Afternoons

That's right, every Monday around this time Jesse hits the clubs. We've been doing this segment for around a year now and it is fast becoming one of our favourite conversations .. there is something really cool about chatting to passionate New Zealanders about their passions. If you have a club or society you'd like Jesse to visit you can get in touch on 2101 or email him at [email protected]. This week Jesse is chatting to Em Watters, the regional director of NZLarps - or New Zealand Live Action Roleplaying Society.

Each Monday, we like to chat about what's hitting the headlines in Australia. Our regular contributor Brad Foster is away, so TVNZ's Jacob Johnson is joining Jesse.

We're going to turn our attention to bats now .. because for a long time scientists have been puzzled about how bats evolved .. where they originated from and how the different families are related. Now a major international study has essentially redrawn the bat family tree ... solving the evolution puzzle. The study brought together 137 researchers from 64 countries .. including the University of Otago's Professor Neil Gemmell. He joins Jesse.

ADHD .. or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder .. affects a lot of New Zealanders and so to try to make sure they got the help they needed, in February GPs and Nurse Practitioners were given the ability to diagnose the condition and prescribe stimulant medication. But it seems that isn't enough. A viewpoint article in the New Zealand Medical Journal says you can't assess ADHD in a standard 15 minute GP appointment .. it is a challenging diagnosis and as such it takes time. We wanted to learn more about the process of being diagnosed and getting medication. Adam Currie was one of the first people in the country to be prescribed ADHD medication by a GP, he joins Jesse to share his journey.

We're starting our show today talking politics .. and a possible plan to get an overhang. Political commentator Bryce Edwards has written a piece for his Substack, The Democracy Project, about moves to get parties more seats in Parliament without needing to actually win any more party votes. Such strategies are totally legit under MMP .. but are they ethically sound? Bryce Edwards joins Jesse to explain.

Every Friday passionate conservationist Nicola Toki and Jesse chat about a critter that is endemic to our New Zealand and needs some love. This week Nicola is bringing our attention to Aotearoa's largest cuckoo - the koekoea (long-tailed cuckoo).

Here is the winning song for the 2026 Kiwi Cover Song Contest. Ese, Tara and Sophia Aumalesulu with their version of the song See What Love Can Do. Thanks to RNZ's very talented music recording engineer Andre Upton.

We had the great pleasure of announcing our winners of the Afternoons Kiwi Cover Song Contest last week. The reaction from winners Ese Aumalesulu and his daughters Tara and Sophia was amazing .. if you've missed it do go to our website .. or check out the video on RNZ on Instagram .. it's been doing some incredible numbers. The family won for their cover of the song See What Love Can Do made famous in New Zealand by Annie Crummer. Well, last week Ese, Tara and Sophia came to RNZ offices to record the song. We decided to make it a day they wouldn't forget by introducing them to a special fan.

Shared Kitchen's Julie Biuso is with Jesse to share her recipe for asparagus. Click HERE for the recipe.

It's time for NZ Live, the best, most intimate music recording session and today we're heading to Otautahi Christchurch, where we're joined by alt pop artist Phoebe Vic.