The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Kiwi reggae band L.A.B are back with their sixth album, titled L.A.B VI. They've put out five albums over a five-year timeframe, but this project took longer to craft- two years. Joel Shadbolt, Stu Kora, and Miharo Gregory joined ZB's Francesca Rudkin to explain they'd surpassed their goal of releasing three albums over a three year period- and this needed longer to cook. "Last couple years, we've...

Grilled fresh figs with halloumi and toasted almond dressing Ingredients-  6 figs, halved lengthways 3 small red onions, cut into quarters 1 pkt of green leaves 300gm good halloumi, sliced into long strips 5 tbsp oil Flaky sea salt Ground black pepper Dressing- 1 cup almonds (toasted in a pre-heated oven on 180* for 12 minutes) 3 tbsp red wine vinegar 4 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp brown sugar Salt to ta...

Since you were old enough to be potty trained, you’ve known that your urine was yellow. But it’s taken until 2024 for scientists to determine how that yellow colour was being produced. New research in the journal Nature Microbiology found that the secret ingredient to yellow urine is an enzyme called bilirubin reductase (BilR). When our red blood cells break down, they produce a byproduct called b...

Celebrated British-Australian actress and comedian Miriam Margolyes aims to bring her brand of humour to Kiwi audiences in the coming weeks. The 'Harry Potter' and ' Age of Innocence' actress is also well-regarded for her honest and outrageous interviews and TV appearances.  Oh Miriam!- a live show based on her bestselling memoir of the same name- is coming to Auckland on March 11. She says she's...

In 2023, Kiwi runner Jon Nabbs set off on a mission to run across Canada to raise money for child cancer research.  He was inspired by the loss of his parents to the disease- just 16 months apart. Jon has confirmed he's expected to reach Vancouver - and the finish line - this week. He says he's got 150 kilometres to go, after battling his way through Canada's rocky mountains last week. "Thankfully...

Many are recovering from the unexpected loss of Efeso Collins. The Green Party MP died on Wednesday, after collapsing at a charity event in Auckland. ZB political editor Jason Walls says this is the first time in about 50 years a sitting MP has died in office. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's fertility rates continue to plummet, with 2023 figures being the lowest on record. Last year, the country's fertility rate dropped to 1.56. The average across  OECD countries is 1.59. This follows a full decade of New Zealand's fertility rates being below the replacement level of 2.1. Massey University emeritus professor Paul Spoonley says environmental concerns and the cost of havin...

On Friday afternoon, the spacecraft Odysseus landed on the moon, prompting NASA administrator Bill Nelson to claim- “What a triumph. Odysseus has taken the moon. This feat is a giant leap forward for all humanity.” But is it? Or is it just another start of a great leap forward? And haven’t we been here before? The excitement is understandable. It’s the first time a US-built spacecraft has complete...

Anna O by Matthew Blake. A psychological thriller in the vein of things like Gone Girl- Anna O is found unconscious next to the bodies of her murdered friends and it’s believed she killed them while sleepwalking. She enters a state known as “resignation syndrome” and stays asleep for the next four years, which is obviously of interest to both the medical world, the police and the victims’ families...

We're almost at the end of summer, and people are planning and booking their mid-year fix of sun when the weather turns cold. For people looking for a fresh and exciting spot to travel this winter, Megan Singleton has a hand-picked selection of destinations to investigate. She recommends Bali for the prices and hospitality, Tahiti for the snorkelling- and Rarotonga's always close. Read more about...

This week on the Sunday Panel, Newstalk ZB's Roman Travers and partner at Freebairn and Hehir lawyers, Liam Hehir, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week- and more! Prime Minister Luxon delivered his State of the Nation speech in Auckland this morning- what do we think? Did he spend too much time talking about how the previous Government left things? Does Luxon have a rea...

A diet promising unique health benefits is trending on social media- and experts have their concerns. The 'lion diet' consistent of eating nothing but meat, salt and water for 30 days. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara says a strict meat diet might work well for animals, but cutting other food groups comes with negative side effects.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Brown sugar panna cotta with plum compote Serves: 6 Prep/cooking time: 10 mins Setting time: 3 hours 3 leaves gelatine sheets ½ cup brown sugar 1 vanilla pod, split lengthwise and seeds scraped 6 star anise pods 700ml cream Soak the gelatine leaves in cold water, squeeze out the excess water before use. Heat cream, sugar, star anise and vanilla in a saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Tu...

As we get older, we might find it harder to remember things, including lists of information. So how can we help our brains to retain new information? One option is to continue to repeat the information over and over again to try and help our brains to remember it, the other option is to use a mnemonic. New research out this week in the journal Royal Society Open Science  compared the two methods a...

Britain's biggest annual celebration of film, the BAFTAs, is set to take place tomorrow. The awards will be presented at the Royal Festival Hall in London's Southbank Centre- with Oppenheimer and Poor Things leading for the most nominations. Barbie, another award show favourite, has fallen short with only five nods. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall shares his predictions before host David Tennant...

Kiwi IndyCar driver Marcus Armstrong is set to complete his next big challenge during the 2024 racing season. After claiming the Rookie of the Year title on a part-time schedule in 2023, he's expected to race the full programme for Chip Ganassi Racing. This means Armstrong will drive ovals for the first time in his career, starting with the Indy500 in May. He says getting used to ovals will requir...

Crystal Hefner, widow of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, has opened up about her life with the infamous tycoon. In 2008, psychology graduate Crystal Harris moved into the Playboy mansion as one of Hefner's live-in girlfriends. Within months, Crystal had advanced to becoming Hefner's third and final wife- he was 86, Crystal was 26. Several years after his death, Crystal has exposed the toxic, controll...

Excitement is in the air across the ditch, as Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is well under way. Taylor Swift performed her second Australian gig at the MCG yesterday, with one more to go tonight before her Sydney shows. ZM Content Director Ross Flahive says Taylor's Eras Tour is a unique concert experience- unlike anything he's seen before. "There's sequins everywhere, it's a three-and-a-half hour gig....

One transport planner is looking into the feasibility of a fixed link between New Zealand's two islands. KiwiRail are officially cancelling an overseas contract for building more mega-ferries, after the Government declined to foot the bill. Nicolas Reid, the Principal Public Transport Planner for MRCagney, says there are other options available to cross the Cook Strait. "There's options around the...

The Prime Minister is expected to paint a frank picture in his State of the Nation speech this morning. Chris Luxon will deliver the address to party faithful in Auckland. ZB senior political reporter Sophie Trigger says this year's address is a unique opportunity for Luxon. As he's just four months into the job, he can both attack the previous Government and set out a plan for the future. LISTEN...

The Mental Health Minister plans to tackle the nation's fragmented youth mental health system.  A new report by the Auditor-General, has highlighted dire inadequacies in accessing services and information among 12-to-24-year-olds. Minister Matt Doocey says he plans to reach across all Government departments to develop a mental health strategy.  "I'll be getting advice from officials for how I set...

It has been really good this week to hear Assistant Education Minister David Seymour talking about tackling truancy rates. The stats are awful. The latest figures, released in December, showed only 46 percent of school pupils attended school more than 90 percent of the time in term 3 2023. In comparison, 63 percent attended in term 3 of 2019, before Covid-19. Students who attend less than 70 perce...

Moscow X by David McCloskey. A brilliant, wonderful spy thriller, one of the best I’ve read for a long time. The CIA want to get close to Putin’s banker – a man named Vadim and his wife, Anna, and devise a cunning plan whereby they will send in a couple of operatives and play to the Russian couple’s love of horses. Max owns a thoroughbred ranch and he and Sia are thoroughly debriefed by the agency...

This is set to be a big week for Las Vegas, with thousands set to attend tomorrow's Super Bowl LVIII. Tickets for the big game begin at $14,000, leading people to turn towards officially sanctioned tailgate parties to catch the game on screen. Megan Singleton says between this and last year's Formula One season- it could be a sign Vegas is expanding their entertainment reach. LISTEN ABOVE See omny...

This week on the Sunday Panel, NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson and Newstalk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! After a busy week for David Seymour, the ACT Party are enjoying a significant bump in the polls, with a 5.6 percent gain in support. What does this mean for ACT? Is this a sign the Treaty Principles Bill i...