Afternoons for Friday 29 August 2025

Critter of the Week Merch is back!

1:15 What, if any, are the long-term effects of being born premature?

Around six thousand babies are born premature each year in New Zealand, of those about one percent are very premature.  

But what are the long-term effects of being premature?

Well, since1986 a University of Otago study has followed hundreds of babies born weighing less than 1500 grams. 

 Most of those babies, are now nearly forty, and results from the last three decades have just been released.

Emeritus Professor Brian Darlow has led this study from the very beginning; he chats to Jesse about what they've learnt.  

1:25 Why New Zealand still has so much to learn from its past

Our guest says he's worried recent cuts at the Ministry of Culture and Heritage are shortsighted.

He says we still have so much to learn about the history of New Zealand and its interactions with the world.

Author and Emeritus Professor of history at Oxford University, James Belich ONZM talks to Jesse.

1:35 Meet the women behind the Kāpiti wetland restoration

A few years ago, Jill Visser was starting to panic about climate change.

She wanted to do something - anything  - to play her part.

So Jill established a volunteer group to start restoring a coastal wetland in Queen Elizabeth Park - between Paekākāriki and Raumati South, on the Kāpiti Coast around 40km north of Wellington. 

Jill Visser and Jill's right-hand woman, fellow volunteer Eraena Catsburg chat to Jesse.

1:45 Freaky Friday: A chance to connect with love ones

Time for Freaky Friday, our place for your stories of the supernatural.

We're talking the unexplained, occult, serendipitous, you get the idea.

If it gives you goosebumps it's probably a contender.

So if you've got a tale to tell get in touch on 2101 or afternoons@rnz.co.nz and one of the producers will get back to you

2:10 Film Review: Caught Stealing and Relay

Film critic Dominic Corry is here to tell us about Caught Stealing and Relay, both in cinemas now. 

2:20 NZ Live: Georgia Lines is in the Auckland Studio

It's NZ Live time your weekly showcase of Aotearoa's finest musicians.

And today Georgia Lines is here with me in studio B sharing songs from her new E.P The Guest House 

It's been a busy time for Georgia her debut album The Rose of Jericho debuted at #1 on the New Zealand charts last year.

She won four New Zealand Music Awards for that in 2024.

In 2025, she was nominated for four AMA New Zealand Music Awards and the prestigious Taite Music Prize for The Rose of Jericho.

3:08 Food with Martin Bosley

Yellow Brick Road's Martin Bosley joins Jesse and has a superb recipe to share banana, macadamia and miso cake!

3:16 Music 101 with Kara Rickard

Kara Rickard host of Music 101 shares what's happening on the music scene over the weekend, what's coming up on her show tomorrow and because Friday is new music day - she'll pick us a track to play.

3:25 Weekend Stuff: Design with Sylvia Sandford

It's a messy looking weekend of weather for most of us so what better time to do some thinking about design and decorating, award winning interior designer - and design teacher - Sylvia Sandford is with me to answer any of your questions.

3:35 Critter of the Week: Alpine Pouch Fungus

 Every week we learn about an endangered creature and this week our focus is on the alpine pouch fungus.
This fungus was re-discovered in 2014 after not being seen for 50 years so it will come as no surprise its conservation status is nationally critical. 

Here to share more details about the alpine pouch fungus is Forest and Bird Chief Executive Nicola Toki. 

3:45 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.