Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Mike Yardley has been living the hard life soaking up the sunshine on Alexandra Headland.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I love the story told to me by my friend Michael Braungart, co-author of Cradle to Cradle, the book that helped launch the circular economy movement in the early noughties.He says, what would happen if you take all the humans on the planet and put them in a big pile and then take all the ants and make a pile next to it. The ant pile would be bigger. But no one says , too many ants are ruining the planet. Quite the opposite, the recycling work they do make them almost the best circular economy practitioners around. So the problem isn’t too many humans but our day to day habits. Imagine when we get so good at looking after our world that extra humans would mean an even better planetThere are quite a few reasons that we are not yet taking the climate emergency seriously.I have tapped into the thinking of Art Markman, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas writing in the Harvard Business Review. He says ‘If people are motivated to avoid threats to their existence now, why is it so hard to get people to act on climate change’.There are four main reasons. For most people it is the difference between long term and short term thinking and this is the hardest trade off for people to make.People don’t save enough money for retirement preferring to spend now, they can over eat in the present and even smoke while actually knowing that long term, this is bad for their healthIgnoring climate change unfortunately has short term benefits. You don’t have to change any habits, business can still make climate unfriendly decisions and make more money now and even the government won’t upset voters now to make hard decisions because of the next election coming upSo what can you do here. Recognising the behaviour is a big part of the solution. We can save for retirement and also give up bad health habits. So we can also change our habits to stop climate change.Business can be encouraged to do the right thing through your buying behaviour and by asking for the climate friendly products you want. Even politicians do listen to their electors if you take the time to let them know what is important to you.Secondly, climate is a non linear problem. people are already good at making judgements of linear trends. I spend $5 a day on coffee. Therefore I can understand the implications without setting up a spreadsheet. But but when things start slowly then accelerate this causes a problem. People will still think linearly. A few cigarettes a days ok but it’s the accumulation of years of smoking that does the damage . Then the health issues suddenly sneaks up on them.Likewise it’s been a long time until any obvious impacts of climate change have appeared. But we can see them now.The third issue is distance. Most of the problems are happening to others far away. Research shows that people conceptualise things from a distance more abstractly than what’s happening to their own neighbours. So it losses impact and is not seen as important.And fourthly the future is actually very abstract. We don’t know what will happen. We love to live in the now, and maybe the past but don’t trust what will happen in the future.And I add a fifth reason. Many, mainly men, think we are so clever, that science will come up with a ‘get out of jail card’ that will sort all these problems. So we don’t have to do anything but wait for these clever scientists to save us. This is quite common thinking , including among media commentators who will rubbish cycle lanes and other green initiatives because of of this thinking.This is wishful and or even magical thinking. Not rational at all, like these blokes like to think. Should we keep smoking and over eating and wait for science to save us. We actually have all the scientific processes right now to reverse the climate emergency , we just need to change our habits and put them in place.So what else can we do?Well...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The British Gardeners are urged to stop mowing lawns in May so as to “support bees”. Gardeners come in many different "sizes": 1) Precision gardeners. Those that follow the swanky garden magazines and have not a plant nor a blade of grass out of place. Think Versailles and the Famous British gardens like Sissinghurst. When it comes to lawns they are cut to within an inch of their life! There are no weeds, and few "wild Flowers". Most of the borders are sprayed to minimize fungi and bacterial diseases as well as Natural Biodiversity such as insects, spiders, mites, praying mantises and crickets 2) Wannabe-precision gardeners. Those who haven't got the time nor the staff to achieve the number one status. Their gardens really lack detailed attention and as such they're a lot weedier and "all over the place" in the eyes of precision gardeners. They usually do have some structure though... and are pleasant to the eye. 3) Hippies and Macrobiotic adorers of Homeopathy and Herbs. My goodness! That is a mess! Stuff everywhere - no weed control, aphids all over the place, weird flowers popping up everywhere, heaps of blackbirds, lots of worms, swarms of butterflies and armies of moths, native bees, beetles, insectivorous birds and lizards. Ironically, when it comes to creating a garden with the best biodiversity, the third option will win hands-down. Imagine heaps of different species of flowers, weeds, (as well as mosses and lichens) allowing for a huge diversity of wildlife. The nectar and the pollen attached to a variety of flowers is very beneficial for pollinators, such as bees and moths and butterflies, beetles, hover flies, parasitic wasps and predatory critters who all need pollen (protein) for development and nectar (sweet energy). The Brits might have the idea to not mow their lawns in May (getting more flowering weeds in there), but I reckon we can do much better than that: Now is the time to sow wild-flower seeds (mixed series of species) in some vegetable beds that are lying dormant or idle. Some of the resulting plants may even flower in winter and early spring, whereas other species will pop up in mid to late spring, providing our pollinators with extra sustenance (nectar and pollen) and opportunities for survival and reproduction. No, I am not thinking about honey bees so much... We have 28 species of small, native bees and they are brilliant pollinators of our native flowers. These native bee species are often robbed of floral nectar by the commercial and exotic honey bee, so I'd like to give our natives a helping hand. By the way: even “exotic” wildflowers will attract all these critters, so it doesn’t always need to be “native plants”… Apart from bees and bumble bees, we also have a lot of other pollinators in our garden: beetles, small parasitic wasps that help with pest control, as well as hover flies and moths and butterflies; All these creatures are part of our ecosystems and complete our Biodiversity in the garden. Birds, too, like the flowers and the subsequent seeds. I have always liked the idea of creating a wildflower "lawn" in the garden and simply mow elegant meandering paths through these wildflower lawns, so you can walk there without getting wet trousers or wet feet after a shower of rain. Start sowing the wildflower mixes in your garden for a totally different and colourful look in spring. Try it...you'll like it!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hannah McQueen is talking about the latest OCR increase - the fact that rates are rising faster, and likely higher than previously predicted will be scary for some. The whole economic picture can seem overwhelmingly negative at the moment – so what do you focus on in the midst of the doom and gloom? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Huawei is banned from supplying 5G equipment in CanadaThis means it's now fully banned across the five-eyes alliance of the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Canadian companies will have until June 2024 to remove it - at their own cost and without reimbursement from the Canadian government. They say it's a move to protect their critical telecommunications infrastructure of the future from foreign interference. There isn't an easy answer explaining who owns Huawei, and many allegations of subverting sanctions, fraud, espionage. Using the wrong USB-C cable? Your Chromebook will now tell youUSB-C is a very confusing piece of technology. Your cable may have a USB-C connection, but that doesn't mean it can do everything possible with USB-C. Some USB-C cables can handle high power currents, others can't, they can handle various speeds of data, some are Thunderbolt, some are DisplayPort. Depending on the feature depends on the maximum length the cable can be. So soon, when you plug the wrong cable into your Chromebook and wonder why something isn't working, your computer will help you figure it out.LISTEN AABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stranger Things Season 4 (Netflix) It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn't made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Disney) “Obi-Wan Kenobi” begins 10 years after the dramatic events of “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” where Obi-Wan Kenobi faced his greatest defeat—the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, who turned to the dark side as evil Sith Lord Darth Vader. Prehistoric Planet (Apple TV) “Prehistoric Planet” combines award-winning wildlife filmmaking, the latest paleontology learnings and state-of-the-art technology to unveil the spectacular habitats and inhabitants of ancient Earth for a one-of-a-kind immersive experience. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The legendary blues-based rocker George Thorogood and his band the Destroyers have announced they’re coming our way in October. They've sold over 15 million albums, built a catalogue of classic hits and played more than 8000 live shows. There’s no slowing down for 72-year-old George just yet. He catches up with Jack Tame about 45 years of rock and why he still loves it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you noticed all the gorgeous lemon trees beginning to shine with fruit? I just love this time of year when citrus comes into its own again. Try this cake - it’s a terrific combination of a cake and a cheesecake and it’s lemony delicious.Serves 8-12Batter1 ¼ cup sugarZest from one lemon½ teaspoon sea salt1 large egg room temperature220g butter melted3 tablespoons lemon juice2 ¼ cups plain flour2 teaspoons baking powderFilling220g cream cheese softened1 ½ cups icing sugar + extra2 large egg yolks2 tablespoons lemon juiceZest from one lemonCake Batter1. Preheat oven to 170°C. Grease a 23cm round springform tin.2. Combine grated lemon zest and sugar in a large bowl of food processor and give it a quick whizz so that the sugar becomes fragrant and pale yellow. Whisk in the egg, lemon juice and melted butter until combined.3. Sift in the flour and baking powder and combine to a thick batter. Spread batter evenly into the greased tin.4. Make the filling: Use an electric beater to combine cream cheese and icing sugar until smooth. Add egg yolks, lemon juice and zest and continue to beat until smooth. Pour the filling on top of the batter. Knock gently to expel any air bubbles.5. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the middle is puffed. If you see it browning too quickly, tent the top with a piece of foil.6. Let the cake cool for 15 minutes before releasing the sides of the tin. Slide it onto a serving plate and dust with icing sugar.7. Serve immediately for extra gooey-ness or chill for a firmer texture. Either way, amazing!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne chats to Jack Tame about some civil naughtiness in Wellington. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I was sitting in my apartment in East Harlem, New York, when it first hit the news.I think I saw something on Twitter first. Then I turned on cable TV and waited to hear from a police officer or a politician or someone with some authority.There was so much confusion in those first couple of hours. There always is. Everyone hangs on every thread of information but it always takes an age to work out the detail.Everyone in New Zealand was asleep but eventually I just took a punt, hired a car from the Avis down the road, packed my camera gear and started driving north out of Manhattan, through the Bronx, and up across the state border into Connecticut. I was listening to a press conference on the radio when they finally confirmed the fatalities.Ten years ago this December. Sandy Hook.There’s not really anything to say about mass shootings in America that hasn’t been said. But I always feel a bit of a macabre connection to American massacres, because I ended up covering so many in the five years I lived in the States. I remember when Aurora happened. I remember when San Bernardino happened. I remember when Charleston happened. I flew across the country and drove through the night to be at Umpqua Community College. Most people don’t remember that one – eight people died. I was on the scene just a few hours after the Pulse nightclub shooting went down. That held the record for fatalities, at the time.I still think of Sandy Hook the most. The lonely drive up there. The satellite trucks. The families gathering in the firehouse to collect their children and the slow realisation that those parents who were left would forever be bound to the worst of the worst. The memorials that popped up over the next few days. The quietness. The way no one liked making eye contact in the street. Twenty little kids.My girlfriend feels like she has to breathe it all in. She reads every article and watches every press conference. She wants to see the children’s faces and hear their parents wailing. I found her the other day, unblinking, tears gliding down her cheeks as she watched Anderson Cooper interviewing a Dad whose daughter had been shot in the head. She feels compelled to try understand the incomprehensible and in her search for answers, she learns Every. Single. Detail.But I cant anymore. I makes me feel funny to engage with the shootings. I don’t want to know details or learn anyone’s name. I just feel a massive darkness about the whole process, the whole routine and theatre of it all.At the time, Sandy Hook felt like the best chance for something big to change. Obama cried on TV. I was there when he turned up at the vigil in Newtown to meet with all the families and promised to go above and beyond. Maybe this is it, we thought. After all, it doesn’t get any worse. Can you imagine any greater horror than a gunman in a primary school? Five and six-year-old kids.Nothing big changed, of course. There is perhaps no greater illustration of just how poisoned the American political system has become than the fact that a minority interest in assault weapons can ward off greater regulation, even when a majority of Americans favour it and massacres have become the norm.We live in a strange World in which an NBA coach or a group of protesting students might be more effective in affecting change than the post powerful officials in their country.And so I hope I’m wrong. I hope the pendulum of change swings back the other way and that instead of waiting for a horror even more shocking than Sandy Hook or Uvalde, the sheer weight of all these tragedies is enough.But if recent history is any guide, there will be another horror. Another kid with an AR-15. Another worst nightmare. Another Uvalde. Another Sandy Hook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Estelle Clifford gives her review of Harry's House, the new album from Harry Styles. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Raynes has been reading actress Minnie Driver's memoir, Managing Expectations as well as Trespasses by Louise Kennedy, which has rave reviews.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley's been exploring parts of the Sunshine Coast in Australia.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steven Dromgool is at a men's retreat for the weekend and thought it was a good reminder to talk about the importance of male friendship. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pollenia rudis is the cluster fly species we discovered on the North Shore, for the first time in 1984. It may have arrived in some containerised luggage or cargo.Originally from the Northern countries (Scandinavia - north America) where it lives a peculiar life as a parasite of earthworms.The female fly lays eggs in dense grass habitats (paddocks and lawns) and often near eartworm tunnels;The larvae (aka "maggots") hatch, find themselves some way of getting into the soil (gaps around plants or through established earthworm tunnels) and gain entry into the body of an earthworm.Inside the worm it feeds on the internal body fluids and organs.Gross? yep! But most animals on the planet have "parasites" (see below) that can cause damage.The cluster flies that hatch from their earthworm are pretty insects, the size of blowflies (slightly larger that houseflies) with golden hairs on the top of their thorax; In spring and summer I often see them pollinating flowers (The name “Pollenia” is a nice indicator!)When temperatures get cooler in autumn, these flies usually look for a suitable hibernation place: in holes in the ground, under bark of trees, under mulch layers, etc. But if there’s a nice warm human house nearby they will try to gain entry.By their thousands!This year we saw a lot of that happening in Canterbury and parts of southern North Island.They crawl through small holes (ill-fitting window frames, etc) and mark their entry by leaving a residue of Pheromone scent; this means that other Pollenia flies simply follow the trail and join the others…The pheromone is rather sticky and smells somewhat of Buckwheat honey (hence the name buckwheat fly in the USA).Cluster flies are not of medicinal importance (like some blowflies) but are hard to remove due to their messy pheromones. Best “prevention” is to ensure there are no entrance holes around the home.In terms of earthworm population effects: There is no evidence that cluster flies significantly reduce earthwormsGrowers and gardeners use some parasites (small wasps!) to reduce the number of caterpillars that eat your cabbages, or certain tiny parasites that literally "hollow out" the green loopers in your houseplants.Humans have parasites too: tape worm, malaria, hook worm and even insect parasites (fly maggots) that tunnel into your skin (often on the head) in tropical areas - good fun!Now, the idea of parasitism (as well as predation) is to keep populations "in check" and prevent them from escalating in their natural habitat and ecological systems: if you have a heap of aphids on your roses, the parasites and predators move in to reduce the load on your plants - simple as that.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Campbell's pick of the week is the Villa Maria 2021 Cellar Selection Chardonnay from Hawke’s Bay. Bob's tip - don’t over-chill Chardonnay or it will taste like water. If you get served a wine that is too cold cup your hand around the glass and swirl it until it reaches the right temperature. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prepare yourself.. there's a new Outlook comingThis is in the very early stages but is going to be a big shift for people. Outlook for Windows on your desktop will start to look exactly like the web version you use today.By rebuilding it, they're going to be able to leverage more integrations with Microsoft products. It'll be more connected directly to OneDrive so you can add an attachment to an email just by typing an @ then the filename. Easy! Microsoft will pin emails to the top of your inbox it thinks you might need to see again, you'll be able to drag emails into your calendar or turn them into tasks in Microsoft To-Do.Costco and Apple have partneredCostco is famous for allowing folks to buy things in bulk for cheap and leveraging its large membership to get access to better pricing of goods. Now that's in the virtual world too in a partnership with Apple. Costco members can get discounts on subscriptions to Apple News Plus, Apple TV Plus, and Apple Arcade. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eleanor Ford has been described as a culinary detective. She’s travelled around the world seeking out the best food in more than 70 countries. Eleanor’s new book is called The Nutmeg Trail - a deep dive into the history of spice with recipes and stories exploring how centuries of spice trading and cultural diffusion changed the world's cuisine. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Time Traveller’s Wife: A science fiction drama based on the popular book by Audrey Niffeneger, about a love story between Clare and Henry that is complicated by time travel (Neon).Conversations with Friends: Based on the book by Irish author Sally Rooney (Normal People), about two Dublin college students, Frances and Bobbi, and the strange and unexpected connection they forge with married couple, Melissa and Nick (Prime Video).Lincoln Lawyer: Another show based on a book - this time the bestselling novel by Michael Connelly - and created by David E. Kelley. Idealistic lawyer Mickey Haller runs his practice out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car, taking on cases big and small across Los Angeles (Netflix).LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whilst we’re all focused on the cost of living and food prices making it harder and harder to afford any treats or luxury items, here’s a thing…home-made biscuits. They’re an absolute treat, better for you than bought biscuits, quick and easy to make and so affordable. Bran or Oat biscuits Makes 30 biscuits 110g butter, softened 1 cup regular sugar 1 egg 1 cup plain flour + extra for rolling 1 cup bran flakes or oats – process these in a food processor or blender 1 tsp baking powder Set oven at 160 C fan bake and line 1 or 2 trays with baking paper. Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Stir in flour and bran/oats until it forms a ball. Halve and roll out each dough ball on a well-floured surface. Use a round cookie cutter or thin-lipped glass or cup to cut into circles. Any size you like. Transfer to the lined tray. Prick each with a fork. Repeat with the remaining mixture. Bake for 5 minutes then bang and turn the tray and bake for a further 3 -5 minutes when they should be lovely and golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. These biscuits freeze exceptionally well. They can also be buttered or sandwiched together with icing for an extra treat.TOTAL COST: $2.76 for 30 biscuits (9cents per biscuit) Ginger nuts $2.90 / 10 Bran biscuits $5.50 / 12 Krispies $2.90 / 24See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nobody Has To Know Nobody Has to Know. Belgian writer, director, and actor Bouli Lanners' latest is an engrossing drama about one man's amnesia and the love story that rewrites his past. We rely on our memories to tell us the story of who we are. Phil, a robust middle-aged man suffers a stroke, causing him to lose his memory. Millie, who takes care of him, tells him falsely that they were secretly in love before his accident. The Northman From visionary director Robert Eggers comes THE NORTHMAN, an action-filled epic that follows a young Viking prince on his quest to avenge his father’s murder. With an all-star cast that includes Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, Björk, and Willem Dafoe. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne reminisces on starring as himself in a Shortland Street episode as the show turns 30 this week.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When 73-year-old Anne Guenole died, it was national news.Every media outlet in the country did stories. Anne’s family remembered her as a quiet nana and great-grandmother who spent most of her time at home on the South Island’s beautiful West Coast. She’d been hospitalised with a suspected case of influenza.Except it wasn’t influenza. Anne was the first New Zealander to die of Covid-19.That was March, 2020. I was thinking about that moment this morning, as I reflected on how much our collective attitude have changed in the two years since.Since Anne Guenole died, more than a thousand New Zealanders have died with Covid-19. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve died of Covid-19. I appreciate the distinction. But many of those deaths were untimely, and we continue to record ten or twenty deaths a day. Where once we gasped if the daily infection numbers were in the high teens or early twenties, now we barely pay attention to daily cases in the thousands.Could you tell me to the closest thousand how many infections New Zealand recorded on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week?It’s neither good or bad. It just says something about our psychology. It’s fascinating to me how quickly we’ve switched. Given access to vaccines and an end to lockdowns and restrictions, in a sense we’ve largely moved on. Even if the virus hasn’t.It was reflected in the budget, this week. For all the budget nicknames – braindrain budget, backwards budget, climate budget – no one was calling it a Covid budget. The cost of living has overtaken the pandemic and is far-and-away the biggest concern for a majority New Zealanders. Grant Robertson’s plans were those of a finance minister and a government that feels vulnerable to criticism over their role in inflation.It’s funny to think about how politicians frame these things. For two years, many people felt the government was prioritising lives over the economy. It’s a silly binary – if we’ve learnt anything from Covid-19, it’s that economy activity and the pandemic are closely linked.But it is true that we used to take far greater steps in order to protect lives. We had a far lower tolerance for infections and death. If we’re playing the same silly binary game today, you couldn’t argue that New Zealand isn’t prioritising the economy over doing everything possible to save lives.We’ve flipped. We’ve crossed the threshold. And I have a similar nagging feeling to that in the early stages of the pandemic. We can do what we can to soften the landing but it’s still going to hurt. Unfortunately, when you look at our economic position, inflation, growth, and interest rates, we’ve been delaying the inevitable.This time it isn’t Covid cases. It’s economic pain. Unfortunately for New Zealand, the worst is still to come.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Estelle Clifford is back with more Kiwi music to celebrate New Zealand music month. This time she's highlighting Auckland-based artist Erny Belle and her new album, Venus is Home LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Raynes has been reading The Improbable Life of Ricky Bird by Diane Connell and Reputation by Sarah Vaghan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A short hop from Brisbane or the Gold Coast will land you at Tamborine Mountain and Mike Yardley has all the secrets to make a good trip.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince Harry is in a video released this week starring Rhys Darby, David Fane and Rena Owen. The premise is not that the destination we go to is rated on how green it is, but that we as tourists are rated on our carbon footprint whilst there. How do you rate yourself at present and how could you improve your score? Well first let’s still talk about a NZ holiday. How do we get there? I’m afraid air travel is the most carbon burning option followed by driving. Driving gets an even worse rating if you are by yourself in the car without friends and family. So a lot of people in a vehicle is a much better option which is why bus or rail comes out on top. Unfortunately, it is not so convenient in NZ …yet. I loved the train journeys I’ve had overseas. Train tracks are much less obtrusive than roads and you end up in some remarkable situations, even looking into the locals backyards at times. Fascinating insights on local culture. So, what about electric? It is possible to rent electric cars now and yes, even electric camper vans. Because of our low carbon electricity in NZ. This option wins hands down. Go online and look for these options. Get a cheap second-hand Nissan Leaf with a small range for commuting and shopping from home. They are getting very cheap because the first ones have such a short range, but that’s fine in a city where you can recharge at home or work. Then for your weekend adventures or holidays, hire. Now you have arrived at your destination, what’s next? If you have arrived by plane, and if I’m going to Queenstown from my home in Northland, I’m going to fly, then when you arrive you have the option to hire an electric car. Or take the airport bus into town and do without a car. This is where bikes start to look good. You can get part day, full day or multi days deals. And those of us you think we may not be fit enough, there are now electric bikes. Reward the accommodation providers that are making a difference. There are independent environmental accreditations or certifications, like the Toitu programme, Qualmark EnviroGold rating, or EarthCheck certification. And in any accommodation * Hang up your towels – it’s the universal sign that they don’t need to be washed and you’re happy to reuse them * Leave the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the hotel door to reduce unnecessary washing of linen, vacuuming and the use of other chemicals for cleaning * Take your own toiletries (and toothbrush) to reduce the single use of those tiny hotel bottles of gunk * Use your own plastic free water bottle not the free single-use stuff LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rust on garlic seems to have become a real pain in the last few years; not just me in CHC but right around the country, and especially in areas with high gardener-population densities…If you are surrounded by gardeners, growing onions, shallots, leeks and garlic, chances are that spores of the Allium rust are numerous in the air.That means there’s a good chance your garlic (and leeks and onions and shallots will be infected at some stage this coming spring.To avoid that from happening it might be useful to speed things up a bit and to move planting forward in autumnTraditionally garlic used to be planted on the shortest day (third week of June) and harvested around the longest day (Just before Christmas), but I’ve done some trials now for the last half a dozen years or so.Managed to bring it forward as much as 7 weeks: planting in first week of May has had the best results with the minimum of sprays (organic copper) needed; Mind you this is based on my position on the Port Hills in Christchurch.The rust is a Fungal disorder that hammers the Bulb-forming members of Allium (onion Genus group of the Family Amaryllidaceae.The fungus enters the long, soft leaves of shallots, onions and garlic and causes yellowing of the leaves, ill-thrift and sick-looking plants towards the end of the growing season, when temperatures rise in spring.The most significant diagnostic sign are the bright yellow “pustules” that form on the leaves – these pustules are easily rubbed off by your fingerPrintanor is the common old garlic variety you buy at “New World”. Often it is imported from China and treated to stop it sprouting. That means no good for planting!!Buy some planting cloves that are either organic or simply not treated.At farmers market you can sometimes purchase interesting varieties:Californian Red Turban – can grow into huge bulbs (15 cm diameter bulbs)Macedonian – strong flavour – and somewhat oilyWest Coast Miners – rather good, large cloves tooHard-neck garlic; gets little flowers/bulblets up the stem – edible as soft green salad component, in mid-springElephant garlic is actually a leek, with a swollen stem – not a garlic – very mild flavourShallots can also be planted now!Well-drained soil, shallow planting (tip just above the ground) – 15 cm spacing.Cover with ground sheep dags (KINPACK) or fine, rich compost.Keep moist –but not overly moist, because that encourages rotting.Harvest when the foliage dies down (in my case early to Mid November).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Bryan Betty chats to Jack Tame about the overuse of antibiotics going into winter. Dr Betty says the real issue is with the emergence of ‘anti-microbial’ resistance across the world. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s New Zealand music month and who other should Jack Tame speak to than Silver Scroll and Taite Music nominee, Nadia Reid.The 30-year-old has been described by The Guardian as an assured, clever and confident singer-songwriter. Luckily for us, Nadia’s currently working on her fourth studio album and has upcoming shows from Auckland to Dunedin. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tasty, simple to make and easy on the wallet – this curry has it all!Serves 4 for $15.544 boiled eggs1 medium onion, sliced or diced2 tablespoons cooking oil3 tablespoons store-bought green curry paste4 chicken drumsticks or thighs (bone in or out)2 large potatoes, chopped into bite-sized pieces1 teaspoon brown sugar1 cup coconut milk1 cup fresh or frozen chopped green beansCooked rice to servePapadoms or roti to serve (optional)1. Boil the eggs for 5 minutes, and for easy peeling, leave for 10 minutes in cold water before peeling.2. Gently fry onion in oil in a medium to large pot. Add curry paste and fry for 30 seconds. Push onion aside and add chicken and potatoes and fry until lightly browned. Add enough water to almost cover the chicken and potatoes, put a lid on and simmer for 20 minutes. Add sugar, peeled boiled eggs, beans and coconut milk and bring to a simmer for 10-15 minutes. Taste for seasoning and add salt to taste.3. Serve with rice and papadoms or roti to serve.Budget-saving tips:· Using eggs in this curry increases the protein content without having to use more chicken ie. More satiated for less cost.· Cooking the perfect rice cuts down on waste. Here’s my method: use twice as much water to uncooked rice (2:1); salt the water well; bring to boil, stir once then leave lid on and simmer for 12 minutes and leave to stand, covered for 5 minutes.· Leftover rice can be used for fried rice which makes another great lunch or dinner.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Francesca Rudkin has been watching the war drama Operation Mincemeat and an Iranian film called A Hero. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne has become immersed in the Tree of the Year Awards and its finalists.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am a minimalist.I’m not afraid to admit it. Loud and proud. I’m not ashamed. Not wanting to play to gender stereotypes, I do however wonder if my apartment is decorated in the sparse way in which only a man without a family is happy to live.Truth be told, I just don’t buy stuff. I prefer to spend my money on experiences than things. If you’ve been listening to my show for a while, you’ll know it took me a year or two to even buy a couch. I had a couple of armchairs, I figured. That was plenty. After all, you can only park your butt in one place at once!Anyway, nothing brings your interior design choices under close scrutiny like a visit from the property stagers. In anticipation for maybe wanting a bit more space for kids in the future – don’t get too excited yet!! – I’ve put my apartment on the market. And knowing that my tastes aren’t everyone’s, I got the property stagers over for a bit of a zhoosh.It must be a delicate business being a property stager. Think about it. You’re brought into people’s homes to make things look a bit nicer, and the harder you work to improve a space, the more you’re inadvertently telling the client that actually they don’t have very good taste. A good eye is important. But tact, is even more so.My place is partially staged which means it wasn’t a total bombsite beforehand, but I was frankly stunned when I saw the bags of stuff the stagers were bringing in.“Yeeeeah,” said the woman in charge.“Usually we’re decluttering places, but to be honest, at your place it’s kind of the opposite.”Huh.What can I tell you?Well, apparently dried flowers are in. They really are quite beautiful actually, and given I’ve managed to nurse a nice collection of house plants, there are now more pots and vases at my place than any other point in my life.What else? Well, this is going to shock you: coffee tables are actually fantastic. I’ve not owned a coffee table for more than a decade! Turns out there’s a reason they’re popular. Sometimes you don’t know what you’re missing until it’s sitting in the middle of your living room with a TV remote and a book on Scandanavian architecture.But here’s the big takeaway for me: cushions. What the hell? I used to have two cushions. I thought that was bordering on excessive. Now, I have sixteen. Sixteen in a two bedroom apartment! I’m surprised there’s room to move! And what are you supposed to do with the cushions on your bed when it comes time to sleep? Just throw them on the ground? Is that what people do? Just chuck ‘em on the ground?Yes, for those of us whose interior choices have always tended towards the hard end of ‘less is more,’ it can be a confronting experience to have someone with taste come in and re-jig your home. The thing that shocked this minimalist the most about the dried flowers and the cushions and the coffee table?I don’t even know who I am anymore: It looks really, really good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In celebration of New Zealand Music Month, Estelle Clifford is highlighting Kiwi artist Chelsea Jade's new album Soft Spot.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steven Dromgool has advice on how to agree to disagree in a relationship.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before you start pruning your roses (leave that till late June, July, August!) it might pay to go and have a look at the state of them:Are they doing well in their current position?Did they flower abundantly?What was the state of diseases during the growing season? Black spot, Downy mildew, rust?Just think about how much you’ll be pruning them in a month or two – how brutal will it be?Do some roses need to move to a different place in the garden? If so: prepare that spot now.They should have finished flowering by now and that means you can take cuttings of the ones you want to reproduce from, to either extend the rose garden or give away new plantsTools: sharp and well-maintained secateurs, dipped in bleach/disinfectant to avoid disease transmission.Select some decent, strong “canes” or branches that performed well and don’t show signs of plant disease; Always over-estimate the number of cuttings you’ll need because success rates vary from variety to varietyThe cutting can be three to four “leaf nodes” long (Leaf nodes are the points where leaves come/came from.Select some strong, pencil-thick canes and cut on an angle above the top node and make a straight cut under the bottom node. That way you can always tell “what’s up and what’s down”. It also lets the rain water run off the cutting quickly during showers, avoiding too long residual wetness on the cutting.It may pay to scrape the bottom 2 cm of the cutting with a knife (wilfully “damaging” it) to encourage the cutting to form roots quicker.Take off buds and leaves, remains of flower stalks are rose hips; you can leave the thorns on.Cuttings go into a nice sandy, course, mix with some added organic matter or potting mix. This allows water to drain out quickly so that the roots don’t get affected by rots.Yes – you could use some rooting hormone if you wish, although this is not always necessary at this time of the year – the stems are still quite able to send signals to the “wound” to grow some roots.When the cuttings are in place, keep the pots or trays moist but not overly wet. We often have them in glass house or tunnel house, out of direct sunlight; they don’t need any fertiliser until the roots are well-established 6 months later (beginning of spring);Some people plant them in garden soil too early… wait till the roots are a nicely-sized ball!Good, well-drained soil is perfect for the new roses; organic material helps to retain moisture during dry summers and it holds on to nutrition (minerals and other useful plant-assisting chemicals)To reduce plant diseases in roses it pays to space your roses well. It allows air movement to dry the plants after rainfall or “overhead” watering systems; a lot of rose diseases are transmitted through water droplets and by having rose plants wet for prolonged periods of time (prolonged infection periods!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hannah McQueen speaks to Jack Tame about HENRYs. It's an acronym coined by financial types to describe a particular sub-set of the population - High Earners, Not Rich Yet.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tech titans want to kill the passwordApple, Microsoft and Google have jointly announced their web and mobile browsers will be able to handle a new authentication method that doesn't require a password. And they want to have it live within the next year.Instead of creating a password, you'll be able to authenticate through a mobile device. It's taking the current two-factor authentication a step further because you won't need to create a password, then register for 2FA - the 2FA is your password.It'll be harder to do phishing attacks, more secure because the password is constantly changing, but not a terrible experience.Snap's dronePixy is a drone dedicated to taking photos of you while you're out and about doing fun / cool things. It will fly for up to 20 seconds to get the video, and can do that five to eight times on a single battery. You'll be able to purchase extra batteries. It's certainly not for hardcore videographers but more of a toy. But it's an expensive toy at $230. Currently it's only available in the US & France.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Staircase: Colin Firth and Toni Colette star in this true crime drama inspired by the true story of Michael Peterson, an American writer convicted of killing his wife, who was found dead at the bottom of the staircase at her home (Neon). We Own This City: Made by the team behind The Wire, gritty drama We Own This City tells the story of the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force and the corruption surrounding it (Neon). Lego Masters NZ: The New Zealand version of the colourful reality competition sees local Lego enthusiasts compete to build the best designs in this creative, family-friendly show (TVNZ 2, Mondays and Tuesdays & TVNZ OnDemand). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nici Wickes has been baking up a treat for Mother’s Day - gluten free spiced pumpkin pancakes.Makes 8–10 pancakes2 eggs¾ cup mashed roasted pumpkin4 tablespoons butter½ teaspoon each ground nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger½–¾ cup milk2 drops vanilla extract2 heaped teaspoons muscovado sugar or brown sugar½ cup gluten-free flour1½ teaspoons baking powder50g butter for fryingmaple syrup, yoghurt and crispy bacon to serveSeparate the eggs, adding the yolks to the mashed pumpkin in a large bowl.In a separate clean bowl, whisk the egg whites to a stiff peak.Melt the butter with the ground nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger.Add the milk and butter to the pumpkin mix and combine using a whisk. Beat in the vanilla extract, sugar, flour and baking powder.Gently fold in the beaten egg whites. The mixture should be light and airy.Heat a heavy-based frying pan on a medium heat and melt a knob of butter.Drop tablespoonfuls of the mixture into the hot pan. When bubbles appear on the surface flip the pancake over and cook the other side.Keep warm under a clean tea towel until ready to serve with maple syrup, yoghurt and berries or go savoury with crispy bacon.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne remembers John Gordon and his classic TV programme, A Dog's Show. John died this week at home in Southland. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don’t you feel like you’re seeing more Teslas at the moment?I do. I feel like I see them everywhere. They’re ubiquitous. It’s not just an Auckland thing. And even though I live right next door to the Tesla showroom on Karanagahape Road, I swear that’s not it! I was in the South Island and in Wellington this week, too, and kept noticing Tesla Model 3s.I’m not crazy. I’m not seeing things. There’s been a surge in electric vehicle imports. In the year to March, the number of EVs and Hybrids imported into New Zealand doubled compared to the year before. Imports made up 7% of all passenger vehicles as consumers cashed in on the Clean Car Discount and the exemption on road user charges for EVs. The Tesla Model 3 made up almost half of pure electric sales and the value of those sales was up more than 300% year-on-year.It shows the impact of incentives, but the a new Tesla will still cost you more than 60 grand. And as the government prepares to release it’s Emissions Reduction Plan in the next few weeks, there’s an obvious cheaper option that deserves its own incentives programme.E-Bikes are so good. If you haven’t had a spin on one yet, you don’t know what you’re missing. Depending on your bike, you only have to pedal a wee bit (Or not at all) and in no time you’re travelling at 25 or 30km an hour. I’m forever being overtaken on my normal bike by people almost twice my age, speeding uphill. They’re fun! They’re fast. They’re efficient. And it’s so much better than sitting in traffic.A new e-bike costs about $2000. The Clean Car Discount knocked thousands off the price of a new EV, but no financial incentives have been in place so far for electric bikes. For middle class people in city fringe suburbs, maybe $2000 isn’t such a barrier. But not everyone has that kind of money lying around.We’ve seen what financial incentives did for Tesla sales. If we want to get more cars off the road and reduce both congestion and emissions, why not make it cheaper for Kiwis to switch to two wheels, as well?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Raynes has been reading Stepping Up by Sarah Turner and Bill Browder's newly released book, Freezing Order. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley gives Jack Tame his pick of the theme parks on the Gold Coast across the ditch. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malcolm Rands chats to Jack Tame about regenerative agriculture and how to apply it to your own backyard.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Campbell has been sipping on the Chevalier Monopole Blanc de Blancs Brut - a crowd pleasing and classy sparkling wine. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He did it and he's taking the company private.How did he do it?A lot of financing. He needs $21 billion in cash, which may explain why he sold $8.5 billion worth of Tesla stock in the past few days - reducing his ownership from 17% to 16%. What's next?Twitter shareholders will get to vote to approve the deal.What are his ideas?He wants to get rid of the spam on the platform. He also wants to authenticate all humans - which I think is a great idea. If you've proven you're a real person, you'll get a badge which I assume will be similar to the blue tick. He wants to open source the algorithm to build trust through transparency.But will it happen?If Elon decides to walk away, or can't secure the financing (especially after the Tesla stock price dipped) he'll have to pay $1 billion to Twitter, but Twitter could walk away from Elon for $1 billion if it gets a better deal from someone else.Snap's dronePixy is a drone dedicated to taking photos of you while you're out and about doing fun / cool things. It will fly for up to 20 seconds to get the video, and can do that five to eight times on a single battery. You'll be able to purchase extra batteries. It's certainly not for hardcore videographers but more of a toy. But it's an expensive toy at $230. Currently it's only available in the US & France.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1883: This prequel to the popular drama Yellowstone (available on Neon) follows the Dutton family as they flee poverty in Texas and embark on a journey through the Great Plains to seek a better future in Montana (Amazon Prime Video).Gentleman Jack: a second season of the historical drama written by Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley) and starring Suranne Jones (Vigil), about the real life figure of Anne Lister, a 19th century English LGBTQ+ trailblazer, voracious learner, and cryptic diarist (Neon)Ten Percent: An English version of the popular French comedy Call My Agent, set in a London talent agency where agents scramble to keep their star clients happy and their business afloat after the sudden death of their founder (Amazon Prime Video).LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He’s swapped his pirate’s hat for a corporate suit...UK actor Jack Davenport of Pirates and the Caribbean fame stars as a talent agent in the new British remake of French comedy Call My Agent. The series has been renamed 10 Percent and has just been released in the UK. Jack Davenport joins Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.