The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Veteran business journalist Liam Dann aims to educate readers about business, money and the economy in his new guide- 'BBQ Economics'. The book is designed to answer challenging financial questions in a familiar, entertaining and Kiwi-specific way. Liam Dann says he's noticed business news felt 'sectioned-off' with all the jargon and language- and he hopes to break down the barriers. "The debate a...

Grab some popcorn, because it's almost time for the 2024 Oscars. Hollywood's biggest night will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel on Monday (NZT) and will see some of the biggest films of last year — including Oppenheimer, Poor Things, Killers of the Flower Moon, and of course Barbie — all go head-to-head. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall shares his predictions and picks ahead of the event. LISTEN ABOVE S...

Reggae band UB40 have released their first single in over three years to celebrate their upcoming anniversary. The band has a new album, UB45, out this April to commemorate 45 years of music- featuring new songs and re-records of fan favourites. Following the release of the single ' Gimme Some Kinda Sign' founding member Robin Campbell says celebrating decades of music is 'surreal'. "We took it ve...

The School Library Association warns that a 'critical' educational resource is gradually fading away. New data estimates two thirds of schools don't have working libraries. Of around 2500 schools, there are only 56 full-time librarians, and 873 part-time. Association president Claudine Crabtree says libraries are crucial, as they encourage children to value reading. "Reading for pleasure has been...

The Government's new cancer health target is being described as easy to measure- but unlikely to make a difference. The target aims for 90 percent of patients to receive cancer management within 31 days of the decision to treat. Cancer specialist Professor Chris Jackson says it's a bit like saying all bus trips will take 10 minutes, without counting the time spent at the bus stop. He says the Gove...

James Shaw's replacement as co-leader of the Green Party will be named this morning. Shaw announced his resignation in January after nearly nine years at the helm - but will stay an MP to support one last piece of environmental legislation. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says it will almost certainly be Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick. He says her only challenger was activist Alex Fo...

The upheaval within the television industry continued this week, with TVNZ announcing cuts to its news and current affairs department on Friday. It’s not just news bulletins proposed to be cut, but also flagship shows such as Sunday and Fair Go. It’s a devastating time for those involved, and another brutal hit to the industry on top of the shock announcement of Newshub’s proposed demise last week...

The Women by Kistin Hannah who is well known for terrific historical fiction. The Nightingale is probably her best loved work, but I’m also a huge fan of The Four Winds . This new one is set during the Vietnam War. Frankie McGrath’s family have a proud history of military service, but when she volunteers to go to Vietnam with the Army Nurse Corps they’re appalled. So too are the American public, w...

Crowds of tourists are expected to head to Paris in the coming months, ahead of the 2024 Olympics. When fans aren't sitting in the stands watching athletes represent their countries, there's plenty for out-of-towners to do and see in the city. BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton recommends the Montmartre neighbourhood, the Catacombs and the various walking tours based off the Da Vinci Code or Emily I...

This week on the Sunday Panel, p odcaster Brodie Kane and p artner at Freebairn and Hehir lawyers, Liam Hehir, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week- and more! Prime Minister Chris Luxon has pulled a rapid U-turn on his claiming of an accommodation allowance after taking $52,000 to live in his mortgage-free Wellington apartment. Is this a good look for a Prime Minister w...

In recent years, science has been examining the relationship between gut microbiomes and the resulting effect on mental health. New research has revealed t he gut microbiome has a critical role in mood disorders, as serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate are impacted by gut health. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara offers tips and tricks for keeping both in perfect shape. LISTEN ABOVE See omn...

Smoked fish and kumara top pie   Cook time: 12 minutes   Prep time: 15 minutes   Serves: 6   1kg smoked fish, broken roughly   2 large kumara, peeled and diced   1 onion, peeled and diced   1 tbsp curry powder   4 eggs, boiled till hard, peeled and chopped   3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed   1 onion, peeled and diced   3 tbsp butter   3 tbsp flour   1 cup grated tasty cheese   300ml veggie sto...

Why don't we have tails? This was the question asked by geneticist Bo Xia as he recovered from a tailbone injury. Around 25 million years ago, apes (and therefore humas) diverged from monkeys and in the process they lost their tails. Tails play a crucial role in the animal kingdom helping creatures to communicate, balance, send signals, regulate body temperature and defend themselves. This makes h...

A new crime drama brings horror, intrigue and secrets to New Zealand’s garden city. Based on the bestselling novel by Kiwi crime author Paul Cleave, Dark City: The Cleaner depicts a darker version of Christchurch plagued by serial killers.  Stars Cohen Holloway and Chelsie Preston-Crayford say it's a unique experience to depict serial killers that have more depth than most. "You always have to fin...

Several years after 2021's Dune, the long-awaited sequel has finally arrived in theatres. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista and Stellan Skarsgård all return to reprise their roles, alongside newcomers Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh, and Austin Butler. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall says viewers will get to properly experience the film as a cinematic ev...

Experts are calling on people to look after their memory and overall health this Brain Awareness month. Research shows the brain can grow and change - and deteriorate - over the years, so strengthening your mind is essential to stopping health conditions later on in life. BrainFit coach Jude Walter says the brain needs a variety of challenges to stay in shape. "Our brain is not a muscle, but it be...

The demand for beer nationwide has dropped significantly, according to new figures. Stats NZ data shows consumption has dropped by 4 percent, the largest drop in 15 years. Brewers Association NZ executive director Dylan Firth says smaller breweries have taken a significant hit as consumers look to curb their spending. "With interest rates being very high and consumers looking to curb their spendin...

US comedian Chelsea Handler is set to bring her controversially-named tour to New Zealand shores this July. Handler had a diverse, long-running entertainment history, having worked as an actress, writer and television host for over two decades. It’s been a long career, the result of big plans and ambition brought about by a complicated family dynamic. “I was not satisfied at all with my family dyn...

Time is almost up on the end of the Government's first 100 days. Its 100-day plan is comprised of 49 actions to be completed by March 8- this coming Friday. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says it's an arbitrary number, that happens to be over the summer period. "By definition, it is quite a gimmicky thing. It's a really good, easy, PR victory for the Government to get to. On Friday, they...

One expert believes the Government has made a good amount of headway on their 100-day plan. Next Friday marks the deadline for the Government to accomplish everything they laid out in their 49-point plan. Political commentator Dr Grant Duncan says there's some loose ends the Government has yet to resolve- meaning ministerial statements could be coming. "Some of their 100-day plan items started off...

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger. This is a brilliant book which originally came out four years ago, but is now out in second format and worth revisiting for anyone who may have missed it at the time. It’s about four children who escape from a terribly abusive school for Native American Indians (though actually only one of them is a Native American) and make their way down the Mississippi...

The borders are open, the restrictions have been lifted and people are taking to the skies again. For those who haven't travelled since Covid - or who need a little refresher - BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton has a list of tips and tricks to plan the perfect trip. She recommends starting with a clear itinerary, doing plenty of research and joining up with travel groups- among other useful id...

This week on the Sunday Panel, journalist and broadcaster Wilhelmina Shrimpton and editor and commentator, Jo McCarroll joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!  There's lots of new developments in space exploration- does this need more regulation? Will the race to claim the moon turn out like the race to claim Antarctica?   Air New Zealand has warned that domesti...

These last few years have been tough on all of us, with many feeling like they're still in 'survival mode'. Life in 'survival mode' comes with its own risks, with sleep, nutrition and holistic life balance being pushed aside in rough times. Wellness expert and Erin O'Hara explains how to return to optimal health and offers tip on how to thrive in less-than-ideal circumstances. LISTEN ABOVE    See...

Drama, scandal, high fashion and betrayal await in the new series Feud: Capote vs the Swans. Created by Ryan Murphy, the brains behind American Horror Story , this anthology series examines the complicated relationship between writer Truman Capote and a group of New York-based socialites. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall explains what this Disney Plus series can offer TV fans. LISTEN ABOVE See omn...