Afternoons

1:10 Meet the NZer who is Australia's Top University Teacher

We might squabble with Australia over who invented the pavlova and whether Crowded House is a Kiwi or Aussie band, but we are definitely claiming our next guest. 

University of Queensland's Associate Professor Roma Forbes has just been named the Australian University Teacher of the Year for 2025 and she's from New Zealand!

Roma joins Jesse now from Queensland. 

1:25 How you can help look after our butterflies

Time is running out to eradicate the Yellow Legged Hornet; that's according to an expert who spoke to Morning Report today. 

Yellow legged hornets go after honey bees, but they also threaten our butterfly population. 

And as we spoke about last week, monarch butterfly numbers are in sharp decline globally, populations in the United States dropping by as much as 96 percent.  

Fortunately, here in New Zealand there are some amazing people stepping up to help. 

Jacqui Knight, founding trustee and secretary of the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust is with Jesse. 

1:30 Why can't the shingles vaccine funding be extended?

Turning to health issues now, and some experts are calling for additional vaccine funding to protect older New Zealanders from shingles. 

Currently the shingles vaccine is funded for the 12 months after a person’s 65th birthday, but many clinicians say that isn't long enough.

 University of Auckland Associate Professor and Vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris is with Jesse to discuss. 

1:45 Great Album: Hemi Hemingway 'Wings of Desire'

Thursdays are our chance to give away an album to today's lucky link 3 winner .. and today we're stoked to have Hemi Hemmingway's new LP on offer. 

It's called 'Wings of Desire" and critics are raving about it: Music NZ wrote "There is a fine line between homage and indulgence – and on Wings of Desire, Hemi Hemingway struts across it in slow motion, hair slicked, heart open, and synths blazing." while RNZ's own Tony Stamp says the new record is " one of the most emotive local releases in recent memory, a record threaded with humour and tasteful arrangement that really soars when it lets the feelings fly freely."

Hemi is performing tomorrow night at Auckland's Neck of the Woods if you want to get amongst, tickets are on under the radar, if you can't make that, don't worry he'll be here on Afternoons NZ Live next Friday.

2:10 Explainer: What on earth is going on with Air NZ?

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour has renewed his call for the government to sell its shares in the Air New Zealand arguing that owning the airline does not represent good value for taxpayers

Today the national carrier reported a loss before tax of $59 million for the first half of the 2026 financial year.

To explain the challenges the airline, and the aviation industry more broadly is facing, aviation commentator Irene King is with Jesse. 

2:20 Group Chat: What went on at the Baftas and are DVDs back?

Time for Group Chat now, where we discuss the stories that won't lead news bulletins but will fill up your social media feed, the news that's distracting you from your to do list and helps make school pick up chat flow.

This week film critic Kate Rodger and Afternoons Senior Producer Olivia Wilson join Jesse to discuss the Baftas, micro dramas (also known as vertical dramas) and are DVDs making a comeback?

2:30 NZ Sporting History with Jockey Lisa Allpress

Time for sporting history, our chance to look back at some of the big moments in sport and celebrate some of the New Zealanders who have changed the game. 

Lisa Allpress is a four-time winner of the NZ Jockey Premiership, first woman to win 1,000 races (and she's nearly hit two thousand now) plus she's the first woman to win a horse race in Saudi Arabia.

Lisa chats to Jesse.

3:15 Solving the World's Problems: Buses for the Win!

It's time to solve some world problems now; this is our regular segment where we talk through possible solutions to the issues irking our guests.

3:20 Game Over! A Brief History of Coaching Dramas in NZ

It's been quite the time for coaches in New Zealand; All Blacks coach Scott Robertson was shown the door in January and over the weekend Wellington Phoenix FC Manager Giancarlo Italiano resigned after a huge loss to Auckland FC.

Dr Grant Morris is with Jesse to look back at some other dramatic endings to coaches' careers.

3:35 Gaming for Good? How a dad connected with his teenager

If you have kids that love to play video games but you're worried about them withdrawing or disappearing behind a screen and headset - you're not alone. 

In fact, our next guest had similar concerns - but things began to change when instead of asking his son to log-off, he decided to log on with him.

Author, teacher educator, and dad to a teenage son, Dr Phill Simpson chats to Jesse. 

3:45 The pre-Panel 

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's edition of The Panel.