The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

This week the Prime Minister announced the loosening of Covid restrictions.  Did the government provide any guidance for businesses as to how they might deal with the removal or not of mandates within their organisations?    Andrew Little has hinted the Covid-19 response minister role may soon be disestablished.  Political reporter Thomas Coughlan joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystu...

On Friday, Tourism Minister Stuart Nash reiterated calls for a new-look tourism industry, insisting we will not fall back into our old ways.   The return of international tourists is less than a month away with the border open to Australians from April 12 and visitors from the likes of the UK and US from May 1st.   So, what does the tourism industry need right now and is Stuart Nash’s new-look sec...

Visiting Shantytown in Greymouth, no Wild Food Festival but still plenty to do like walking around the easy track of the Hokitika Gorge, a bit of souvenir shopping for a blown glass bauble and the fabulous coastline including the Pancake Rocks.  Megan Singleton, blogger at Large.com, joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I Am Autistic by Chanelle Moriah. A New Zealander who has written an interactive and informative guide to autism – as they say, by someone diagnosed with it. It explains a huge amount about autism – why autistics sometimes behave in the way they do, how they see and interact with the world, and really helps with better understanding. I think it’s been done both for the interested reader, like me,...

The conversation this week looks like it'll be alert levels, mandates and passes. What do you predict the announcement will be this week? What's a realistic timeframe for them to be removed?   Unvaccinated Kiwis can now enter the country without going to MIQ.  What legacy does Simon Bridges leave on parliament and the National Party? How tough of a job does Nicola Willis now have on her hands?   D...

Mad Max: Fury Road was a cultural phenomenon, it won six Oscars and has been hailed as the greatest action film of all time.   But behind the success is a story that spans two decades, one of stalled production, many obstacles and even feuding actors.   Kyle Buchanan is a film critic and pop culture writer for the NY Times, he’s also known as The Projectionist when it comes to awards season.   Kyl...

I think this week it's just started to cool off, along with some welcome rains this weekend. I'm feeling Autumn is just around the corner! Whilst walking Hector yesterday in the forest, with leaves falling all around me, I thought to myself. What is my favourite season? It's hard but I would have to say Autumn, followed closely by Spring!  We haven't harvested all our peaches yet but together with...

It is so important to not over-exercise after covid and to give yourself time for recovery.   Erin O’Hara joined Francesca Rudkin to talk about what types of exercise are good and how to ease back into exercise again.  Erin is the co-founder, director, naturopath and yoga teacher at Golden Yogi. She holds a bachelor of science (physiology) and a bachelor of natural medicine.  LISTEN ABOVE See omny...

Alex Tarrant is set to be New Zealand’s next big break out star in the US.   He’s currently living in Hawaii starring in NCIS: Hawaii and is filming the hugely anticipated Lord of the Rings series, Rings of Power – his past roles include Filthy Rich, 800 Words and a stint on Shortland Street.   His latest film is hitting cinemas nationwide this week, it’s the Kiwi-Canadian dystopian film Night Rai...

Local supernatural anthology series Beyond the Veil draws on elements of Māori, Pasifika and Filipino culture. A new scripted Netflix series about the band U2 is on the way, written by Kiwi Oscar nominee Anthony McCarten.  Anthony McCarten is a New Zealand novelist, playwright, journalist, television writer and filmmaker. He is best known for writing the biopics The Theory of Everything, Darkest H...

Do you wear shoes in the house?   There is debate with some scientific evidence to help with your decision.  https://theconversation.com/wearing-shoes-in-the-house-is-just-plain-gross-the-verdict-from-scientists-who-study-indoor-contaminants -177542  The article was written by two environmental chemists who have spent a decade examining the indoor environment and the contaminants people are expose...

Jacinda Ardern's signalling when a decision on lifting Covid-19 mandates will be made. Vaccine mandates and passes continue to be a key part of the Government's Covid-19 response. That's despite high case numbers and hospitalisations. But the Prime Minister told Francesca Rudkin a decision on when they will be dropped isn't too far away. “So, we’ll be making decisions over the next week, and signa...

Cabinet is reviewing all Covid-19 settings.  Will we see a cautious approach or do the Government have it in them to be bold here?  Newstalk ZB chief political reporter, Jason Walls, joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last thing you need on your big day is the panic of a key vendor calling in sick after the dreaded positive covid test.   But Photographer Hemi Phillips has come up with a genius idea to save the day.   It’s called Mayday Weddings.  Hemi joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley. This is I think her 5th novel – she writes really intriguing books about people being caught in a time and place and what can go wrong. A few years ago, I loved The Hunting Party which was quite Agatha Christie-esque, set in a hunting lodge in Scotland during a huge snowfall when no one could arrive or leave, where a group of long-time friends are spending New Ye...

Let’s talk about staying in Abel Tasman National Park.  I was initially set to take my tour to Awaroa Lodge, which I’d heard great things about. But a few days before we left, they had to unexpectedly close for the rest of the season as they had staff down with Covid.  So, we were very lucky and managed to get into Wilson’s Abel Tasman, which owns two lodges and runs multi-day tours which – usuall...

The latest poll results; what is the way forward for Labour? Can Ardern’s popularity bounce back?    The cost-of-living crisis; How has this impacted you? How concerned should we be? Will we start using cars less?  NZ Herald senior writer, Simon Wilson and Lawyer, Liam Hehir joined Francesca Rudkin on the Panel.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story of Team Zimbabwe is one of the most uplifting and unlikely stories.  It’s the journey of four refugees forced to flee their home country, not only do they make a new life for themselves in their adopted home of South Africa but they join forces to become top wine judges and Zimbabwe’s first-ever wine tasting team.  (Photo / Supplied) The documentary is called Blind Ambition. Joseph Dhafa...

Post-viral fatigue refers to lingering feelings of extreme tiredness after a viral illness.   The British Medical Journal defines ‘long Covid’ as “illness in people who have either recovered from Covid-19 but are still reporting lasting effects of the infection or have had the usual symptoms for far longer than would be expected”.  Erin O’Hara joined Francesca Rudkin on how to manage symptoms of p...

Mike’s website – goodfromscratch.co.nz    This week I want to talk about figs, as they are so ripe right now!  Figs have a very short season, so when they are fresh, we need to pick them straight away, as they don't last long once picked,  Fresh figs are low in calories and contain a variety of vitamins and minerals. However, dried figs are high in sugar and calories. So fresh is best.  So, this w...

Tomorrow is Pi Day, so I thought we would celebrate one of the most well-known numbers in math.  March 14th, or 3/14 – in the American date form – is celebrated as Pi Day because 3.14 are the first digits of Pi.  Nerds around the world – including me – love celebrating this infinitely long, never-ending number – usually by baking and eating an actual pie.  Pi is the most studied number in mathemat...

“That’s some bullsh—… someone has miscounted” – Samuel L. Jackson learns that he isn’t #1 on a list of who’s sworn most on-screen. So, who is?   Thoughts on new NBA true story Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.  Editor at flicks.co.nz, Steve Newall joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi Phil Keoghan has had just the most amazing career.   He started off with TVNZ in the 1990s and he’s travelled the world as host of the Amazing Race – which is now up to an incredible 34 seasons.   Phil’s latest reality show is called Tough As Nails and it’s inspired by his working-class New Zealand ancestors.  Phil Keoghan joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Remember Nurse Jenny?  A couple of years ago now, Kiwi intensive care nurse Jenny McGee made headlines around the world, for her care of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.  Jenny McGee is now back in New Zealand.  She joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a good week for National in the poll.   Christopher Luxon isn’t getting overly excited – reminding the troops there is a lot to do, and the importance of staying focused.  Is this a wake-up call for Labour?   Is this result a surprise? Political reporter Thomas Coughlan joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.