Afternoons for Thursday 27 February 2025

1:15 The case for ethical whitebait 

First up on the menu this afternoon: whitebait. 

This seafood delicacy is traditionally enjoyed as a fritter between two slices of white bread, but can also come with a dollop of guilt.

Whitebait are juvenile fish specific to just six species and four of those are in decline here or threatened.

But the launch of a new business venture may make it a bit easier to swallow.

By breeding its own juveniles, Manāki Whitebait - the country's first commercial whitebait farm - reduces the pressure on wild stocks.

General Manager, Casey Leatherby talks to Jesse.

1:25 The carbon accountant

It'd be fair to say that back in 2009 we didn't have the awareness of climate change that we do now.

But a young Kiwi accountant was about to take a deep dive into the issue, and is now recognised as a leader in the field of carbon accountancy.

Dunedin's Andrew Douglas has now been awarded a fellowship of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand in recognition of his contribution to the organisation. 

1:35 Peeking further into the universe than ever before

Why does life exist? How did the universe come to be? Is there anybody out there? or are we all alone? 

Well....NASA's new SPHEREx infrared telescope, which is scheduled for launch this weekend, could answer those questions. 

The two-year mission will gather images of 1 billion galaxies, 100 million stars, and 10,000 asteroids and help generate the most colourful map of the cosmos ever made. 

Deanne Fisher is Associate Professor of Astronomy at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. 

She's excited about all this - and has written about the launch it in The Conversation.  

1:45 Great album: My Babylon by Avalanche City

Our feature album today is My Babylon by Avalanche City. 

This was the third studio album from singer songwriter Dave Baxter under the Avalanche City moniker. 

The record is defined by a strong departure from Dave's earlier folky, guitar based music. My Babylon is more moody, more experimental. 

The vinyl version is also the prize for our Link 3 winner today. 

It's also a bit of a way to let you know that for tomorrow's NZ Live, Dave will be playing along with his fellow musician Luke Thompson. 

Both Luke and Dave are about to start a joint New Zealand tour, kicking off with NZ Live tomorrow. 

2:10 Podcast Critic: The Bunny Trap and Sea of Lies

Jemima Huston dials in to review two investigative podcasts. Firstly, The Bunny Trap by Novel is about the dark heart of the adult entertainment industry. Jemima then discusses Sea of Lies by CBC Uncover, a podcast about the world of a devious scammer whose trail of destruction crosses continents and decades.

2:30 NZ Sporting History: Hamish Kerr

In this segment we often go way back in time, but today we are doing something rare and focusing on the now.

It takes a special kind of athlete to get this treatment, but current Olympic high jump champion Hamish Kerr fits the bill

You might remember he won that gold medal after a jump off with American Shelby McEwen.

3:15 Your Money with Mary Holm 

Mary Holm is in studio and today she brings the 'three most important things to do with your Kiwisaver'. 

3:35 BBC Witness History

3:45 The pre-Panel 

Filing in for Wallace Chapman is Emile Donovan​, he is in studio with Jesse to preview tonight's installment of The Panel. He's joined by producer Olivia Wilson.