The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Questions over how an alternative Waitemata Harbour crossing in Auckland will be paid for. Labour has announced a plan that includes two three-lane tunnels for vehicles and a 21 kilometre Light Rail tunnel between Albany and the CBD. It'll take decades to finish and cost tens of billions of dollars. NewstalkZB political editor Jason Walls says there's various ways of funding these types of project...

Donald Trump pled not guilty to four charges against him in attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election result. The most recent charges allege his false claims on voter fraud sparked the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. A key figure of the Stop The Steal campaign was former adviser Roger Stone, who filmmaker Christoffer Gulbrandsen examined in A Storm Foretold- now in theatres for the N...

In April last year Daniel Andrews, the Premiere of Victoria, Australia said “It is a privilege and honour to have Victoria chosen as the host venue for the 2026 Commonwealth Games – we can’t wait to welcome the World to Victoria.”   Well, by July this year the invitation had been withdrawn, with Andrews claiming the cost of holding the games had blown out and he wasn’t prepared to redirect money f...

None of this is True  by Lisa Jewell. She’s well known for great psychological thrillers and her new one is outstanding. It’s about a woman, Alix Summers, who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast. While out celebrating her 45 th  birthday, she meets another woman, Josie, doing the exact same thing - they’re birthday twins. They build a relationship and Josie persuades Al...

The Tourism and Transport Forum seeks to trial new technology to speed up trans-Tasman travel. Digital arrival cards and facial scanners are set to replace physical passports, travel documents and boarding passes at the Australia-New Zealand border as a trial for the future of international travel. BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton is all in favour of this idea, and thinks incorporating existing di...

The Football Ferns know the enormous task at hand for tonight's crucial World Cup group match against Switzerland in Dunedin. A win would secure New Zealand's place in the round of 16 for the first time at a World Cup- while a draw could get them over the line depending on the Norway v Philippines match result. Weekend Sport host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listene...

This week on the Sunday Panel, Newstalk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills and broadcaster Brodie Kane joined in on a discussion about the following:  National's Nicola Willis says she's been informed of Labour's planned election policy to remove GST from fruit and vegetables from an inside leak. Was this underhanded or good form? Where did this leak come from- was it from Labour? The Spanish...

Studies indicate engaging in creative activities can relieve stress and contribute to happiness. A poll by American Psychiatric Association found that people who engage in creative activities at least once a week report better mental health than those who did less. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara says creative activities have incredible research linked to their overall health benefits....

Mike's herbed Yorkshire puddings   Cook time: 30 minutes   Prep Time: 10 minutes   Serves: 6-8   4 large eggs 150gm plain flour 200ml milk 1/2 tsp seasalt 6 tbsp sunflower oil   1/2 cup flat leaf parsley   1/4 cup fresh rosemary leaves In a large bowl combine the eggs, plain flour, milk and salt. Beat with a whisk until smooth. Finely chop up the herbs and add into the batter.   Cover and allow to...

The Emmys are likely to be postponed because of the Hollywood actor and writer strikes. Actors went on strike earlier this month, joining film and television writers who have been on  the picket lines since May. This could be the first time the Emmys have been postponed since 2001. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall says no one will write the Emmy's show and actors won't be around to promote it. LIS...

This week, Korean scientists made the claim that they had invented ‘room-temperature ambient-pressure superconductors’ – materials that can transmit electricity with zero resistance meaning we could send electricity around the world through superconductor wires and never lose any of it along the way!  Superconductors are not a new thing, and low temperature superconductors have been used for decad...

In 2018, a group of women braved the elements to ski to the top of the world. These women from Norway, Saudi Arabia, Iceland, Oman, and England came together to attempt an extraordinary journey- a trip no one else has embarked on since. Filmmaker Holly Morris was alongside the team, and recently turned their experience into a documentary, Exposure. "It was ordinary women from all different parts o...

The All Blacks have broken the Wallabies spirits once again, wrapping up the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup with a 38-7 win in Melbourne. This victory has locked away the final two pieces of silverware on offer before the World Cup - the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says the All Blacks were forced to change their approach and grind for thi...

Tough decisions for Labour, as they put together a List that may only yield a handful of MPs. The Party's putting the finishing touches on its List rankings, which will show the MPs most likely to get into Parliament post-election. Current polling shows Labour's 62-person caucus could drop by a third in October, with the number of List MPs falling from 19 to as few as half a dozen. NZ Herald polit...

Australian music icon John Farnham’s output was a key presence of the late 80's- and it's now the subject of a documentary. Finding the Voice examines John Farnham’s musical impact and the untold tale of his long, storied career beyond his biggest hit. Gaynor Wheatley, wife of late music manager Glenn Wheatley, is a close personal friend of John’s and features heavily in the documentary.   "From p...

FIFA has announced they will introduce quiet rooms during the 2023 Women's World Cup for fans with sensory processing difficulties. Spectators at Auckland's Eden Park, Sydney's Stadium Australia and Brisbane's Brisbane Stadium will have game-day access to these calming spaces.   Autism NZ CEO Dane Dougan says these spaces create a more inclusive and supportive environment. "It's likely that they'v...

New data reveals there's been a significant spike in police call-outs to five Rotorua emergency housing motels. Stuff reported that emergency call-outs had increased by 917 percent between 2016 and 2021- a figure police admitted paints an 'unattractive picture.' It's also been revealed police declined to provide these figures 18 months ago, citing privacy reasons and commercial interests. Rotorua...

Mike Hosking said something interesting to me on Friday, when I was hosting Early Edition. He told me Labour probably needs Grant Robertson to quit now- because how does a Finance Minister sell something he doesn’t believe in? This is of course a result of the Prime Minister making all the calls on the Labour Government’s tax policies.   It may make sense, but can Labour afford to have Robertson,...

Betrayal  by Lesley Pearse. She’s really good at writing about the lives of women and this is another one about a woman who manages to get herself and her kids away from an abusive husband and starts to rebuild a new life for them all, when tragedy strikes again. Several themes in here to which women in particular will relate.   The Art of Winning  by Dan Carter. The publisher says that this is te...

Several new AI tools could take the hassle out of creating a full travel itinerary in the future. BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton tried out several top rated programs, and confirms AI still has a long way to go before it can help plan out trips. She says they recommended some unique hidden gems in Auckland, but they still lacked necessary regional knowledge. Read more about Megan's exper...

This week on the Sunday Panel, editor and journalist Jo McCarroll and partner at Freebairn and Hehir Lawyers, Liam Hehir, joined in on discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! The Department of Conservation is paying bonuses of up to $3500 a year for civil servants to boost their Māori language proficiency. Is this the kind of program we should be funding or rewarding? NZ First...

It's well known eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly are key to protecting health and lifespan.   Regular exercise is linked to strengthening of bones, improved mood and reducing the impact of chronic illnesses including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara says frequent and consistent exercise- between 20 and 40 minute pe...

The unlikely duo of Barbie and Oppenheimer have both enjoyed successful opening weekends in theatres. Barbie is projected to earn $150 million, making it the biggest theatrical opening of the year. Oppenheimer stands to earn $77 million, a strong total for a graphic historical drama. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall says Barbie has a wider reach in terms of appeal, and will draw in casual viewers...

Most people know the importance of a functional immune system during these winter months, but one expert researched the issue further. Dr Roderick Mulgan's book, Build Your Immunity for Life: Diet and Lifestyle Choices to Protect against Infection examines the best tips to gain maximum immunity to protect yourself. He says the event of the Covid-19 pandemic inspired his research, as people were su...

New research confirms m ale rhesus monkeys regularly engage in same-sex affection- which gives them a genetic advantage. Researchers found found that these male monkeys tended to father more offspring, suggesting that same-sex sexual behaviour provides a boost when it comes to breeding.   Dr Joel Rindelaub says this research addresses the 'historical paradox' regarding the benefits of same-sex int...