Saturday Morning

8:05 Joachim Trier: Sentimental Value

Norwegian writer-director Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value is nominated for nine Oscars, including best picture and best director. He's known for The Worst Person in the World, bursting with his trademark deep psychological insight and empathy. 

Susie caught up with him as he was dusting off his tux ahead of the awards ceremony. 

8:28 What to look out for at this years Oscars

The 98th Oscars ceremony is taking place this coming Monday. RNZ cinephile Sam Hollis has watched the best film contenders and shares what to look out for.

8:35 The history of Anglo-American involvement in Iran

Roham Alvandi breaks down the history of Anglo-American involvement in Iran through three critical events, the 1953 coup, the 1979 Iranian Revolution, and the 2015 Nuclear Agreement.  

Roham Alvandi is an Associate professor of international history at the London School of Economics and Political Science and the author of Nixon, Kissinger, and the Shah: The United States and Iran in the Cold War. 

He speaks with Mihi Forbes.

9:05 David Szalay - Flesh 

2025 Booker Prize winner Canadian-Hungarian author David Szalay's acclaimed novel Flesh tells István's rags-to-riches story from teenager to old man. 

Arguably a commentary on masculinity, Flesh asks profound questions about what drives a life, what makes it worth living, and what breaks it. 

Szalay has twice been nominated for the Booker. Not winning in 2016 made him all the hungrier. He's appearing at the Auckland Writer's Festival in May. 

9:35 Lisa Taouma: Taking Pasifika to the world 

A skilled storyteller, Papali'i Lisa Taouma is an award-winning documentary maker, writer, director and producer, recognised for bringing the essence of Pasifika communities to the screen.

A double nominee at this week’s annual WIFT Awards, Lisa won the SKY Award for Moana Excellence in the Screen Industry. 

Lisa’s company, Tikilounge Productions continues to defy the odds in a challenging media market. She's also the creator of The Coconet TV, the world’s biggest online platform for Pasifika content. 

Lisa talks to Mihingarangi about navigating change – staying relevant - and winning.   

10:05 Paul Kilgour: Tramping through life and loving it!

A legend in tramping circles, Paul Kilgour has “bagged” over 1200 huts and walked the length of the South Island. 

A meticulous record keeper and observer, his notes formed the basis of his newly re-printed book Gone Bush: A Life in the Backcountry and Beyond.  

Paul talks to Mihingarangi about the characters he’s met in some of the most remote parts of the country and how being in nature gives him a unique perspective on time and space. 

10:27 Wellington City Library's grand opening

The Wellington City library has officially re-opened after being closed for almost seven years due to earthquake risks.

The newly revamped library has more than just booked - though it has hundreds of thousands of those too - there's also creative spaces with a music recording studio, 3D printers and even a taniwha slide.

RNZ reporter Krystal Gibbons reports live from the opening.

10:35 The Dead Speak: My life in forensics

Thomas Coyle MNZM is one of New Zealand's most seasoned forensic experts. In his memoir The Dead Speak: My Life in Forensics, he pulls back the police tape on a career spanning more than three decades, charting the evolution of forensic science, and exploring how the tiniest detail can expose a suspect, prove a motive, or confirm an identity.
 
With experience of over 20,000 crime scenes and disaster victim identification for the New Zealand police, Thomas has spent a lifetime making the dead speak.

11:05 Live at NZ's biggest Pacific Festival

Mihi's reporting live from Auckland's Pasifika Festival happening this weekend in Auckland's Western Springs.

The event is the city's largest Pacific cultural festival, with vibrant performances, traditional food and cultural experiences.

Jep Savali is Group Manager, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and joins Mihingarangi. 

11:15 RBG: One woman, many voices

A masterclass in acting, acclaimed Australian actor Heather Mitchell stars in the hit one-woman play RBG: Of Many, One about US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Over the course of an hour and a half, Heather plays 30 different characters. 

Written by Suzie Miller (Prima Facie), RBG: Of Many, One has toured Australia and is coming to Auckland in May. 

11:35 Championing Niue's growing organic farming sector

We cross again to the Pasifika Festival which is on this weekend at Western Springs.

The festival marks Niue’s first-ever appearance through NIOFA—a collective dedicated to sustainable, organic farming and Pacific-led climate solutions.

Their stall showcases handmade products produced by Niuean farmers, women, and families and represents Niue’s growing organic and climate‑resilient agriculture movement.

Mihingarangi talks to Chair of NIOFA, Jamal Veidreyaki.

11:40 Preparing your winter garden with Hannah Zwartz

As we grow closer to the winter months, our gardening expert Hannah Zwartz joins Susie to teach us about the optimal times for planting winter veges, pruning stone fruit and how to cultivate a thriving garden bed.

Hannah has over 30 years' experience gardening professionally, including looking after the herb and succulent areas at Wellington Botanic Garden and running community market gardens in the Hutt Valley.

11:54 Jordan With a Why on her love for the Pasifika Festival

We cross to Mihi again at the Pasifika Festival which runs this weekend at Western Springs.

A big part of the festival is the performances which celebrate the diversity of Pacific cultures and traditions. 

Jordan With a Why is a South Auckland-based R&B and neo-soul artist who blends Māori and Samoan heritage into her music.

She joins Mihi.