Navigation for Afternoons

Afternoons for Monday 1 December 2025

1.10 Supply versus Demand: The conundrum of finding housing for our elderly 

This is a head and shoulders shot of Kali Mercier. She is wearing teal glasses which match the colour of her top.

Photo: Supplied - Helen Clark Foundation

Where are you planning to live when you retire? Stay in your own home as long as possible? Move in with family maybe? Or are you keen to move into a retirement village?

Global property firm JLL recently released their 2025 report on the state of New Zealand retirement villages, and it has found that in the next 8 years demand is set to out strip supply by over 11 thousand places.

That's a deficit that's only expected to grow as our population ages.

WSP fellow and Deputy Director at the Helen Clark Foundation Kali Mercier joins Jesse to discuss.

1:15 Drug Driving Tests: How can you test for impairment?

A couple of weeks ago we spoke to the Drug Foundation after the Government announced that Police will begin roadside drug driving tests. 

Police will test for four types of drugs - cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and meth - using an oral-fluid testing device.

As more information about the testing device has been released, so has commentary. 

While everyone can agree we don't want impaired drivers on our roads, questions have been raised about the decision to test for the presence of drugs rather than impairment.

University of Otago Professor Joseph Boden talks to Jesse.

One of the police's new drug-testing devices.

One of the police's new drug-testing devices. Photo: Supplied

1.25 How an Auckland professor is tackling the problem of anaesthetic gas emissions

When we think of harmful emissions, we think it's fair to say most of us picture clogged motorways not busy hospitals.

But environmental damage from anaesthetic gases is a thing; one hospital with 15 operating theatres will emit the equivalent to driving two million kilometres in a petrol-powered car. 

It's a problem that saw an Auckland University professor leap into action, inventing a device that captures almost all of the gases released during surgery.

That device has just had a successful trial - for more about this Professor Saeid Baroutian chats to Jesse.

Christchurch Hospital

Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

1.35 What makes Melissa Stokes nervous? Spoiler Alert - not breaking news!

Melissa Stokes

Melissa Stokes. Photo: TVNZ

Melissa Stokes is the new lead presenter of TVNZ's flagship programme 1News at Six. 

She's moved from her weekend presenting role to anchor the broadcaster’s main bulletin five nights a week - Sunday to Thursday. 

Melissa replaces Simon Dallow, who stepped down from the role after nearly two decades.

To discuss what this move means to her, and what the role entails, Melissa joins Jesse.

1:45 One long song: Crosby Still and Nash

Crosby, Stills and Nash, Los Angeles, CA, 1969

It's time now for our one long song for Monday - a chance to play a rock music masterpiece that's usually considered too lengthy to broadcast on the radio. We throw that rule out once a week at this time, and today we feature a song by a group that was formed in 1968 and last worked together in 2015. That'll be the last time, because one of the trio died just a couple of years ago. Photo: ©Henry Diltz/courtesy of Morrison Hotel Gallery

Clocking in at 7 minutes and 24 seconds this Crosby Stills and Nash with Suite: Judy Blue Eyes

2:10 Television Critic: Beast in Me and All Her Fault

The Beast in me

Photo: Netflix

Cailtin Cherry joins Jesse to review two shows:

All Her Fault - TVNZ on Demand

The Beast in Me - Netflix 

2:20 Jesse Goes Clubbing: Hawkes Bay Racing Lawnmower Club

Jesse Mulligan in dress up

Photo: courtesy of Jesse Mulligan

Monday means it's time to hit the clubs - because we've got a new segment on the show where I chat to clubbers.

So if you have a club you'd like Jesse to join for the day please get in touch we'd love to hear from you -  afternoons@rnz.co.nz

Hawkes Bay Racing Lawnmower Club

Photo: Marc Colliss

2.30 Expert Feature: We put the spotlight on wool

Wool caskets

A mob of sheep in Canterbury that grow wool for the caskets Photo: Supplied

It's time for our Monday expert feature, where we choose a topic and invite an expert in to give us the ins and outs. 

Today we're focusing on wool. 

Wool has played a keen role in New Zealand's economy since early settlers arrived over 200 years ago. 

In October, a brand-new Wool Alliance was formed between four organisations to commit to long-term outcomes for the industry.

One of those was Campaign for Wool NZ, and their chairperson Ryan Cosgrove is our expert today.

3:10 Feature: Director James Vanderbilt on why 'Nuremberg' had to be made

Photo of director James Vanderbilt

Photo: James Vanderbilt

The panic kicked in around page 40. Thirteen years ago, director and screenwriter James Vanderbilt set out to write a film about the Nuremberg trials, a moment when the world chose justice over vengeance, putting Hitler’s right-hand man Hermann Göring and 23 other high-ranking Nazis before an international court. The story centers on a U.S. Army psychiatrist assigned to evaluate the defendants and determine if they were fit to stand trial. Russell Crowe stars as Göring, with Rami Malek as the American trying to understand the psychology of evil. Nuremberg opens in New Zealand cinemas this Thursday. Director James Vanderbilt joins me now.

3:35 Here Now

In this episode of Here Now Phil Vine dives into the history of Auckland's Dalmatian community that goes back a few generations. 

3:45 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel. 

wallace chapman

Photo: wallace chapman