The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

This week on the Sunday Panel, Capital Director Ben Thomas and journalist, editor and author Jo McCarroll joined in on a discussion about the following topics- and more! The All Blacks have made it to the World Cup final- did we back them early on? If they win, where does that leave Ian Foster- should he expect a knighthood? The gangs have come out against National's proposed crackdown- will these...

Menopause Awareness Day was this week, and it's opened up a discussion about addressing this condition Menopausal symptoms affect around 75 percent of women- symptoms include mood swings, anxiety, hot flushes, sleeping problems, cognitive problems, and increased risk of chronic diseases. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara says HRT is a useful support tool- but stresses the importance of go...

Homemade spaghetti with roasted cauliflower pesto   Cook time: 10 minutes   Prep time: 30 minutes   Serves: 6   Roasted cauliflower pesto   1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets   1 cup basil leaves, chopped   1 cup parmesan, finely grated   zest and juice of 1 lemon   1 cup macadamia, toasted and crushed   1/4 cup sunflower oil   Sea salt and pepper   1 basic pasta dough   Handful fresh rock...

Are you an early bird that jumps out of bed when their alarm clock goes off, or are you one of the 70 percent of us that likes to make friends with the snooze button?  If you are a multiple alarm, or repetitive snooze button pusher, then science has some great news for you.   Research published this week in the Journal of Sleep Research has found that snoozing for up to 30 minutes in the morning h...

Martin Scorsese's latest work has generated a lot of buzz following its' release- as it sheds a light on some controversial aspects of America's history. Killers of the Flower Moon is a 206-minute long crime thriller, based off the David Grann book exploring the systematic killing of the Osage people in the 1920s, all for the oil beneath their land. Entertainment commentator Chris Schulz says the...

National's Chris Luxon has kept coalition talks under lock and key following last week's election result. The Nats and ACT have a slim majority, but it's likely NZ First will be needed in a three-way majority arrangement once special votes are counted. NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan says these three parties will want to get a clear arrangement in writing before the special votes...

Woo-hoo- So here we go.   The All Blacks have made the final of the Rugby World Cup. Who would have thought? After several years of mixed results, including historic lows, mixed selections and HR cock ups, the All Blacks are peaking at the perfect time.    And there’s one thing we know about the All Blacks - when belief in the team is high, anything is possible. Maybe even a forth RWC title.    Th...

After a 5-year hiatus, My Kitchen Rules is returning for another season. The series has enjoyed considerable popularity on both sides of the Tasman, and iconic duo Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge are set to host. The pair promise the upcoming season will bring back the 'real and authentic' reality TV experience viewers have been missing. "It's a cooking chow and people want to see nice people do...

Kiwi actress Robyn Malcolm is back to star in her latest, grittiest creative project 'After The Party'. The Shortland Street and Top of the Lake star felt inspired to create her own role out of frustration from the lack of 'real' characters played by middle aged women. She says she wanted to play a 'quintessentially Kiwi' character, a departure from the 'palatable' older women seen on screen in th...

The trans-Tasman criminal underworld has undergone some radical changes. Australian motorcycle gangs, including the Mongols and Comancheros, have gained a foothold in New Zealand, expanding their numbers and generating conflict with existing New Zealand gangs. Lately, spokespeople from various gangs have voiced concern with the incoming National Government, with one Mongrel Mob leader claiming it...

This week the Sunday Panel has had a bit of a rebrand. This week's Election Panel features Political Commentator Brigette Morton and Former Labour Minister Kris Fafooi discussing the ins and outs of this election: What caused the blue wave that swept the country? Will the special votes change anything?  How will Labour fare as the opposition? Will Luxon's business background give him an edge when...

A blue wave swept the country last night, National taking 39% of the votes. Former Finance Minister and National member, Steven Joyce, told Newstalk ZB's Election Special that ahead of time he was concerned that it might become another auction between the two parties. However that doesn't seem likely, he said, even if it became a mathematically viable option. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listen...

Te Pāti Māori's had a good election, with Rawiri Waititi holding Waiariki and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer taking Te Tai Hauāuru.   21-year-old Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke has unseated senior Labour Minister Nanaia Mahuta in Hauraki-Waikato, and Takuta Ferris has taken Te Tai Tonga.   Two other Labour Cabinet Ministers have only slim leads: Kelvin Davis in Te Tai Tokerau and Peeni Henare in Tāmaki Makaurau...

ACT is playing electorate monopoly in Auckland, with Brooke van Velden taking a historic win in Tamaki and David Seymour comfortably regaining Epsom.   Van Velden told Newstalk ZB’s Election Special that Tamaki locals haven’t had a real choice since Robert Muldoon won the seat in 1960.   She said that she’s committed to listening and continuing to listen to the locals, fulfilling their desire to h...

ACT will have 11 seats in the new Parliament, with Brooke van Velden taking the previously safe National seat of Tamaki.   Leader David Seymour told Newstalk ZB's Election Special that the challenge is now to use their increased influence in a National-led government.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour campaign chair Megan Woods says they're still letting the dust settle on a devastating election result.   She told Newstalk ZB’s Election Special that it's too soon to say where things went so wrong for her party.   But she says that at the end of the day, they just didn't get enough votes.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They may not have swooped to victory but it's been a massive night for the Greens.   They'll spend the next three years in Opposition but they're celebrating as though they've won the election, picking up much of the Labour vote.   Greens Co-Leader James Shaw told Francesca Rudkin and Jason Walls that it's been a banger of a result.   He says they've got 14 MPs —the most ever— with seven new peopl...

New Zealand First's Shane Jones says the election's brought a sense of relief. He's calling leader Winston Peters a phoenix, leading a team of eight back into Parliament on current numbers. But things could change after the special vote count is released on November 3. NZ First's Shane Jones Newstalk ZB's Election special that it's still a big unknown. He says these matters have to be discussed by...

New Zealand First's Shane Jones says the election's brought a sense of relief. He's calling leader Winston Peters a phoenix, leading a team of eight back into Parliament on current numbers. But things could change after the special vote count is released on November 3. NZ First's Shane Jones told Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB's Election special that it's still a big unknown. He says these matter...

The votes are in. National is set to take up Government, but time is still to tell whether or not Christopher Luxon will need to pick up the phone and call in NZ First. The party's campaign spokesperson Chris Bishop joined Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB's Election Special to find out what comes next for National. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tell Me What I Am by Una Mannion:  Deena Garvey is a loving mother to her daughter Ruby until she suddenly goes missing. Her relationship was difficult and her sister is convinced that Lucas, Deena’s former partner, is to blame – but he has a cast iron alibi and nobody will listen. He takes Ruby far away and deliberately alienates her from her mother’s family until one day, years later, she unexpe...

BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton is still gallivanting across the world- and recently stopped off in Istanbul! Despite missing the Haggia Sofia and the Blue Mosque due to long lines, Megan still managed to experience the Galata Bridge and the Grand Bazaar- and all the fine dining and views the attractions had to offer. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Sunday Panel, commentator Irene Gardiner and Freebairn and Hehir partner Liam Hehir joined in on a discussion about the following: Could National have handled the issue of Winston Peters better? Does their reluctance to fully embrace NZ First undermine any coalition Government that is formed? What will this mean for the election? Retail crime is surging and Kiwi businesses are emb...

Recent statistics show more New Zealanders are gravitating towards a plant-based diet amid climate change concerns. Data shows a 19 percent increase in in the adoption of vegan and vegetarian diets among Kiwis from 2018 to 2021. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara says it's important to ensure consumers do their research about these diets- as iron deficiency and anaemia are still high risks...

Mobile phones are designed to be addictive, encouraging users to pick them up often thanks to the constant buzzing of notifications. A new study shows how the design of phone apps are affecting teenagers, with up to 4500 notifications a day sent to their phone. The study carried out by Common Sense Media  installed an app into the devices of 203 young people aged 11-17 for one week.    The app col...