Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

The results are in and it’s looking very likely we’ll have some form of National-led government for at least the next three years. So, what will this actually mean for our finances and the housing market? Will it be the boost some were hoping, or will the impact not be quite as much as people expect? Hannah McQueen joined Jack Tame to give her insight and answer a few questions about what kiwis should expect. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“If you’re sizing up embarking on an epic roadie across the great American West, Idaho is the pitch-perfect launch-pad.” “With a similar sized population to Christchurch, Boise beats to a leisurely tempo, flanked by golden hills and verdant forest, sliced by the Boise River. It’s a picturesque setting and the compact, leafy city centre exudes good looks and an easy-going grace.” “Hitting the road, I scooted across Idaho’s central folds on a three-hour drive to Ketchum and Sun Valley. As the soaring Sawtooth Mountains shuffled into view, we passed through gorgeous tourist villages like Hailey and Bellevue.” Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate "Ethically Kate" Hall is back with more sustainability tips! This time she's got her top tips for reducing food waste both on a personal and community level. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cucurbits: melons, squash, pumpkins, courgettes, zucchini, gherkins and… cucumbers. A bit “touchy” —don’t like cold spells of weather— cool southerly winds are no good; frost tender. That’s why it’s best to sow them later in spring (from end of October onwards). I sow them in medium-sized pots with seed-raising mix (high in organic material); these cucurbits appreciate a good organic feed (compost, sheep’s poo, Seafood Soup – a great liquid fertiliser) on a regular basis. But what you have to be careful with is too much water when they have germinated: their new roots are very susceptible to rotting in wet potting mix! A well-draining mix helps to keep the young roots safe from the rots. Keep your seedling in a nice, warm spot; around 18 degrees or more during the daytime hours and no less than 7 or 8 degrees at night. Sunlight is important: at least 7 hours per day direct sunlight. My tunnel house easily gets those numbers (and allows earlier planting and better regulation of watering too!). I’m not too keen on courgettes (which have a habit of becoming marrows – even worse!); nor am I a pumpkin aficionado. Let’s face it: in Winter there are heaps of pumpkins on the market and they cost bugger-all! I usually concentrate on Cucumbers, watermelon, and gherkins. These fruits are usually largely made of moisture – which means that when the flowers develop into fruits, the plants need more water (compared to the seedling stage); It’s the watering (liquid fertiliser!!) that really helps them to expand the fruit to a good size. Watermelon grows nicely on warm soils – sprawling all over the place; if you want to help them with lovely warm soil, perhaps cover the soil with some black plastic. Gherkins and Cucumbers are best grown on a trellis or climbing rack. Again: fruit develop best with increased watering / liquid fertiliser. Cucumbers need to be harvested regularly to make the plant set new fruit. Summer snack: Pickled gherkins? (or watermelon??). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK's Online Safety Bill has become law This is hugely controversial and could lead to WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and iMessage shutting down their services in the UK. It's a fight over encryption and internet privacy. The government wants to improve internet safety by forcing these providers to remove harmful content such as child sexual abuse, extreme violence, animal cruelty, terrorism, promotion of illegal weapons or drugs, and more. They've also outlined new laws for 'cyber-flashing' and "deepfake pornography". But monitoring for this content would mean the tech companies would need to be able to see the content - something they are fiercely against. The government says Ofcom would only ask tech firms to access messages once "feasible technology" had been developed, but we're unclear what that means. How would you feel if your next Uber didn't have a driver? If you're living in Phoenix, Arizona it now might not! The future is here if you choose to accept! When you book a ride in the Uber app, you'll be able to select to go driverless. Waymo will still have their own app - which will allow you to grab a ride in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and soon, Austin. But this partnership with Uber makes it frictionless to try the new service. It won't be any cheaper than a car driven by a human though! A PlayStation 5 might actually be able to be put under your Christmas Tree Supply Chain issues have made the PS5 a tough thing to get with some people waiting months for their game console to arrive. Chip shortages have seriously limited the availability for the past three years, making them a rare commodity. Good news is that PlayStation says their supply chain is fixed and they have lots of availability now. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our go to summer salad that you can get creative with! Change up the grain and vegetables dependent on what you have in the fridge or garden. We love serving this with any plant based or animal protein, especially chicken or salmon. If you are GF, we recommend replacing the couscous with millet or brown rice. Serves: 4-6 Time: 20 minutes Ingredients 1 cup israeli couscous Water 2 tbsp cooking oil 1 head broccoli, cut into florets 1/2 tsp sea salt Herb Oil: 1 cup herbs, roughly chopped 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tsp sea salt To Serve: 1/2 cup flaked almonds, toasted 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted 1 cup herbs, roughly chopped Method: Add the couscous into a pot and toast over a medium heat for a couple of minutes. Then add enough water to just cover the couscous. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 8 minutes. Drain and set aside. Heat up the oil in a pan and add the broccoli and sea salt. Allow the broccoli to sit and cook in the oil for a couple of minutes, then give it a toss. Then allow it to sit and cook for another couple of minutes. Once it is nice and crispy, remove the pan from the heat. For the herb oil, add all of the ingredients to a small blender and blend until a vibrant green oil is formed. Alternatively, you can use a handheld stick blender. Set aside. In a large bowl, add the cooked couscous, broccoli, almonds and pumpkin seeds. Drizzle over the herb oil and gently toss everything together. Lastly add the herbs and give everything one last final toss before serving. This salad will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Please note if you are wanting to keep it over the 3 days, leave the herbs out and add them just before enjoying. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Historically, the All Blacks haven’t faced too much adversity. But here it is. The team is at odds and ends. The players are being criticised. The coaches and their bosses are being hammered in the press. Maybe they will falter. Maybe we’re watching the unravelling of a once-mighty team. Maybe Silver Lake has bought a dud. Or maybe, through whatever changes are necessary, and through the pluck and determination of a unit that can only be truly tested when its back is against the wall, the All Blacks will find a way to rise up.” Those were the words of famed rugby analyst Jack Tame on a radio station called Newstalk ZB, shortly after the All Blacks had lost a home series to Ireland for the first time. 15 months on, I’ll be honest, my thoughts have been a bit muddled this week. Yes, I can rationalise that we’ve improved massively since that last encounter with the Springboks back in August. A 28-point deficit? Surely that won’t be repeated. I can rationalise that we’re fit. We’re coming off a slightly longer break. We’ve weathered the Irish storm. Our set piece is a thousand times better than it was, we’ve barely lost a lineout in the tournament and our outside backs are maybe the most exciting in World rugby. Buuuuuuuuuut, still. South Africa. They’re good. I feel for Dane Coles missing out. For years he’s defined what a hardy, mischievous hooker should be. I’m not bothered by the locking decision either way - Retallick to start and Whitelock on the bench - except to say that Sam Whitelock is a titan of a leader, and I can’t imagine a Rugby World Cup victory without him playing a massive role, whether off the bench or in the starting 15. Buuuuuuuuuut, still. South Africa. Gulp. The Springboks have named a 7-1 split. Seven forwards on the bench. That’s a gamble. Gambles can backfire. But if there’s anything… any one thing that can push the All Blacks over the edge… that can propel them to Word Champion status… That can secure a record fourth Rugby World Cup… It’s the story. It’s that doing so will be the pièce de résistance… the cherry on top of the whole Ian Foster fiasco. I was not someone who thought Ian Foster was the best man for a job. I’m still not! But I also think he’s been treated woefully over the last few years. And in the midst of a pretty awful situation, I think he acted with dignity and grit. Finishing up as the coach of the World Champions wouldn’t just be an incredibly satisfying conclusion to his All Blacks career. It’d be a hell of a middle finger to the haters. And I can never underestimate the power of stories in sport. Stories are what give sport its magic. I want to finish with another quote of mine from last year: “Maybe it’s lunacy to even ponder a World Cup victory next year. But crazier things have happened in sport.” “Often the greatest sporting narratives are those in which an athlete or a team overcomes adversity. Victory against all odds.” I said my thoughts had been a bit muddled this week. My head and my heart in a furious battle. But the closer we get to kick-off, the more clarity I have. Ultimately, I do know what I think. I think I was right to maintain that sliver of optimism even during trying times. I think the All Blacks will win. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Twat Files by Dawn French Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King Clown is the latest album by 25 year old New Zealand singer Paige. The South Auckland artist debuted the song Aquarian at a show at Auckland's The Cloud during the Women's World Cup. Simon Gooding, who has also worked with Pink and Neil Finn, is the producer for this album. Billie Eilish has also shared one of Paige's songs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

- Blenheim might be a byword for grapes, but beverage-making doesn't just stop with wine production. - What about DNA Brewery? - And Moa Brewing is under new ownership? - There's a lot of tasting experiences at Vines Village. ( Gin and whisky and cheese) - Did you check out Dodson Street Beer Garden? - Any other tasty bites to add to the bingo card? For more tips on savouring Blenheim's best brews and bites, Mike's article is on the website. www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/ LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The perfect light summer dessert. Sweet ripe strawberries, zesty orange, tangy pomegranate molasses, maple syrup and delicate vanilla. If strawberries aren’t in season, in winter we love marinating pears and roasting them. Serve with vanilla ice cream and our sweet and salty crunch. Serves: 4 Time: 30 minutes One punnet of strawberries, sliced Zest and juice of 1 orange 1 tsp pomegranate molasses 2 tsp maple syrup 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract Sweet + Salty Crunch: 1/2 cup nuts of your choice, roasted 2 tbsp maple syrup ½ tsp sea salt To Serve: 8 scoops of plant based or dairy vanilla ice cream Method: Add the sliced strawberries to a medium sized bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until well combined. Allow the strawberries to marinate for at least 30 minutes, allowing the fruit to infuse the syrup flavours. Meanwhile, make the sweet + salty crunch. In a small bowl, combine your choice of nuts with maple syrup and sea salt. Once marinated, divide the ice cream between bowls and top with the marinated strawberries and sweet + salty crunch LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve been warned – a dry spell is coming our way this summer in the form of El Niño. (little Boy!) We’ve seen this before, of course but I reckon it may need a bit of a reminder: Temperatures, Rainfall and Wind direction are the key elements of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. El Niño is characterised by more westerly winds, dropping more rain on the west coasts and less rain on the east coast. It also tends to create warmer summer temperatures in the east, making the drought conditions even trickier for gardeners. The North Island may likely see the worst effects. Keeping water tanks as full as possible might be a good idea. Planting drought-tolerant species will certainly ease the stress; so I went on a hunt for species that would be reasonably drought-tolerant. Southern Woods (South of Christchurch) has a good range of trees, shrubs and plants and Chris Smith sent me a few great tips, as well as a list of their best performers during El Niño. Brachyglottis greyii – Daisy Bush (aka shaggy Ragwort) Brachyglottis monroi – Monro’s Daisy; evergreen with yellow flowers Carmichaelia australis – common native broom – an insect magnet Coprosma acerosa – ground cover for dry/hot/coastal Coprosma brunnea – wiry ground cover with white to blue fruits; cold tolerant too. Birds and Lizards Coprosma crassifolia – divaricated shrub with small leaves – North and South Island Coprosma rugosa – “Needle-leaved Mountain coprosma – nice orange-brown species – stands out! Coprosma virescens – an orange and green species – another favourite of mine; Cordyline australis – good old cabbage tree: hardy in wetlands and in drought! Pain for lawnmowers Corokia cotoneaster - My plant to find native bees on spring flowers – colourful. Dodonaea viscosa - hopbush or “ake ake”; green version is NZ Native; reddish-brown ex Australia Elaeocarpus hookerianus known as Pōkākā; can do dry, but also cold Kanuka – Great flowering tree – a source of nectar for heaps of insects Melicytus alpinus – porcupine bush; brilliant mountain shrub – grows well at lower levels too Muehlenbeckia astonii – tough as! However I feel it’s a bit “over-used” in NZ gardens. Olearia – tree daisies – many types to choose from Ozothamnus – cottonwood Pseudopanax crassifolius – Lancewood! The story of Juvenile foliage and adult foliage Sophora microphylla – Sth Island Kowhai; watch the tui and bellbirds, the silver eyes and the Kereru Teucrium parvifolium – rather rare shrub endemic to New Zealand and quite at home on eastern side of our Islands, which indicates tolerance to dry spells Do a bit of research and see what would look great at your place. When you plant them, ensure you don’t “bury” them too deep and water them in for a few days to allow them to settle in. Of course, mulching will help (reduce evaporation), and if possible, planting in the cooler seasons Watering is often tricky: water well periodically rather than every week. If you let these shrubs dry out between waterings, they’ll send their roots in all directions to “look for water”. That sets them up to survive El Niño! If you are in Canterbury: go and see Chris and the team at Southern Woods – and a Dutch tip: time it well with their spring sale!!! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is Type 2 diabetes? Body not able to control sugars – sugars become in body high Basically due to the pancreas wearing out over time not producing enough insulin or insulin becoming ineffective. We are seeing more cases in younger people especially Māori and Pacific. How big a problem is it and what harm to the body does it cause? Thought to be approximately 300,000 in NZ living with type 2 diabetes. Health system cost 2.1 billion year – 0.67% GDP! Individual cost: increased rates renal failure, heart disease, blindness, leg amputation, if not controlled. What are the new medications? Diet, exercise and weight reduction central to treatment. Medications are needed such as metformin and insulin. Now available two new medications: Jardiance daily tablet: causes us to ‘pee’ sugar out of the body when we urinate. Trulicity- weekly injection: mimics a hormone that means we feel full and eat less and absorb sugar within body and can lose weight. Why are they important? Gives more treatment options in addition to metformin and insulin. Major differences don’t just lower sugar in body: also protect kidney from damage , and reduce chances of heart disease, and weight reduction: first time ever! In Higher doses Trulicity the weekly injection: has been used overseas for weight reduction ( Ozempic, Saxena New Zealand – not funded here) – has been in news Lead to worldwide shortages at times that have affected New Zealand. What should we do? Important over age of 40 have regular blood sugar tests to see if developing problem. Need to review regularly with GP and nurse: diet, exercise in combination with medication is important. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media platform X (formally Twitter) is using New Zealand as a testing ground for a plan to charge new users. The platform's owner Elon Musk plans to charge new users $1 a year to use X.Users can opt out, but that means they won't be able view posts and not post anything. Musk says this is to weed out bots on the platform.LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bodies A crime drama set over four different time periods where the same dead body keeps turning up in the same place in London across those four time periods (Netflix). The Pigeon Tunnel A new documentary film exploring the life and career of famed spy novelist John le Carré (Apple TV+). Sheperdess A celebration of rural women where filmmakers visit and interview different women about their lives in rural settings (Sky Open from tomorrow). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have completed a resounding 44-6 victory over Argentina, propelling themselves into the final to face either England or South Africa.Will Jordan had a standout game scoring three tries with both Jordie Barrett and Shannon Frizell bagging two tries each. Newstalk ZB's rugby commentator Elliot Smith spoke to Jack Tame about the result and what happens next. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iconic Kiwi band Drax Project has been collaborating with the upcoming Australian pop artist Charley. They've released their new single 'Disrespect,' and Jack Tame has managed to get three of the artists in one interview to discuss the song. Shaan Singh and Matt Beachen from Drax Project and Charley hopped in a call to chat about how it all came together. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Are We There Yet?’ is the new, long awaited album from Rick Astley via BMG. His ninth studio album overall, it’s the third in a row of which Astley has written, recorded, played and produced himself at his home studio in London. Featuring the single ‘Dippin My Feet’, an invigorating twist on his signature style, ‘Are We There Yet?’ is the sound of Rick reflecting and building upon the experiences he’s gone through since the release of 2018’s ‘Beautiful Life’. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Armour of Light - Ken Follett The long-awaited sequel to A Column of Fire, The Armor of Light, heralds a new dawn for Kingsbridge, England, where progress clashes with tradition, class struggles push into every part of society, and war in Europe engulfs the entire continent and beyond. The Spinning Jenny was invented in 1770, and with that, a new era of manufacturing and industry changed lives everywhere within a generation. A world filled with unrest wrestles for control over this new world order: A mother’s husband is killed in a work accident due to negligence; a young woman fights to fund her school for impoverished children; a well-intentioned young man unexpectedly inherits a failing business; one man ruthlessly protects his wealth no matter the cost, all the while war cries are heard from France, as Napoleon sets forth a violent master plan to become emperor of the world. As institutions are challenged and toppled in unprecedented fashion, ripples of change ricochet through our characters’ lives as they are left to reckon with the future and a world they must rebuild from the ashes of war. Rambling Man: My Life on the Road - Billy Connolly Being a Rambling Man was what I always wanted to be, to live the way I damn well pleased. I've met the weirdest and most wonderful people who walk the Earth, seen the most bizarre and the most fantastic sights - and I've rarely come across something I couldn't get a laugh at. I don't think I've ever had a bad trip. Well, apart from in the 1970s, but that's a whole other story . . . In his joyful new book, Billy explores this philosophy and how it has shaped him, and he shares hilarious new stories from his lifetime on the road. From riding his trike down America's famous Route 66, building an igloo on an iceberg in the Arctic, playing elephant polo (badly) in Nepal and crashing his motorbike (more than once), to eating witchetty grubs in Australia, being serenaded by a penguin in New Zealand, and swapping secrets in a traditional Sweat Lodge ritual in Canada, Rambling Man is a truly global adventure with the greatest possible travel companion. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does a sustainable bathroom look like? Kate 'Ethically Kate' Hall has a list of alternatives for common bathroom necessities. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"500 year old giant rimu, tentacular rata vines and red beech anchor the forest, with a supporting cast of lush ferns and ponga. Once over the saddle, it's a steady descent through bush and farmland to reach Nydia Bay, with sporadic glimpses as far as Kenepuru Inlet, whose peninsulas fold into the distance. Indignant-looking cows grazing in paddocks cast me a suspicious glare, as if to say “What an earth are you doing in my paddock?” Finally, the gently lapping waters of the lake soundtracked my the final stretch of the first day’s walk." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You started it, Jack! Last week you mentioned that dreaded word: Passionfruit vine. It’s not that I don’t like passionfruit – I love them. But after many, many years of trying to grow these vines I have to confess to gangrene thumbs. Here are some of the conditions and growing tips that I have collected over the past 45 years in Aotearoa – stuff from growers and producers of the vines, so… Grab what you like of these notes: They need exceptional drainage and full sun. I have always strived to provide these conditions. Open, free-draining soils: If you have clay or such heavy soils with tiny particles that clog-up the watering, the ground needs to be raised or drainage improved. To improve drainage, a large hole can be dug out and drainage gravel and pumice incorporated with good topsoil before back-filling the hole. Of course, if you simply dig a large hole with the best gravel you are literally constructing an enormous sink, with the plug-hole still in it. So it pays to literally create some kind of pipe or system that takes the excess water away. If this is all too much work you can plant the passionfruit vine in a large pot with good quality Tub-Mix (Growing mix) and drainage holes in the bottom. Make sure the pot will be slightly raised above the ground so the water can actually leave the bottom of the pot through the holes. Do not forget to feed and water the plant; plants in large pots can dry out quite quickly. Instead of a large pot with a good growing mix, you can always build a “raised garden bed”, say 40 cm higher than your current soil level. Once again: make sure the water can drain away effortlessly Give the passionfruit roots ample space to establish in the raised garden bed or in the large pot. Do not over-water these roots but – on the other hand – don’t let them dry out too much. In terms of “full sun”: I think that it might be an idea to face the plant a bit more “North-East”, rather than “North-West” (The mid-day to afternoon sun tends to be quite a bit hotter than the morning sun!) Passionfruit is not keen on harsh winters – it hates the cold winds and frosts as these will stress the plant; couple that with wet, rainy winters days and you can see how these factors will knock the plant around. It also shows you how important good drainage is in winter! Passionfruit are rapid growers and consequently benefit from 2 to 3 applications of a general slow release fertiliser during the spring and summer growing period. Nitrogen makes lots of new leaves. If you have a young plant don’t prune them fiercely as they set fruit on the new growth – keep your new growth to actually get that fruit. Once the vine is well-established, you can prune it a bit more heavily, but remember to keep plenty new growth on that vine – get rid of diseased parts of the plant. Best time to prune is right now, when warmth comes back to your garden and frosts are no longer an issue. I hear from experts that passionfruit doesn’t last much longer than 5 or 6 years, so plant the next generation before your plant kicks the bucket… I planted mine every year and got totally sick of it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The violence in Israel & Gaza has spread online The EU Commissioner has written to TikTok to request they "urgently step up" efforts to combat misinformation and respond "within the next 24 hours" how it is following European law. TikTok has an especially young audience - children and teens - and therefore has an even stronger obligation to remove violent content and terrorist propaganda. Meta and X have also been asked to comply with the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) law. This requires them to proactively remove illegal content and show they've taken measures to do so. Meta says they immediately spun up a situation room with Hand Arabic speakers to assist with content moderation. "Our teams are working around the clock to keep our platforms safe, take action on content that violates our policies or local law, and coordinate with third-party fact checkers in the region to limit the spread of misinformation." X says they've removed content and accounts - but says they haven't been informed of any illegal content they need to remove. Adobe has showcased its AI experiments Incredible advances -- They showed how they could remove people from the background of video. They showed generative fill changing a man's shirt and giving him a tie. They showed removing reflections from photos. They also showed videos of being able to translate audio from one language into dozens, while keeping the sound of the original speaker's voice - effectively showing what it would be like if you were speaking another language. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wine: Paul Jaboulet 2022 Viognier, France $23.73 Why I chose it: - It‘s a delicious dry white wine at an attractive price - If you like NZ Viognier you will love this wine - Viognier is an aromatic grape variety which means it often has a floral character (in this case “wildflowers”) - Often blended with Syrah to make it softer and more perfumed. What does it taste like? - Ripe, attractive viognier with classic apricot and wildflower flavours supported by subtle citrus characters. Appealing wine that is dry without being austere and has weight without being at all clumsy. Excellent value at this price. Why it’s a bargain: - Average price for Viognier in this country is $31 and this is well above average quality Where can you buy it? - Vino Fino, Christchurch $22.99 - Vine Online, Auckland $24.99 - Wine Central, Auckland $24.00 Imported by Dhall and Nash Food match? - Roast chicken Will it keep? - Drink it up LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malpractice: A British medical thriller about a doctor who finds herself embroiled in a medical scandal (TVNZ+ and TVNZ1 from Sunday). Lessons in Chemistry: Brie Larson stars in this 1950s drama about a woman who dreams of being a scientist but is forced to take a job as the host of a TV cooking show - and sets out to teach a nation of overlooked housewives a lot more than recipes (Apple TV+). Special Ops: Lioness: This American action thriller follows a young Marine recruited to join the Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organisation from within (Prime Video). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mix of roasted rhubarb, juicy orange and vanilla-scented cream tumbled together with shards of crisp, nutty filo pastry and white chocolate sauce is simply sensational! Serves 4-6 Ingredients: 1 sheet filo 2 teaspoons butter, melted 2 cups rhubarb, chopped into 4 cm lengths 1 tablespoon caster sugar 70g white chocolate, chopped roughly 2/3 cup cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tbsp thick Greek yoghurt, unsweetened 2 oranges, segmented Method: Preheat oven to 180 C. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Brush filo sheet with melted butter and sandwich between the lined trays. Bake for 5-10 minutes or until very golden brown. Remove and cool. Break into shards. Toss rhubarb in sugar and, using the same lined tray(s), roast the rhubarb for 15 minutes until softened. Set aside to cool. In a small pot heat a third of the cream to near boiling. Throw in chopped chocolate, cover with a tea towels and leave for 5 minutes before whisking to a smooth sauce. Cool. Whip remaining cream with vanilla to a soft whip consistency. To assemble: Choose small glasses, jars or bowl and layer up rhubarb, the cream mix, shards of filo, orange segments and topping it all off with the white chocolate ganache. Be prepared to be delighted! Nici’s note: Plums (fresh or tinned) in place of the rhubarb are just as good in this recipe so feel free to mix it up! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anatomy of a Fall A woman is suspected of her husband's murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the sole witness. In The Land of Saints and Sinners Hoping to leave his dark past behind him, former assassin Finbar Murphy leads a quiet life in a coastal Irish town, far from the political violence that grips the rest of the country. When menacing terrorists show up, Finbar soon discovers that one of them has been abusing a local girl. Drawn into an increasingly vicious game of cat and mouse, he must choose between exposing his secret identity and defending his friends and neighbors. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angel Face is Stephen Sanchez’s debut album, filled with a collection of ‘50s and ‘60s style songs that chronicles the life of the fictional Troubadour Sanchez. It focuses on the love story between the Troubadour Sanchez and Evangeline, who is currently in a love affair with a mobster. The album brings a fresh take to old fashion blues, ballads, and rock ‘n’ roll. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uproar A 17-year-old is forced to clamber off the fence he has actively sat on all his life to stand up for himself, his whānau, and his future. The Show Me Shorts Film Festival Show Me Shorts is Aotearoa New Zealand's leading international short film festival. Our mission is to connect New Zealand audiences with short films and share New Zealand short films with the world. Screenings in 35 cinemas across New Zealand during 6-29 October 2023. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"If you’re planning a fling with the entertainment capital of the world, a trip to Tinsel Town tingles with a distinct blend of escapist reality. Beyond the time-honoured staples of the studio tours like Universal and Warner Brothers, a frolic through the Dolby Theatre, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, I checked a few other ways you can chase the stars on a visit to Hollywood." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beckham Featuring never-before-seen footage, this Netflix docuseries follows David Beckham’s rise from humble beginnings to global football stardom (Netflix). Lupin A new season of the delightful thriller based on the classic French story about Arsène Lupin, the world-famous gentleman thief and master of disguise (Netflix). The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar Benedict Cumberbatch stars in this Wes Anderson adaption of the Roald Dahl story about a wealthy man who wants to master a new skill in order to cheat at gambling games (Netflix). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Code Red – Vince Flynn Mitch Rapp hates owing anyone a favor—especially when it’s the world’s most powerful crime lord. But when Damian Losa calls, Mitch is honor-bound to answer. The Syrian government appears to have created a highly addictive new narcotic that it plans to distribute throughout Europe. It’s a major threat to Losa’s business and he’s determined to send someone to keep him on top by any means necessary. With far more than Damian Losa’s interests at stake, Rapp devises a desperate plan that forces him and his team onto a battlefield where the United States is virtually powerless and allegiances shift almost hourly. Further, if Russia uncovers their plot, it will set off a confrontation between the two countries that could change the course of human history. The Running Grave – Robert Galbraith Private Detective Cormoran Strike is contacted by a worried father whose son, Will, has gone to join a religious cult in the depths of the Norfolk countryside. The Universal Humanitarian Church is, on the surface, a peaceable organization that campaigns for a better world. Yet Strike discovers that beneath the surface there are deeply sinister undertones, and unexplained deaths. In order to try to rescue Will, Strike's business partner, Robin Ellacott, decides to infiltrate the cult, and she travels to Norfolk to live incognito among its members. But in doing so, she is unprepared for the dangers that await her there or for the toll it will take on her. . . LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent Gallup poll shows that a majority of workers in NZ are not engaged or are “quiet quitting”. 4/10 say they are experiencing high levels of stress, 4/10 looking for new job, with managers playing a key role in determining whether people thrive or disengage at work. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.