The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Infamous reality hit The Traitors NZ is set to return to our screens - alongside a familiar host. Despite former broadcaster Paul Henry taking in luxury yachts, Palm Springs and plenty of gin in his semi-retirement, he just can't quit the series. He says he didn't want to commit to any broadcasting roles, unless the right role turned up. "When I was offered Traitors last year - it was just obvious...

Mental health and addiction targets and a possible alcohol law reform are among the steps included in the Government's long-term healthcare plan. The Government unveiled their three-year plan for the public health system, designed to improve access, timeliness, quality, workforce and infrastructure.   NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse unpacks the plausibility of these targets.  LISTEN ABOVE...

Friday's Trump-Biden debate has put the Democratic Party into damage control mode. Reports claim that Biden's 'shaky' performance at the debate had the party questioning the President's competence - and if a replacement is needed. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says the Democrats are going to have to make some choices fast. "Would you bring in Kamala Harris? She polls worse than Joe Biden does ag...

2024 is a fascinating year for democracy, with more than 80 countries holding elections. It’s the biggest election year in global history. Roughly half the world’s population will have the opportunity to cast a vote in local, regional, legislative and presidential elections. Democracy is being tested as countries deal with voter apathy, attempts to suppress opposition groups and the impact of soph...

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley: a bunch of long time friends get together in Dorset to celebrate the imminent opening of a new resort, a heritage home which has been completely refurbished with no expense spared. It’s all very nice – champagne, great food, all dressed for the occasion – but the locals aren’t at all happy about this new development in their area and things take a sinister turn ve...

As winter marches on, many Kiwis will be nostalgic for the warmer months and considering an island holiday. Waiheke Island could be the next best thing - it's only 35 minutes away from Auckland by ferry, and it includes beaches, fine dining and wineries. BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton says 47 local businesses have even come together to create the Waiheke Island Winter Passport, offering sev...

This week on the Sunday Panel, Gold FM and Newstalk ZB host Andrew Dickens a nd podcaster and broadcaster   Brodie Kane joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more! The Interislander ferry Aratere ran aground on Friday night after suffering a steering failure - it was successfully refloated last night. Is this a bad look? Do we need to replace the ferries? King Char...

A healthy metabolism is important to maintaining overall well-being - but how can we keep it in shape?  The metabolism helps with digestion, and keeping it in shape can reduce blood sugar spikes and bring down the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains  the benefits of checking in on your metabolism. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

The countdown is on, with the 2024 Paris Olympics set to begin next month. This will be the first Olympic Games hosted in Paris in 100 years, and the organisers are promising a unique visual experience for viewers. NZ Chef de Mission Nigel Avery says the committee had to work within a 'complex' environment - but he's confident they'll put on a good show. "They're going to put on a great show. The...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 23rd June 2024: Below Deck  star Captain Sandy Yawn pulled into New Zealand shores to promote the ninth season of the reality series. She joined Francesca to discuss meshing her passion with TV stardom. This weekend marks 60 years since The Beatles made their first and only tour stop in New Zealand. Author and rock historian...

Yesterday, it looked like it was going to be impossible to get someone from KiwRail, the Interislander or the Government to agree to our requests for an interview this morning about the grounding of the Aratere, the Interislander ferry that ran aground on the South Island Coast line about 2.8 km north of Picton on Friday night.     Not hugely surprising. Understandably the consequences of this ste...

Farm lime tart   Sweet Shortcrust Pastry 300g plain flour, sifted   100g brown sugar   1 tsp vanilla paste   Pinch of salt   150g butter 1 egg, beaten   Plain four for rolling. Combine flour, sugar, vanilla and salt. Cut butter into small cubes and add to flour mix. Rub together until the mix starts to resemble fine breadcrumbs. Add beaten egg and continue to mix. Once dough is formed, remove from...

Love is one of the most wonderful feelings that can be experienced, however when love ends it can also be one of the most painful. New research out this week in the Journal of Psychiatric Research has found that the best way to get over a painful breakup is with a quick electrical zap to the brain! The research looked at volunteers who had been diagnosed with love trauma syndrome (LTS). LTS is a c...

The popular superhero satire series  The Boys is back for a fourth season on Prime Video. Kiwi fans may recognise stars Antony Starr and Karl Urban, as two of New Zealand's biggest acting exports lead the series. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall explains whether this season is worth a watch, amid a changing climate for superhero-based media. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

The Blues are 2024 Super Rugby champions after a commanding 41-10 win over the Chiefs at Eden Park. It's the second consecutive season the Chiefs have lost in the final, after dropping a much closer contest against the Crusaders at home last year. ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says the Blues have had to work hard and adapt to a new game plan - and it clearly paid off. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystu...

Below Deck star Captain Sandy Yawn has opened up about the realities of meshing her career with fame. The famed superyacht captain has been in New Zealand all week hyping up the ninth season of the reality series - but warns there's plenty that fans don't see. She says there's a lot of work that goes into captaining yachts for the benefit of the rich and famous.  "It's a lot of work - absolutely....

This weekend marks 60 years since Beatlemania took New Zealand by storm. In June 1964, The Beatles touched down in New Zealand as part of their historic world tour, playing sold-out shows in Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin and Christchurch. To mark this anniversary, the new book When We Was Fab: Inside The Beatles Australasian Tour , has been released. Rock historian and co-author Andy Neill says th...

The Prime Minister's meeting with his Japanese counterpart came amid escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. After a rocky beginning, Prime Ministers Luxon and Kishida finalised a high-level government-to-government information security agreement by the end of the trip. ZB political editor Jason Walls says this came as Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang, sparking concerns o...

It's unclear how long the Interislander's Aratere ferry will be out of action. The ferry became grounded near Picton on Friday night - after suffering a steering failure - it was undergoing a freight only voyage. It was successfully refloated last night. Maritime NZ has placed a detention order once the vessel is in the port. Interislander general manager Duncan Roy says the ferry has little damag...

The Spoiled Heart by Sunjeev Sahota: Nayan Olak is a union man through and through, who feels his time has come to take on the leadership of Britain’s largest union and is almost guaranteed the job. He’s never recovered from losing his mother and son in a house fire 20 years ago, but a relationship with Helen, a mysterious woman who’s returned to his town with her teenage son after many years away...

Bloggeratlarge's Megan Singleton has been exploring the local wonders found in Wellington.  She visited Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, the famed wildlife sanctuary designed to preserve New Zealand's unique flora and fauna. Read more about Megan's visit to this local attraction - and Wellington's other offerings - here .  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, B roadcaster and journalist Wilhelmina Shrimpton and resident economist at Opes Partners Ed McKnight joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more!  Is it ethically fair and reasonable to outsource the risks of mining to other countries, while benefiting from the modern technologies those minerals make possible.   Are we having a broad e...

Yoghurt flatbreads with coriander butter Cook time: 2 minutes Prep time: 10 minutes Serves: 6-8 Bread 350g bread flour 2 tsp baking powder 350g natural yoghurt 1 tsp salt Coriander butter 200 gm unsalted-butter 1 cup fresh coriander, finely chopped 1/2 tsp sea salt 4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed Add all the bread ingredients together in a bowl and mix with a spoon, then use your hands to pat...

The DocEdge festival is set to capture the attention of film fans across New Zealand over the coming months. In the 19th iteration of the event, audiences throughout the nation can check out the latest offerings in select theatres or online via the Virtual Cinema. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall shares his recommendations.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)? These gases were once widely used as refrigerants in products like refrigerators and air conditioners, and to propel substances like hairspray out of aerosol cans. Recently, CFCs have resurfaced in the news due to a new study examining space debris. CFCs are notorious for damaging the ozone layer, a crucial shield that protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet ra...