Afternoons

RNZ Radio

Jesse Mulligan presents an upbeat mix of the curious and the compelling, ranging from the stories of the day to the great questions of our time.

  1. 8 HR AGO

    Critter of the Week with Nicola Toki

    Iolanthe cicadas are one of our smallest cicada species, found in the North Island from the Coromandel Peninsula to Wellington. This species has become extremely rare in the wild and there are very few modern sightings or recordings. Males have a very high-pitched song used for calling females. Because of the high frequency of the song, some adults may not be able to hear the call at all. Due to its lack of sightings, its threat status is unknown. However, its rarity is worrying, especially with no information on their ecology and population density. Nicola Toki chats all things critters with Jesse.

    16 min

  2. 9 HR AGO

    Weekend Stuff: Trees of Remembrance

    Landscape designer Tony Murrell is with Jesse to discuss what you should plant if you're looking to pay tribute to or remember somebody special to you. His suggestions are: Jacaranda mimosifolia flowering late spring early summer. Prunus mountain haze or awanui good for small gardens soft pink flowers. Metrosiderous excelsa , moon maiden [yellow flower] or scarlett pimpernel [ smaller growing coastal sport form red flowering late December through January] and Mistral upright Rata Sport named after the French wind. Ficus nitida – well behaved tidy evergreen tree with a large dense canopy of verdant green. Acer Palmatum – Japanese maple , sculptural form beautiful dappled shade. Quercus suber – Cork oak – majestic and rustic evergreen cork bark oak. Olea europea Olive – sculptural spiritual Trees , fruiting in summer. Cedrus atlantica glauca or Lebanii – ‘The bearing of the Cedars’ Pinus thumbergii – Japanese black pines. Knightea excelsa – NZ Native honeysuckle. Liquidamber gumball – 3/3 m mound shaped. Cunnonia capensis South African butter knife bush evergreen flowering interesting foliage. Vitex lucens – NZ Native Puriri. Cercis forest Pansy. Lagerstromia indica , flowering in pink , red ,white and mauve. Podocarpus totara matapouri blue – NZ Native blue totara – can be purchased in cloud pruned shapes fabulous sculptural forms that can work amongst grass gardens and more formal designs. Cussonia spicata – African cabbage Tree – ELEPHANTS favorite dinner. Erythrina christa Gallii – Coral flower Tree.

    8 min

  3. 9 HR AGO

    Food: Hummingbird Cake

    Julie Biuso from Shared Kitchen shares her recipe for Hummingbird cake. One story behind this cake goes that it is sweet enough to attract and delight a hummingbird. It's easier to make a two-tiered cake rather than the usual three, and most home cooks are unlikely to own three matching cake tins. The sponges are oil-based and have a light texture. It's one of those lovely cake batters that doesn't call for butter, sugar, and eggs to be creamed, but like muffin batters, don't beat it - just mix the ingredients gently together.

    9 min

  4. 10 HR AGO

    Film Review: If I Had Legs I'd Kick You

    Afternoons critic Kate Rodger is here to share what's on at the cinema: No Tears on the Field If I Had Legs I'd Kick You

    13 min

  5. 10 HR AGO

    Freaky Friday!

    It's the home for your spooky stories and eerie coincidences. If you have an experience to share get in touch on 2101 or email me at jesse@rnz.co.nz and one of our producers might give you a call. Today we're speaking to Christine, who listens to the show from New Jersey in the USA.

    5 min

  6. 10 HR AGO

    Former Wiggle Emma Watkins on how she became Emma Memma!

    Emma Watkins, is one of Australia - and New Zealand's - most beloved children's entertainers. Known for her time as the iconic 'Yellow Wiggle' she's continued to captivate kids of all ages with her character, Emma Memma. She's back in New Zealand and joins Jesse to explain why.

    10 min

  7. 10 HR AGO

    World record attempt: Why Jono Ridler is swimming for days on end

    Depending on the conditions he swims two six-hour stints a day, five days in a row, before taking a rest day. He's attempting to break the world record for the longest unassisted staged swim, all to raise awareness for ocean health and call for an end to bottom trawling, one of the most destructive fishing practices still allowed in New Zealand waters He's teamed up with Peter Burling and Blair Tuke's marine conservation charity, Live Ocean, to deliver a petition to Parliament and is now just 111 kilometres from Wellington.

    8 min

  8. 11 HR AGO

    Humans and animals are attracted to the same mating sounds - yes really!

    Humans may have more in common with animals than we thought, especially when it comes to attraction. New research suggests we're drawn to the same mating calls as other species supporting Darwin's observation that animals share our "taste for the beautiful." Dr Sam Mehr from the University of Auckland and Yale University is the senior author of this new study, he joins Jesse.

    10 min
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About

Jesse Mulligan presents an upbeat mix of the curious and the compelling, ranging from the stories of the day to the great questions of our time.

Information

  • Channel
    RNZ Radio
  • Creator
    RNZ
  • Years Active
    2006 - 2026
  • Episodes
    308
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) Radio New Zealand 2026
  • Show Website
    Afternoons

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