The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

The author behind the smash hit Thursday Murder Club  series has launched the first book in a new crime thriller saga. Richard Osman put his first crime novel series on hold - and the record-shattering books are set to be adapted for Netflix. He says he felt the need to introduce some new characters to readers to keep things exciting. "As soon as I fell in love with these new characters - Steve an...

There's hope a new-look Resource Management Act will make building easier for Kiwis.  Minister Chris Bishop's revealed two laws will replace the old system - one to manage environmental effects arising from activities, and another to enable urban development and infrastructure. NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan says the Government's moved quickly with these proposed changes - but w...

The All Blacks came close to losing their lead - but managed to snatch a victory in the Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney. Razor's side led 28-7 but only just clung on for a 31-28 win to retain the Cup. Newstalk ZB rugby correspondent Elliott Smith says the All Blacks shouldn't have struggled to hold onto their lead the way they did. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four-year political terms may not necessarily ensure delivery on campaign promises. The Government's considering a referendum at the next election - to let voters decide whether to add a year on to our political terms. It's argued allowing Parliament to take more time with its policy decisions could lead to stronger laws. But constitutional law expert Graeme Edgeler says we don't have many one-ter...

It was great to see the fun police did not win this week - and really cool to see it was partially driven by primary school kids who stood up for the New Zealand way of life. And yes, I’m talking about the right to jump off a jetty! The Tasman District Council has had to reword a proposed bylaw which would have inadvertently banned swimming or diving off wharfs and jetties following a groundswell...

Our London Lives by Christine Dwyer Hickey. This is wonderful. In 1979 Milly and Pip are misfits, part of the Irish diaspora in London who after a brief romance go their separate ways - but out of sight they’re rarely out of mind over the next 40 years. This is an eloquent and wonderful story of lost opportunity and regret, spanning four decades against the landscape of an ever-present London. A V...

Travel trends are constantly changing, especially in an era where living costs are keeping Kiwis grounded. According to new data, plenty of people have been able to make room in their budgets for overseas trips - with Europe being the top destination for travellers based in New Zealand. Australia comes second, with Asia coming a very close third. BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton unpacks the f...

This week on the Sunday Panel, editor and journalist Jo McCarroll and NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more! Should insurers have access to genetic testing or be able to force genetic testing, to set premiums? Do we need more regulations here? The Australian Government is looking to ban social media for children, with legis...

Body mass index (better known as BMI) has long been used to calculate a person's body fat levels - but how reliable is it? To calculate someone’s BMI, you divide their weight in kilograms by their height in metres times itself. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains the history of BMI and whether or not it can be trusted. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

Hot homemade crumpets Cook time: 10 minutes Prep time: 30 minutes Serves: makes 10-15 375 ml warm water 250 ml milk 1 tbsp dried yeast 1 tbsp raw sugar 400 g plain flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda Pinch of salt Sunflower oil for cooking Serve with some Marmalade & soft butter Combine the water, milk, yeast and sugar in a jug and set aside to activate. Place the flour, baking powder...

Did you ever dream you had X-ray vision when you were a kid? While that might sound like something from comic books, new research published in Science this week could bring us one step closer to making it a reality. Scientists have found a way to see inside the bodies of living animals without surgery by using a surprising tool: a food dye that is common in America. This breakthrough discovery rev...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 15th September 2024, Liane Moriarty talks death, destiny and the random thought on a plane that inspired her latest book. Two Raw Sisters are back with what they say is there best book yet - they tell us how to make a great salad. Should life and health insurers be able to access the results of genetic testing to set premiums...

If it seems like the Emmys just happened, you’re not wrong. The 76th Emmy Awards are tomorrow, roughly nine months after the last celebration of the best television. Last year’s Hollywood strikes delayed the show’s 75th edition. The Bear, Shogun  and Baby Reindeer  are favourites to win this year's edition. Steve Newall from Flicks.co.nz unpacks the nominees ahead of the ceremony. LISTEN ABOVE   S...

Two Raw Sisters’ Margo and Rosa Flanagan are back with their latest cookbook. The pair have built a brand around crafting healthy, sustainable, veggie-based recipes - and their latest offering shows people how to craft the prefect salad. More Salad  is available in bookstores and online now - and the duo have enjoyed getting creative with their recipes. "We've had two years to create this book - a...

Best-selling Aussie author Liane Moriarty is tackling more heavy subjects in her latest novel. In her 20-year career she’s written nine adult fiction books - all international bestsellers with over 20 million copies sold. Her books have also gone on to inspire several films and TV shows. Her latest book, Here One Moment , examines death and mortality - and was inspired by an experience on a flight...

A homegrown programme aims to help children become more resilient. Sir Ashley Bloomfield has launched a new mindfulness practice in schools through Pause, Breathe, Smile. It comes as Southern Cross's latest Healthy Futures survey shows 60 percent of parents are concerned about their children’s ability to cope with the pressures of life. He says it's shown to drive more positive behaviours, help ch...

ACT's controversial Treaty Principles Bill has continued to spark debate and discussion. A Cabinet paper has unveiled the proposed principles of Civil Government, iwi and hapu rights - and the right to equality. NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse says it's unclear if the bill has a future. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing concern over whether insurers should be able to access people's genetic information when setting their premiums. The Government is currently in the final stages of revamping insurance laws, but the regulation of insurers' use of genetic testing remains unaddressed.   DLA Piper partner Emma Moran says the legislation hasn't been updated since 1908 - leaving room for plenty of grey a...

So the game might not have gone their way this morning, but how gorgeous were the Black Ferns this week? Once again being themselves, on the world stage. I’m sure you saw the video or photos of the Black Ferns women’s rugby team and King Charles III after Ayesha Leti-I’ga asked if she could give the King a hug. After the King gave his consent to this serious breach of protocol - the whole team got...

The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable: Anna Maria della Pieta was brought up in a Venetian orphanage, where unwanted babies were posted to the nuns through a slot in the wall. This was in the early 18 th  century, and by the age of eight she was widely recognized as a musical prodigy with an ambition to become the best violinist and composer that Venice had ever seen. Her tutor at the time was...

New data reveals prospective visitors to New Zealand are in favour of paying a higher levy to come in. The Government recently announced it plans to lift the tourism levy almost 200 percent to $100 next month. BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton reveals that a poll run by the NZ Travel Tips Facebook page shows people aren't as disappointed with the change as predicted. "A whopping 83 percent sai...

This week on the Sunday Panel, Opes Partners economist Ed McKnight and producer and commentator Irene Gardiner joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! David Seymour is vowing to push back against the Grocery Commissioner's recommendations - where do we sit on this? Are we for or against regulation? Is it necessary to create competition?   Australian model Elle M...

Low-carb diets are often favoured as a means of managing insulin and sugar levels - but they come with their own drawbacks. New research out of Australia shows low carbohydrate and high fat diets increase risk of type 2 diabetes. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara unpacks this research and examines the impact of various low-carb diets.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 8th September 2024: Kiwi boxing superstar Mea Motu talks about being a reluctant contestant on Celebrity Treasure Island and her long awaited title fight this October. Anika Moa admits she's back writing music and talks about the many exciting projects she has on the go including her new children's book The Witch of Maketu. R...

A pig in Hong Kong just underwent surgery - which might not seem strange until you learn that the surgeon operating on the pig did so from 9,300 kilometres away. While telehealth became more common during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s still the norm that a surgeon needs to be physically present for operations. In a massive leap forward for telesurgery and published in the journal Advanced Intelligen...