The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

New data has revealed the world's most popular ski resorts, according to TikTok and Instagram. Courchevel in France has taken the top spot, with Lake Louise in Canada and Zermatt in Switzerland coming second and third, respectively. The indoor resort Ski Dubai is in fourth place, surprising BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton. She laid our her picks for the best indoor ski spots here today. LISTEN AB...

This week on the Sunday Panel, Coast day host Lorna Riley and senior PR consultant at Plus One Communications, Damien Venuto, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!  Controversy in Australia as an ABC presenter was sacked over her comments on the conflict in Gaza. Is this a fair course of action? Do public figures have to follow certain standards?  A Dunedin Cou...

As we settle into the new year, people are searching for the best ways to achieve their goals and live a healthy lifestyle. Sticking to a new challenge is difficult, but naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara has the solution. She says planning ahead, consistency and developing a supportive community are the best ways to guarantee success. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

While most of the country is enjoying the height of summer, one man is preparing to race across the frozen Arctic. The five-day, 250-kilometre Ice Ultra marathon is expected to be gruelling- but this isn't Freddie Bennett's first test of capability. The marketing and mindset consultancy leader, podcast host and author has had plenty of experience in running in marathons on the side. He says he's o...

Little lunch-box pizzas   Cook time: 10 minutes   Prep time: 20 minutes   Serves: 20 little pizzas   200ml warm water   10g dried yeast   9g sugar   115g wholemeal flour   250g high grade flour   12g salt   20ml sunflower oil   1 small onion, finely diced   2 cloves garlic, crushed   1 x 400g tin whole peeled tomatoes   leaves from 1 sprig rosemary   1 tbsp honey   salt and pepper     Toppings can...

Almost all land mammals have tear glands around their eyes, and it is thought that these are primarily used to keep eyes most and clean. However, humans are relatively unique in that we are one of only a couple of mammals that cry when overcome with emotion as well as when we have something stuck in our eye. Now, new research published in the journal PLOS biology thinks it might know why we cry wh...

The 96th Academy Awards are set to air on March 11, honouring the accomplishments made in film for 2023. 'Oppenheimer' leads the pack with 13 nominations, followed by 'Poor Things' with 11.  'Barbie', 'Killers of the Flower Moon' and 'The Holdovers' are also favourites to win in several key categories. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall shares his picks and predictions for the upcoming cerememony. L...

A stay in hospital for open heart surgery inspired the UK's Rick Stein to craft a new recipe book. The night before the operation, the celebrity chef was served a simple fried haddock fillet, leading to him crafting a list of similar quick and easy meals. He says the surgery was a life-changing event- and his cookery books are shaped by his experiences. "What I like to do in my cookery books is sh...

Last week saw the Government attend their first Rātana celebration, setting the stage for Waitangi Day. The event is predicted to attract tens of thousands of people, and security is expected to be tight. New Zealand First's Winston Peters and Shane Jones were both booed during their addresses at last week's annual event. ZB political editor Jason Walls says the shadow of Seymour's Treaty Principl...

This weekend marks one year since the Auckland Anniversary floods that inundated homes, roads, highways, businesses, and shops. Thousands required storm-related assistance, and more than 7000 properties were stickered in the aftermath of the floods.   The disaster continues to impact residents, with many living in flood-prone areas and others having to contend with lootings- 15 burglaries took pla...

Argylle by Elly Conway: There is a movie of this book opening in cinemas on 1 st February which is unusual – the movie usually comes some time after the original book publication. It’s been made by Apple who have reportedly invested $200 million.   It’s a spy/thriller/highly entertaining story of Aubrey Argylle, a young man who has been making a living showing tourists around parts of the Golden T...

A new year is upon us, and Kiwis are adjusting to another post-lockdown year with open borders. After a year dominated by 'revenge travel' to make up for lost time, travellers are getting back into their bucket lists for meticulously planned holidays. BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton says sports-based tourism is expected to enjoy a boost this year- and New Zealand stands to benefit from t...

This week on the Sunday Panel, journalist and editor Jo McCarroll and partner at Freebairn and Hehir Lawyers, Liam Hehir, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week- and more! Sewage-based pollution in Auckland and a Wellington water shortage have sparked concerns about New Zealand's water infrastructure. Have our councils and Government failed ratepayers? And who would we re...

The start of a new year leaves opportunity to try new things, especially in the field of health. People are looking for new ways to improve their lives, and diet and exercise based goals are at the top of many resolution lists. Wellness expert Erin O'Hara says consumers are more likely to gravitate towards online fitness courses and clinically proven ingredients- and influencer marketing is expect...

Coconut panna cotta with fresh blueberries   Cook time: 5 minutes   Prep time: 5 minutes   Serves: 8   500ml cream   250ml coconut milk   4 leaves gelatine   150g raw sugar   ½ t vanilla paste   2 kaffir lime leaves (optional)   8 flexible panna cotta moulds   1 cup fresh blueberries   2T red wine vinegar   2T raw brown sugar   Start by soaking the gelatine leaves in cold water. Combine the cream,...

Are men better at navigating than women? It’s a common stereotype that men are better at directions than women, but is this actually true? New research published this week in the journal Royal Society Open Science found that the answer was yes and no! Previous studies have found that human men slightly outperform women when it comes to spatial navigation tasks and the theory was that it might be e...

The Foo Fighters returned to New Zealand for the first time since 2018 to rock out with Auckland- and an unexpected guest. Jack Black, who is currently in the country as part of the upcoming Minecraft movie along with Jason Momoa and Jennifer Coolidge, surprised audiences by joining the band onstage. Black has a history with the Foo Fighters, having toured with them in his own band Tenacious D.  S...

The new year is a prime opportunity for many to examine their lives and adopt some new changes, but getting them to stick can be tough. It's a common phenomenon- people make big resolutions and goals and toss them aside by February. Leading habit and behavioural change researcher Dr Gina Cleo hopes to help readers make impactful personal changes through her new book, 'The Habit Revolution'. "The e...

Over 10,000 people turned up at yesterday's national hui at Tuurangawaiwai Marae. The hui was called to to highlight the need for a unified response to the coalition Government's policy affecting Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi.   National's Tama Potaka and Dan Bidois made an appearance, but Prime Minister Chris Luxon was noticeably absent.  NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan says...

The summer season means more people are popping manus off their local wharf- but how many have what is takes to be a world champion? There are still a handful of places left ahead of the first ever Manu World Championship events, with qualifying rounds set to take place next week. Event organiser Scott Rice says a tight tuck is the secret to executing the perfect manu. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio....

Kiwi actress Morgana O’Reilly is set to join the cast of the critically acclaimed series 'The White Lotus'. O’Reilly has previously starred in TV shows 'Neighbours', 'Wentworth', 'Mean Mums', the Emmy-nominated Inside and horror-comedy film 'Housebound'. She says this revelation came as a shocking, yet pleasant surprise after a year full of rejections. "There was lots of waiting and keeping quiet,...

The Māori Development Minister says the Māori King's unity hui was a fantastic day. Tama Potaka was one of only two National Party MPs to attend yesterday's event in Turangawaewae. He's defending his leader Chris Luxon's decision not to attend. He says it wasn't the day for it. "It wasn't really set up for politicians. I was there, along with a couple of my colleagues and there were some politicia...

People – and when I say people, I mean the general public and sports journalists - were quite taken aback with the news this week that Joe Schmidt is the new Wallabies rugby coach.      I don’t know why. The Aussie media had him as a contender last November, when the whole Eddie Jones situation imploded.    But I can see why it was surprising – he left Ireland to spend more time with family in New...

This previous week has been dominated by water-related issues across the country. Minister Simeon Brown has sent a 'please explain' to Wellington and Upper Hutt councils over water leakage and shortage issues.   Meanwhile, sewage has forced several Auckland beaches to temporarily shut down. Water New Zealand CEO Gillian Blythe says the nation's water infrastructure has been underfunded for decades...

For over 40 years, the Topp Twins have been entertaining Kiwi music fans with their unconventional country sound. Lynda and Jools Topp began as a pair of Huntly farm girls who always stuck together, and that led to years of success in music, comedy and yodelling. The duo detailed their unique childhood and personal journey in the new memoir 'Untouchable Girls: The Topp Twins Story' "People connect...