Afternoons

The pre-Panel: Your daily dose of stuff and nonsense 04.06.2026 7min

Wallace Chapman and Jesse Mulligan star in the shortest show on radio, where they show they really can make something out of nothing, join them to be part of their delight, or to simply despair. Wallace will also preview what's on The Panel tonight.

Political Group Chat: A look back at the big issues of the week 04.06.2026 20min

It's time now for a new segment we're trying out, it's called Political Group Chat and it's where we look back on some of the big issues over the past week. Joining Jesse in Auckland is comedian and commentator Tim Batt. And in Feilding, screenwriter, podcaster and free speech advocate Dane Giraud.

History with Dr Grant Morris: The History of NZ and USA in War 04.06.2026 7min

There has been a lot of chatter this week about US and NZ relations with regard to military spending so our favourite historian Dr Grant Morris thought it was a good time to look back at the history of our two countries in times of war.

Solving the World's Problems: El Nino 04.06.2026 6min

We like to think of ourselves as solution focused here on Afternoons so every couple weeks, we chat about some of the world's problems and how to solve them. Steve Wyn Harris joins me to chat about El Nino and Wool prices.

NZ Sporting History with Kieran Read 04.06.2026 28min

NZ Sport History looks back at the people and moments that have changed the game one way or another. This week Kieran Read joins Jesse. Kieran has done it all - he won two rugby world cups, played 127 tests for the All Blacks, 52 of them as captain and racked up 157 Super appearances for the Crusaders. He's regarded as one of the greatest No. 8s to wear the black jersey.

How bad sideline behaviour is putting kids off sport 04.06.2026 6min

Winter sports are well under way, which means stories about poor sideline behaviour are back in the headlines. Things got so bad in Waikato a few weeks ago that all junior rugby league matches were cancelled. Sport Waikato says not only is the behaviour inappropriate, but it can actually have a detrimental effect on a kid's enthusiasm for sport. Sport Waikato CEO Matthew Cooper is with me now.

How to stop a possum from threatening our native species 04.06.2026 11min

Possums remain one of the biggest threats to our native species, with an estimated 30 million of them roaming around. Predator Free NZ has a great library of guides and resources to help gear towards our Predator Free 2050 goal. And their latest advice is think of it as a party! Yes, actually. To explain Jesse is joined by Pest Free Banks Peninsula operations coordinator Ollie Rutland-Sims.

What is going on with all the metal thefts? 04.06.2026 8min

Over the last couple of weeks there has been a spate of metal thefts in the Wellington region First the EV chargers at Avalon Park were cut. Then on Tuesday evening ChargeNet reported that five of their charging locations across the region had also been hit. This fits with what we are seeing in the rest of the country. A 2025 police report found that metal thefts have almost tripled in the last three years. Vice president of the 'Association of Metal Recyclers' and Macaulay Metals operations manager Glen Jacobs talks to Jesse.

Damaging our coastlines: Should beaches get closed at night? 04.06.2026 10min

Oreti Beach is one of Southland's most iconic stretches of coastline, 26 kilometres in length, the bay lies between the town of Riverton and the outflow of the Aparima River. It's a place made famous by motorcycling legend Burt Munro who used it as his personal speedway while training to set his land speed records. Records that still stand to this day But now there's a growing debate about its future, with locals calling for the beach to be closed at night because of dangerous driving, fires, vandalism and other antisocial behaviour. Local Joyce Kolk joins us to explain what's going on.

The pre-Panel: Your daily dose of stuff and nonsense 03.06.2026 8min

Wallace Chapman and Jesse Mulligan star in the shortest show on radio, where they show they really can make something out of nothing, join them to be part of their delight, or to simply despair. Wallace will also preview what's on The Panel tonight.

Feature: Does the future of driving even involve driving? 03.06.2026 23min

For years self-driving cars felt like a technology that was always just over the horizon. Now they're here. In parts of the United States and China, fully autonomous vehicles are already carrying passengers without anyone behind the wheel. Dr Andrew Miller writes about the future of mobility in his newsletter Changing Lanes. He says we're approaching a major turning point in transport, one that could make roads safer and cities more liveable. But the biggest questions are no longer technological. They're about how we choose to use driverless cars and what role we want them to play in our communities.

Easy Eats: Creamy Sausage Orzo with Leeks 03.06.2026 5min

Wednesday means Easy Eats here on Afternoons; a chance to share a recipe that is light on time but heavy on flavour. Kelly Gibney is away but we're thrilled to have Emilie Pullar here, a pasta expert who's behind The Burnt Butter Table website and Burnt Butter Pasta Instagram page.

Heading Off to Medellin, Colombia 03.06.2026 9min

It's time for our weekly travel segment 'Heading Off' where we explore the world via your adventures and all without having to leave the house. Today we're off to Medellin, Colombia's second largest city. Louise Amey lived in the city for 5 months, and joins Jesse to tell us all about it

Stories from Our Changing World 03.06.2026 11min

This week's episode is about the Pest Free Purerua-Mataroa peninsula project. At the northern end of the Bay of Islands, this peninsula is home to a large population of northland brown kiwi. Claire takes a tour with project leader Andy Mentor to learn about their work. First stop is on a slight rise that looks out over the narrow peninsula neck - an important area for the team.

Is this our most ambitious conservation project yet? 03.06.2026 7min

Covering more than 300 thousand hectares of the Southern Alps region, the Te Manahuna Aoraki Project is one of our most ambitious pest control projects yet. The aim is to create New Zealand's first ever pest free national park. And to help achieve that goal, the team involved is wide ranging and diverse, from existing conservation groups to the Defence Force. Oh and it's making the most of AI technology too. Here to explain how it is all coming together is Simone Smits, the manager of Te Manahuna Aoraki. Hi Simone!

Helping out couples who struggle with fertility 03.06.2026 5min

According to Health NZ data, more than a quarter of couples in New Zealand will inexperience infertility ... and one in eight will require medical assistance to achieve pregnancy. But of course, treatments like IVF, or in vitro fertilization, can be costly, and there are no guarantees. That's why two years ago Jaimee Lupton founded Gingernut's Angels to help provide financial support to couples struggling with pregnancy.

Find out why wool is having a moment 03.06.2026 7min

It's not a stretch to say the last few years have been a really tough time to be a sheep farmer .. some farmers were earning so little from wool that it barely covered the cost of shearing. But things could be looking up. Last week's PGG Wrightson National Wool auction saw prices climb to their highest level in 15 years. So what's behind the turnaround, and is it here to stay? Rachel Shearer from PGG Wrightson Wool joins Jesse.

The fan who took centre stage in La La Land in Concert! 03.06.2026 9min

Have we got a great story to brighten your Wednesday. Over the weekend an event called 'La La Land in Concert' was on in Sydney; that's where an audience watches the Oscar award winning film La La Land with a live orchestra and jazz band performing the soundtrack, all conducted by the film's Oscar-winning composer Justin Hurwitz. Except this performance didn't go to plan. Here to explain what happened next is audience member Sterling Nasa.

The pre-Panel: Your daily dose of stuff and nonsense 02.06.2026 8min

Wallace Chapman and Jesse Mulligan star in the shortest show on radio, where they show they really can make something out of nothing, join them to be part of their delight, or to simply despair. Wallace will also preview what's on The Panel tonight.

How being a dad has changed, and why that's good. 02.06.2026 27min

The job description for fathers has changed. Once upon a time, dads were expected to provide a paycheck, lay down the rules, and keep the garden tidy. Today, many men want more. Men want to be present, emotionally connected, and deeply involved in their children's lives. Kevin Maguire has spent years writing honestly about what happens when ambition, career success and old expectations collide with modern fatherhood. For his new book, he draws on his popular Substack and newsletter, exploring the challenges facing today's dads, the old scripts many are trying to rewrite, and why fatherhood may change men as much as it changes their children. The book is called The New Fatherhood: Why Everything They Told You About Being a Dad Is Wrong and How Embracing It Will Transform Your Life. Book website is HERE Quiz is HERE