The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Well, we all love a bit of weather chat don’t we, and it’s been a bit of a crazy unsettled start to summer this year.  What scenarios are we looking at for Christmas / NY period? Over Summer in general?  Are extreme weather events becoming more common?  MetService Head of Weather and Communications, Lisa Murray, joined Francesca Rudkin.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Changes to the Resource Management Act making it easier to build houses in the country's biggest cities has passed its final reading in Parliament with cross-party support.  Does it address concerns raised at the select committee stage?   Is this going to make a difference to the housing crisis, or for first home buyers.    The Government has delayed the next stage of its controversial Three Water...

How to deal with Omicron?  Yesterday four more cases of the new variant were found in MIQ, bringing New Zealand’s total to 8 cases at the border.  It is spreading like lightening through cities around the globe.  Melbourne University epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely is about to publish his thoughts on how to react and deal with Omicron.  Tony Blakely joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See...

So, this is our final show of the year, and I want to start by saying thank you to you, our listeners, for hanging with us on Sunday mornings. We’re very grateful for your support, and my producer Kerrie and I hope we’ve kept you informed, entertained, and hopefully inspired by the range of guests and contributors on the show. You have certainly informed and entertained me with your feedback and I...

Lost and Found by Toni Street which I’m sure needs absolutely no introduction. It’s quite deservedly been one of our biggest bestsellers this season and I’m so thrilled for her. Extraordinary story. Never by Ken Follett. He started his writing career with thrillers like The Key to Rebecca and The Eye of the Needle, and then went on to do big historical fiction – Pillars of the Earth etc. Now he’s...

Travel blogger Megan Singleton joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss how to add your My Vaccine Pass to your Air NZ app. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Covid cases dropping in Auckland, there is cause for optimism for the city to move to the Orange setting of the Traffic Light System. Yesterday saw 63 new cases recorded, with 53 in Auckland. The Government will review the settings at Cabinet on Monday. A new career path is being considered for the next generation. A survey by Logitech NZ found that 75 per cent of 11 to 18-year-olds saw caree...

It’s fair to say the last few months, or indeed the last 18 months, has tested the resilience of many of us.  A global pandemic will do that right?  Even the experts in the field were forced to reassess life during Covid and Hugh van Cuylenberg was one of those.  Hugh is the founder of The Resilience Project. He has worked alongside many elite sports teams, schools and workplaces teaching mental h...

This time of year can be stressful and overwhelming as you wind up for the year and prepare for the summer holidays.   Your "to-do list" might be overwhelmingly long - shopping, work is manic, kids home from school, preparing family gatherings and food for Christmas, and the list goes on and on.  Wellness expert Erin O'Hara joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss how to destress and stay calm during th...

It's the season to be merry, and with the new traffic light system even Aucklanders are back in the bars with Christmas parties to attend.  However, if you are thinking about having 'one for the road' it's worth noting that new research in the Harm Reduction Journal found that half of drinkers cannot tell if they are too drunk to drive. The experiment took place over 2 days took 90 volunteers and...

It’s a far cry from the job options on offer when we were growing up but it seems our children aspire for careers on YouTube and Twitch.  A new survey commissioned by Logitech New Zealand has reported that 75 per cent of 11–18-year-olds see online streaming as a viable career.  So how does it work and how lucrative can this market be?  Kiwi Twitch star Granny joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE...

A few musical icons have been lost this week. The Monkees star Michael Nesmith the singer-songwriter, author, actor-director and entrepreneur who will likely be best remembered as the wool-hatted, guitar-strumming member of the made-for-television rock band died at 78. Another icon we lost was Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare, a Jamaican bass guitarist and record producer, best known as half of the...

Mike’s website –  www.vandeelzen .com  This week is the second to last week before 2021 comes to an end so I'm giving you my easy tips around making Christmas Day dining a little less stressful! Today I want to give you a selection of dressings that will help you boost your sides, salads and roasted meats. Sauces and dressings can make such a big difference, they help to boost the flavour of all y...

It’s been a wait, but after seven long years, Outlander fans finally have another piece of the story.  The ninth book in the historical fantasy series, Go Tell The Bees That I am Gone, by Diana Gabaldon is out now. The last Outlander book was released in 2014, the same year the TV adaption started.  Diana Gabaldon joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

Work on the world's first-ever floating city is set to get underway next year.  Backed by the United Nations, the green light has been given for the flood-resistant ocean city off the coast of South Korea.  The project is spearheaded by company Oceanix.   Oceanix co-founder and CEO Marc Collins Chen joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claire Trevett is a political reporter from the NZ Herald and she joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss Christopher Luxon's first encounters with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Act Leader David Seymour. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday I watched The First Wave on Disney+. It’s a National Geographic documentary that looks at the first four months of the Covid 19 outbreak in 2020 in New York City through the eyes of those on the front line, the hospital workers at Long Island Jewish Medical Centre.  It’s a harrowing watch. A glimpse of a grim reality we avoided here in New Zealand and an insight into what an overwhelmed...

Joan Mackenzie has another pair of strong picks for our bookworms. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel blogger Megan Singleton has all the info on what to do on the beautiful Waiheke Island. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Dickens and Brodie Kane joined Francesca Rudkin on the Sunday Panel. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer is here and it is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors and the many trails and walks on offer.  For novice or experienced trampers you may want tips or hints, where to go, a new track or just where to get started.  Shaun Barnett has tramped the length and breadth of our fine country; he has worked for the Department of Conservation but is now an author, editor and photog...

This week we headed back to bars, some people got a little overly excited and got into trouble and the police once again had to deal with the consequences in Auckland. As summer is almost upon as, the question has to be asked around how prevalent is binge drinking still these days?  Wellness expert Erin O'Hara joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Mike’s website –  www.vandeelzen .com  Carrying on with my  "Make Xmas Day Easier" theme.   Today want to share with you a great little dessert for Xmas day. No only are they super easy to make, they can also be stored for up to 4 days making them perfect for getting ahead.   I'm talking about creme brûlée. Whilst I have spoken about other flavours before, today I have a recipe for a chocolate cre...

I can't turn this one down - it's ducklings!  Have you ever noticed when you see ducklings on the water they all line up in a row behind mum?  I had assumed that this was so they didn't get lost and they could all see each other, but no - fluid dynamics has just figured out the ducklings are wave riding to save energy!  Published in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics.  The researchers used computer mo...

Rhythm and Vines organisers have announced they will be postponing the New Years event until the Easter weekend and Steve Newall, editor of flicks.co.nz joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss whether it is a good move or destined for disaster. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.