Saturday Morning

7:09 Temuera Morrison on Lee Tamahori

Iconic New Zealand film director Lee Tamahori passed away this week aged 75.

Born in Wellington, he made it all the way to Hollywood, helming such films as The Edge starring Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin. He also directed Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in Die Another Day.

However, it was the success of Once Were Warriors that opened those doors – not just for him but for his leading man, Temuera Morrison.

Temuera joins Mihingarangi Forbes and Guyon Espiner to pay tribute to the man who did so much to shape his acting career.

7:21 Dr Bryan Betty: Youth diabetes on the rise

Diabetes was once considered a condition that only affected older adults but now medical experts have issued a warning about a worrying trend.

More and more younger patients are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and some are only teenagers.

Dr Bryan Betty, a GP representing Diabetes NZ speaks to Guyon about the devastating consequences this trend could have in the years ahead.

7:28 President Trump vs the Mayor of New York

President Donald Trump has lashed out at New York's new mayor.

Zohran Mamdani is a young leftist leader who swept to victory despite fierce attacks on his policies and Muslim heritage from conservative media commentators and Trump himself.

Anita Powell served as Voice Of America's Bureau Chief and Whitehouse Correspondent. 

She joins Guyon live from Washington with the latest.

7:34 Proposed ban on beggars and rough sleepers

The government has said it is considering a ban on people begging and sleeping rough in central business districts.

Business owners say it is both a potential safety issue for staff  – and an economic one – because beggars and rough sleepers can deter foot traffic.

Mark Knoff-Thomas is the CEO of Auckland's Newmarket Business Association.

He's concerned that a ban would only move vulnerable people into other areas of the city and tells Mihi that a holistic approach is needed if we're to find a long- term solution.  

7:41 A lifetime fighting fires

New Zealand’s first volunteer fire brigade was formed in Auckland in 1854. Other main centres followed suit and then regions, towns and villages.

Today, one particular village's volunteer fire brigade is turning 80. 

Though, if records at the Turnbull Library are accurate the Paekākāriki brigade has been going a lot longer than that.

Paekākāriki Deputy Chief Aaron Richardson speaks to Guyon ahead of today's celebrations.

7:47 Eli Katoa: How was he allowed to play?

The fallout from Tongan forward Eli Katoa's concussion came hard and fast this week.

Katoa was stretchered off the field last weekend after displaying 'seizure activity'.

He suffered a heavy head knock during the warm-up before Tonga's game against New Zealand and then two more during the match.

He was later hospitalised and required brain surgery.

RNZ Sports reporter Jamie Wall talks to Mihingarangi about the likely repercussions.

7:53 41 years in the making: The Ngāti Pāoa settlement

About 500 Ngāti Pāoa iwi members filled the parliamentary gallery this week to witness the house pass their treaty bill.

The claim was lodged 41 years ago and had its final reading on Wednesday before parliament passed it into law.

The iwi who has a footprint in Hauraki, Auckland and parts of Mahurangi received 23 million dollars in compensation.

Mihingarangi Forbes and Guyon Espiner discuss the significance.

8:15 Priscilla Presley - Life after Elvis

8:34 Dan Te Whenua Walker: Shaping AI with Te Ao Māori

Identity defines and shapes us all - and if we don't know who we are - or don't accept who we are, it is easy to feel lost and even harder to see a way forward.

Dan Te Whenua Walker is a child of two cultures - born to a Scottish father and a Māori mother, growing up he says he struggled to find a sense of belonging.

But the love and support of his kuia - on both sides of his family - helped to connect him to his roots and set him on the right path.

Dan, of Ngāti Ruanui, is now Senior Partner Development Manager and the first global co-chair for 
Indigenous at Microsoft - a group that empowers employees to share, support and celebrate indigenous culture. 

He talks to Mihingarangi about finding his place in the world - and his plan to shape AI using Te Ao Māori. 

9:08 Saul David: Tunisgrad

Along with Stalingrad and the D-Day landings, the Allied campaign in North Africa was a turning point of World War Two.

Historian, broadcaster and critically acclaimed author Saul David has written an enthralling account of why it played a crucial part in defeating Nazi Germany.

There's a local connection here too. New Zealand forces including the Māori Battalion were a major player in the North African campaign, and the first Māori soldiers were awarded the VC here.

9:34 PM's Award for Literary Achievement for Non-fiction: Ross Calman

This week historian, te reo Māori translator and author, Ross Calman received the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement for Non-fiction.

His body of work includes The Margaret Mahy Book of the Year, 'Treaty of Waitangi'. 

Written specifically for young people, it is essential reading in a year which saw the controversial Treaty Principles Bill kick start a national conversation about what we understand Te Tiriti to mean.  

Ross has also written and spoken extensively about his ancestor and Treaty signatory Te Rauparaha. The Ngāti Toa chief is a controversial figure in New Zealand's history but Ross tells Mihingarangi that there is another story to tell.    

10:08 Chelsea Winter: Nourishing mind, body and soul

New Zealand's best-selling cookbook author Chelsea Winter is back with a brand-new cookbook 'Nourish'. About more than just nutrient dense meals (though it is packed full of them), it also features a whole chapter on food-based home remedies. 

Chelsea Winter is a New Zealand celebrity chef, entrepreneur, food writer, and television personality.

Her 7th cookbook, Tasty, was the NZ bestselling overall title of the year for 2024. 

10:24 Christian White: an almost accidental author

He once sold sandwiches from a golf cart. In fact Australian writer Christian White has held a number of different jobs - everything from picking apples to editing adult films.

But thanks to the virtually overnight success of his debut novel, The Nowhere Child, he can focus on what he has loved doing since he was a child - telling stories. Especially scary ones.

Known also for his work on the critically acclaimed film Relic and the highly successful Netflix series, Clickbait, Christian's latest novel is a psychological thriller called The Long Night.   

He talks to Guyon about why he likes to keep his readers on edge - and how he became an author almost by accident.

10:44 The tech behind NZ's Earth Science

Volcanologist and Earth Sciences New Zealand principal scientist, Graham Leonard is back this week looking at the technology driving new Earth science.

This wide ranging tech allows scientists to understand our planet and continent better, from new satellites and drones, to regular laser and radar based scanning of the country, integration with bespoke AI, quantum tech on deep ocean fibre cables to detect tsunami, and analysing wobbles in GPS signals through the ionosphere to detect Space Weather and maybe also tsunami.

11:08 Playing Favourites with Miriama McDowell and Nī Dekkers Reihana 

Witi Ihimaera's iconic play Woman Far Walking has been reimagined as Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking.

It's an ambitious, visually spectacular staging that weaves English and te reo Māori into one 90-minute show. 

The production premiered on Thursday and marks the company's first full-length bilingual mainstage work. 

Two of the lead actors Miriama McDowell and Nī Dekkers Reihana play favourites.