Afternoons for Wednesday 20 August 2025

 

1:15 It's 2025 - do we really need to be able to write by hand?

As part of the Government's changes to the education system, it announced an initiative called 'Make It Write'.

The impetus is new data showing just 24 percent of Year 8 students are writing at or above the expected level.

The Make it Write initiative includes updated handwriting resources for Primary and Intermediate Schools. 

But, it's 2025... do kids really need to know how to write by hand? Is there an educational purpose beyond being able to write a neat shopping list? 

Belinda Blick-Duggan is a teacher and literacy specialist, and the founder of The Write Lesson, an online handwriting teaching tool. 

1:25 Beyond the horror: How understanding past pandemics can help us prepare for the future

It is estimated that 25 million people died when the Black Death pandemic ravaged Europe in the Middle Ages.

Proportionally, that's a greater toll of life than any other known epidemic. 

But beyond the horror stories, there are lessons in how people adapted then reshaped their societies. 

Bioarcheologist Professor Rebecca Gowland has been studying the Black Death and is in Wellington this week presenting about how understanding the past can help us prepare for the future.
 

1:35 NZ's Top Toastie has been crowned - so what's in it?

Long gone are the days when a toasted sandwich was just a toasted sandwich. 

 You could settle for a slice of cheese between two slices of bread but once you've seen what's on offer in this year's Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover, you'll probably never think of a toasted sandwich the same way again.

Judges sampled over 200 toasties up and down the country and today a supreme winner has been crowned from the 13 finalists.

And it's a double first, they were a first-time entrant AND first-time winner for Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

Jesse speaks to chef Mike Schank creator of the McChickle & Bacon toastie from Toast on the Green in Newmarket.   

1:45 Heading Off on Auckland restaurant Cazador's Mexico Food Tour.

It's time for our weekly travel segment 'Heading Off', where we speak to people who have been on unique adventures around the world, and maybe add a new destination to your bucket list. 

Today we're jetting to Mexico! 

New spaces have become available for Cazador's 2025 Mexico Food Tour, which takes travellers on a culinary journey from Mexico City to Oaxaca in the south. 

Rebecca Smidt chats to Jesse. 

2.12 Music Critic: Geneva AM's new album is here!

Waiheke island based Geneva Alexander-Marsters, known as Geneva AM, has just released her album Pikipiki.

Music critic Sarah Thomson shares her thoughts, and also talks about James Dansey's new music.

Songs - Geneva AM - Tīpuna Rākau and James Dansey - Hoea!

2:20 Easy Eats: Seeded Schnitzel and Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

Kelly Gibney is here to share her recipe and says a mix of seeds adds big crunch to schnitzel. The addition of hemp, sesame and chia seeds to panko breadcrumbs makes a very crunchy and super tasty coating for chicken. 
While Brussels sprouts are in season, try them in a salad or slaw. When very thinly sliced (ideally via a mandolin) they're a fantastic salad green. They work really well with a richly flavoured dressing, such as this easy Caesar dressing. Recipe is here.

2:30 Bookmarks with music video curator Lily Shanks

It's time for bookmarks where we invite an interesting person to share some of their favourite things.

We're talking books, music, films, TV, podcasts, all that good stuff.

Today Jesse is joined by Lily Shanks.

 Lily runs the 'Music Video Showcase' an evening that celebrates locally-made music videos of all styles, music genres and budgets putting them up on the big screen to be watched in full.

Lily started the event after growing frustrated with the way we consume music videos in the time of social media.

3:10 Feature interview: Are you a good friend? Are you sure?

 If friends keep cancelling on you, ignoring your success, or talking behind your back it might be time to ask, are they a bad friend, or are you? Loneliness is often called an epidemic, but it's not always about lacking friends, it can be about failing to be a good one. Danielle Bayard Jackson is a friendship expert and host of the Friend Forward podcast.  She says neglect, poor communication, and one-sided effort quietly erode relationships and offers the tools to re-evaluate what it takes to have friends and to be a good friend. 

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World: Long term health impacts of vaping

Claire Concannon has been investigating New Zealand's youth vaping rates, and what the long-term health impacts might be on our rangitahi.
She heads to the Auckland Bioengineering Institute to learn about Dr Kelly Burrowe's research into how vaping affects our lungs.

3:45 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.