Megan Whelan has already interviewed multi-award winning Canadian New Zealand musician Tami Neilson twice in the last year. Her new record is called Sassafrass! Roll on interview number three.

Wanaka's very own Annabel Langbein is now an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit thanks to her services to food writing.

Japan, like any nation, is adjusting to different generations' expectation of how society should be. With a falling birthrate and a low if growing migrant intake; Japan faces a future where the elderly significantly outnumber younger people. This uneasy adjustment was recently highlighted when MP Kato Kanji said that when he meets women who have no plans to marry, he tells them that "they won't be able to have children and that they'll end up in a care home paid for with the taxes of other people's children". This did not go down well. Laura Dales is a lecturer in Asian Studies at the University of Western Australia and has been giving plenty of thought to what life can be like for single women in Japan.

One of the most high profile people being honoured on Queen's Birthday is the 39th Prime Minister of New Zealand - Bill English. He is now Knight Commander of The New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the State.

Former Labour MP Luamanavao Winnie Laban is New Zealand's first Samoan Dame. The Wellingtonian is one of eight new knights and dames that top this year's Queens Birthday honours. The Victoria University assistant vice chancellor has been given the award for services to education and the Pacific community, in a career spent encouraging achievement in education, sport and business.

"Very honoured, very privileged, very humble" says Sir Michael Jones on his Queen's Birthday honour.

Kiwi cook Allyson Gofton is currently living in France. She talks to Megan about slow cooking - the subject of her latest book - and what she has learned during her French adventure.

Singer and songwriter Annie Crummer has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours. Crummer says she wants to share her Queen's Birthday honour with all Pasifika people.

Monarchy New Zealand is dedicated to keeping the monarchy in position as New Zealand's head of state as well as educating the public about the royals play in our democracy. The organisation believes now is a time to use the connection to our advantage as Britain seeks new partnerships away from the EU. To talk about this and the relevance of the royals to New Zealand Monarchy New Zealand members, Chloe Oldfield and Sean Palmer are with Megan. MP for Tamaki Simon O'Connor is also in on the discussion in his role as a director for the organisation.

AUT's Pop Culture and Cultural History Professor Lorna-Paitti Farnell joins Megan to clear up a few misconceptions about royal behaviour throughout history and around the world.