Rnz: Afternoons With Jesse Mulligan

International World Turtle Day was celebrated recently, a day to shellerbrate the magnificent turtles of the world and call attention to the many threats they face in our oceans. Turtles are threatened by plastic and chemical pollution in our oceans and human activity on land and water. You might not think we have turtles in Aotearoa, but five species frequent our waters. The honu, or leatherback sea turtle, is found worldwide and has been spotted as far south as Rakiura Stewart Island. Leatherbacks are impressive creatures, growing up to 2.7 m long and weighing about 500 kg.

This week builder Stan Scott joins Jesse to help with any handy hints for projects people might be undertaking at home. If you have a question or need a hand with something you're up to please text 2101 or email jesse@rnz.co.nz.

Today's recipe from Gretchen Lowe is a fabulous evening meal for the family or a lovely platter to share with a larger number of guests as a snack. Gretchen shares her recipe for chicken meatballs with whipped tahini. You can find the recipe here.

Today Kate talks to Jesse about The Garfield Movie, her top 5 picks for the long weekend and a 10 year celebration of Christopher Nolans' Interstellar release taking place at the Stardome.

Our weekly segment where we ask listeners to share their strange and spooky stories. If you have a spooky tale to share, email afternoons@rnz.co.nz or text 2101 with the details.

The Kitchen Project is an Auckland Council initiative that's been running since 2018 It aims to help food entrepreneurs build successful, sustainable businesses. It does this by providing them with access to education, resources and industry mentors. Connie Clarkson - the founder & project manager, she speaks to Jesse.

Safe Surfer is an organisation here in Aotearoa New Zealand who've come up with a potential solution to the damage that devices are doing to young people. Rory Birkbeck is part of the team, and a dad, he talks to Jesse.

Big night for music in Aotearoa last night with the music awards being handed out to our talented musical artists and associated craft. We catch up with Marlon Williams about his big win.

Today Mary talks about first home buying following the loss of the Kiwisaver first home buyer grant. She has some tips about using Kiwisaver to buy a home and other options for those looking to purchase their first property.

More than 1,700 people have signed up for the Starship hospitals recently launched community bake off. The bake off is raising money to support the hospital, which in turn supports over 140,000 children each year. One of the people powering up the stand mixer is Director of Paediatric Medical Specialties Dr Helen Evans. She speaks to Susana.

How do New Zealand politicians stack up in their choice of dress? Are they sharp or shabby? Stylist Michiko Hylands talks to Susana.

Saturday is one of the biggest days in the farming calendar - moooo'ving day. The annual event sees farmers, pack up their homes and herds to head to new pastures. Hundreds of thousands of cattle and thousands of farming families will hit the road. Most of the cattle are moved by truck, but if you're heading off the state highway this long weekend, don't be surprised to see cows on the back country roads too. To find out why the entire farming community move on the same day I'm joined by Fed Farmers National share farmers chair Sam Ebbett talks to Susana.

Now on Our Changing World, a story from Australia's ABC Science series, Pacific Scientific, about one of the last places without the killer frog fungus. We join reporter James Purtill just outside of Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, on a frog hunt with Yolarnie Amepou, director of the Piku Biodiversity Network, and her friend Heather.

Carli McConkey didn't join a cult, she was recruited into one at a time when she was searching for direction in her life. She spent 13 years working for nothing, even enduring medical sterilization while part of a doomsday cult called Universal Knowledge in Australia. She's now an advocate for people drawn in to these groups, despite attempts to silence her by the former leader of the group. In this age of misinformation and conspiracy theories, Carli McConkey helps us understand how people get taken in by what may seem like outrageous ideas.

This week's midweek meal inspiration from chef, author and busy mum Sam Parish is bound to be a regular go to dinner for many households. She's got a great tasty and budget friendly recipe for eggplant and chicken parmigana.

Today Ximena talks to Jesse about The Gas Man, an investigative series from Tortoise Media. She's also been listening to Intrigue: To Catch a Scorpian.

For Heading Off today we're heading to the east coast of the South Island to Waitaki. It's one of the destinations around that is attracting more tourists each year. We speak to journalist Lisa Scott about why Waitaki!

BabyX is an interactive AI model of an 18 month old. It was originally launched in 2013, by then Auckland University researcher Mark Sagar. Over the last 10 years it's been developed and improved, to the point it's now suitable for academic research into early childhood development It allows researchers to do work that would be impossible or unethical on real human participants. University of Auckland psychologist Florian Bednarski is taking advantage of those possibilities to conduct groundbreaking research.

The New Zealand Rose of Trelee competition took place in Invercargill this weekend The annual contest has been running here since 1966 and sees women of Irish heritage compete for a slot in the International Rose Of Trelee contest which takes place in Ireland later this year. The winner of that becomes a global ambassador for the country - it's a big prize which comes with a 25,000 euro travel budget This years New Zealand winner - 21 year old Keely O'Grady. She speaks to Jesse.

Aucklands oldest department store Smith and Caughey's is set to close in 2025. The retail store on Queen Street has been a fixture for 144 years Jesse speaks with CEO of Auckland's Heart of the City; Viv Beck.