Monday, 2 June 2025

8:10 Dai Henwood: Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit 

Dai Henwood has to be one of New Zealand's best-loved comedians.  Being honoured today with Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit,  he's carrying on a family tradition joining BOTH of his parents, who have also had honours bestowed. 

8:30 Joe Conrad: Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit 

Joe Conrad, (Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāi Takoto, Te Rarawa and Ngāti Hauā) has been  involved in waka kaupapa since the mid-90s, and for years now has led as kaihautū (captain) of Ngātokimatawhaorua-the stunning ceremonial waka that many of us have seen in action at Waitangi. 

Joe's helped keep waka knowledge alive, brought communities together through culture, and built international connections with other indigenous peoples. 

9:10 Suzy Cato: Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit 

Suzy Cato needs no introduction, having been a constant presence in New Zealand kids' lives, with her calm voice and kind heart for decades. 

9:30 Finding the Adventurer in us All  

This years Doc Edge Film Festival kicks off later in June, and one of the most compelling premieres is a film called Wildboy. It follows the jaw-dropping journey of Brando Yelavich. 

 At just 18, Brando set out to walk the entire coastline of New Zealand. That was just the beginning. Since then, he's skied across Greenland, kayaked solo around Vancouver Island, and biked through the Australian Outback-pushing himself to the edge of human endurance. But Wildboy isn't just about physical feats-it's about mental resilience, personal transformation, and embracing difference. 

10:10 Alice Taylor : Budget-friendly winter cooking 

With cold weather about to kick in and the need for many of us to keep a close eye on what we are spending, we've invited popular social media chef and writer Alice Taylor to join us to share some hearty recipes and a few money-saving tips. 

 Alice is 25, and lives in Auckland. She was a contestant on Masterchef, she's a trained pastry chef and has worked in some top restaruants including Amisfield, Paris Butter and Baduzzi, but more recently she's been focussing her efforts on cheap, realistic cooking - and it's obviously hitting the mark - Alice now has more than 40-thousand followers on Instagram. 

10:30 Ranjna Patel: Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit 

Dame Ranjna Patel, co-founder of Gandhi Nivas, founder of Mana 4 Mums, and co-founder of the Swaminarayan multicultural centre in Auckland joins us. 

11:10 Murray Mexted: Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit 

Murray Mexted is a rugby legend. A former All Black, a dynamic No. 8, a sharp-witted commentator, and a passionate advocate for the game at every level - Murray's impact on New Zealand rugby has been nothing short of immense. 

11:20 Winter Telly with Kate Rodger 

Winter is here - the nights are longer, the couch is comfier, and it's the perfect time to get stuck into some seriously good viewing.  

 Whether you're looking to stream something new, head to the cinema, or finally catch up on those shows everyone was talking about six months ago… entertainment guru Kate Rodger has got you covered. 

11:50 Ron Ealam: Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit 

Ron Ealam, from Oxford in Canterbury has received the New Zealand Order of Merit for his work with Land Search and Rescue, for more than 50 years! 

 And for half of that he's been working with rescue dogs - developing the official search dogs training programme and he's become a national trainer and assessor.