Afternoons for Tuesday 18 March 2025

1:10 The Rule of Jenny Pen director James Ashcroft

Here's one for the horror junkies - Thursday is the long-awaited release day for a local film which has already had global acclaim.

The Rule of Jenny Pen follows a retired Judge's attempts to stop an elderly psychopath from tormenting his home's residents with the child's puppet he employs.

Filmed largely in Taupō, it's an adaptation of a short story by New Zealand author Owen Marshall.

It stars Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow and is directed by James Ashcroft. 

Jesse talks to James about the making of the film and directing two acing greats.

1:25 The hunt for the Hawkes Bay meteorite

New Zealand is the landing place for a growing number of meteorites, and Hawkes Bay is the latest focus.

A fireball hurtled towards the ground last Wednesday night, and based on eyewitnesses and camera footage, may have caused a meteorite to land somewhere within a 600 hectare patch of private land.

Now the hunt is on - if it's spotted, it will be the eleventh one found in New Zealand.

Steve Wyn-Harris is a regular contributor to our show and he's also an executive member of Fireball Aotearoa.

He lives just a half hour drive from where the meteorite may have landed.

1:35 Bluff Oyster check in

Bluff oyster season started 18 days ago and runs through to the end of August.

The last couple of seasons have been tough on the industry, the meat quality has been down and the numbers haven't been the best

But this year it looks like things might be on the up.

To get an update Jesse talks to Graeme Wright from Barnes Wild Bluff Oysters.

1:45 Tech Tuesday

Our tech commentator Tim Batt is in with Jesse to talk about all the recent developments in the industry that is shaping the world and our lives.

2:10 Book Critic: beautiful books about beats for young people

Catherine Ross, Director of Library at Auckland Grammar School has a list of books on the theme of animals. 

For Ages: 10/11+ years

When Fishes Flew

By Michael Morpurgo

Published in 2021

Pax

Sara Pennypacker

Published in 2016

The Wolf Wilder

By Katherine Kundell

Published in 2015

 

For Ages 12+ years

Scorpio Races

By Maggie Stiefvater

Published in 2011

 

For Ages 14+ years

The Horses

By Jenina Matthewson

Published in 2024

2:20 Update on Oz with Brad Foster

Today our Australian correspondent Brad talks about U.S. imposing sanctions on our steel and aluminum exports. He also discusses the case of a "wildlife influencer" in hot water for picking up a joey wombat and running across a road leaving the distressed mum behind.

2:30 Music feature: 90s Shihad

After 37 years, ten studio albums, countless awards and an induction into New Zealand's rock hall of fame rock legends Shihad have played their final show.

The legendary team of Jon Toogood (The Adults), Karl Kippenberger, Phil Knight and Tom Larkin 

Bee Trudgeon is a former Capital Times and Rip It Up reporter and longtime fan of the band, she joins us for our music feature where we'll focus on Shihad's 90s music.

3:10 Feature interview: how to measure a person's value 

There's a dirty secret in economics says Danish writer Emma Holten.  We just don't know how to account for all the time and effort it takes to keep people healthy, happy and alive.

Holten exposes a fundamental flaw in our value and economic systems that were designed centuries ago to overlook care work, often dismissed as "women's work." In her new book she reveals why measuring someone's value to the economy in dollars and cents alone ends up costing us all. It's called  Deficit: How Feminist Economics Can Change Our World.

3:30 BBC Witness History

The story behind the man who composed the score for South Africa’s first musical with an all-black cast opening to critical acclaim in 1959.
 

3:45 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman and producer Sam Hollis join Jesse in the studio to preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.