Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Tara Ward joins Jack Tame to talk about the latest in television and streaming series'.Maid: An American drama about single mother Alex, who turns to housecleaning to make ends meet as she escapes an abusive relationship and overcomes homelessness to create a better life for her daughter, Maddy (Netflix). Murder at the Cottage: A true crime docuseries that examine the murder of French TV producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork, Ireland in 1996. Discovered brutally murdered at her holiday cottage, the murder rocked the quiet Irish town and 25 years later the case remains a mystery (Neon). Great Kiwi Bake Off: In cheerier news, the feel-good baking show is back for a new season, this time on TVNZ1. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our resident doctor Bryan Betty has been talking to Jack Tame about osteoarthritis which affects 10% of the population.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hankering for a blissed-out wilderness escape to blow out the cobwebs in the Mackenzie and savour wide open spaces? The year-round beauty, glorious topography and sweet seclusion of the Mackenzie powers its magnetic appeal. Here’s a recommended line-up of tried and tested signature wilderness stays to stimulate your senses and leave you feeling refreshed and revived. Just four hours’ drive south-west of Christchurch, Aoraki/Mt. Cook is permanently cloaked in a glistening snow coat – even in the height of summer, so the promise of postcard scenery is all part of the package. In fact, much of the Mackenzie region, which enjoys an altitude over 700 metres above sea level, boasts snow-draped landscapes deep into spring.Proudly New Zealand & family owned, the Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook is a hotel legend with a stirring history spanning 137 years. The first Hermitage was built in 1884, under the direction of Frank Huddleston, who was appointed ranger for the Mount Cook area because of fears that local vegetation would be destroyed by grazing and burning. This initial accommodation house was set near the base of the Mueller Glacier, beside White Horse Hill. Successive building took shape to cater to the swelling demand, with the latest addition being the spectacular high-rise Aoraki wing, that took shape 20 years ago. The present Hermitage looks out past White Horse Hill to the Hooker Valley and Mount Cook.Exterior of the Hermitage Hotel. (Photo / Hermitage)The Hermitage is an unrivalled base to intimately explore the natural wonders of the national park, with a variety of accommodation, dining and activity options. The on-site Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre comprises a museum and theatre, lustily showcasing the colourful history of Aoraki/Mount Cook, our most famous adventurer and the backstory of this illustrious hotel. Hillary was involved in the development of the centre before his death and don’t miss the statue of Hillary permanently gazing towards Aoraki/Mount Cook, one of his favourite peaks, stands outside the hotel. The ascent of Mount Cook’s difficult south face in 1948 was Hillary’s first great mountaineering achievement, and also became the training ground for his Everest triumph five years later and subsequent Antarctic expeditions. Enjoy some cinematic alpine thrills in the custom-designed theatre, which also includes a Digital Dome Planetarium. Dine in style in the Panorama Room, for an a la carte dinner experience, where locally-sourced New Zealand cuisine is paired with premium views of Aoraki.You can’t go wrong with the Mt Cook Alpine Salmon Chowder or Mount River Farms Venison Loin. Book a Premium Plus room, on the 9th and 10th levels of the Aoraki Wing, for an elevated and unobstructed perspective on the mountain magic. Even the chronically lazy can feel at one with the scenic splendour from this pampered perch.Routinely decorated as New Zealand’s greatest day walk, the Hooker Valley Track is a gentle 3 hour jaunt. Leading up the valley with unbelievably good viewpoints like Alpine Memorial, you’ll traverse golden tussocks, swing bridges, get up close with the Mueller and Hooker Glacier, and be rewarded with celestial views of Mt. Cook and the Southern Alps. In summer, the added spectacle of wildflowers like the famed Mount Cook buttercup, heighten the spectacle.Interior of the Hermitage Hotel. (Photo / Hermitage)I also love the Kea Point Track, which starts from The Hermitage, and can be easily knocked off within 2 hours. It’s also a relatively flat walk, emblazoned in golden tussock and subalpine grasslands, leading you to the Mueller Glacier moraine wall. The walk culminates with a close-up panorama of Mt. Sefton, The Footstool, Aoraki and the Mueller Glacier lake. As I experienced, the monastic silence is only pierced by the thunderous booms of calving ice, breaking away from the glacier at its terminal.Another must-do walk is in the...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Codling moth caterpillars in apples are a real nuisance: the young caterpillars tunnel straight into the developing tiny apple (known in old English language as a “codling”) and consume the growing fruit and seeds that form inside. It’s not nice to bite into one of those caterpillars! To keep the caterpillars out of your crop there are a few tricky things you can do. The first thing is to employ a codling moth pheromone trap. This often triangular contraption has a sticky base and a small rubber cap full of artificial pheromone, that leaks a good dose of sex-attractant for the local male population. The guys will get very excited about this smell and literally race towards the trap, while preparing for the mating sequence in mid-flight. Of course, it all ends in tears for the poor blokes as they may find themselves stuck with their Family Benefit on the sticky surface. The technical term for this is "mating disruption". But it also allows us to precisely time the peak mating flight period of the first generation – about now to late October! Approximately 10 days after peak flight the resulting eggs will hatch and it’s time to put a spray on your apple trees. Traditionally it was the organophosphates (maldison) and carbamates (carbaryl); these days (without those insecticides) it could be Yates Success or Btk (Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki - a bacterial gut disease of caterpillars). They’ll work to stop the caterpillars in their tracks, but they are not always 100 percent effective in preventing the caterpillar to start the tunnelling, still causing some damage and rots. These days there's a codling moth granulosis virus that will affect the small brutes before they enter the apple. The name of that virus-in-a-spray is MADEX 2. It is now available for home gardeners and not just for commercial growers. Have a look at your local garden centre or PGG Wrightson and Mitre 10 to see if they stock it. Last season I sprayed my apples with Madex from late-October until the end of February every two to three weeks and had no codling moth inside the hundreds of kilos of apples I harvested. Previous years – before using this technique - were an absolute disaster. Just be aware that crab apples and walnuts are also among the codling moths' favourite hosts so spray them as well with Madex 2. In the myth department: note that cardboard bands and grease traps around the apple trunk are an absolute waste of time. Just keep on monitoring those pheromone traps... and keep grinning! LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On August 1 in 1990, British Airways Flight 149 departed Heathrow for Kuala Lumpur but it never made it. The flight stopped in Kuwait to refuel - the very same day Saddam Hussein invaded.The nearly 400 passengers and crew, including two Kiwis, were trapped by Iraqi soldiers and used as human shields.(Photo / Supplied)An explosive new book on Flight 149 called OPERATION TROJAN HORSE has been written by Kiwi journalist Stephen Davis. He’s uncovered proof that Margaret Thatcher authorised a team of intelligence officers to travel into Kuwait on 149 while all other flights were rerouted.Stephen Davis speaks to Jack Tame about his investigation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nici Wickes joins Jack Tame to talk about a delicious recipe for a picnic tar, which she describes as a favourite and best served at room temperature, making it perfect for taking on a picnic.A PICNIC TARTThis tart is a favourite of mine and it’s good served at room temperature so perfect for taking on a picnic. Serves 6-8 2 sheets short crust pastry 3 eggs, beaten with a fork 200g cream cheese or crème fraiche, room temperature 1 cup roughly chopped herbs – any or all of parsley, coriander, basil ½ tsp sea salt + ground black pepper 1-2 zucchini, or use asparagus or broccoli, sliced thinly 75 g parmesan, grated Chutney to serve Preheat oven to 180 C and place an oven tray in to heat. Grease a 26x34cm shallow roasting dish or tart tin. Press pastry into tin, moistening the joins and pressing firmly to seal. Trim edges. Whisk together eggs, cream cheese and seasoning. Add herbs. Pour into pastry case. Lay vegetable slices on top and sprinkle over parmesan. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until set and pastry crust is crisp. Cool in tin. Wrap in a tea towel and take to the picnic!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Movie reviewer Francesca Rudkin speaks to Jack Tame about the Show Me Short Film Festival, Netflix's The Guilty starring Jake Gyllenhaal and French film The Rose Maker.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne joins Jack Tame to talk about the latest pictures of Mars, taken by Perseverance.Images captured by the rover have allowed scientists to peer back in time at what Mars was like billions of years ago.Jezero Crater, the rover's exploration site on Mars, was a quiet lake 3.7 billion years ago. A small river fed into the lake, sometimes leading to flash flooding that was so energetic, it could carry large boulders from miles upstream and drop them into the lake. The massive rocks are still there today.These findings, which were published Thursday in the journal Science, come from the first scientific analysis of rover images that show outcrops of rocks inside the crater.The new information shows the importance of sending rovers to explore the surface of Mars. Previous images captured by orbiters had shown that this outcrop resembled the kind of fan-shaped river deltas we have on Earth. Perseverance's images show definitive proof of the river delta's existence.(Photo / CNN)"It helps us understand so much more about the water cycle on Mars," said Amy Williams, study coauthor and University of Florida astrobiologist, in a statement. "From orbital images, we knew it had to be water that formed the delta, but having these images is like reading a book instead of just looking at the cover. This is the closest I will ever get to going to Mars and doing this work in person. Seeing these rocks as I would in real life, looking up at them, is really staggering and really beautiful."When Perseverance landed at Jezero Crater on February 18, it was just over a mile away from the delta. Before the rover's wheels ever started rolling, it immediately began taking pictures and sending them back to Perseverance's science team on Earth -- like Martian postcards with high scientific value.The images showed tilted layers of sediment that were likely created by flowing water, rather than flat, even layers that would have been due to wind or other processes.The top layers of the delta outcrop include large boulders, some as wide as 3.2 feet (1 meter) across that likely weighed several tons. Given their location on the top layer of sediment, they had to have originated from outside the crater. The scientists believe they originated from bedrock on the crater rim -- otherwise, they came from 40 or more miles upstream of the lake.But flash flooding, flowing at a rate as high as 29.5 feet (9 meters) per second, could have carried them down."You need energetic flood conditions to carry rocks that big and heavy," said Benjamin Weiss, study author and professor of planetary sciences in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in a statement. "It's a special thing that may be indicative of a fundamental change in the local hydrology or perhaps the regional climate on Mars."The fact that the large boulders sit on fine layers of tilted sediment also illustrates that the lake was largely calm until it was hit with flash flooding events before drying up. Then, billions of years of wind eroded away at the dry lake bed and delta."The most surprising thing that's come out of these images is the potential opportunity to catch the time when this crater transitioned from an Earth-like habitable environment, to this desolate landscape wasteland we see now," Weiss said. "These boulder beds may be records of this transition, and we haven't seen this in other places on Mars."While the cause of this shift in climate remains unknown, the rocks could tell the tale -- part of a larger story about why the Martian climate changed from warm and wet to cold and dry."If you look at these images, you're basically staring at this epic desert landscape. It's the most forlorn place you could ever visit," Weiss said. "There's not a drop of water anywhere, and yet, here we have evidence of a very different past....See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It couldn’t have been simpler.I logged into the new ‘My Covid Record’ website. A big banner up the top warned me the website is still under development and might have a few hiccups, but it was seamless for me. I entered my identification details and soon the confirmation stared me back in the face.Jack Renfrey Tame. As of Thursday October 7th, 2021, officially doubled vaccinated for Covid-19. I could show my name and a little QR code. My NHI number. Proof of vaccination. Easy as that.The development of a vaccine passport (or whatever you want to call it) is another little milestone in our response to Covid. In my opinion, it’s taken far too long to get to this point. The passport system should have been under development as soon as we ordered vaccines, if only as an insurance policy. Despite similar systems being used in countries all over the World. as recently as August Jacinda Ardern was ruling out a requiring a vaccine passport in New Zealand. But Delta and the drop-off in our vaccination rates has changed all that. At the very least, you’ll need confirmation of your vaccination status to attend big events over summer.Personally, I think we should go even further. With a few exceptions, all businesses and organisations should have the right to deny access to people who have chosen not to be vaccinated. We should allow legitimate medical exemptions. And regardless of their vaccination status, Kiwis should be able to access essential services. Everyone should be able to go to the supermarket or the doctor. But any discretionary venue – restaurants, cafes, theatres, libraries, retail shops, – should be allowed to demand proof of vaccination before letting someone inside.This is already the setup overseas. Two weeks ago, Brazil’s President staged a photo-op in New York, for which he ate pizza while standing on the sidewalk. As an unvaccinated person, he wasn’t allowed inside. But that was his choice. Good riddance, as far as I’m concerned.It’s important to note a vaccine passport system is quite different to a flat-out nationwide vaccine mandate. We won’t be forcing everyone to be vaccinated. You can still choose not to get the jab. But there will be consequences for the choice.The way I look at it, refusing a vaccine is a bit like smoking. As far as I’m concerned, you can choose to smoke a cigarette. The health impacts are well-documented, but that’s on you. However, the moment your choice impacts upon my health, the moment I’m sucking in second-hand smoke, we have a problem.Your freedom to smoke a cigarette in a restaurant impacts my freedom not to get lung cancer.The primary reason someone should get vaccinated is because the science is clear – vaccinations protect our health.But a person’s choice not to get vaccinated impacts us all. If someone’s not prepared to contribute to the greater good of society, why should they benefit from a society’s collective rewards?LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Released Friday, New Zealand alternative folk artist, Reb Fountain’s 2021 record IRIS is the award-winning artist’s second release with Flying Nun Records. The perfect extension of her 2020 self-titled record, IRIS elevates Reb Fountain’s music to new heights. Reb effortlessly combines pop elements with her trademark noir folk-punk sound; weaving authentic and anthemic tunes that create an instant and indelible impression. Reb also has released the visual counterpart to this week's lead single, and title-track 'Iris'; the video directed and filmed by Lola Fountain-Best. IRIS is out now via Flying Nun Records on both black and turquoise vinyl, CD and digitally. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three Sisters, Heather Morris The breath-taking new novel from the author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka’s Journey, based on a powerful true story of hope and survival. ‘I want you to make a promise to me that you will always take care of your sisters. That you will always be there for one another. That you will not allow anyone to take you away from each other, ever. Do you understand?’ When they are little girls, Cibi, Magda and Livia make a promise to their father – that they will stay together, no matter what. Years later, at just 15, Livia is ordered to Auschwitz by the Nazis. Cibi, only 19 herself, remembers their promise and follows Livia, determined to protect her sister, or die with her. Together, they fight to survive through unimaginable cruelty and hardship. Magda, only 17, stays with her mother and grandfather, hiding out in a neighbour’s attic or in the forest when the Nazi militia come to round up friends, neighbours and family. She escapes for a time, but eventually she too is captured and transported to the death camp. In Auschwitz-Birkenau the three sisters are reunited and, remembering their father, they make a new promise, this time to each other: That they will survive. From Heather Morris, the author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka’s Journey, which together have sold eight million copies worldwide, comes an astonishing new story that will break your heart, but leave you amazed and uplifted by the courage and fierce love of three sisters, whose promise to each other kept them alive in a place without hope. Madhouse at the End of the Earth, Julian Sancton In August 1897, the young Belgian commandant Adrien de Gerlache set sail for a three-year expedition aboard the good ship Belgica with dreams of glory. His destination was the uncharted end of the earth: the icy continent of Antarctica. But de Gerlache’s plans to be first to the magnetic South Pole would swiftly go awry. After a series of costly setbacks, the commandant faced two bad options: turn back in defeat and spare his men the devastating Antarctic winter, or recklessly chase fame by sailing deeper into the freezing waters. De Gerlache sailed on, and soon the Belgica was stuck fast in the icy hold of the Bellingshausen Sea. When the sun set on the magnificent polar landscape one last time, the ship’s occupants were condemned to months of endless night. In the darkness, plagued by a mysterious illness and besieged by monotony, they descended into madness. In Madhouse at the End of the Earth, Julian Sancton unfolds an epic story of adventure and horror for the ages. Drawing on the diaries and journals of the Belgica’s crew and with exclusive access to the ship’s logbook, Sancton brings novelistic flair to a story of human extremes, one so remarkable that even today NASA studies it for research on isolation for future missions to Mars. Equal parts maritime thriller and gothic horror, Madhouse at the End of the Earth is an unforgettable journey into the deep.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley has been taking a road trip to find New Zealand's best pie and pastry stop.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My vege garden awaits the species that germinate from seeds…sowing is what you do right now. Peppers comprise the capsicum group. They go from the colourful reds, yellows, orange to the green “Bell” Peppers. My standard colour to a salad. The hotter members of the family are the chilli peppers. These plants require quite a good, high temperature to germinate, so there’s little point in sowing them outside while we still encounter cool nights. If you can give them more than 20 degrees Celsius you’re ahead of the game. Sow in pots or seed trays and don’t bury the seeds deeper than a centimetre. Seed-raising mix Not Too Wet! I often “mist” them with a water bottle, rather than “gluk-gluk- gluk” them with a watering can. All are relatively easy to grow and don’t require a lot of space. They’ll take at least 7 weeks before you can transplant them into a glasshouse, tunnelhouse or out in a frost-free environment outside. Staking is a good idea… let them “grow up”! They are Gross Feeders that would appreciate regular liquid fertiliser treatments when on their way. There are many varieties of Bell Peppers (check Kings Seeds catalogue!) some have a surprising range of colour mixes and keep an eye out for the smaller variety Jingle Belles. Chillies are very similar in horticultural treatment and they totally vary in “hotness”. They can even have flavours other than “oh-My-God”! If you’re not sure about their strength, get one of the macho male grandkids to pre-taste a little bit … That leads us nicely to YANG When you’ve been “done” by peppers or chillies or sambal (my parents schooled me in hot Indonesian food!) don’t drink water (or beer), but use yogurt or cucumber (or “ketimun”) to balance the fire attack in your mouth. Now’s a good moment to sow the seeds of cucumbers and we have a great range of choices here: Some great varieties on the market: My fave: Iznik F1 (see catalogue Kings Seeds) nice and small – just 10 cm long – easy in lunch boxes and you simply use the whole thing in one salad – no wrapping of remnants in the fridge. Lebanese are always useful as you eat them skin and all; spacemaster is a great producer. Diva F1 is another smaller variety and rather resistant to powdery mildew Green apple is a round cucumber; something different! And the gherkin-like Home-made Pickles is used to pickle them when still small Transplant in mid-November: Plant them in free-draining and fertile soil; keep them well- watered. My trick is to mulch the root-zone with at least 5 cm (pref: 10 cm!) of decent mulch – it keeps the subterranean roots nice and cool and stops too much evaporation To save space: plant them under a sturdy “trellis” in which they can climb up – help them along, from time to time by tying them up the structure. If you let them flop all over the ground they require a lot more room. I liquid fertilise them (like my tomatoes) every week or two: water and fertiliser at the same time! Selamat MakaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finally, some clarity emerging about the changing rules on property investment taxation – given the Government this week released the draft legislation that will bring the rules into force. The Governmentt originally announced that there would be changes about six months ago, but so much about them was unclear because it hadn’t actually been worked through (until now) – so it left a lot of people in a flap. It’s particularly relevant now, given that from tomorrow it will start costing most property investors more to own their properties, as the rules start to change in a phase out from October 1st. Enable Me now called ‘enable.me – financial strategy & coachingWebsite: www.enable.me LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was controversial since it was first announced, but now with Facebook's internal research on the harm Instagram is having on teens, a dedicated kids version is on hold. The app, with its photo filters and daily popularity contest, is a source of body image issues and depression. Instagram is in a tough spot because it knows kids under 13 are using the app, so wanted to create a dedicated version for 8-12 year olds that had more protections built in. But that then promotes the usage of the app for that age group. It certainly doesn't help that trust of Facebook seems to be at an all time low. Republicans and Democrats ripped into a Facebook executive testifying on Capitol Hill for not doing more to combat mental health issues in teens caused by its app, especially when its own research had highlighted the problem.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack Tame has been speaking to a designer and entrepreneur worth around a reported $30 billion. His name, Sir James Dyson, is the giveaway. He’s the man behind the vacuum cleaner empire. He’s just released an autobiography called Invention: A LifeLISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pact of Silence: A new British thriller about the unexplained death of a young brewery boss and five friends bound together by a secret that will change their lives forever. What really happened that night in the woods? (TVNZ OnDemand) Back to Life: a second season of the British comedy about Miri Matteson, a woman who returns to life in her quiet hometown after 18 years in prison. In season 2, Miri is optimistic about her future, but can she survive a further descent into small-town madness? (TVNZ OnDemand) Diana: The Musical: Just when you thought they’d made all the TV shows they could about Diana, along comes the Broadway musical (Netflix). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ainbo In the spirit of Moana and Frozen, 'Ainbo - Spirit of the Amazon' is the epic journey of a young hero and her Spirit Guides, "Dillo" a cute and humorous armadillo and "Vaca" a goofy oversized tapir, who embark on a quest to save their home in the spectacular Amazon Rainforest. The Starling After Lilly suffers a loss, a combative Starling takes nest beside her quiet home. The feisty bird taunts and attacks the grief-stricken Lilly. On her journey to expel the Starling, she rediscovers her will to live and capacity for love. Ride the Eagle Leif is left with a conditional inheritance when his estranged mother Honey dies. Before he can move into her picturesque Yosemite cabin, he has to complete her elaborate, and sometimes dubious, to-do list. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s official!Even if it comes as the least surprising news to anyone. Auckland’s $785m proposed cycleway across the harbour has been scrapped and the money allocated elsewhere.I say it’s unsurprising because from what I could tell, almost no one thought the standalone cycle bridge was a good idea. $785m! Even in the age of cheap money and rock-bottom interest rates, that’s a massive chunk of change. These sorts of projects never stay on budget.A few weeks after it was announced, I asked the late Michael Cullen for his thoughts.‘Folly!’ the former Finance Minister replied.‘The sooner they scrap it, the better.’One of the curious footnotes in the cycle bridge’s brief history is even most cyclists didn’t think it was a good idea. They actually hadn’t been asking for a standalone structure. Indeed, in conspiratorial circles, some felt that maybe the government had backed the idea as a way of fostering resentment against cyclists. A Newshub Reid Research poll in August found only 12% of respondents actively supported the idea. I wonder if even those people misunderstood the queston.Transport Minister Michael Wood has acknowledged there wasn’t the public support for the project to continue. Good on him for not trying to spin. I imagine it’s been a bit of a harsh political lesson, but I just hope the experience doesn’t put him off finding some cheaper pragmatic alternatives for helping cyclists get across the harbour.Because when you pause and think about it for a moment, it’s absolutely ridiculous that in 2021, cyclists and pedestrians can’t easily cross from the North Shore to the City and back again. At its closest, the gap is only a few hundred metres! You can swim it, for goodness’ sake! At a point in time when our roads are clogged, and we should be doing everything in possible to promote cleaner forms of transport, there’s no straight-forward option for cyclists to skip across the Waitematā.This solution was not the answer, but the core problem still exists and it’s more acute than ever.It’s a great shame that for some reason the debate over cycling infrastructure has become a mini culture war. Compared to roads, we spend embarassingly little on cycle lanes and dedicated infrastructure. After all, every person you get on a bike is a car you get off a clogged street, and emissions out of the atmosphere. It’s in motorists’ personal interests for more people to ride bikes!One of the silver linings of this lockdown is that in riding my bike around the city, I’ve felt safer than ever on the road. I pedal up Maungawhau Mt Eden for a bit of exercise. I head West for a few kilometres on the North West bike path, and I ride my bike to work. I won’t miss the cycle bridge, but whether it’s a dedicated ferry, a bike bus, or a roped-off lane over the current bridge on weekends, I’m looking forward to the day I can finally take my bike an explore the North Shore.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne talks to Jack Tame about the difference in their ages, what happened in his lifetime before Jack was born, and what's likely to happen in his lifetime after he's passed on - celebrating the span of their combined years. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lil Nas X found fame with his country-rap Old Town Road, which ruffled the feathers of country purists who didn’t like his new take on the genre. It was released at the end of 2018, and it’s now joined with other tracks like a queer take on Dolly Parton’s Jolene in his new album Montero. Estelle Clifford’s been sharing her thoughts with Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Raynes has been reading Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney, and What Comes After by JoAnne Tompkins.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel writer Mike Yardley has some tips for travelling in the The Waitaki Lakes District.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relationship expert Steven Dromgool has been talking to Jack Tame about the best ways to support a partner who has depression.LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mulch and plant and plant and mulch… These are busy, busy, busy times in the garden. Even though we may still get some frosts here in the South Island, I am lucky to be able to chuck seed-trays and germinating plants in the tunnel house or, if I behave nicely, in Julie’s glasshouse. But first, think ahead to summer. We often get seriously dry conditions here on the South Island’s East Coast. Grab yourself a heap of mulch, pea straw is often the go-to material down south. You can also use a load of good compost or a pile of last autumn’s dried leaves, compressed in an old wheely bin. Autumn leaves into leaf-mold. You can also get a chipper that creates mulch from your pruning wood. I love my Hansa chipper, as it always allows me to keep the carbon “waste” and turn it into an investment for my soil. It won’t leave the property! Some mulch ends up in compost bin, coarse mulch is fabulous for the patches in the garden. Mulch covers the soil, making it difficult for weeds to germinate and it keeps the moisture in the soil as it reduces evaporation. Think ahead to summer, remember! Reduce your water bill.What to plant in your garden? Well that’s up to you, really. My Julie is keen on beautiful flowers and stately plant forms. Late winter we had gorgeous violets all over the place (grown in shaded parts of the “woodland” garden). That garden was covered in mulch and also yielded plenty of hellebores, narcissus and tulips; in a month or two there will be blue Himalayan poppies. Now we’re seeing Amelanchier blossom contrasting with Chaenomeles flowers. On the other side of the garden our native Clematis is absolutely covering the old, dead trunk of an impressive birch. Clematis needs its “head” (the flowers) in full sun but the roots need to be in total shade, covered with at least 20 cm mulch, to keep it moist and cool. If you haven’t got a great deal of room, consider creating a raised bed with some quality topsoil, covered with a decent layer of mulch to keep it from desiccating. Then you can grow carefully pruned fruit trees, beans and colourful silver beet in amongst your favourite ornamentals: Planning, mass-planting and mulching! START NOW!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Bob Campbell has been drinking Yalumba 2020 The Y Series Viognier $16.95.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft's new Surface lineup is here for Windows 11 October 5th is launch day for Windows 11, and the the new range of Surface devices. Their new lineup focuses even more on the design and creative aspects with a more responsive pen that includes haptic feedback to make it feel more like you're writing on paper. For the WFH era, there are upgraded mics and cameras. Surface Pro 8 The tablet-first computer's display has smaller bezels and a faster refresh rate, it's got Thunderbolt 4 and upgraded Intel processors. The keyboard and pen are sold separatelyS Surface Laptop Studio Their most laptop laptop is powerful enough for gaming and now has three 'modes' for using it. There is the regular "laptop" mode where the keyboard is fully exposed. The laptop screen slides down over the keyboard to create "Stage" mode designed for presentations, gaming or watching movies. The screen can then continue to slide to go flat in "studio" mode, so you can draw more easily. It's some very cool engineering. Surface Duo 2 This is the follow up version to their dual screen Android-powered phone, that folds like a book. It can even turn inside out like a book too! The Surface Pen works with it to allow you to scribble notes and doodle on the go. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vigil: A tense new British drama that’s been called “Line of Duty in a submarine”. The mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death on-board a Trident nuclear submarine bring the police into conflict with the Navy and British security services (starts Sunday on TVNZ1, also on TVNZ OnDemand) The Morning Show: Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carrell return for a second season about the behind the scenes dramas of an early morning television show (Apple TV+) Reservation Dogs: Take Waititi’s new show is a comedy series about four Native American teenagers growing up on a reservation in eastern Oklahoma, who turn to crime as a way of escape (Disney+) LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Music has a lot of connotation, but one that might not come immediately to mind is feminism. But it actually has a proud feminist past. And our very own country star Tami Neilson’s made that the centre of her new show, The F Word. Partnering with Professor of Musicology Dr Jada Watson, she’s come up with a setlist of the Songs of Feminism in Country Music. That’s songs like Dolly Parton’s 9-5, which was actually about sexual harassment in the workplace. The tour’s supposed to start mid next month, but of course all hinges on Covid alert levels. But that uncertainty hasn’t stopped fans snapping up tickets. In fact she’s added another Auckland show during lockdown, showing there are still optimists among us. Tami Neilson has been speaking with Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flash fried asparagus & prosciutto I’m prepared to spend good money on new season asparagus as it’s such a treat! It’s doesn’t need to be fussed with, just a lick of olive oil, flash fried in the pan and a few toppings and you’re away. This makes a such beautiful side dish, light lunch or dinner. Serves 2 2 bunches asparagus 2 tablespoon olive oil + extra to serve 4 tablespoons currants, soaked in hot water 2 tablespoons pine nuts 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons 2-3 rashers prosciutto 4 tablespoons crème fraiche Lemon juice Salt and pepper to season Snap tough ends off the asparagus spears – they will naturally snap where they need to. Pour boiling water over the spears and let sit while you heat a pan to medium-high. Splash oil into pan and transfer asparagus from boiling water into the pan. Cook until blistered in places and cooked though still firm to the bite. Drain the currants and toss these and the pine nuts into the pan along with the red wine vinegar. Briefly toss everything together then remove from the heat. Spread crème fraiche onto a serving dish. Heap on the asparagus, top with the currants and pine nuts. Drape over the prosciutto, squeeze over some lemon and season with salt and pepper. Enjoy! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Movie reviewer Francesca Rudkin has been watching PIG, a drama about a truffle hunter's missing pig, and Netflix's SAS: Rise of the Black Swan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne's getting sick of the relentless negativity about the way we've handled the COVID response.He's been speaking to Jack Tame.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the first show I’ve broadcast in more than a month in which Auckland has been out of the dreaded Alert Level 4.And honestly, I thought this time, things *might* be different. I thought after more a month of sitting at home, more of us in the big city might have taken stock, kicked the habit, and set our aspirations a little higher for the move to Level 3. Aucklanders might have learnt from every one else around the country. A new start. A new dawn. A new opportunity to refresh our routines.But no. We all went to McDonalds and Burger King and Wendy’s and Carl’s Junior, and KFC, instead.Well, not all of us. I’m not trying to be all high and mighty but I haven’t had any of that Worldwide-franchisey-plastic-additivesy-supersize-me shit in almost fifteen years and I’ll be damned if a move to Level 3 was going to convince me to spend half an hour with an idling engine waiting for some chicken nuggets in a drive-through queue.What’s wrong with people? On Wednesday I could see queues down the street for my closest franchise. Addicts waiting for a fix! Honestly, big brand fast food franchise marketing has to be one of the greatest media swindles of all time. Because in case you haven’t noticed, the food’s really not that good.It’s ok I guess. A bit of sugar, salt, and saturated fat plus however many hundred additives. Call me old fashioned but I prefer my food to be prepared with ingredients, not random numbers.And before you accuse me of elitism, know this: I’m not a vegan. I’m not a health nut. I eat sugar and salt and saturated fat. But if I’m going to enjoy some takeaways as a bit of a treat, I’d much rather spend my money on a roti canai at the Malaysian hole-in-the-wall down the road, or on a scoop and a piece of cod at the local fish and chip shop. Independent small businesses need all the help they can get right now.I know we love to joke about it. Haha! Two guys got caught trying to smuggle buckets of K-Fry over the Auckland border. Hilarious. I just think sometimes the fixation is a bit... lame. Apparently health officials have been considering setting up a vaccination system at KFCs, Piza Huts, and Taco Bells. Part of me thinks it’s smart. Part of me thinks it’s funny. Part of me thinks it’s pretty sad state that there are apparently people in our society who would rather get a Cheesy Gordita Crunch than a vaccination for a deadly virus.I saw Population Nutrition Professor Boyd Swinburn on Breakfast this week, lamenting the fast food ‘culture of craving’ that has dominated Covid-19. I totally agree with him. It’s a conversation our society don’t really want to have and you shouldn’t need me to make this point: If you think Covid-19 puts pressure on our health system, just wait until you hear about bad nutrition!There are plenty of reasons I hope we never go back to Level Four. Plenty. Top of the list: I’m sick of people treating a quarter pack or a McChicken combo like a sweet sip of water after a long march through the desert.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Las Vegas rock band Imagine Dragons have released their fifth album: Act 1. One review has said “There are a few songs you might like here, but a few you’ll violently hate”. Estelle Clifford's been giving her thoughts to Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book reviewer Catherine Raynes has been reading The long run and beautiful game of Rodger Federer by Christopher Clarey, and The Turnout by Megan Abbott.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley's got some tips for a spring swing through the Wairarapa.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week is organics week, which is a chance to look at what organic actually means. What is it good for us? It’s about what’s NOT in a product, rather than what is. Organic farmers don’t use synthetic chemicals including fertilizers, pesticides, weed sprays and antibiotics. The products are also free of GMOs and artificial ingredients. Eating organic drastically reduces your exposure to pesticides. Many studies have now shown the health risk from pesticides and especially important for pregnant women and children. Why is it good for the environment? Organics creates less pollution, especially protecting the health of our waterways. Good organic soils store significant amounts of carbon which is so important in our fight against climate change. But it’s too expensive! Latest research shows it’s only 7.5% more expensive than conventional food. And there’s ways to make it cheaper. Firstly, eat quality but less of it. For example the cheap chicken or bacon has a much higher water content. Being tricked into thinking you have more is rife in the grocery industry. You can also grow your own. Fresh vegetables, minutes from being picked out of your own organic garden, is like a health explosion. You won’t need those supplements if you eat fresh organic nutrient dense food. It’s good for our economy. The Organic sector is a fast and sustainable growth area for NZ exports. Many countries are looking for safer foods. How do you know if something is organic? Organics has an international certification system. Certified producers are audited every year by respected certifiers, who themselves are audited by international peers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a good weekend to get into the garden and plan ahead for crops and fruit...and gratis pest control. Fruit Trees and crops need pollinators. It pays to always have a mixture of useful pollen and nectar sources flowering when you want to attract pollinators to your garden. The idea is simple: have a little “meadow” of flowering plants that will anchor the native bees, flies, beetles, butterflies and moths to your patch. Insects do have a “memory” for where the best meals are to be found: pollen (protein) and nectar (sweet boost of energy). But wait, there’s more! Quite a few of these insects are also good pest controllers of small sap-sucking and chewing critters on your crops, shrubs and trees. What they do is passive biological control. It’s a good strategy: instead of having to spray against the various pests on your plants, why not let the natural predators and parasites do it? The animals you’d want to attract to your place are insectivorous birds, of course, like silvereyes. But they can only do so much, they are often quite omnivorous and will eat a range of insects: pests as well as beneficial insects! How about getting some specific parasitoids on board; small parasitic wasps that will lay their eggs inside the nuisance caterpillars, in mealybugs, scale in sects and aphids. These parasitoids need to feed as adult insects before they can mate and lay their eggs. Flowers with just the right mix of pollen and nectar will do nicely: it fattens up the parasitoids and keeps them in perfect condition. Some of the predacious insects (like larvae of hover flies, ladybird beetles) are also useful to have on your side. They, too, feed on pollen and nectar, especially in the adult stage! See the attraction? My friends at Kings Seeds have put together a wildflower blend called the Beneficial Insect Blend that contains phacelia, borage, buckwheat anise, coriander, bishops flower, anise, alyssum, cosmos, bergamot, anise hyssop and crimson clover. Some of these are true heroes when it comes to drawing in pollinators and beneficial insects. Phacelia (blue Tansy) is great for predatory hover flies that devour aphids. Sow the seeds now, but watch out if this plant is getting a bit weedy in certain environments. Buckwheat is a nice small plant with white flowers. It fits in empty spaces and under fruit trees, in berry gardens and productive vegetable gardens and feeds parasitoids. Flowering Umbelliferous plants like corriander attract a wide range of beneficial insects. Alternatively, you can leave your parsley go to flower and “seed”, carrot flowers, Queen Anne’s lace and such nice umbels of flowers, are usually full of parasitoids and predators too. Anise, alyssum, bergamot do exactly the same stuff. Similarly: try some dill and fennel. Finally, there are a heap of native flowers that seem to be attractive to the beneficials. Hebe is such a flower, but also Manuka and Pohutukawa. Not something you’d sow and utilise within a few weeks or months, but worth thinking about for long-term planting to facilitate free pest control! LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne's been letting things slide - he's embracing his lazy side in lockdown.Kev's been speaking to Jack Tame.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American Rust: Jeff Daniels stars in this compelling drama as complicated and compromised chief of police Del Harris (Daniels) in a Rust Belt town in southwest Pennsylvania (Neon). Scenes from a Marriage: Adapted from Ingmar Bergman’s 1973 Swedish classic, and starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain, Scenes from a Marriage re-examines the show’s iconic depiction of love, hatred, desire, monogamy, marriage, and divorce through the lens of a contemporary American couple (Neon). Back to the Rafters: The popular Australian family drama returns, picking up six years since we last saw the Rafter family. Dave and Julie have created a new life in the country with youngest daughter Ruby, while the older Rafter children face new challenges and Grandad Ted struggles to find his place (Amazon Prime Video). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iconic TV series Packed to the Rafters is back, and what else could it be called than BACK to the Rafters. Most of the cast is back, including legendary Aussie actor Michael Caton who's back in his role as Grandad Ted. If you don’t know the name Michael Caton, you’ll almost certainly recognise some of his most famous lines from the ‘97 film The Castle. He's been speaking with Jack Tame.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Movie reviewer Francesca Rudkin has some flicks for those in lockdown, and those in level 2.Aucklanders can watch action flick Kate, and documentary Shcumacher on Netflix. If you're out of Auckland, she's been watching documentary The Lost Leonardo which is in cinema.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I got up early, drove out to the airport, and joined the lines of cars slowly crawling between the big marquees. It was simple. It was fast. The staff were friendly and efficient. It felt oddly momentous. Significant. A bit like I feel when I cast a ballot on election day. One day I’ll tell my kids about the time I first got vaccinated for Covid-19. That’s the thing. We don’t just get vaccinated to protect ourselves. My jab wasn’t just for me. It was for older people who might be more susceptible to the virus. It was for the kids who aren’t yet eligible for the jab. It was for my nephew, Ren, and my niece, Elsie. It was for my colleagues. My friends. Anyone and everyone with a compromised immune system. My jab was for all of us.This is going to be one of the most important weeks in the history of our Covid-19 response. And not just because of Cabinet’s lockdown decision. This is one of the most important weeks because we’re at the point in the pandemic response where we’ve reached our absolute lowest barriers to vaccination. Our vaccination numbers over the next few days will give us the clearest insight yet about the levels of vaccine hesitancy in New Zealand, and our chances of reaching an 85% or 90% vaccination rate for the population. Think about it. As of today, anyone over the age of twelve can be vaccinated. For free. The safety and efficacy of the vaccines have been publicised widely for months. You don’t need a booking. You don’t even really have to queue. There are drive-in centres operating and mobile vaccines buses doing the rounds. With shipments from Spain and Denmark, we have absolutely no concerns about supplies of the Pfizer vaccine. Everyone in every part of the country has had a good taste of lockdown, so I don’t think the pandemic or the vaccination program will come as breaking news. You would hope that even the hardest workers or busiest parents, or people with mobility issues might have been able to work out how to get a jab. Of course, there will always be a few exceptions and people in tiny little remote places for whom access is incredibly difficult. But if eligible New Zealanders haven’t received at least one jab by the end of this week, what more can we do? In short: if not now, when?As for lockdowns, I don’t know what the powers-that-be will decide on Monday but it looks pretty likely Auckland will be moving down to Level Three. It tells us a few things. First of all, the tools for Covid-19 containment are a whole lot better than they were at the start of last year. More people are vaccinated. Contact-tracing and genomic sequencing make tracking the spread of the virus easier. Perhaps more than anything... we’re over it. The social contract is fraying. I don’t think we need opinion polls or comprehensive population analysis to confirm it. We feel it in our bones. People who’ve had kids at home for the last month are pulling their hair out. Parts of the country that haven’t seen Covid in more than a year are really sick of restrictions. If our politicians had the same risk tolerance as they did for Covid-19 during the lockdowns last year, there’s no way on Earth that Auckland would be shifting. But New Zealand is fed up. And the Prime Minister knows it.Some modellers think it’s quite possible we don’t get to absolute zero for Covid cases in the community for several weeks, if we ever get there at all. I know a lot of the cases are linked, but we are still seeing people with the virus active in the community. And even if we do stamp out this outbreak, it’s only a matter of time before we have another one. Hence... vaccines vaccines vaccines.If you’ve been holding off for whatever reason, what are you doing this morning? Treat it as an outing! Roll up your sleeve. Relax your bicep in the knowledge that you are contributing to the greater good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singer Halsey has a new album called “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power’ and it traverses a topic that’s not so common in pop music: Pregnancy and Childbirth. Estelle Clifford’s been giving Jack Tame her thoughts.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book reviewer Catherine Raynes has been reading Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard and When Things areAlive They Hum by Hannah Bent.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relationship expert Steven Dromgool has some tips on how to get the most out of hugging your partner. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For those needing to stay a bit closer to home, Mike Yardley has some tips for spring festivities in Christchurch.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tomatoes on track Now’s a good time to start sowing your tomatoes in little pots, inside, so you can release them into the garden when it gets a bit warmer and when frost dangers have disappeared. You can also grow some suitable varieties in large pots or sizeable containers on the north-facing balcony. Tomatoes come in many varieties and in two distinct growth strategies: The Indeterminate varieties keep on growing to become long, long climbers… meters long, sometimes! In commercial glass houses, these vines are carefully “trained” to keep on growing on extensive support structures. Indeterminate tomatoes are usually grown in good garden soil and tied to climbing frames The Determinate varieties do not become long vines, but are more like a bush that grows no higher than 50 centimeters and flops all over the place; they do not tend to need staking at all and are good for growing in large containers or patio pots Some are adaptable to growing in hanging baskets, as their short-ish vines can simply hang down and produce their tomatoes on the vertical vine-lets. A few things to be aware of when growing tomatoes in pots, containers or hanging baskets: 1) they use a heap of water (transpiration is key to good photosynthesis and production of sugars for the fruit. 2) Never let them dry out, because the root systems do not re-store themselves easily once they were allowed to dry out. 3) Use fruit/flowering fertiliser sparingly and perhaps best as a liquid fertiliser. “Small doses and often” is the key; do not use high-Nitrogen fertiliser as it will only promote a lot of leaf material and not much fruit! 4) keep the plants in good day light. Eight or more hours of sunlight per day is very good! (works on 6-10 hrs per day) 5) Use the best tub and container mix you can get: nice and friable with good drainage. Get your seed sown: get a seed catalogue and select your chosen varieties to grow this year. Germination of seeds are best in temperatures of 21-24 degrees during the day (16 degrees at night) and don’t “bury” the seeds. Keep them in moist (not wet) seed raising mix, just below the surface of the soil. THEY WILL GERMINATE IN THE DARK! Here are some cracker determinate varieties to look for: * Window box red specially bred for pots/containers; cherry tomato size * Baxter’s Early Bush is very compact too * Container Choice Red grows up to 60 cm and is a larger “beefsteak”-sized tomato * Patio Choice yellow F1 hybrid is a yellow cherry tomato: heaps of fruit on short, hanging branches; ideal for hanging baskets! * Best Boy Bush is something that keeps low and sprawls all over the ground. Should be good in large tubs. Produces red, medium sized tomatoes * Two rather cold-hardy varieties that would grow well in cooler climes: Oregon Spring is parthenocarpic and can self-pollinate when a short season doesn’t allow for many pollinators and Sub-Arctic Plenty was allegedly bred for the US military base in Greenland; very small plant, but tough as heck! And some indeterminate varieties: * Artisan Blush did well for me, last year: stunning yellow/orange smallish fruit with a grand taste. * Chef’s Choice yellow is a nice, large yellow fruit – fabulous taste. Its stable mate Chef’s * Choice Green is brilliant too – you’ll quickly learn to tell when it’s ripe – green tomatoes can be a trick for young players! * My absolute all-time favourite and totally versatile variety is Tigerella. It ends up in salads and as the bulk of all my frozen tomato sauce packets * Andiamo is low acid and apparently great for Bolognes * A good, meaty and slice-able variety (large and ribbed) is Thessaloniki. My good friend Mike usually ends up with 80% of them for his Scottish tomato sandwiches. * If you are after smaller cocktail tomatoes (cherry tomatoes) try the standard F100 hybrid which seems to be a bit variable, sometimes. Mind you, on the other hand I have been getting some fabulous miracle off-spring from these cherry tomatoes and I w...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lockdown can be very financially damaging, especially for business owners. But for some people, it's a change to actually improve your finances. Enable Me's Hannah McQueen has been been talking to Jack Tame, and explaining how you can make this happen. If you want more help, visit www.enable.meLISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror - It's the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and there are plenty of 9/11 documentaries about the attacks on television this week, but his documentary series on Netflix goes deep into the history behind the attacks, documenting Al Qaeda’s roots in the 1980s to America’s response, both home and abroad (Netflix) Halifax: Retribution:Rebecca Gibney returns as forensic psychiatrist Jane Halifax as she faces the most thrilling and dangerous case of her career, hunting down a killer terrorising an entire city (TVNZ OnDemand) Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo: In this Netflix reality series, Marie Kondo brings her joyful tidying tactics to people struggling to balance work and home life — and shares her own world. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.