Afternoons for Wednesday 3 December 2025

 

1:15 Find out why school principals are leaving the role. 

A story caught our eye this morning about school principals, because according to a recent poll, our principals are leaving the job in droves. 

Analysis on an Insights poll by NZME has found that  almost 1,000 principals have quit in the last three years and one in five within their first year in the role. 

According to the NZ Principals’ Federation principals are suffering burnout at almost twice the rate of the general population.

To find out what's going on, and what can be done to reverse the numbers, Jesse is joined by Secondary Principals' Council Chair Kate Gainsford

1.16 Why are so many of us driving without a WoF or Rego?

According to new data published by vehicle compliance platform Bonnet almost 50% of us are driving with an expired WoF or Rego

And for vehicles that are eligible for Road User Charges - mainly EVs and diesel - 1 in 5 are behind on their payments

So what's going on? Is it laziness, forgetfulness or something in between?

Bonnet founder Steph Kennard joins Jesse to discuss.

1:25 Inside out - the best way to get the benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C cream is popular with skin-care devotees promising to help slow signs of aging, prevent sun damage, and improve the appearance of wrinkles & dark spots

But it might be time to ditch the expensive creams. 

That's because researchers at the University of Otago's Christchurch Facility of Medicine have discovered that eating vitamin C is better for your skin than adding it to creams.

Lead author, University of Otago Professor Margreet Vissers joins Jesse.

(Full transparency, the study was funded by a University of Otago research grant and Zespri International, who had no influence over study design protocols, results analysis or study publication.)

1:35 Game On: The Kiwi game developers smashing it

New Zealand game developers are punching well above their weight on the international stage

18 Kiwi developers from CODE – New Zealand’s government-funded Centre of Digital Excellence... recently showed off their games at a huge gaming conference in Melbourne

Their games were a hit with the crowds, and the financials are looking strong too

A recent survey from the New Zealand Game Developers Association shows total revenue for local game studios jumped 38% in the past year, reaching $759 million

To find out more about the rapid growth of our gaming industry, Jesse is joined by Vee Pendergrast -  the Industry Development Manager at CODE 

1:45 Heading Off: Anna Thomas on living in Timor Leste

Time for heading off, our weekly travel segment, and today we're heading to Timor Leste or East Timor as it was formally known.

New Zealand has a close connection with the island nation, sending New Zealand Defence Force troops to join a multinational peacekeeping force in 1999 after violence erupted following the country's vote for independence from Indonesia

RNZ Summer Times host Anna Thomas spent the better part of this year in Timor Leste and shares her story with Jesse.

2.12 Music Critic: New music from FOAP

Zac Arnold is with Jesse to share two new tunes:

Heart Goes Blank - Fazed on a Pony
Levitating The Knife - T. G. Shand 

2:20 Easy Eats: Rotisserie chicken panzanella

Kelly Gibney shares her recipe for rotisserie chicken panzanella. Link to recipe is here!

2:30 Bookmarks with American singer songwriter Santigold

Time for bookmarks now, the feature where an interesting person shares their favourite cultural picks with us and today we're joined by American singer and songwriter Santigold

She's headlining this year's Rhythm and Alps festival in Wanaka - which is taking place from the 29th to 31st December

3:10 Feature interview: A Jeffrey Epstein survivor shares her story

For a lot of people, the files the US Justice department has on convicted sex offender and millionaire Jeffery Epstein are just something to speculate about or turn into political ammunition. But for the women he abused, they’re something far more important, a chance to move closer to justice and finally expose the network that let him get away with sexually assaulting women, some underage, for so long. Jess Michaels is one of those survivors. She says she was first abused by Jeffrey Epstein in 1991. The assault upended her life, taking away her stability, career, and health. She’s since found new purpose advocating alongside other survivors. She has an App that helps friends and family of survivors better understand what they can do to support anyone who has been through this devastating experience.

Here's a link to her website and to the quiz Jess mentions.

And if you, or someone you know, needs help or someone to talk to, here are some places to get help:

• NZ Police
• Victim Support 0800 842 846Rape Crisis: 0800 88 33 00
• Rape Prevention Education
• Empowerment Trust
• HELP - Auckland: 09 623 1700, Wellington: 04 801 6655.
• Safe to Talk: 0800 044 334
• Tautoko Tāne Male Survivors Aotearoa
• Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) 022 344 0496.

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

Time now to catch up with Our Changing World’s Claire Concannon who has been learning about ‘time use epidemiology’.

3:45 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.