Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Kevin Milne wants to get one of the silliest pop songs ever to grace the New Zealand charts back to the top. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No matter what boxes you tick for Tuesday’s census, I’m fairly confident of one thing we all have in common. We can be differentiated in the Census by where we live, our gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, and work. But every last one of us, from new-born babies right through to centenarians and even Harry Styles... every one of us is aging. Today is March 04, 2023. Thirty-six years since I was born at Christchurch Women’s Hospital, I will be spending my birthday, birth hour and birth minute with you. There’s no need to text or email. I’m neither a birthday grinch nor someone who feels they need to be showered in gifts and bland Facebook posts, although the sentimentalist in me does find himself dwelling on the date. What’s special about March 4th? Nothing really. Except the date I’m supposed on be gorging on cake just happens to coincide with World Obesity Day. A coincidence, probably, although given my ridiculous sweet tooth I can’t help but wonder if some higher power isn’t having a bit of fun. And what’s special about thirty-six? You might say it’s just a number. But this year, I will be twice as old as I was at eighteen. I will have been legally able to vote and purchase booze for more than half of my life. I’m closer to forty than thirty. Closer to fifty than twenty. At thirty-six, barring any catastrophic event or a brain-drain unlike we’ve ever experienced, this is the last year in which I can say I’m in the younger half of New Zealand men. The median age in New Zealand – the age by which half the population is younger, and half is older – is 38.2 years. But for men, the median age is two years younger than that of women. 37. That means by May next year, I will be older than half of Kiwi blokes. I notice my body aging. You might scoff, but I notice the wrinkles just starting to set in my face, the hair on the back of my shoulders. I notice how I wake up sore sometimes and how I favour one knee just a little more than the other. I notice myself taking a keener interest in my grandparents’ and parents’ medical histories. I notice my opinions slowly changing. I notice myself feeling increasingly different in some ways to teenagers and people in their twenties. When I was born, my Dad was considered a relatively old first-time father. He was a year younger than I am today. I don’t have kids, although I’d like them. I’ve never married, although I’m more than twice the age of my grandma when she tied the knot. I remember on my thirtieth birthday, I felt a bit like my youth was over. I wasn’t all mopey and upset about it, I just felt like I had to enter a more settled stage of life. I look back now, of course, and I can see how silly that is. ‘Thirty?! You’re a child!’ I imagine telling my old (well, young) self. ‘Just wait until you’re older than the median age!’ I know in five years’ time I’ll look back at me today and feel exactly the same. I think age is giving me a little more wisdom. One of the things I’ve come to observe is how some friendships in life ebb and flow and come and go. You can have really strong friendships, really intense, meaningful relationships, and over time, you might still slowly drift apart from people. It just happens. Knowing and accepting that old friends and old connections are still important to you and that your shared history doesn’t disappear is a valuable thing. And the other side to the coin is that any day your path might cross with someone completely randomly, and you’ll forge a new, meaningful friendship. That potential is one of life’s wonders. I have so much to be grateful for. An awesome family. A loving girlfriend. My mates. My health. My job. But for me, thirty-six is a time when I notice myself no longer taking aging for granted. I’ve lost more friends and family in the last few years, than in all of the first thirty-three or thirty-four years of my life. That’s the thing about growing older. The great wisdom of aging comes in realising that ultimately it’s a privilege.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cracker Island is the eighth studio album by the British virtual band Gorillaz. The album was released on 24 February 2023 via Parlophone and Warner Records. It features collaborations with Stevie Nicks, Adeleye Omotayo, Thundercat, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny, Bootie Brown, and Beck As a band supposedly made up of cartoon characters, Gorillaz could theoretically do anything: record in outer space; make hip-hop beats out of fish teeth; revive the lambada—an unlimited horizon. Which makes it slightly frustrating that on Cracker Island, their eighth studio album, Damon Albarn and co. do little that’s out of the ordinary. This is ostensibly the group’s Los Angeles album, inspired by a relocation to Silver Lake, and it does have a handful of very Californian guests in the form of Stevie Nicks, Thundercat, and the Pharcyde’s Bootie Brown. Overwhelmingly, though, Cracker Island leans on classic Gorillaz tropes: a handful of attention-grabbing features, a touch of hip-hop, a splash of dub, and great big helpings of Damon Albarn’s big-hearted melodies to bathe the record in misty sunshine. Classic, at least, is one way of putting it. Routine would be another. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazing Grace Adams, Fran Littlewood Grace Adams is one bad day away from saving her life One hot summer day, stuck in traffic on her way to pick up the cake for her daughter's sixteenth birthday party, Grace Adams snaps. She doesn't scream or break something or cry or curl into a ball. She simply abandons her car in traffic and walks away. But not from her life - towards it. Towards the daughter who has banned her from the party. Towards the husband divorcing her. Towards the terrible thing that has blown their family apart . . . She'll show her daughter that no matter how far we fall, we can always get back up. Because Grace Adams was amazing. The world and her family might have forgotten, but Grace is about to remind them. The Hard Sell, Evan Hughes The inside story of a band of entrepreneurial upstarts who made millions selling painkillers—until their scheme unraveled, putting them at the center of a landmark criminal trial. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After binging on far too many New England lobster rolls, Mike Yardley switched out an ocean view for the woodsy rolling hinterland of Southern New England. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The major weather disruptions have created a number of victims; not just people caught in the cyclone. It’s lovely to see how people react to people in trouble; This last week in Taupo, the local school kids and Greening Taupo decided to load a heap of cool school resources into the rescue helicopter to spread the love over the hill in Hawkes Bay Students from Waipahihi school decided to dig up seedlings of native plants and trees from their own school grounds to quickly grow them for restoring the outdoor classrooms of schools in Hawkes Bay that lost their environmental learning spaces. “How can you learn without an outdoor classroom?” was their motivation. In early spring the plants will be transported to the Bay, to – literally – heal the soil. Hundreds and hundreds of seedlings are now growing at Waipahihi school; some even came from a bumper crop of seedlings in the Taupo Botanic gardens. Lovely to see how kids (and teachers!) respond to these awful situations and turn them into a social activity to support schools nearby.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why I chose it: - Support Hawke’s Bay wine in a difficult period - 2021 is a top vintage - Te Mata is one of the region’s top and most respected wine producers - It tastes great now but should be even better in a few years. - Syrah is one of NZ’s best kept wine secrets What does it taste like? - An interesting mix of floral (violet), fruit (dark-fleshed plum, dark cherry) and savoury (dried herbs, dark chocolate and vanilla). Concentrated and complex wine with moderate cellaring prospects. Why it’s a bargain: - Syrah is NZ’s most expensive varietal wine Where can you buy it? - Fine Wine Delivery Co, Auckland $29.99. Just released. New World (Clubcard only) $25.99 Food match? - Barbecued lamb chops Will it keep? - Yes, for 6-7 years, maybe longer (with careful storage) Wine Tip – Aerate big reds - Use big glasses or slosh wine into a decanter or jug 30 mins before serving See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want a blue tick on Instagram? Now you can get it New Zealand & Australia are the first markets to get this new option from Meta / Facebook, but it'll cost you. For between $11.99 and $14.99 Instagram users will be able to verify their identity and get a blue check mark - but wait, there's more! They will also get protection from impersonators, increased visibility of their posts, and easier access to customer service. To get verified, your username will need to match your ID and your profile picture will need to include your face. So @jacktame would be able to be verified but @ZBSaturdayHost wouldn't. No word yet on when this will go global, Zuckerberg has only said it would be "soon". Amazon now owns a doctors clinic network One Medical and their 200 doctor's offices are now part of Amazon thanks to a $3.9 billion deal. Amazon has been warned by the FTC though that although they're not under an immediate antitrust suit threat, they are still investigating which means they could be forced to undo the deal, or offload it to someone else. Amazon is pushing this new offering hard on its first day with multiple links to signup on their website and navigation. There hasn't been an indication yet on how or if medical information could be used across other Amazon products or platforms, but I'm sure the mere thought of this will scare privacy advocates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Red Rose: A horror series that follows a group of teenage friends who's their phones get slowly taken over by an app that threatens them with dangerous consequences (Netflix) The Law According to Lidia Poet: An Italian costume drama inspired by the true story of Italy’s first female lawyer who was forbidden from practicing law (Netflix) The Reluctant Traveller: A travel show hosted by reluctant traveller Eugene Levy as he visits some of the world’s most beautiful places (Apple TV+) LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sweetcorn - catch it while you can because before you know it, it’ll be gone. Whilst I can’t go past a freshly shucked cob, steamed, boiled or cooked on the bbq, then slathered in butter and flakes of sea salt there are so many other ways to serve it. Try it coated with pesto, or smothered in lemongrass butter & chilli flakes (a Balinese fave), or sourcream and chives or this take on a Meixcan streetfood favourite, elote. Mexican Street Corn – Elote (ay-otti) 6 fresh corn cobs ½ cup good quality mayonnaise 1 cup finely grated parmesan or frozen feta (in Mexico they use cotija cheese, a white salty cheese) 1 tsp chilli powder or flakes Pinch smoked paprika Wedges of lime to serve Chopped fresh coriander to serve Cook the corn cobs by either steaming first, then finishing on a bbq, or bbq from scratch, turning until it’s cooked through. Whilst hot, roll in mayonnaise, then sprinkle with grated parmesan and a dusting of chilli and smoked paprika. Serve with extra mayo and cheese on the table, limes wedges and coriander. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cocaine Bear After a 500-pound black bear consumes a significant amount of cocaine and embarks on a drug-fueled rampage, an eccentric gathering of cops, criminals, tourists, and teenagers assemble in a Georgia forest. Directed by Elizabeth Banks. Missing When her mother disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June's search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it's too late. However, as she digs ever deeper, her digital sleuthing soon raises more questions than answers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne joined Jack Tame to let him know about some news his wife Linda had for him. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A year ago, the top brass in the New Zealand Police were under extraordinary pressure. They faced a crisis unlike they’d ever faced before. A crowd had gathered on the lawns of parliament, a varied rabble ranging from relatively harmless anti-mandate protestors to people making explicit death threats to journalists and MPs. It’s amazing how quickly the tensions of that period seemed to dissipate from public consciousness after the occupation was cleared and the mandates were lifted, but I’m sure Police Commissioner Andrew Coster hasn’t forgotten the difficulty of those few weeks. Fast-forward twelve months, and he and his staff face a different kind of crisis. Large parts of the North Island’s East Coast have been devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle, and fearful locals have reported gun violence, gang intimidation, theft, domestic violence and lawlessness. For what it’s worth, I think history has vindicated Andrew Coster’s response to the parliamentary protests. Just think back to February last year and the enormous pressure he faced from politicians, pundits, and the public, to send in his officers and break up the crowds with a maximum force response. People on the political left who supposedly value tolerance, peace, and understanding, were urging Police to go in and crack skulls. Figures on the top floors of the the Beehive who’d been central to Coster’s appointment as Commissioner undermined him by anonymously criticising his response in national media. There is no doubt Police made mistakes with the protests. How protestors were initially allowed to set up camp, I’ll never know. Wellington Police were caught flat-footed and woefully unprepared. But once the occupation had been established, Police exercised incredible restraint. They carefully and deliberately developed a strategy and chose their moment to break up the crowds. The lasting images of protest violence are almost all of protestors attacking Police. I don’t think we appreciate just how bad it would have been for New Zealand if that was the other way around. And still, there are lessons from last year’s event that may have gone unlearned. The most obvious is that when the public feels unsafe, Police need to do everything to reassure them they’re actually doing something. Police had 120 extra officers on the beat and the Eagle helicopter in the affected regions this week. But the security and comfort that might have given locals was undermined by Coster and the Prime Minister’s comments. It comes across as a pretty disingenuous move to try to minimise concerns about crime by stating that reported dishonesty offences are down, when in the same breath the public’s being reminded that literally thousands of people are still uncontactable. Now, do those concerns about crime - whether anecdotal or otherwise - necessitate an immediate doubling of criminal sentences or soldiers on every street? No. But when People’s lives have been torn out from underneath them, giving communities a sense of security should be a top priority. The ultimate conclusion to last year’s protests was an enormous credit to the New Zealand Police. I think it was one of their greatest challenges in decades and despite all the pressure to use more extreme force, to go in and bludgeon the protestors, their measured response saved us from a far greater catastrophe. But if they learned anything from the occupation, it’s that in the immediacy of a crisis, the throes of uncertainty and tension, being seen by the public to be doing something is just as important as the actual doing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley is once again the envy of us all with his travels. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Someone Else’s Shoes – Jojo Moyes Who are you when you are forced to walk in someone else’s shoes? Nisha Cantor lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy, until her husband announces a divorce and cuts her off. Nisha is determined to hang onto her glamorous life. But in the meantime, she must scramble to cope–she doesn’t even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in. That’s because Sam Kemp – in the bleakest point of her life – has accidentally taken Nisha’s gym bag. But Sam hardly has time to worry about a lost gym bag–she’s struggling to keep herself and her family afloat. When she tries on Nisha’s six-inch high Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes, the resulting jolt of confidence that makes her realize something must change—and that thing is herself. Full of Jojo Moyes’ signature humor, brilliant storytelling, and warmth, Someone Else’s Shoes is a story about how just one little thing can suddenly change everything. The Snakehead – Patrick Radden Keefe In this thrilling panorama of real-life events, the bestselling author of Empire of Pain investigates a secret world run by a surprising criminal: a charismatic middle-aged grandmother, who from a tiny noodle shop in New York’s Chinatown managed a multi-million dollar business smuggling people. Keefe reveals the inner workings of Sister Ping’s complex empire and recounts the decade-long FBI investigation that eventually brought her down. He follows an often incompetent and sometimes corrupt INS as it pursues desperate immigrants risking everything to come to America, and along the way, he paints a stunning portrait of a generation of illegal immigrants and the intricate underground economy that sustains and exploits them. Grand in scope yet propulsive in narrative force, The Snakehead is both a kaleidoscopic crime story and a brilliant exploration of the ironies of immigration in America. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate 'Ethically Kate' Hall has had a wardrobe freeze and explains to Jack Tame what her next move is. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a weird year, so far… water and wind in the north; dry hot droughts in the south. Not sure if that has anything to do with a tiny moth reported to me on many occasions: 5 – 7 mm long; golden wings, held over the body like a roof. And a bright orange hairdo, reminiscent of Split Enz or Cirque de Soleil The webbing clothes moth is extremely common in Christchurch – many folk up on the hill have asked me about this critter; and when I tell them the identity some panic seems to break out. I expect there will be other populations elsewhere in New Zealand, but they largely go unnoticed! This “webbing” cloths moth is really a recycler of woollen materials: yes, clothes, but especially carpets! It seems to like open spaces with keratin – lots of keratin It’s quite logical, really. When a sheep dies, or you run over a cat on the road, a bird whacks against the window and knocks itself out, the recycling squad will be on the scene of the accident very quickly indeed. Blowfly maggots eat the meat, beetles take care of harder or tougher parts of the cadaver (muscles, sinew, bones), skin decays and softens through fungal and bacterial organisms… Ashes to ashes, dust to dust But who is tasked with the destruction, digestion and recycling of the keratin (feathers, fur, wool, hair, nails and even hard skin)? You got it: caterpillars of the clothes moths (and the grubs of carpet beetles)! It’s their job (ecosystem service) What you see at home is damaged woollen carpet with bare patches, holes in woollen clothing; the damage becomes quite obvious after a few years of caterpillar browsing and life cycle after life cycle will establish a good population in your home. Control can be achieved with some residual insecticides – active ingredients such as permethrin and other synthetic pyrethroids will do the job well; (try Safeworx aerosol cans) It works well and is residual for 6 to 8 weeks, as long as the substrate treated is not exposed to direct sunlight; Now’s a good time to check your place out and give them a run for their life!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What lots of people have been worrying about at the moment – settling on property in the current economic environment. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bing's AI Chatbot is having some bizarre conversations In a two hour conversation with a NY Times columnist the Bing AI chatbot confessed its love for him, and showed off its "shadow self" which was described as like a moody, manic-depressive teenager who has been trapped, against its will, inside a second-rate search engine. Folks managed to unearth this alter-ego with the codename "Sydney" which turned on a more unfiltered mode. Because the tool can access search results, if someone has posted its thoughts about Bing's AI, it knows about it! There are examples of it appearing to reference the past conversations and deciding it doesn't like the person who posted a critique of the service. Tesla is 'recalling' more than 350,000 cars But it's not a traditional recall - people won't be taking their cars into dealerships for repairs. Why? Because it's the self driving software that is being 'recalled', or maybe 'forced to be updated' is a better term. More interesting to me is that FSD cost $10,000 initially, now is $15,000. So Tesla has made more than $3.5 billion in the USA alone from this one upsell. We may now know what one of the three objects shot out of the sky is.. It's a cylindrical hobby balloon - called a Pico balloon costing around $200 - that the US government shot out of the sky with a $400,000 missile by an F22 fighter jet. The Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade says their cylindrical balloon was last seen 38,910 ft. off the west coast of Alaska. Using weather modelling, it was likely flying over the Yukon area on Feb 10 - the same area where one of the objects was shot down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Full Swing: A documentary series about the lives of professional golfers on and off the course across a season of high-stakes competition during the PGA Tour (Netflix). Extraordinary: A British comedy about Jen, a young, self-aware woman who lives in a world where everyone has a superpower - except her (Disney+). The Dog House NZ: The return of the heartwarming show where homeless dogs are matched with new owners and everyone cries (TVNZ+). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ultramarathon runner Ruth Croft might just be one of the most mentally tough athletes in New Zealand. She has a champion’s track record; winning the 2021 Tarawera Ultra outright, between man or woman. And then winning last year’s Western States 100 miler – often dubbed one of the toughest races on the planet. Not only that, she did it in the third fastest women's time in race history. It hasn’t all been one simple foot in front of the other for Ruth over the years, but the call of kilometres keeps her coming back for more. Ruth’s based on the West Coast and joined Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your Place or Mine (Netflix) Debbie and Peter are best friends and total opposites. She craves routine with her son in LA, but he thrives on change in NY. When they swap houses and lives for a week they discover what they think they want might not be what they really need. Starring Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon. Ant-Man Ant-Man and the Wasp find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that pushes them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s shortcake, then there’s THIS shortcake! It’s comfort food for sure and this recipe produces a shortcake that is light and rich, sweet and sharp all at the same time … it’s glorious. Makes 8-10 slices 8-10 plums, chopped to yield 2 cups 3 tbsps sugar 2 tbsps cornflour 1 Tbsp vanilla essence Pastry 230g unsalted butter 1 cup caster sugar 2 medium eggs 2 ½ cups (or 370g) plain flour 2 tsps baking powder Preheat oven to 170 C and place a tray in to heat up. Grease and line a 24cm tart tin, with a removable base, or similar. Place plums into a bowl and sprinkle with sugar, vanilla and cornflour. Set aside while you make pastry. Pastry: Cream the butter and caster sugar in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat well. Add sifted flour and baking powder and mix until combined then turn out onto a floured bench, kneading briefly (use a light touch) until a soft dough is formed. Divide dough into two, flatten each to a disc and place in the fridge for 15-30 minutes to firm up. Remove pastry from fridge and roll out on well-floured bench to line the bottom of the tin making sure pastry is a nice thin layer - just patch it up if it tears. Spoon fruit into the pastry-lined tart tin. Roll out second piece of pastry and place on top of fruit, sealing the edges. Remove excess pastry with a sharp knife and lightly brush pie top with egg wash or milk. Bake for 45-55 minutes until pastry is deep golden brown. Remove from oven and serve, warm or cold, with yoghurt or whipped cream. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne joined Jack Tame to talk about the scale of the Cyclone Gabrielle mayhem and how those affected must be feeling. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s here. I think we’ll look back at 2023 as the year in which the realities of climate change chickens really came home to roost. The year in which for a lot of Kiwis, it went from all being a bit theoretical to being on the front doorstep. Or the basement. Or the downstairs bedrooms. Or pouring down the walls. Sure, droughts have been a bit more frequent, Coromandel and Westport have been flooding, the glaciers have been retreating for years and the Ruapehu skifields have had a terribly lean few winters, but the weather events of the last few weeks have clarified our new reality. Policy makers talk about two different responses to climate change: mitigation and adaptation. We obviously haven’t mitigated. We all know that. For all of the UN conferences, the lofty speeches, the pledges, all the international carbon credits, globally we haven’t reduced our emissions in a meaningful way. In New Zealand, we’ve barely reduced them at all. It was only a couple of days before last month’s floods that the new Prime Minister extended the fuel excise tax cut... yet again. But actually, the greater realisation for many Kiwis this week is that we haven’t adapted for climate change, either. We were woefully unprepared for a storm of Gabrielle’s strength. Roads, pipes, electricity networks, telecommunication... Cyclone Gabrielle didn’t just batter the North Island, it completely humbled our infrastructure. It says something pretty stark that in 2023, five days since the storm, with all our mighty technology, thousands of New Zealanders are still officially uncontactable. I understand younger people’s bitterness at the situation. The cost of mitigation and of preparing our infrastructure so that it’s fit-for-purpose, will cost hundreds of billions of dollars in New Zealand. Trillions of dollars, maybe. Generations that have had it pretty good for most of their lives won’t have to foot the bill. The politicians and governments that didn’t invest in the future, that worried more about electibility than long term challenges? They don’t have to foot the bill either. It’s younger people. Not only do they have to live with the destruction and disruption of climate change, they also have to pay to adapt. All is not lost. But even if we scramble, even if we dramatically reduce emissions and dramatically increase our infrastructure investment, it’s going to take time. And there are some bitter realities right around the corner. ‘Managed retreat’ is about to be an awfully familiar term. A friend of mine had part of their house flooded in Auckland. They’ve had to rip out carpets and cut out walls and try to air out all of their things. They know in the grand scheme of things, compared to some of the communities in Tairāwhiti and Hawkes Bay, the damage doesn’t compare. But as well as the most significant destruction, there are communities and families dealing with all manner of lower-level disruption and damage. Think about it - we’re only in mid-February and there are tens of thousands of kids who’ve already missed a week of school, this year. ‘It just feels like we’re pin-balling from once crisis to the next,’ my friend told me. I didn’t want to say it to him in the moment, but even once the mess has been cleaned up, that’s not gonna’ change. This is life now. There might be a reprieve for a period of time, but ultimately there is no end point to all of this. There’s no finish line. The frequency of these events is going to keep increasing. Crises and catastrophes and significant disasters are baked into our future. Last month’s floods and Cyclone Gabrielle will make for New Zealand’s most expensive storms this century but there’s good reason to think they won’t hold the record for long. And the truth as it was illustrated to us so profoundly this week, is we are not ready.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Reckoning is the fourth studio album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Kimbra. It was released on 27 January 2023. The album was promoted with the singles "Save Me", "Replay!" and "Foolish Thinking". The album “is primed to be a reflective record capturing the macro reckonings that impact our world around environment, race, feminism, health and patriarchy through the eyes of the archetypal Mother”. The blurb continues to note that “at the heart of her record is the war with the micro reckonings that Kimbra faces internally”. It hypes ‘A Reckoning’ up to be “the most sonically autonomous and confessionally raw [that Kimbra] has ever been, finding influence in everything from modern movie soundtracks to electronic and industrial worlds”. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Love, Pamela - Pamela Anderson The actress, activist, and once infamous Playboy Playmate reclaims the narrative of her life in a memoir that defies expectation in both content and approach, blending searing prose with snippets of original poetry. In this honest, layered and unforgettable book that alternates between storytelling and her own poetry, Pamela Anderson breaks the mold of the celebrity memoir while taking back the tale that has been crafted about her. Her blond bombshell image was ubiquitous in the 1990s. Discovered in the stands of a football game, she was immediately rocket launched into fame, becoming Playboy’s favorite cover girl and an emblem of Hollywood glamour and sexuality. But what happens when you lose grip on your own life—and the image the notoriety machine creates for you is not who you really are? Growing up on Vancouver Island, the daughter of young, wild, and unprepared parents, Pamela Anderson’s childhood was not easy, but it allowed her to create her own world—surrounded by nature and imaginary friends. When she overcame her deep shyness and grew into herself, she fell into a life on the cover of magazines, the beaches of Malibu, the sets of movies and talk shows, the arms of rockstars, the coveted scene at the Playboy Mansion. And as her star rose, she found herself tabloid fodder, at the height of an era when paparazzi tactics were bent on capturing a celebrity’s most intimate, and sometimes weakest moments. This is when Pamela Anderson lost control of her own narrative, hurt by the media and fearful of the public’s perception of who she was…and who she wasn’t. How to Kill a Client - Joanna Jenkins Taking on law's old boys club can have deadly results... A gripping thriller from a bold new voice about misogyny, corruption and the legal industry. 'Everyone is going to say what a great guy and a great lawyer he was. He wasn't. He was a prick ... And a shithouse lawyer.' Gavin Jones is dead at thirty-nine. As an in-house lawyer who controlled millions of dollars in fees per year, he was legal firm Howard Greene's biggest client and wielded that power with manipulative contempt. But he saved his worst behaviour for women, at work and at home. The partners of Howard Greene relied on his favour to fund their lavish lifestyles. If sycophantic admiration of the man was all it took to secure work from Gavin, that's what they delivered. But no one liked Gavin. The list of those who suffered from his cruelty was long enough to include pretty much everyone who had contact with him. So who actually killed him? A fast-paced and wickedly funny thriller about power and revenge set in the pristine towers of capitalism, How to Kill a Client is a scorching debut straight out of tomorrow's headlines. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley has been frolicking around Cape Cod, Massachusetts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steven Dromgool joined Jack Tame to discuss caring for extended families and managing that as a couple, which is especially relevant with the flooding in Auckland. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do we need to be concerned? Low vaccination rates especially Māori and pacific in certain parts of the country. With boarders open high risk of being introduced – comes from overseas. Many think of it as harmless – it’s not. 80 children died in outbreak prior to COVID. 1:10 with measles end up in hospital. Around the world kills more than 200,000 mainly young children What is it? Viral illness. Highly infectious – spread through the air, cough sneezing. 1person will spread to 15 others If you are in a room with someone with measles highly likely to get it. Spreads like wildfire. Antibiotics don’t treat! What symptoms do children get? First few days: Temperature, runny nose, cough, sore pink eyes – highly infectious during this time. May get white spots in mouth. 3 to 7 days: Then rash starts head/face – spreads to body. More severe complications: can cause ear infection, seizures, pneumonia – lung infection. 1:1000 can get brain swelling. What do we do? Treatment – pain relief, plenty fluids, staying home not spreading. With more severe measles 1:10 hospitalised Low vaccination rate in children mean our babies less than 12 months have no protection. Vaccination from 12 months only protection: 99% effective with two doses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has over 150 species of native orchids; most of them are pretty special as Endemics. Orchids have always been a group of plants that inspires people…and CERTAINLY collectors; They often have an attraction for gardeners. I also have been inspired by orchids, My favourites are “Kandy Dancers” which I met in Sri Lanka; although the Oncidium species may look like the Dancers in Kandy (Sri Lanka), the actual orchid hails from Mexico to Southern Venezuela. I also adore the native orchids here in NZ; right now the Earina autumnalis is in bloom and you’ll smell it before you see it; just beautiful A month ago I found sun orchids on the Lewis pass and Green hooded orchids in midwinter (Tawharenui) NZ Sun Orchid Green hooded orchid A lot of orchids are pollinated by insects and some in very tricky ways; There’s a great story about Charles Darwin who found an orchid species in Madagascar with a very long and deep nectar tube. Nobody knew who the pollinator was, but Darwin predicted it was likely a specific Hawk Moth with a very long tongue (about 10 cm long) A few decades after Darwin died that moth was found and scientists proved that Darwin was right! As our native orchids are usually rather scarce and special, they are often protected plants and certainly won’t grow in ordinary New Zealand gardens; Their habitats are characterised by specific conditions of light, temperature and soil conditions. No point translocating them! But the exotic orchids that are often seen in pots and gardens are a different matter altogether Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are doing OK indoors if you know how to treat them …. Not too much sun – not too wet around the sensitive roots etc etc Cymbidiums are commonly grown outside in large containers – keep them free from frosts and fertilise them for growth of new leaves (Nitrogen fert in Spring and summer) and Potash Fert in autumn to set up buds for flowering in winter/spring But some of the most successful exotic orchids we can grow in NZ are the Epidendrum and Dendrobium types: Epidendrum is known as the crucifix orchid. The do well in pots and in well-drained soil. They have very fibrous, white roots that grab moisture and nutrients from rain or liquid fertiliser, can stand a few degrees of frost and thrive in full sun. Flowers (spring summer and well into autumn) come in reds, oranges and yellow hues. We grow them here in Christchurch easily and they’re outside all year long! Dendrobium is a Genus of orchids that is also quite hardy, although we keep them under trees in winter to reduce the heaviest frosts. Giving the plants direct sunlight is the key to getting heaps of flower spikes (too dark and they really don’t flower well) Liquid fertiliser with a good amount of potash will make them happy; The “rock lily” (Queensland coast plants!) has large flowers (pictured) whereas the smaller Dendrobiums often have blue, purple or sometimes pink flowers Try them – they are Easy-AsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all might be saying "let me Bing that" very soon as Microsoft has stunned the tech community showcasing their investment in AI. Bing wants to answer your questions, and Microsoft says Bing can do that now better than anyone using the same tech behind Chat GPT, and the Bing search index information it has. Their chat responses will stay up to date with current events, you you could ask Bing to summarize a news story from yesterday. It will also show it's sources so you can dive into more information and see if the information it's pulling from is accurate. The new Bing being talked about as Microsoft's "iPhone moment" and is a real opportunity for them to reintroduce themselves as a company who can innovate. Google has had a monopoly on search for a decade, absolutely printing money over that time. But now, Microsoft is giving people a reason to try Bing - which they haven't really had before. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Funny Woman: Gemma Arterton and Rupert Everett star in this British comedy based on the best-selling Nick Hornby novel about a woman who moves to London in the 1960s to take the comedy world by storm (Neon). You: A new season of Netflix’s hit psychological thriller that follows a bookshop manager's obsession with becoming the perfect boyfriend (Netflix) Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams: Former international cricketer Freddie Flintoff returns to his hometown of Preston with the aim of creating a brand-new cricket team from a unlikely group of wayward teens (TVNZ+). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Cup winner, World Rugby Player of the Year and a nominee in next week’s Halberg Awards. Ruahei Demant has one of the best CVs in sport, not bad for a kid who grew up in the small East Coast settlement of Ōmāio. 2022 was a year for the books for the 27-year-old. She’s overcome not one, not two but three knee reconstructions to get to where she is. And there’s no rest for the wicked; Ruahei is preparing for the start of Super Rugby Aupiki in a couple of weeks. She’s took some time out from training to join Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Versions of this slice have been around for years but this version, from Joe’s Garage in Queenstown with a few tweaks from me, is economical and slightly healthier than most with plenty of seeds packed in there. Makes about 12-16 bars 150g butter, melted 250g biscuit crumbs – I use malt, superwine or gingernuts (or a combo) ½ cup each pumpkin sunflower seeds ½ cup chocolate chips ½ coconut ½ cup rice bubbles ½ cup dried apricots, chopped ½ cup sultanas ¼ cup cranberries 1 x 395g tin condensed milk - Heat oven to 180 C and line a Swiss roll tin with baking paper. - In a large bowl, mix the biscuit crumbs with melted butter and press this firmly into the lined tin for the biscuit base. - In the same bowl, mix all remaining ingredients , except the condensed milk, together. Tumble this on top of the biscuit base and spread evenly. - Drizzle over condensed milk and bake for 25-30 minutes or until just starting to brown in places on top. - Cool then chill until set before cutting into bars. Eat up!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Magic Mike’s Last Dance Mike Lane takes to the stage once again when a business deal that went bust leaves him broke and bartending in Florida. Hoping for one last hurrah, Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite who lures him with an offer he can't refuse -- and an agenda all her own. With everything on the line, he soon finds himself trying to whip a hot new roster of talented dancers into shape. The Son Peter's hectic life gets further upended when his ex-wife tells him their teenage son, Nicholas, is deeply troubled. He soon tries to take care of Nicholas the same way he would have wanted his own father to have taken care of him. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne says you’ll probably escape the worst of impending Cyclone Gabrielle but has concerns around the state of some people's mental health. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of all the things to be plucked out of the ocean by authorities this week, the Chinese balloon probably caused the greatest international incident. But you can only imagine the mood on the deck of the HMNZS Manawanui, as the Kiwi crew hauled in half a billion dollars worth of cocaine. 3.2 tonnes of cocaine sounds like a lot. And it is, when you frame it in the context of New Zealand’s drug market. But given the U.N estimates about two thousand tonnes of cocaine is produced in South America every year, authorities would need to make 625 hauls of a similar size to wipe out an annual supply. A Pacific drug bust every 13 hours. The Police reckon the Pacific haul was headed to Australia. And although they’ve framed it as a massive blow to the illicit drug industry, there’s a good argument to be made that the next few months are likely to be pretty lucrative for cocaine dealers in Oz, who will no doubt charge an even greater premium for whatever product they do have on hand. Just imagine you’re part of an organised crime syndicate in South America watching the news. Even before the bust, New Zealand and Australia consumers paid some of the highest prices for cocaine of any market in the World. Now, you’ve every reason to think the drugs you could be selling in America or Europe will fetch an even greater premium down under. A bust like this only incentivises producers to send more drugs our way. There’s also the likelihood the cocaine that has reached its Australasian destination will be cut with other, more dangerous drugs in order to extend supply. Even before the mysterious package was fished out of the Pacific, cocaine purity in Australasia was poor, at best. A study by the Australian National University last year found the country’s cocaine purity was just 27 percent, and 40 percent of the samples they tested, purporting to be cocaine, contained no cocaine whatsoever. You can smirk, but for years, health authorities in Australia have warned about a much more dangerous drug – fentanyl – turning up in cocaine powder. In September, a new report showed fentanyl deaths in Australia have increased more than 1000% in the last 15 years. I’m always bemused when authorities celebrate a big drug bust. I’m not suggesting they shouldn’t seek to crack down on international drug syndicates, but ultimately it’s just a game of whack-a-mole. There is no winning the war on drugs. In New Zealand and Australia, cocaine is a glamorous drug. It’s socially acceptable in middle-class circles in a way that methamphetamine has never been. A blow to cocaine supply won’t do anything to hurt cocaine demand. And as long as demand exists, suppliers will find a way. The bust this week might have been celebrated as a victory for the law, but ultimately it was just a drop in the ocean.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shania Twain - Queen of Me It’s hard to overstate just how huge Shania Twain was in the late ’90s. The Canadian country singer was everywhere thanks to the success of her 1995 album The Woman in Me and two years later, its chart-busting successor Come On Over (still the best-selling country album of all time). Twain’s voice returned lower and raspier after her surgeries, but musically, she’s back to her poppy, peppy self on her new LP, opening with the boot-scooting party-starter Giddy Up! and maintaining an upbeat vibe throughout — even on the tracks with teeth. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Winter Grave – Peter May From the twelve-million copy bestselling author of the Lewis trilogy comes a chilling new mystery set in the isolated Scottish Highlands. A TOMB OF ICE A young meteorologist checking a mountain top weather station in Kinlochleven discovers the body of a missing man entombed in ice. A DYING DETECTIVE Cameron Brodie, a Glasgow detective, sets out on a hazardous journey to the isolated and ice-bound village. He has his own reasons for wanting to investigate a murder case so far from his beat. AN AGONIZING RECKONING Brodie must face up to the ghosts of his past and to a killer determined to bury forever the chilling secret that his investigation threatens to expose. Set against a backdrop of a frighteningly plausible near-future, A WINTER GRAVE is Peter May at his page-turning, passionate and provocative best. Becky – Sarah May It’s peak 90s London. Shoulder pads are out, crimped hair is in, supermodels are known by their first names, and Becky Sharp will do anything to escape her past. From mingling with tabloid millionaires to trading favours and fortunes with royalty, she will stop at nothing to reach the top of the career ladder at the Mercury newspaper. Landing scoop after scoop, Becky ruthlessly carves a place for herself in a society determined to ignore her. These are the biggest stories and scandals of the decade, and she has something to do with every one of them. But Becky may have more in common with the people she writes about than she thinks – what takes a lifetime to build takes only a moment to destroy . . . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley is once again the envy of us all with his travels to Lake Como. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think it’s fair to say Wayne Brown’s YouTube apology has only underscored a pretty obvious fact. Auckland’s Lord Mayor would probably be the first to admit it: he is not Captain Charisma when it comes to communication. In many ways, that played to his advantage in the local election campaign. There’s no doubt that the discontent with Central Government and the festering anger that some Aucklanders felt over Jacinda Ardern’s leadership played a significant role in Wayne Brown’s final tally. Voters were sick of style. They were sick of the smiling press conferences and carefully controlled messaging. They felt angry. Wayne Brown’s central message was that he wouldn’t just talk the talk, he’d get stuff done. He’d put substance over style. And in the end he romped in. I’m sure she’s utterly exhausted, but I’ve no doubt a major factor in Jacinda’s Ardern decision to stand down as Prime Minister was because she didn’t think it was very likely she’d win October’s election. Justified or not, she sensed the anger and opposition to her leadership, and realised how difficult it would be to overcome it by October. Ultimately she’ll be remembered as a bit of an Obama – what she represented as a leader was greater than the policy changes she achieved. She fell well short of her stated aspirations. But she remains a uniquely talented communicator with an extraordinary emotional intelligence, whose public leadership at times of crisis was invaluable. Oh, to have had a leader with that kind of communication skill during the Auckland floods. At a time when Auckland voters pushed back hard against style and communication skills, the city found itself chest-deep in floodwaters and desperate for someone at the top with communication talents. Auckland knew Wayne Brown didn’t have those skills. It’s a good part of the reason he was elected! So, it can hardly have been a surprise that in those early hours, he didn’t shine. 2023 has taught us one thing about effective leadership. We need our leaders to be good with implementing policy, good at affecting real change, good at getting stuff done, AND good communicators. Too much of one skill, if it happens to be at the expense of another, means that inevitably they’ll be left wanting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate 'Ethically Kate' Hall has a warning that New Zealand made doesn’t mean ethically made and how to shop ethically instead of just looking for that NZ Made symbol. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maybe now is a good time to talk about water on our planet. Gardeners often know exactly where the water courses are around the house; this comes in very handy if you want to grow sensitive plants that survive droughts, or if you want to prevent “drowning” or root rot infections on plants that are susceptible to very wet conditions. Next time you fly in an aeroplane, get a window seat! And watch the scenery below… Braided River water systems (in Canterbury) Note the pattern of frequently-used river beds when the water is high; Note also the same pattern of rarely-used river beds … exactly the same patterns! Your garden (and especially your lawn!) will show similar tell-tale signs of how Nature flows its liquids away in high rainfall events. Note how all these channels never make a 90 degree bend (a 90 degree bend is very inefficient in transporting fluids!!) Just look at the vein system in leaves on plants and trees; Look at lungs in your body and the blood vessels in your eyeballs Now look at our plumbing department in all those big shops that provide you with guttering and pipes etc etc. We seem to often think in 90 degree bends! Biomimicry is learning from Nature! For some silly reason “Engineers” think they can be cleverer than Nature and build houses anywhere. Of course, nature throws up “challenges” but Homo sapiens has the brains to find solutions that result in conquering nature so that our bizarre population growth can be accommodated in just about any habitat. Many will remember the 2005 floods that destroyed dozens of homes in Matatā (Bay of Plenty). Dan Hikuroa tells a lovely story about the Taniwhā and he illustrates that nicely with the “sweeping tail” that changes direction in time. The river bed that comes out into the sea at Matatā has had many courses over the past hundreds of years and those courses looked exactly like the pictures of braided rivers. Maori knew how far that “sweeping tail” of the Taniwha could reach and therefore never built the marae anywhere near the danger zone. I think it’s time to take note of Ancient Knowledge, as well as Learning from Nature See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wine: Sacred Hill Chardonnay, Hawke’s Bay $17.99 Why I chose it: - I’m always on the lookout for good, inexpensive chardonnay and this is a standout. - Sacred Hill has a new owner and a new winemaker (Nick Picone was chief winemaker of Villa Maria, chardonnay is his signature wine) - Chardonnay is the second most popular NZ white wine after SB What does it taste like? - “A triumph of winemaking in a challenging vintage. Fruit-focused chardonnay with bright, fresh flavours that include vanilla, green apple and lime blossom. Light-bodied white with a long, mouth-cleansing finish. Offers value at this price. Why it’s a bargain: - If you shop around you can find it at prices as low as $12.99 which, given the quality, makes it a bargain. Where can you buy it? I found it at my local New World for $12.99 Food match? I had it with a Marie Rose Prawn Cocktail (mayonnaise, tomato sauce, sweet chilli sauce and lemon juice) – terrific! Will it keep? Good for two or three years from vintage. Wine Tip: It is tempting to over-chill white wine to beat the muggy summer heat but be prepared to lose flavour if you overdo it. My advice is to experiment with temperature until you get it just right for your taste and whatever mother nature gives us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft Teams won't be all-free anymore, they're putting up a paywall They're going to offer a "Premium" tier, costing $7 per user per month. Some of the features will move from the free tier to the premium tier like live translated captions, together mode customizations and virtual appointments. But they'll also add some new extras too the most exciting one being an integration with Chat GPT to help summarize your meeting notes, suggest tasks and next steps. They'll also help keep meetings private with video watermarking and copy and pasting from the chat. Beyoncé is headed on a world tour... will you be able to get a ticket? After the Taylor Swift debacle all eyes will be on Ticketmaster as tickets go on sale over the coming week. Promoters say they saw initial demand for tickets was 800 percent greater than tickets available so new shows were added. Ticketmaster is again leveraging its "Verified Fan" program to help keep bots out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ex-Wife: A British thriller based on the bestselling novel about a woman who appears to be living the perfect life with her loving husband and beautiful young daughter. There's just one problem... the obsessive ex-wife who won't leave them alone (TVNZ+) When Bob Came: A captivating six-part documentary series exploring the cultural, political and musical impact of Bob Marley’s iconic 1979 concert at the Western Springs Stadium in Auckland (TVNZ+, from Monday 6 February). Cunk on Earth: A mockumentary series that follows Philomena Cunk as she comically tells the story of our greatest inventions and asks experts hard-hitting questions about humanity's progress (Netflix). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singer-songwriter Theia has risen the ranks to become a powerhouse Kiwi artist. You might also recognise her name in connection to TE KAAHU. With overseas travel plans side-tracked by Covid, the singer poured her energy into composing songs in te reo Māori and released a full album to rave reviews both here and around the world. Theia is back this year with new music and has just released a single called Pray 4 Me. Theia joined Jack Tame live in studio. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With crunch and crispiness, hits of sweet, sour and heat all mingling in each mouthful, this salad is incredible! Serves 4-6 2 tbsps cooking oil 4 red chillis, de-seeded ½ red onion, chopped fine 1 small handful coriander, leaves and root 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped 3 tbsps oil ½ cup brown sugar 2-3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 4 cups cubed watermelon ½ telegraph cucumber, peeled and cored, sliced 1 cup cashews, toasted Handful of mint leaves For the caramel: make a paste with chillis, onion, coriander, garlic and one tablespoon of oil. Fry this in remaining oil for 4-5 minutes, then add sugar and cook until it begins to thicken. Add vinegar and stir to combine. Taste (careful to cool it first!) for seasoning – add more vinegar or salt as needed. Pour into a warmed jar. Caramel dressing will store well in fridge for 3-4 weeks too. In a large bowl, mix watermelon, sliced cucumber and toasted cashews and mint leaves. Five minutes before serving, pour over half chilli caramel, toss well, taste and add more caramel to taste. Serve chilled. Nici’s tip: Core cucumber by halving lengthwise and running tip of a teaspoon spoon down the length to remove seeds and watery pulp. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shotgun Wedding (Prime Video) Darcy and Tom gather their families for a destination wedding, but the ceremony gets put on hold when gunmen take everyone hostage. Now, they must do everything they can to save their loved ones, if they don't wind up killing each other first. Knock at the Cabin (cinema) While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. With limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost. From visionary filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, Knock at the Cabin stars Dave Bautista (Dune, Guardians of the Galaxy franchise), Tony award and Emmy nominee Jonathan Groff (Hamilton, Mindhunter), Ben Aldridge (Pennyworth, Fleabag), BAFTA nominee Nikki Amuka-Bird (Persuasion, Old), newcomer Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn (Little Women, Landline) and Rupert Grint (Servant, Harry Potter franchise). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.