Hēmi Kelly reveals the quick air-fryer meal he can’t stop making

Hēmi Kelly’s latest kitchen favourite takes just 10 minutes in an air fryer, and the Māori language creator says it is an easy dish that works alongside almost anything—or as a meal on its own. In a Sunday Q&A, Kelly shared his go-to recipe: roast rīwai, or potatoes, tossed in olive oil and seasoned with herbs. He said he uses fresh rosemary from his garden, along with salt and pepper, before cooking them until they turn crisp and golden. “Air-fryer roast rīwai” is one of several everyday favourites Kelly discussed in the publication’s Open Tabs feature. He also spoke about translating the waiata “Ten Guitars” into Māori, describing the process of replaying its lines, counting syllables and finding words that preserve the meaning while fitting the tune. Kelly, who created Everyday Māori and directs the Māori language consultancy Tautika Ltd, said he had also been thinking about the Netflix series Radioactive Emergency. The Brazilian series recounts the 1987 Goiânia incident, when scrap-metal workers found radioactive caesium-137 and unknowingly brought it into their community. Among the other things he mentioned were Journey, a book by Yung Pueblo that he wants to read, likely in audiobook form, and his home’s Google-operated setup. Kelly said his partner, whom he described as tech-savvy, helped install systems for lights, music and television. Being able to control them without getting up, he added, had become a luxury he had grown used to. The quick potato recipe was the most practical tip in Kelly’s answers: a handful of ingredients, a short cooking time and a result he says can stand alone or accompany other food.