these types of features are available as 'upgrades' when you order your car for hundreds or sometimes thousands of additional dollars. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are gallstones? Gall bladder: sits under the liver. Stores and concentrates bile: fluid made in liver which helps digest fats. This bile clumps together to form ‘stones’: From sand to small pebbles. Who is at risk? 10% New Zealanders have gallstones, 80% have no symptoms. Most at risk: Women are twice as likely as men. Ages 20 to 60. If you’re carrying too much weight, have a family history of them, have diabetes, or experience rapid weight loss. What are the symptoms? 80% have no symptoms. Can be severe pain, ‘colic’ - often pain in the right upper abdomen, through to your back between shoulder blades. Often after eating a large, fatty meal. They can cause nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. May mimic a heart attack. If it’s more severe it becomes infected or inflamed: fever, sweats, jaundice – turning yellow. How do we diagnose? History and exam, blood tests. The doctor will order an ultrasound to look for stones, sometimes an MRI scan. What do we do about them? Avoid fatty foods, drink plenty of fluids, slow weight reduction - not rapid. May need surgery ‘laparoscopic’ keyhole surgery to remove the gallbladder. We don’t need the gallbladder – get by very well without it. Often see ads for remedies such as lemon juice or large amounts of oil. These don’t work! No evidence at all! If you have pain in abdomen – see your GP. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 Members of the Portokalos family reunite in Greece for a hilarious and heart-warming trip full of love, twists and turns. The family gather in Athens after the passing of Gus, honouring his final wish that they visit his birthplace, reconnect with his old friends, and discover their family roots. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre Elite spy Orson Fortune must track down and stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology wielded by billionaire arms broker Greg Simmonds. Reluctantly teamed up with some of the world's best operatives, Fortune and his crew recruit Hollywood's biggest movie star, Danny Francesco, to help them on their globe-trotting mission to save the world. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BBQ mussels are just the best! When they pop open their shells on the grill you can sneak all manner of interesting flavours into them – in this recipe it’s butter, soy sauce and a splash of sake that gives them that authentic Japanese BBQ house taste. Once cooked, pluck ‘em out of the shells, tuck them into a small soft bun, or pop them on a mound of rice, with shredded cabbage and plenty of sesame dressing and eat. I guarantee you’ll be in heaven! Makes 8-12 sliders Ingredients: 16-24 mussels in shells 1 lemon, halved 8-12 sliders or small soft white rolls 50g butter, softened ¼ cup tamari soy sauce ¼ cup sake ½ cup store bought sesame salad dressing 2 cups finely shredded cabbage Method: Give mussels a quick scrub and remove hairy beards by gripping firmly and pulling towards the rounded tip of the shell. Place mussels on grill plate of BBQ and cook until the shells begin to pop open. Place lemon cut side down to grill also. As each mussel pops open, sneak a small knob of butter into each, as well as a teaspoon of tamari soy sauce. Allow to cook for a few minutes then douse in sake and toss on the grill. Remove from grill. Liberally butter tops of each bun and grill each until butter is foamy and tops have turned golden – watch them as they like go from golden to burnt rather quickly! TO SERVE: Set all ingredients out on a board for diners to build their own buns stuffed with mussels and cabbage and drizzled in sesame dressing and a squeeze of warm lemon juice. MAKE IT YOUR OWN: Add in a little slice of daikon radish into each bun for extra crunch Flag the buns and serve with little bowls of slaw and rice Use softened butter blended with lemongrass and lime leaves instead of sake for a Thai-inspired flavour Make it Spanish with olive oil in place of butter and a thin slice of chorizo tucked into each mussel No mussels? Make little foil parcels of using snapper instead, cooking them on the bbq for about 10-15 minutes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This morning watched the first Rugby World Cup match of 2023 play out, the All Blacks versing France at Stade de France. France beat the All Blacks 27-13, ending their run of 31 straight wins in the pool stage. Newstalk ZB’s rugby correspondent Elliott Smith told Jack Tame that it was a real testament to their game management. He said that in the first half it seemed like the All Blacks had all the momentum, but the French never let them in in that second half. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland based pop-duo Foley have finally released their highly anticipated album ‘Crowd Pleaser.’ They released their EP ‘Crowd Pleaser Pt. 1’ in February of 2023, with the full album releasing on August 25th, six months later. The duo have over 100k monthly listeners on Spotify. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.