Afternoons RNZ Radio

Today owner and managing director of Vertech IT services Dan Watson talks to Jesse about some tech tips for travelling internationally.

Dunedin Wildlife Hospital has treated more than 3500 patients since it was established in 2018 including hoiho/yellow-eyed penguins, kakapo and northern royal albatross. The hospital gets council funding but also relies on donations to operate. Last week hospital manager Jordana Whyte spoke on behalf of the hospital trust at the Dunedin City Council annual plan hearings, asking for $75,000 in bridging funding. Jordana talks to Jesse about the hospital, its history, and the notable critters they've treated over the years.

What would you say in a love letter to a tree? A research project examining the connects the inhabitants of a city have with its trees is uprooting from Melbourne and heading the Christchurch. Arbor-Amor: love letters to a city's trees began as a simple concept across the ditch. Trees were given email addresses and residents asked to send their concerns about branch removal, protruding roots or watering needs. What happened next is fascinating - letters of love, loss, comfort and difficulties were sent - with heartwarming stories of connection and creativity. Dr Catherine Phillips is a lecturer at University of Canterbury and research team member at PlantCities. She speaks to Jesse.

The Stroke Foundation wants mandatory standards introduced to reduce the amount of salt in processed foods, which it says will save thousands of New Zealand lives lost or impacted by strokes each year. The foundation says many people are consuming much more than the recommended 5-gram daily intake daily with most of the salt content hidden in the everyday foods we eat. It is calling on the government to regulate the industry and to make it easier for people to eat less salt. Jess Winchester, general manager of marketing and fundraising at Stroke Foundation of New Zealand, joins Jesse.

Tucked away in west Auckland, a bird rescue centre has been attracting people with experience from around the world keen to help rescue injured NZ avians.

Harlan Coben is an accidental novelist whose success is no accident. It comes from hard work, deep empathy and unreserved respect for the joy of reading.