Summer Times

9:10 Tenby Powell receives New Years Honour

Former Tauranga mayor and the man behind Ukraine aid charity Kiwi K.A.R.E  Tenby Powell has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business, governance and humanitarian work. 

He joins Summer Times to reflect on his career helping others.

9:20 Are cartoon strips still relevant in 2026?

We all had our favourite funnies pages back in the day, and many of the most beloved strips are still going. 

Peanuts hit 75 last year, Beano is approaching its 90th birthday and recently, a new illustrator has taken the reigns of the Nancy comics. Meanwhile, the work of political cartoonists continues to thrive in many print newspapers. 

Dr Greg Treadwell worked as a reporter, photographer and newspaper editor before he joined Auckland University of Technology as a journalism lecturer. He’s a big fan of the political cartoon and he joins Anna live to discuss the role of newspaper comic strips in society through the decades. 

9:45 Getting the kids back to school with Dr Libby

With schools starting back in many places this time next week, some parents might be wondering how well their children are going to fall back into the routine of early mornings - and perhaps harder still, early bedtimes! 

Biochemist and best-selling author Dr Libby Weaver joins Anna with some hot tips to help ease the transition back to day-to-day routine. 

9:55 Geo Jumble 

Each day Summer Times hosts the Geo Jumble quiz, in which listeners are asked to unscramble the letters within given words to spell out New Zealand towns and cities. The first to text in all three correct answers is entered in a weekly prize draw.  

Text in your answer to 2101. 

10:06 Road Trip: Rehette Stoltz

Rehette Stoltz is a name most New Zealanders will be familiar with. Unfortunately for the past few years it’s usually when the Tairawhiti region is deluged or facing some sort of climate related crisis.

The Gisborne mayor joins Summer Times for a road trip, picking the tunes, and sharing what brought her to New Zealand from South Africa all those years ago, and what motivated her to stand and lead the Gisborne District Council.

Rehette's playlist:

• Keane - Somewhere Only We Know 
• Coldplay - Feels Like I Am Falling in Love 
• Cat Stevens - Father and Son 
• Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water 
• Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky 

11:10 Museum Stop: Buried Village of Te Wairoa 

The 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera lasted six hours and caused massive destruction.  

More than 120 people were killed and the famous tourist attraction the Pink and White Terraces were lost forever. 

Today we're stopping at the Buried Village of Te Wairoa, which tells the story of the eruption and is New Zealand’s most visited archaeological site. 

Dave McGrath's family has been involved with the Buried Village for more than 90 years and he joins Anna Thomas.

11:20 How to talk to animals 

Have you ever wondered what your pet would say if they could talk? 

Alexis Devine is an artist, entrepreneur and dog whisperer Alexis from Seattle, and she's been hard at work teaching her sheepadoodle Bunny how to speak. 

Bunny uses AIC, or 'augmentative interspecies communication' buttons to communicate, hitting the buttons with her paw to tell Alexis what she feels and wants. 

Alexis joins Anna. 

11:40 Biz news with Tim McCready 

Business commentator Tim McCready joins Summer Times to forecast some big changes for Auckland in 2026 with the opening of the much-awaited City Rail Link and International Convention Centre, some international trade agreements to watch out for, and what's happening in AI.