Afternoons for Tuesday 17 February 2026

 

1:10 Wild weather hits the South Island 

The wild weather that caused chaos in the North Island has turned its attention South and Banks Peninsula seems to be bearing the brunt.
A Local State of Emergency has been declared there but widespread flooding and gusts over 100km/h have been reported in Canterbury.
We go to Wainui, a small settlement in Banks Peninsula where local resident Lawrence Smith is located 

1:20 Can we fix it? Tackling the country's infrastructure problem.

A new report that sets out an "affordable" plan to tackle New Zealand's infrastructure has just been released. 
It was written by the Infrastructure Commission, and it covers all aspects of infrastructure from water pipes, roads, power lines, hospitals and schools to courts.
In the 200 plus page report, there are 16 recommendations and 10 priorities for the next ten years. RNZ Political reporter Anneke Smith joins Jesse to discuss it. 

1:25 The family that runs fast

New Zealand teen running prodigy Sam Ruthe is living proof that athletic talent can run deep in the family At just 16 Sam has been in the news lots for his talent after smashing the under 18 indoor mile world record, but he's not the only star in his household...

Sam's younger sister Daisy, age 14, won the NZ women’s under-20 3000m race at the Porritt Classic over the weekend. Sam and Daisy's parents and grandparents are no strangers to success on the track either.

So how much of their success is down to genetics? To find out Sam and Daisy's dad Ben Ruthe joins Jesse Mulligan 

1:30 Could cancer actually protect against Alzheimer’s disease?

For decades, researchers have noted that Alzheimer’s disease and cancer rarely occur in the same person, sparking speculation that one may protect against the other

Now, scientists have identified a protein produced by cancer cells that appears to shield the brain from Alzheimer’s, at least in mice, offering new clues to the link between the two diseases.

Dr Donald Weaver is a Professor of Chemistry and Senior Scientist of the Krembil Research Institute. He chats to Jesse

1:45 Lunar New Year: What does Year of the Fire Horse mean for you?

Happy Lunar New Year! Yes, billions of people around the world are welcoming the Lunar New Year from today. 
This year is Year of the Horse, but 2026 is also the Year of the Fire Horse. 

To explain what that means and what festivities are planned, RNZ Asia's Ruth Kuo chats to Jesse. 

2:10 Mayoral Minutes: Hamilton's Mayor Tim Macindoe

It's time for Mayoral minutes, our weekly segment where we speak with a local mayor about the challenges they’re facing, how they’re working to solve them, and what makes their community special.

Today we're heading to Jesse's home town, the beautiful Kirikiriroa Hamilton and Mayor Tim Macindoe.

2:20 Book Critic: New poetry from one of NZ's Greatest - Bill Manhire

Claire Mabey joins Jesse to review the following books:

Stepping Up by David Hill
Lyrical Ballads by Bill Manhire
What to Wear by Jenny Bornholdt

2:30 Music feature: The One and Only Nile Rodgers

The one and only Nile Rodgers is a guitarist, songwriter and music producer whose career has spanned half a century. 

He's perhaps best known as the co-founder and frontman of Chic. 

Today Dianne Swann is going to tell us more about Nile Rodgers and play a few hits from his wide catalogue. 

3:10 Tech Tuesday: Battery Power in the spotlight

Tim Batt is with Jesse to discuss what's got people talking in the tech world, today he's looking into advancements in batteries and the new incoming low cost MacBook. 

3:25 You're the Judge 

Tuesdays means our regular weekly segment 'You're the Judge' where we read out an irk and get your feedback on it. 

Today's question is about proposals - and whether our correspondent Scott should propose to his girlfriend at their friends' wedding. 

Text 2101 with yes, no or just to let us know what you think! 

3:30 Feature: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Son? Keeping John Le Carré's work alive

Spymaster George Smiley was at the breakfast-table for Nick Harkaway growing up. His father, John le Carré, born David Cornwell, would draft the Circus’s latest intrigues on scraps of paper at dawn and read them aloud over tea and toast. It was an apprenticeship in spymasters and writing. Five years after le Carré’s death, Smiley lives on in a play on London’s West End and in new novels written by Harkaway himself including a 2024 revival with another on the way.  

3:50 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's edition of The Panel.