Summer Weekends for Sunday 18 January 2026
9.07 Kiwi director Josh Frizzell on his latest project
A beachside motel murder is the subject of the latest directorial effort from Josh Frizzell, a renowned filmmaker from a family of talented artists. Josh has done everything from music videos to the iconic Air New Zealand in-flight videos.
He speaks to Susana about ‘Blue Murder Motel,’ which begins airing on TV 1 tonight.
Blue Murder Motel Photo: Supplied
9.45 It’s Quiz Time!
It's that time again - time to engage your brain on a summer morning with today's quiz.
Over the next two weekends we'll be touching base with four quiz meisters - to hear how they run quizzes - their favourite categories and possibly some tips.
They'll also have a curly question or two for you - if you're first with the answer - you'll win!
Today Susana is joined by Hamilton-based, James Smith.
Photo: 123rf
10.05 Pacific Connection taking the international stage
Pacific Connection is a Porirua-based choir that is soaring on the global stage.
Just seven years after forming as a group, the group brought home a bronze medal from the International Barbershop Competition.
But most recently, the choir composed and recorded an original album, Tethered by Tides, which was released just before Christmas.
Susana speaks to founder Henrietta Hunkin-Tagaloa.
Pacific Connection Choir Photo: Supplied / Pacific Connection
10.30 The Waikato Regional Theatre
It's a momentous day tomorrow (Monday) in Hamilton and for the whole of Waikato, with the opening of the Waikato Regional Theatre - now known as the BNZ Theatre.
Hamiltonians and visitors to the city have been watching the riverside theatre take shape for years.
Susana caught up with venue manager, Michael Gilling, in between the final touches.
Waikato Regional theatre, Thursday 1 January Photo: Stephen Barker / Barker Photography. ©Live Nation / Waikato Regional Theatre Photo: Stephen Barker
10.40 Surviving summer with Regan Potangaroa
Much of the country has spent the past month enjoying the outdoors, but along with the glorious summer sun, there've been storms, floods, and strong wind.
AUT Professor Regan Potangaroa has been involved in more than 200 humanitarian deployments to 22 countries. He shares his summer survival tips, from keeping cool, to tracking down clean water.
AUT professor Regan Potangaroa says many survival methods used in disasters are applicable in the peak of summer. Photo: Supplied
11.05 Chertsey Book Barn
We're off now to meet another bookshop owner - one who sells pre-loved books.
Reviews of the shop we're visiting today say it's a 'treasure trove a books at great prices' and 'a maze of books" - there's also a recommendation that in winter to take your gloves because it can be a bit cold when you're browsing.
Paul Edwards owns the Chertsey Book Barn in Canterbury - and he joins Susana for a chat.
Photo: Eliot Reyna for Unsplash
11.30 The untapped potential of slimy, smelly...seaweed
More than 30 million tons of seaweed is harvested globally each year, but it’s still a fledgling industry in New Zealand.
AUT professor Lindsey White is trying to make it happen. Most recently, he’s been working with iwi and kura on the North Island's East Coast to spread the message about the many uses of seaweed.
Storm-strewn kelp on the coast at Bull Creek Photo:
11.45 Island roundup: Rekohu Chatham Islands
Hotel owner, beekeeper and tourism promoter Toni Croon joins the show to share what does a day in the life of a Chatham Islander involves.
The Chatham Islands Photo: RNZ/ Matthew Theunissen
