Afternoons

New Zealand vegetable growers have been dealt another blow with McCain announcing it is closing its Hastings vegetable processing plant by January 2027. That news comes as Watties proposes to stop all production of frozen vegetable lines in New Zealand, affecting 220 growers in Canterbury. These announcements got us thinking about our food systems: what we produce versus what we import, how much we pay for food and how it is all worked out. And unlike more than 100 other countries, New Zealand doesn't have a national food security plan So if we see disruptions to global food supply chains - similar to what we're seeing with oil right now - well.... then what? Jesse chats to Katy Bluett from Future Food Aotearoa

Most parents have a favorite child. There's no sense in pretending otherwise, the kids know it and if parents are honest, they know it too says Dr Laurie Kramer. She's a psychology professor at Northeastern University and a renowned expert in sibling relationships. Instead of ignoring the topic of who's the favorite, a better approach is to acknowledge the different treatment each child gets and to talk openly about it. When kids feel less favored, the effects include poorer mental health, more strained family dynamics, and even lower academic outcomes. Dr Kramer offers practical advice on how to talk about favoritism and how to help siblings get along.

Each week we ask for your help with an irk, a tricky situation or a problem. It's called You're the Judge. This week we're discussing whether a single friend should have to split the cost of a bach rental 50/50 with her friend and her kids. Text 2101 or email [email protected] with your reckons and we might even call you!

Afternoons Podcast Critic Linda Burgess joins Jesse to share what she's been listening to. The Rest is Politics US The News Agents The Slow Newscast

Author Kate Langdon joins Jesse to discuss The Correspondent by Virgina Evans and Gravity Let Me Go by Trent Dalton.

It's time for Mayoral minutes, our segment 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 Kapiti Coast District Mayor Janet Holborow joins Jesse.

A few weeks ago, Jesse spoke to University of Otago Professor Michael Baker who was part of a team of experts calling for the Misuse of Drugs act to be thrown out. They argue that rather than reducing drug-related harm, the 50-year-old act is "instead a major driver of harm". During that conversation the success of Portugal's' decision to decriminalise the possession of all drugs for personal use was discussed and it was clear from the messages we received that you wanted to hear more. We reached out to Steve Rolles who is a Senior Policy Analyst at Transform Drug Policy Foundation, he joined Jesse to discuss whether Portugal's drug law reform has been successful.

Here on Afternoons, we are always keen to highlight positive business stories. Especially those small businesses who are trying to make the world a better place along the way. So, when we heard the about a local jeans manufacturer in Auckland who is doing just that, we were keen to find out more. Roskill Supply Co is the brainchild of Gregory McNeil, he joined Jesse.

With all the issues surrounding fuel supply at the moment we wanted to check in on Hydrogen. Does it offer us a pathway away from imported fuel? What's the situation with it here in New Zealand? And long term, could it be a replacement for our diesel use? Dr. Linda Wright from the Hydrogen council spoke to Jesse.

Citizen's advice Bureau's national policy advisor Louise May joins Jesse to respond to the government's support package.