Rnz: Afternoons With Jesse Mulligan

A new international proposal is sparking debate in the autism community, with a diagnosis of "profound autism" now under consideration. The proposed diagnosis would describe autistic people who have little or no functional language, an IQ below 50, and who require 24-hour supervision and care. A new Australian study has taken a closer look at what this could mean for children and their families. Jesse spoke with Dr Antoinette Hodge, a Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist at The Children's Hospital at Westmead in New South Wales.

Now we're heading to the centre of the North Island where Waimarino Golf Club is marking it's 100th birthday this Easter. At 580 metres above sea level, set against a stunning backdrop that is Mount Ruapehu - it's not hard to see why it's had enduring appeal. But like lots of country courses, it really has to be innovative to keep going. Club President Aiden Gilbert joined Jesse.

Recent severe weather and flooding have seen a huge number of 'states of emergency' declared across the country. In fact, there has already been more states of emergency declared in 2026 than all of last year, and we're only in February. So, what's behind this rise and how does the whole process work? John Price, Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management spoke to Jesse.

Well, it's the story that's got everyone talking - former Prince Andrew was arrested on Thursday morning UK time on suspicion of misconduct in public office ... The arrest follows allegations that he shared confidential government material with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He is the first senior British royal in modern history to be arrested. He has since been 'released under investigation' with King Charles saying in a statement that, "the law must take its course." So, what will this mean for the monarchy moving forward? Dr Grant Morris spoke to Jesse.

We're asking because it seems that most adults, in the midst of busy lives, have swapped play and silliness for seriousness and productivity. But there is clear evidence that you adults benefit from play just as children do. So what are these benefits and how can we all get more playful? Scott Duncan, Professor of Population Health, Auckland University of Technology explains.

Personal finance whizz Mary Holm joins Jesse to share some tricks and tips on picking your Kiwisaver fund.

Today Jesse continues through the A-Z of Aotearoa. Today it's the letter P for Pies.

Every second Thursday we talk about relationships with Professor Kirsty Ross from Massey University's School of Psychology Whether matters of the heart, workplace dramas or friendship pickles, relationships take work and sometimes a professional opinion can come in handy to sort any conflicts. If there are any topics, you would like Kirsty to cover email us at afternoons@rnz.co.nz

It's been a huge year for indie darlings The Beths who are back in the country after wrapping up an epic 70-show run at the end of last year not to mention an appearance on American talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live, Here to tell us how it all went and what's coming up next, Jesse is joined by lead singer Liz Stokes!

Today we're chatting with the team behind Jamie's Angels, a home-delivered meal service providing hundreds of fresh meals every week to elderly residents in Whanganui The husband and wife team took over the business from their son when he moved to London many years ago; what began as a small family business has grown into something pretty special. Graham Lillington from Jamie's Angels chats to Jesse.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop has outlined changes to housing densification plans for Auckland - with cabinet agreeing to lower the maximum number of houses in Auckland from 2 million to at least 1.6 million. The U-turn comes after Auckland Council had been progressing a new plan to accommodate up to 2 million homes in the coming decades.

Everyone knows someone who always manages to show up late for everything. Some people live by the clock, believing that on time is late. Some people live in the moment and refuse to be bound by a clock. We each have our own time personalities says Professor Dawna Ballard.

It's Wednesday which means two things - you've made it to the middle of the week - and it's Easy Eats' day. Kelly Gibney joins me to share a yummy recipe that's full of flavour and quick to prepare.

It's time for Heading Off, our weekly travel segment where we jet around the world gathering tips and tricks for your future holidays. Do let us know if you've been on an interesting journey recently, we'd love to hear from you, 2101. Today we're keeping it in the family with host of RNZ's award-winning podcast The Detail, Amanda Gillies. Amanda has been on a cruise. 14 family members, all ages, one ship - what could possibly go wrong?

Our Changing World's Claire Concannon chats to Jesse with the latest on the Kakapo Files plus she explains what e-textiles and sensing materials are and how they could change the fashion industry.

Flooding, landslides, wild winds, these extreme weather events can leave many of you feeling overwhelmed about the state of our climate and what we could be facing in the future. But help could be at hand. The Climatics is a new people-powered climate fund that says it'll offer a practical way to take action by pooling money from everyday Kiwis and directing those funds to the climate groups doing systems-change work in Aotearoa. The Climatics co-founders Pip Wheaton and MJ Bethell chat to Jesse.

Globally, Monarch butterfly numbers are in sharp decline with populations in the United States dropping by as much as 96 percent. The outlook isn't good for Monarchs in New Zealand either. fortunately there are New Zealanders keen to change that. Franklin Farm in Auckland's Waimauku has been growing celery for nearly 120 years. When the team began noticing fewer butterflies in their fields they decided to transform part of the farm into a dedicated butterfly breeding programme Jasmine Franklin helps run Franklin Farm, she chats to Jesse.

How we shop could be about to change dramatically, thanks to an AI innovation. Agentic AI can give recommendations and complete commercial transactions on your behalf - without you ever having to visit a business website directly. Here to explain how it could work is Stuff Money Editor, Damien Venuto

We're going to start today's show discussing New Zealand's dog problem and what can be done about it. The death of a Northland women after a fatal dog attack is the latest in a long list of dog-related incidents around the country So how did we get here and what needs to change so these attacks don't become more commonplace?

Spymaster George Smiley was at the breakfast-table for Nick Harkaway growing up. His father, John le Carré, born David Cornwell, would draft the Circus's latest intrigues on scraps of paper at dawn and read them aloud over tea and toast. It was an apprenticeship in spymasters and writing. Five years after le Carré's death, Smiley lives on in a play on London's West End and in new novels written by Harkaway himself including a 2024 revival with another on the way.