New Zealand was host to two contrasting acts this week, playing out at the opposite ends of the North Island. 

On Thursday, Auckland’s Laneway Festival was held at Western Springs, whilst in Wellington, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds played two shows – one Thursday and one Friday.  

Chris Schulz was at both events, and joined Jack Tame to share his thoughts.   

LISTEN ABOVE 

New Zealand was host to two contrasting acts this week, playing out at the opposite ends of the North Island.&nbsp;
On Thursday, Auckland’s Laneway Festival was held at Western Springs, whilst in Wellington, Nick Cave &amp; The Bad Seeds played two shows – one Thursday and one Friday. &nbsp;
Chris Schulz was at both events, and joined Jack Tame to share his thoughts. &nbsp;&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB.

News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB. News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Chris Schulz: Reviewing Laneway and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/6badaabd-d868-4ace-949b-b3ea0006f07d/transcript

There is no easier or cleaner way to cook fish at home. This works with literally every fish you can think of, from boneless fillets to squid or prawns. 

Serves: 2   

Time: 25 minutes   

  

Ingredients   

For the Fish:   
2 skin-on fish fillets (snapper, or any white fish)   
Fresh herbs (optional)   
Salt and black pepper   
Oil, for cooking   

For the Potato Salad:   
500g potatoes, sliced 1cm thick   
1 pickle, chopped   
1 tbsp capers, chopped   
½ small red onion, thinly sliced   
2 tbsp olive oil   
1 tbsp white wine vinegar   
Fresh herbs like basil or parsley (optional)   

  

Method   
Season the fish fillets with salt 5-10 minutes before cooking. Pat them very dry with a paper towel, then rub with oil. Add fresh herbs and pepper to the flesh side if desired.   
Bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the sliced potatoes and cook for 5-6 minutes until just tender. Drain well.  
While the potatoes cook, make the dressing: in a bowl, combine the pickle, capers, onion, olive oil, vinegar, and herbs. Add the hot potatoes and toss gently. Set aside. 
Heat a cast-iron or heavy-based pan over high heat. Place the fish fillets on a sheet of baking paper, then transfer them skin-side down into the hot pan.   
Cook on the skin side until the fish is almost cooked through (the flesh will turn opaque from the bottom up). This usually takes 4-6 minutes depending on thickness.   
Flip the fish for just a few seconds on the flesh side, then remove from the pan immediately.   
Serve the fish alongside the warm potato salad.    

  

Tips     
Dry skin = crispy skin. Patting the fish completely dry before cooking is the secret to perfectly crisp skin.  
Use baking paper: Placing the fish on a sheet of baking paper before adding to the pan prevents sticking and makes flipping easier. 
Adjust timing: Cooking time depends entirely on the thickness of your fillet. A good rule is about 3-4 minutes per centimetre of thickness on the skin side. 
Any fish works: This method is perfect for snapper, salmon, or even squid and prawns (adjust timing accordingly). 

  

LISTEN ABOVE  

There is no easier or cleaner way to cook fish at home. This works with literally every fish you can think of, from boneless fillets to squid or prawns.&nbsp;
Serves: 2 &nbsp;&nbsp;
Time: 25 minutes &nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;
Ingredients &nbsp;&nbsp;
For the Fish: &nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>2 skin-on fish fillets (snapper, or any white fish) &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Fresh herbs (optional) &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Salt and black pepper &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Oil, for cooking &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
For the Potato Salad: &nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>500g potatoes, sliced 1cm thick &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>1 pickle, chopped &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>1 tbsp capers, chopped &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>½ small red onion, thinly sliced &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>2 tbsp olive oil &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>1 tbsp white wine vinegar &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Fresh herbs like basil or parsley (optional) &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;&nbsp;
Method &nbsp;&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Season the fish fillets with salt 5-10 minutes before cooking. Pat them very dry with a paper towel, then rub with oil. Add fresh herbs and pepper to the flesh side if desired. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the sliced potatoes and cook for 5-6 minutes until just tender. Drain well. &nbsp;</li>
<li>While the potatoes cook, make the dressing: in a bowl, combine the pickle, capers, onion, olive oil, vinegar, and herbs. Add the hot potatoes and toss gently. Set aside.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Heat a cast-iron or heavy-based pan over high heat. Place the fish fillets on a sheet of baking paper, then transfer them skin-side down into the hot pan. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Cook on the skin side until the fish is almost cooked through (the flesh will turn opaque from the bottom up). This usually takes 4-6 minutes depending on thickness. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Flip the fish for just a few seconds on the flesh side, then remove from the pan immediately. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Serve the fish alongside the warm potato salad. &nbsp; &nbsp;</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;&nbsp;
Tips &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Dry skin = crispy skin. Patting the fish completely dry before cooking is the secret to perfectly crisp skin. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Use baking paper: Placing the fish on a sheet of baking paper before adding to the pan prevents sticking and makes flipping easier.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Adjust timing: Cooking time depends entirely on the thickness of your fillet. A good rule is about 3-4 minutes per centimetre of thickness on the skin side.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Any fish works: This method is perfect for snapper, salmon, or even squid and prawns (adjust timing accordingly).&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;&nbsp;

Alice Taylor: Pan-Fried Fish with Potato Salad

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f9e0756b-00da-4476-91c8-b4050166d995/transcript

Sirāt  

Luis is traveling through southern Morocco with his son, Esteban. They're searching for his daughter, who has been missing for five months, last seen at a dance festival in the desert. As the pair travel from party to party, they hear of a semi-mythical rave near the border of Mauritania. Descending into the scorched terrain as a not-so-distant global conflict encroaches, Luis and Esteban are soon drawn into a primal landscape in which they must walk a tightrope between heaven and hell. 

 

Tenor: My Name is Pati 

The story of Pene Pati and his brother Amitai Pati's journey from Samoa to platinum-selling success in the trio Sol3 Mio, and the world's great opera stages. 

 

LISTEN ABOVE  

Sirāt &nbsp;
Luis is traveling through southern Morocco with his son, Esteban. They're searching for his daughter, who has been missing for five months, last seen at a dance festival in the desert. As the pair travel from party to party, they hear of a semi-mythical rave near the border of Mauritania. Descending into the scorched terrain as a not-so-distant global conflict encroaches, Luis and Esteban are soon drawn into a primal landscape in which they must walk a tightrope between heaven and hell.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Tenor: My Name is Pati&nbsp;
The story of Pene Pati and his brother Amitai Pati's journey from Samoa to platinum-selling success in the trio Sol3 Mio, and the world's great opera stages.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Francesca Rudkin: Sirāt and Tenor: My Name is Pati

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a7bd88c4-779c-4c69-97a9-b40501648361/transcript

My wife is Iranian. The only reason she is in New Zealand, the only reason we’re together, the only reason we’re living our safe, peaceful life is her parents had the courage and good fortune to escape a terrible regime. They faced extraordinary persecution in Iran for their beliefs. They still have family back home. To say it’s been an interesting week in our household would be an understatement.  

I have been buried in the news – even more than usual. But with all of the confusion and noise that comes in the immediacy of the conflict, there are three components I want to mention this morning which I think are underappreciated.  

The first is the asymmetric component. My sense —at least from the US side of things— is that Donald Trump sees this as a conventional war with conventional armies. His jets are bombing their military institutions and defences. His military is targeting their military. His submarine is torpedoing their warship. He said this morning the war will only end when Iran unconditionally surrenders.  

Except of course, even if Iran does decide to ‘unconditionally’ surrender (which seems unlikely), that won’t be it. In terms of conventional military firepower, Israel and the US are vastly better-resourced than Iran. But what Iran or its proxies can do is attack soft targets. What it can do is resource small pockets of radicalised people to inflict outsized pain and terror in the West. There are billions of Muslims, hundreds of millions of Shia who’ll be watching the war. And while many may abhor the Iranian regime, I’m sure some will view this as a war on Islam. Sadly, I think if we’ve learnt anything this century, it’s that the conflict is very likely to inspire terrorism in the West. It might not come in the next few weeks. It might not come in the next few months. But that’s almost the point, you never quite know.  

The second is the nuclear component. If I were another country watching the events of this week, there are two ways I might look at things. I draw a direct line between Iran’s nuclear program and the war and conclude that even entertaining the idea of a bomb might get me assassinated. Or I might compare the fate of Iran or Libya or Ukraine with that of North Korea and conclude the only way to guarantee and fully protect my sovereignty in a messed-up world is to get a nuclear weapon. I think it’s very likely this war will lead to other countries pursuing the bomb.  

The third is international law. Maybe the US will try and present some evidence about Iran posing an imminent threat, but the relative futility of Iran’s response so far has proved they didn’t. It was telling that when he made his video address announcing the strikes, Trump didn’t even bother trying to make a legal case.  

And yet, the same Western countries that have been wittering on about the importance of international law and the rules-based order have explicitly supported the strikes, or in the case of New Zealand, lamely refused to be drawn on their legality. I don’t understand why people can’t appreciate it’s possible to both abhor the Iranian regime and demand the likes of the US live up to the most basic elements of international law. 

Imagine a scenario a few weeks or months from now where a Chinese fleet occupies a reef within the exclusive economic zone of a Pacific nation. What would we do? Bleat about international law? Lol. Sorry.  

I think there’s every reason to think the concept of international law is basically dead. But from New Zealand’s perspective... what else do we have? What other levers? If we cannot demand our friends and partners play by the rules, why on Earth should we expect anyone else to? 

My wife is Iranian. The only reason she is in New Zealand, the only reason we’re together, the only reason we’re living our safe, peaceful life is her parents had the courage and good fortune to escape a terrible regime. They faced extraordinary persecution in Iran for their beliefs. They still have family back home. To say it’s been an interesting week in our household would be an understatement. &nbsp;
I have been buried in the news – even more than usual. But with all of the confusion and noise that comes in the immediacy of the conflict, there are three components I want to mention this morning which I think are underappreciated. &nbsp;
The first is the asymmetric component. My sense —at least from the US side of things— is that Donald Trump sees this as a conventional war with conventional armies. His jets are bombing their military institutions and defences. His military is targeting their military. His submarine is torpedoing their warship. He said this morning the war will only end when Iran unconditionally surrenders. &nbsp;
Except of course, even if Iran does decide to ‘unconditionally’ surrender (which seems unlikely), that won’t be it. In terms of conventional military firepower, Israel and the US are vastly better-resourced than Iran. But what Iran or its proxies can do is attack soft targets. What it can do is resource small pockets of radicalised people to inflict outsized pain and terror in the West. There are billions of Muslims, hundreds of millions of Shia who’ll be watching the war. And while many may abhor the Iranian regime, I’m sure some will view this as a war on Islam. Sadly, I think if we’ve learnt anything this century, it’s that the conflict is very likely to inspire terrorism in the West. It might not come in the next few weeks. It might not come in the next few months. But that’s almost the point, you never quite know. &nbsp;
The second is the nuclear component. If I were another country watching the events of this week, there are two ways I might look at things. I draw a direct line between Iran’s nuclear program and the war and conclude that even entertaining the idea of a bomb might get me assassinated. Or I might compare the fate of Iran or Libya or Ukraine with that of North Korea and conclude the only way to guarantee and fully protect my sovereignty in a messed-up world is to get a nuclear weapon. I think it’s very likely this war will lead to other countries pursuing the bomb. &nbsp;
The third is international law. Maybe the US will try and present some evidence about Iran posing an imminent threat, but the relative futility of Iran’s response so far has proved they didn’t. It was telling that when he made his video address announcing the strikes, Trump didn’t even bother trying to make a legal case. &nbsp;
And yet, the same Western countries that have been wittering on about the importance of international law and the rules-based order have explicitly supported the strikes, or in the case of New Zealand, lamely refused to be drawn on their legality. I don’t understand why people can’t appreciate it’s possible to both abhor the Iranian regime and demand the likes of the US live up to the most basic elements of international law.&nbsp;
Imagine a scenario a few weeks or months from now where a Chinese fleet occupies a reef within the exclusive economic zone of a Pacific nation. What would we do? Bleat about international law? Lol. Sorry. &nbsp;
I think there’s every reason to think the concept of international law is basically dead. But from New Zealand’s perspective... what else do we have? What other levers? If we cannot demand our friends and partners play by the rules, why on Earth should we expect anyone else to?&nbsp;

Jack Tame: The underappreciated components of the war in the Middle East

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d5ebfb14-7f30-4168-93f0-b40501567410/transcript

Chris Schulz: Reviewing Laneway and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

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