Afternoons for Wednesday 15 October 2025

 

1:15 Does what you wear make you more (or less) professional?

Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee has announced he is cracking down on Parliamentary behaviour, and one of the issues he's keen to look at is standard of dress.
 
When asked about it on Morning Report today, Minister of Health Simeon Brown said since the removal of ties, standards of behaviour has dropped.

Which got us thinking, not about ties specifically, but if what you wear affects the way people view you?  Does it make you more or less professional? 

Doris de Pont, Founder of NZ Fashion Museum and NZ Fashion Curator is here to help.

1:25 Combining music and books: New project 'Music to Read By'

After being closed for three years, next month will see Auckland's Point Chevalier library reopen. 

And opening day will be more than a ribbon cutting-  it's going to have its own soundtrack. 

Musicians Dave Khan & David Ward, who have composed music for films like "Power of the dog" & worked with Marlon Williams, Reb Fountain & Dave Dobbin, are behind the project called 'Music to Read By'.

To explain what that is Dave and Dave join Jesse with guitars in tow.

1:35 The Wairarapa families producing top shelf wheat

For centuries durum wheat has been recognised as the gold standard of wheats for making great pasta and bread.

Much like the rest of our wheat supplies, almost all of it is imported.

But, thanks to four families in the Wairarapa, that's beginning to change.

 Mick Williams from the Wairarapa Grain Collective talks to Jesse.

1:45 Heading Off to Silk Road

Time for our weekly travel adjacent segment - Heading Off.

The longer we've run this, the more it's become your feature with loads of you getting in touch with the adventures you'd like to share.

Including today's guest Afternoons listener Stephen Draaijer. Between 2004 and 2009 Stephen spent 15 months travelling and photographing the Silk Road.

One of his portraits is up on the Afternoons section of the RNZ website now, and you can see the rest in his book "30 Silverglyphics: A Journey Along the Silk Road" 

2.12 Music Critic: Tony Stamp with Birdlings Flat

Music 101 producer and host Tony Stamp joins us to share some music.

Today we've got:

Birdlings Flat 'I am afraid'

Eden Burns 'Goodbye Jingle'

2:20 Easy Eats with the Hungry Cook

It's Wednesday which means time to talk Easy Eats; a recipe that isn't too taxing on your time but still delivers on taste.

Our regular Easy Eats contributor Kelly Gibney is away so we've got the talented Olivia Galletly also known as The Hungry Cook, joining us.

Her recipe for eggplant, shallot and yellow coconut curry is here. 

2:30 Bookmarks with artist and advocate Maggie Treweek

Time for Bookmarks now! This time each Wednesday we invite a guest and get to know them better by asking about their favourite things. 

Joining Jesse today is artist, art therapist, and advocate Maggie Treweek.

A couple of days ago she opened what's been billed as her final exhibition. 

It's called 'LIFELINE' and it's on display at the Dunedin Community Gallery until Saturday. 

3:10 Feature: The Mushroom Murders - What really happened?

A quiet family lunch ends with three dead, one barely alive, and the world taunted by the question: did Erin Patterson serve up death cap mushrooms in the Beef Wellington lunch on purpose? That question was more than a matter of idle speculation for members of the jury in the Patterson Trial. The Australian writer behind Underbelly and Pine Gap   has produced one of the first deep dives into the case that had the world riveted in not a whodunit, but a how did she do it. Greg Haddrick lays out the case from the perspective of a juror in his new book is The Mushroom Murders: A Family Lunch. Three Deaths. What Really Happened?

3:35 Our Changing World: Australasian Crested Grebe

Host of Our Changing World chats to Jesse about the Australasian Crested Grebe and the Lake Wānaka grebe project.

3:45 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.