Afternoons for Friday 6 April 2018

1:10 First song

1:15 Exploring Auckland's dams

Ever wondered where your water comes from? If you're in Auckland then likely it's coming from dams in the Hunua and Waitakere ranges. 

The dams are pretty incredible to see, in fact guided tours have been attracting people from all over the city to see how these huge concrete creations supply the region - and what happens when things go wrong. 

Watercare headworks manager Joseph Chaloner-Warman gives us insight into the way these dams work. 

1:25 Teaching science to teachers

Getting school children excited about science can be a tough feat especially if teachers aren't engaged themselves.

But there's a programme that gets teachers involved in science, not just for a day, but for a full 6 months so they can take what they learn back to their schools and their students.

Ross Intermediate School in Palmerston North nominated one of its teachers, Sharyn Loveridge, for the Science Teaching Programme, she tells Jesse about it. 

1:35 Taking a gamble on medical marijuana 

It's an industry projected to worth hundreds of billions of dollars worldwide but it's one New Zealand isn't a part of.

With the government's Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill still in select committee, it could be years before locally produced medical marijuana could be sold in the country.

Kiwi entrepreneurs are already preparing for what could be a thriving trade in the future.

Paul Manning left his advertising executive job to jump in to cannabis start-up, Helius Therapeutics. He explains why. 

1:40 Great album

2:10 Film Review with Richard Swainson

Richard reviews Ready Player One and The Party

2:20 Monarch butterflies en masse in Timaru

It's an invasion of the colourful kind! Thousands of Monarch butterflies are gathering in trees in Timaru. Jesse talks to Jacqui Knight of the Monarch Butterfly Trust about what they're up to.

2:25 NZ Live: Running Stitch

Three-piece Auckland band Running Stitch are about to release their second EP "Brightside". 

Aletta Ashdown - Vocals, Guitar
Gavin Botica - Bass
Kayne Wilkinson - Drums

The trio will perform four songs live from our Auckland music studio. 

3:10 How to make great pumpkin soup

Cook and food writer Julie Biuso talks pumpkins - which ones make the best soup, roast or boil, and different toppings.

And she shares her recipe for Italian Pumpkin Soup

3:20 Gardening with Lynda Hallinan

It's the end of the golden weather, but even though the garden is falling apart, you can still be planting veges for winter.

Lynda suggests broad beans, kale, spinach, silverbeet, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. And now is the time to sow carrots, beetroot, perennial rocket (arugula), tatsoi and bok choy.

3:25 Critter of the Week The Pseudoscorpion!

Although New Zealand is thankfully free of scorpions, we do have pseudoscorpions! They look very similar to their counterparts, but without the fearsome tail and sting.

DOC’s Threatened Species Ambassador, Nicola Toki, introduces us to these tiny critters and tells us how they maintain a small carbon footprint – by hitching rides on other flying insects.    

3:45 The Pre-Panel Story of the Day and One Quick Question

4:05 The Panel with Nadine Higgins and Matt Nippert