The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

The Government says drones are the way of the future for our military.  As part of a $1.58 billion investment in maritime security ahead of the Budget, the Government will invest in two different types of unmanned aerial aircraft for collecting intelligence. It says there are manufacturers and suppliers of the technology here already.  Defence Minister Chris Penk says it's important to i...

The title-winning play may have come off the field for the Auckland FC football side. They've beaten Sydney FC 1-nil to win the A-League title, after staying at an Auckland hotel on Friday to simulate an away game. Sky Sport analyst and former footballer Jacob Spoonley says Auckland FC's rapid success in the A-League is historic. "The amount of success, and so soon, is something that truly sets Au...

In 2023, the National Party’s main campaign messaging was around the economy, and how the Labour-led Government had mismanaged the economy and country, causing high inflation, rising living costs, and increasing crime. It wasn’t surprising then that the 2024 and 2025 budgets were all about fiscal discipline, a halt to excessive spending, reduced borrowing and “living within our means.” Tax cuts as...

Tommy Emmanuel's a big name in the acoustic guitar world, and he's set to start a new tour. Throughout his career he’s performed with bands like Air Supply and Men at Work, headlined tours around the Globe and toured with Eric Clapton and John Denver. Among his many career awards, he’s won a Grammy for best instrumental arrangement and is one of only 5 ever Chet Atkins certified guitar players. Hi...

Award-winning journalist Patrick Radden Keefe has made a name for himself by taking complex true crime stories -  mysterious deaths, greedy families or shadowy underworlds -and bringing them to light. Patrick has written six books, all best sellers - with Empire of Pain and Say Nothing being the standouts. His latest book is  London Falling , a story of London teenager Zac Brettler who m...

Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan - a terrific crime thriller set in Melbourne, about Judith Lee, a detective who is drawn into a nasty case that has the police baffled. Alexis Turner walks into the police station to report an assault which Judith recognises as the mirror of an identical assault which was brought to her attention some years prior. Then three people (one of whom is Judi...

Holidaymakers have revealed how some hotels and resorts are cracking down on people reserving sun loungers with towels, after a man won a payout over the practice.  This follows the man successfully suing his tour operator for allowing the practice to take place while he was on holiday with his family in 2024, claiming he spent 20 minutes a day trying to find a sun lounger early in the mornin...

This week on the Sunday Panel, director at Capital Ben Thomas and Newstalk ZB Wellington mornings host Nick Mills joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Government has unveiled their new system designed to replace NCEA. Do we think parents and students are getting enough clarity around the curriculum and how assessments are going to go? What does this mean...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 17 May 2026, investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe has spent his career bringing little known true crime stories into the mainstream.  He joins Francesca to talk about his new book 'London Falling' which follows the parents of teenager Zac Brettler as they uncover the truth behind their sons death. Legendary guit...

Peptides can benefit health by offering targeted benefits, such as weight loss (semaglutide), injury healing (BPC-157), and immune support - but there's risks involved too. While FDA-approved peptides are generally safe under medical guidance, many others lack safety studies, and improperly sourced peptides may contain contaminants, leading to severe reactions. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin...

If you’ve ever watched a crab dart across a beach, you’ve probably noticed something strange - that they almost never walk forward.  Instead, they scuttle sideways with surprising speed and agility, a movement so iconic it has practically become the defining feature of crabs themselves.  Now, scientists have published in the journal  eLife that they believe they know where this unus...

Curried pumpkin and coconut soup Cook time: 30 minutes  Prep time: 15 minutes  Serves: 6-8 1 crown pumpkin, peeled and de-seeded  2 medium sized onions  10 cloves garlic 1 tbsp garam masala  1 tbsp ground coriander  1 tbsp ground cummin  1 tsp tumeric   1.5 ltr vegetable stock  400 gm coconut cream 1 cup cream  100 gm butter  Salt  Sunflo...

Over 37,000 people were welcomed to Christchurch's new One New Zealand Stadium for the venue's first concert. The Once in a Lifetime show was headlined by Six60, Kaylee Bell, Cassie Henderson and Synthony, among others. Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall explained further.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's best stone skimmers got the chance to show off their skills at Wānaka's Lake Hāwea this weekend. The inaugural Aotearoa Stone Skimming Championship just wrapped up this weekend, with the money raised by the event going to Melanoma NZ.  Organiser Richie Laming says an event like this had been floated at Lake Hāwea in the past - and it's a prime location to skip stones. LISTEN ABO...

ACT's Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden has announced she is pregnant. The Tamaki MP in March revealed she would leave Parliament this year and won't be standing at the election.  She explained that this isn't why she's standing down, but she says it seems like it was meant to be - and she is thrilled to be starting the journey into motherhood.   Newstalk ZB political reporter Azaria Howel...

Out with the old...and in with the new secondary school qualifications, with more detail on what's replacing NCEA revealed. Year 11 students will now need to get a foundational literacy and numeracy award before they pass Year 12 and 13.  Senior students will also face a compulsory exam in each subject, and must pass at least three subjects each year to pass.  But Chair of the New Zealan...

The Education Minister says the new secondary school qualifications are achievable and aspirational. Yesterday, Erica Stanford announced senior students will need to pass three out of five subjects to achieve the new certificates.  The new system will be phased in from 2028 and reward students with endorsements for passing all five subjects.  Stanford explained that the first tranche of...

On Thursday, Pharmac announced it has added semaglutide, better known by its brand name Wegovy, to its list of medicines suitable for future funding. It’s on the Options For Investment list which is for medications that Pharmac would like to fund if it has the budget to do so.   Hopefully this will come about sooner than later. I’m not talking about funding it for every Tom, Dick and Harry wh...

Despite the rising cost of living, growing fuel prices and ongoing concerns about inflation, the demand for travel still hasn't dropped. The Auckland Travel Show is on this weekend, and it's clear demand is alive and well, but there are some new trends emerging.  Founder Rob Eliott says people have redirected their plans - with plenty still planning trips for Asia and the Pacific Islands.&nbs...

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is up against it, with growing calls for a leadership challenge. Labour had disastrous local election results, with right-wing party Reform making huge gains. UK Labour MP Catherine West says she will trigger a challenge to Starmer's leadership if Cabinet doesn't. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the results are a vote against Starmer. "People don't know who he is, p...

University student groups want the Government to reconsider the scrapping of the fees-free study scheme.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed it'll end at the Budget, with 2026 being the final year students are eligible.  Victoria University of Wellington Student Association President Aidan Donaghue says it's being binned as the cost of living bites.  "There's huge opportun...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 10 May 2026, Francesca speaks to comedian and author Pax Assadi about his new book full of excerpts from his life, 'Mortified'.  Aidan Donoghue from the Victoria University Wellington Student Association shares his thoughts on the Government's decision to scrap the fees free scheme. He says it's another kick in the guts...

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett. She wrote a book called The Help fifteen years ago which was a sensation at the time and subsequently made into a movie. This new one is also set in Mississippi, in 1933, during Prohibition and the Great Depression. Birdie’s family are impoverished, so she travels to visit her sister who’s married to a man of means in another town, hoping to get some financia...

This week on the Sunday Panel, Director at 818, Chris Henry a nd journalist and editor, Jo McCarroll, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  The Government has confirmed fees-free uni is over and done ahead of the Budget. What kind of impact will this have? Would it be better to find other ways to support young people? Are we worried it will be another fa...

Kiwi actress Morgana O’Reilly has made the leap to the world of comedy, with her newest project proving successful at the NZICF. Stories About My Body examines years of growth and change, as Morgana looks back on her stories and memories and diary entries. She says it took a while to craft the project - and it adds more cinematic touches to the one-woman show. "I think the whole thing is essential...