Where to find New Zealand’s best-smelling hand sanitiser
Rec Room #8 – The things we’ve been enjoying this week
Kia ora, welcome to the newsletter.
Have you voted yet? I did it on Sunday, and in doing so became one of the first New Zealanders to find out about the polling station hand sanitiser.
Soon everyone’s going to be talking about this, so here goes: the hand sanitiser at the polling stations smells amazing. In fact, I’ve never smelled another hand sanitiser quite like it. This leads me to believe this is an exclusive or at least extremely hard to find variety.
That’s why this week I’d like to recommend voting. A) because it’s good to exercise your democratic rights etc, but mostly B) because it could be your only chance to try the amazing hand sanitiser. You really have to smell this stuff for yourself.
–Cal
Jane recommends The Farewell on Neon. “It’s funny, sweet and heartbreaking. Awkwafina plays Billi, an American-Chinese woman who travels to China to spend time with her beloved grandma who is dying from cancer. The problem is, nai nai doesn’t know she’s dying because the family has agreed to keep it from her – a decision Billi struggles with. Awkwafina is superb as Billi, but Zhang Shuzen’s performance as nai nai really shines. This movie made me pine for a grandparent/grandchild relationship I’ve never had. If you’re close with your grandies, proceed with caution (and a box of tissues).”
Sam recommends the book Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. “It's about the struggles of being a good person and sort of the theology/philosophy of grace, kindness and forgiveness. A preacher man in the early 20th century is writing a diary for his son to read after he passes, recounting the history of his life and his town, but more importantly everybody around him. It’s about 15 years old, and it’s one of the best and most beautiful things I've ever read.” (The fourth novel in the Gilead series, Jack, came out last month.)
Duncan recommends Heist with Michael Caine. “It’s an Audible Original podcast which features Michael Caine narrating the stories of epic true heists. It's really not a lot more complicated than that – the original cops and witnesses pick up parts of the story, and as with most Michael Caine situations there are obtrusively loud blues guitar licks more often than you'd like. But the true pleasure of Heist is the absolute joy that is getting a long, sustained opportunity to practise your Michael Caine accent while walking to work or driving around.”
Amber recommends Mizu Bread, a bakery on Symonds Street in Auckland. “Honestly... the cheesecake is the best I’ve ever had.” If you live outside of Auckland I recommend visiting your local bakery and getting a slice of lolly cake. Always delicious.
Leonie recommends Reid & Ruins, aka Nadia Reid and Tiny Ruins live in concert and coming to a town near you (if you live in the South Island). “I saw them on Waiheke on Saturday and they’re such a lovely double act. Clearly very fond friends, they shared a lot of funny stories about each other and some lovely folk music (obviously), and it was all very gentle and beautiful and frankly we all need a night out like that right now.”
Matthew recommends revisiting Shania Twain's classic album Come On Over (International Version). “Possibly a perfect album? Best tracks: 'You're Still the One', 'I'm Holdin' On To Love (To Save My Life)', 'Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)'.”
Alice recommends the Instagram account @katebushpictures. Pretty self-explanatory really – it’s just pictures of Kate Bush, and they’re wonderful.
Finally, Emily recommends adopting a retired greyhound, specifically nine-year-old Levi, who has sore legs. “He is very lovely, I can tell by his face. He just wants you to love him and let him sleep on your couch which is not too much to ask for actually.”
100 Year Forecast
If you haven’t already, definitely check out 100 Year Forecast, and have a scroll of Chris McDowall’s interactive dataviz on the new Climate section of The Spinoff too. My favourite of the five episodes is probably the one on floods – how bad could they get (featuring some quite mind-blowing graphics), what areas are going to be worst affected and what have taniwha been trying to warn us all along? The whole thing is available now.
The second leaders’ debate in two and a half minutes
Another week, another leaders’ debate – I watched the whole thing this time and the only bit I remember is when Judith Collins called Gloriavale “weird”. If you also need to jog your memory as to what else Jacinda, Judith and Paddy talked about for 90 minutes, José’s 2.5 minute highlight package might help. Or it might not. Funny vid either way.
Gone By Lunchtime
Yes! The election is still happening, the leaders are still debating, Gone By Lunchtime is still podcasting. This week’s episode, covering the Stuff / The Press leaders’ debate and everything else that’s happened in the last week, is being recorded as we speak. But will they be brave enough to drop the scoop of the century about the polling station hand sanitiser?
Dietary Requirements
Last week was Chuseok / 추석 / Korean thanksgiving, aka the most important eating event on the Korean calendar. To celebrate, chef Yutak Son from The Shed at Te Motu Vineyard joined the Dietary Requirements team in the studio for a crash course in festive favourites and to make some treats from the meal box he helped prepare with Satellites and the Korean Consulate. I had some of the dumplings and they were extremely tasty, despite (or perhaps because of) cooking them on the office toasted sandwich maker.
Business Is Boring
Remember back in the first lockdown when magazines were basically banned in New Zealand? That’s when last week’s Business is Boring guest Simon Farrell-Green decided to launch a new one. The former editor of Home, a victim of the closure of Bauer Media, founded a new title called Here, which is pretty much the same thing but with a whole new lease on life. He joined Simon Pound for a chat about the journey. (Business is Boring is on holiday this week – back next Thursday!)
Conversations that Count – Ngā Kōrero Whai Take
The third episode of Conversations that Count is all about misinformation. Massey University professor Richard Shaw and academic researcher and science communication specialist Dr Jess Berentson-Shaw, who join host Stacey Morrison for a kōrero that spans everything from the surprising history of misinformation and disinformation in Aotearoa to how we as individuals can act in stopping its spread – as well as what we should be asking of our elected officials to achieve the same.
Alice Snedden’s Bad News: Euthanasia
Once you get to the polling station and slather your hands with delicious sanitiser, you have four quite important decisions to make. One of those is on the euthanasia referendum. Here’s an episode of Alice Snedden’s Bad News on that very topic. And here’s a short and very nicely illustrated On the Rag explainer of what we’re voting on in the cannabis referendum, and a Side Eye comic comparing the proposed new laws to the current alcohol laws.
Got a piping hot rec? Know what brand the polling station hand sanitiser is? Reply to get in touch, and please share Rec Room with anyone else you think might like it.
See you next Wednesday! 👋
