1:10 First song: Pauline Scanlon

It's almost time for the 2020 Auckland Folk Festival - playing over this upcoming Auckland Anniversary weekend at the Kumeu showgounds where music lovers will be treated to more than 150 performers from all over the globe.

Irish singer songwriter Pauline Scanlon is one of the headline acts and joins us today from our Wellington studio for First Song.

Pauline Scanlon

Pauline Scanlon Photo: Supplied

1:17 Kiwifruit - who renamed the Chinese gooseberry? 

The American fruit importer said to have coined the term 'kiwifruit' for Chinese gooseberries from New Zealand has died in California at the age of 96.

Frieda Caplan was known as the Kiwi Queen, after she apparently came up with the name for the furry fruit in 1962. 

The story goes she looked at what was known as Chinese gooseberries and decided it looked just like a kiwibird. 

But our own history suggests a different story. 

Kiwifruit. Zespri.

Photo: 123RF

1:27 Anglers on the Rangitata River asked to share their stories 

Anglers who have fished on the Rangitata River in Canterbury are being asked to come forward with their best tales - to be included in an oral history. 

The hope is to put a human face on the values of the river - with people who've been fishing on it for decades describing their time on the river and relationship with it. 

Joining Jesse to explain this further is New Zealand Salmon Anglers Association spokesman Paul Hodgson. 

No caption

Photo: 123RF

1:34 Insurance bought direct keeps customers more satisfied 

New data from Consumer NZ shows people who buy insurance direct - rather than through a bank or broker, leaves them happier. 

The annual insurance survey found when it came to buying life insurance in particular, 47 percent of people who bought direct rated their service highly. 

That compared to 28 percent of those buying from a bank, and 32 percent from a broker. 

Head of research for Consumer NZ Jessica Wilson joins Jesse to talk about why. 

Home insurance form with money, calculator and models of houses.

Photo: 123rf

1:50 Fermenting corn the traditional Māori way 

Rewi Spraggon is the master of the hāngi - and also knows a thing or two about fermenting foods. 

He talks to Jesse about the art of fermenting corn, which Māori have been doing since the early 19th century. 

Hangi master Rewi Spraggon

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

2.10 Katy Atkin's podcast picks

Today Katy reviews Chasing Cosby and Fake Heiress.  More top picks from Katy can be found here.

 

2:20 Bookmarks: Geoff Rissole

Geoff Rissole, not his real name, is one of the men behind the popular Facebook page S**t Towns of New Zealand. The page has spawned three books, S**t Towns of New Zealand 1 and 2, and S**t Towns of Australia. He's our bookmarks guest this week and he shares the books, films, and music that have inspired him.

No caption

Photo: supplied

 

3:10 Why We Can't Sleep: Women's New Midlife Crisis

Sandwiched between the Boomers and Millennials, Gen X women were raised on empowerment, believing they could 'have it all".  And writer Ada Calhoun did have a good relationship, career and children. So in her 40's when she started to feel herself floundering in a midlife crisis, she felt bad for feeling bad. She set out to discover if women of her generation are facing middle age with challenges women had not experienced before. She discovers the new fears women face and solutions to avoid feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Her new book is called  "Why We Can't Sleep: Women's New Midlife Crisis
 

Snoring man and wife on bed

Photo: Paulus Rusyanto

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World. Rock wren – a little bird in NZ’s big mountains

The rock wren is a little bird with several big claims to fame. It is the only New Zealand bird that lives year-round in the alpine zone of the South Island mountains. And rock wrens and rifleman are the only two species in a distinct and ancient group of birds. Alpine ecologist Kerry Weston from the Department of Conservation introduces Alison Ballance to a population of rock wrens in South Westland, to show her how predator control is allowing the birds to thrive.

3:45 The Pre-Panel Story of the Day and One Quick Question

4:05 The Panel with Michelle Boag and Chris Orr