Afternoons

Catherine Ross, the Director of Library at Auckland Grammar School, joins Jesse with her picks for the young people in your life.

It's time for Mayoral minutes, where we speak with a local mayor about the challenges they're facing, how they're working to solve them and what makes their community special. Today we're heading to the Hurunui District in North Canterbury, from where Mayor Marie Black joins Jesse.

There's a new format for lawn bowls and it's hoped it will attract new players. Five in 25 is a faster version of the game - so what would have taken hours is condensed into 25 minutes. Here to share her take on the news is Selina Goddard, from Takapuna Bowls Club, and the currently ranked number one woman in the world.

Rooks are seen as a pest by authorities - so much so that are even programmes to eradicate them altogether. But our guest believes the rook is misunderstood and is on a mission to defend them. Kate White chats to Jesse.

According to new data from Consumer NZ, there is a big difference in how much you pay for power depending on where you live. It has analysed the April 1st electricity price rises and discovered that the Far North will have annual cost increases in the range of $140 to $420, while in Wellington, the same household can expect an annual increase of between $102 and $305. Kerikeri currently has amongst the highest average electricity prices in the country, which was about 20 percent above the national average. So, why is the cost of electricity increasing a lot more in some regions than others? Powerswitch manager Paul Fuge is with Jesse.

The lower North Island continues to take a battering today, with an orange weather warning still in place for Wellington. More than 150 weather events - things like landslips and flooding - have been reported so far. Flights are cancelled, and schools and council facilities are closed today. In the wake of all this, many are asking why more serious warnings were not issued. Jesse is joined by Dr James Renwick, Professor of Climate Science at Victoria University and former Principal Climate Scientist at NIWA.

Following a lengthy and uncertain caucus meeting this morning, RNMZ political editor Jo Moir speaks with Jesse Mulligan on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon surviving a leadership challenge.

Executive Producer and Afternoons critic Philippa Rennie joins me to share what she's been watching: Beef - (Season Two) Netflix Big Mistakes - Netflix

Time for this weeks expert feature. Today Jesse is joined in the studio by Mayor of Auckland Wayne Brown. Wayne has been Mayor of New Zealand's largest city since 2022 and in that time it's fair to say, you're not left wondering how he feels about issues. Honesty that seems to be working for Aucklanders as he romped home in the latest election.

Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok encourage us to share everything. It's never been easier to be seen, but it can be hard not to feel invisible because attention isn't the same thing as being valued. Author and journalist Jennifer Breheny Wallace says people don't just want to be noticed, they need to feel like they count. Research shows that when people truly feel they matter, they're more resilient, more engaged, and more generous. But when they don't, the effects can be serious, fueling loneliness, anxiety, and burnout. Her new book explores why this need is so powerful, and how we can recognize our impact at home and at work. The book is called Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose.