Afternoons for Friday 7 June 2024

1:10 Georgia Lines on the ‘toughest few years of her life’ and significance of debut album 

Georgia Lines recently made good on her 2022 win at the Aotearoa Music Awards for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, taking home this year's Tūī for Best Pop Artist.

Today she releases her debut full-length album, Rose of Jericho

She joins Mark Leishman to talk about the inspiration for the album.

1:15 Aucklanders at peace with congestion charges

Motorists in Tāmaki Makaurau will no doubt agree that traffic congestion is one of the city's biggest problems.

So could it be time to introduce a congestion pricing scheme in Auckland?

Now, new research shows Aucklanders are open to the idea, and are ready for a conversation about the form such a scheme might take.  

The research was carried out by advocacy group, the Northern Infrastructure Forum.

Executive Director, Barney Irvine speaks to Mark.

1:25 Earth science: Inspiring the next generation of geologists

The number of students enrolling in the earth scientists is falling, according to data from numerous global geoscience institutes.

To try and counter that, Christchurch-based earth modelling company Seequent has developed Visible Geology - a free web application which uses 3D modelling to educate children about the ground under our feet including the Alpine Fault and White Island.

Seequent CEO Graham Grant says everyone at Seequent is passionate about inspiring the next generation of earth scientists.

Graham speaks to Mark

1:35 New project launched to battle weeds

New Zealand is an ongoing battle against problematic introduced plant species' that threaten our native flora.

One place in a position to strike is Aotea, Great Barrier Island, as many pest species that have thrived on the mainland are still in low enough numbers there to control.

This is why Niklas Erikson has established a community initiative called 'Aotea High Risk Weeds' to create a network of locals on the lookout for these pesky plants.

Niklas is a Senior Conservation Advisor for Auckland Council, he speaks to Mark.

1:45 Freaky Friday

Each Friday we talk to our listeners about any eerie or unexplained incidents they've experienced.

If you have a story of prescience or bizarre coincident along the lines of our Freaky Friday stories, please text 2101 or email afternoons@rnz.co.nz.

2:10 Film Review with Dom Corry

Today Dom talks to Mark about Bad Boys: Ride or Die, The Crime is Mine and The Exorcism.

2:20 NZ Live: Mel Parsons

In for us today for NZ live is Indie Folk Musician Mel Parsons.

Today she is celebrating the release of her sixth album "Sabotage". It's the follow up to 2022's "Slow Burn" which debuted at #3 in the Official Top 40 album chart.

She's going to be playing us four songs from Sabotage and a cover.

3:08 Beef ragu gnocchi

Today chef, fish monger, author and district councillor Martin Bosley's with us to share a hearty warm winter recipe for gnocchi with beef ragu.

You can find the recipe to make it at home here.

3:16 Music 101: Charlotte Ryan

Charlotte Ryan, host of Music 101 here on RNZ each Saturday afternoon from 1pm talks about what's happening on the music scene over the weekend, what's coming up on her show tomorrow and because Friday is new music day - she'll pick us a track to play.

3:25 Gardening with Lynda Hallinan

Gardening guru Lynda Hallinan joins Mark to talk about all things in the garden at this time of the year.

3:35 Critter of the Week

This week’s critter is the rō, also known as the smooth stick insect, whē or Clitarchus hookeri – our most common native stick insect.

 

Smooth stick insects have a range of superpowers: as well as actually looking like sticks, the females can reproduce without males. Their offspring will also be female and will also be able to reproduce solo.

 

3:45 The pre-Panel