The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Political drama miniseries 'White House Plumbers' promises an entertaining behind-the-scenes look at the Watergate scandal. The series stars Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux as two political operatives tasked with plugging press leaks by any means necessary. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall describes the series as a 'slapstick comedy' that explores the story behind an infamous political scandal....

Best-selling Kiwi author Barbara Else has penned plays, short stories and novels- and now she's examining her life in memoir 'Laughing at the Dark'. 'Laughing at the Dark' is a brutally honest look into her former career and first marriage and rebellion against the patriarchal standards she grew up with.  Barbara Else says writing her life story down offered respite as she underwent an experimenta...

Last week, Hazel cooked some store-bought sausage rolls for lunch. Understanding that commercially made products like sausage rolls need to return a profit margin. But I have never been disappointed by what I had. They were terrible. Honestly beef sausage rolls should have some beef in them, not just fillers.   So I took it upon myself to make some with Hazel and wow, beef sausage rolls made from...

Scientists have found the secret to getting kids to eat their greens and it’s much simpler than you might think.   New research published in the journal JAMA Network Open found that giving children 10 more minutes to consume what’s on their plate resulted in them consuming 7 more mouthfuls of fruit and vegetables than if they were restrained to a twenty minute dinner time.   The study took 50 chil...

It's less than a week until the Coronation of King Charles III, and people across the UK and beyond are preparing to celebrate. The ceremony will take place on May 6th, and feature customs and traditions dating back over a millennium. Newshub Europe Correspondent Lisette Reymer says people in the UK have fully registered the scope of the historic events about to unfold in London. "We've kind of fe...

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins delivered the first of several Budget speeches and announcements, ruling out new taxes. Hipkins stated there will be no capital gains or wealth tax in the Budget and no levy to cover the costs of Cyclone Gabrielle. NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett says Chris Hipkins delivered an unusually 'meaty' pre-budget speech, a first for this Prime Minister. Claire Treve...

'Unscripted' recaps the final years of media mogul Sumner Redstone and has been billed as a true-life Succession story. The book depicts Redstone, his family and the power struggle and dysfunction within their multi-billion dollar entertainment empire Paramount Global. This story was first broke by esteemed journalists Rachel Abrams and James B Stewart, who collaborated on the book.  New York Time...

Peter Hillary, mountaineer and son of noted explorer Sir Edmund has put his backing behind a bid to save the Ruapehu ski fields. Peter Hillary agreed to become the Founding Patron of the Ruapehu Skifield Stakeholders Association (RSSA) to guarantee a future for operations on Mt Ruapehu. The organisation has launched a crowdfunding campaign as the first step towards keeping M t Ruapehu’s two commer...

Founder of hugely successful beauty bar brand Ethique Brianne West is out to help others achieve their own success. After stepping down as Ethique's CEO, West launched Business But Better, an organisation that mentors and coaches other start-up social enterprises.   Brianne West says stepping down from Ethique was a hard decision, but she believed it was in the company's best interests to depart....

I have not had a conversation with anyone about - and let’s call it by its official name - the Ceremony Of The Coronation Of Their Majesties. Except my producer, because it’s our job to talk about what’s going on!     But aside from Kerrie, who is very much looking forward to the event, nobody I know - family, friends, kids, anyone - is talking about King Charles III’s long awaited coronation. We...

United Airlines has announced new services between the United States and New Zealand for next summer. This major expansion is predicted to put downward pressure on air fares. BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton is excited by this news, as United joins Hawaiian Airlines, Air Tahiti Nui and Fiji Airways in creating competitive routes to LA- which is good for travellers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnyst...

This week on the Sunday Panel, broadcaster Brodie Kane and partner at Freebairn and Hehir lawyers Liam Hehir joined in on a discussion about the following topics: Australia has announced a faster pathway for New Zealanders to become citizens. Starting July 1, New Zealanders who have been on the Special Category Visa and lived in Australia for at least 4 years will be able to get citizenship. Do yo...

Fewer teenagers are drinking alcohol than in previous generations, however alcohol is still one of the biggest contributors to death and illness in young people, including via injuries, accidents and suicide.   Parents play a key role in providing teenagers with the tools to make healthy life choices, they are also one of the main sources of alcohol for teenagers.   It’s a common belief that the b...

This weekend brings ANZAC Day, but also the weather has turned somewhat into a rainy mess.   My lamb, eggplant and garlic shepherd's pie should tick not only the patriotic, but also the autumn warmer boxes!   Lamb, eggplant & garlic mash shepherd's pie Cook time: 50 minutes   Prep time: 20 minutes   Serves: 6   2 eggplant, cut into 3 cm cubes   4 tbsp of sunflower oil   750 gm lamb mince   1 t...

Iconic Australian comedian Barry Humphries has passed away peacefully at age 89. Barry Humphries was best known for portraying Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, and fellow comedians Ricky Gervais and Matt Lucas have written tributes to the entertainer. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall says Barry Humphries was a 'cultural fixture' for Aussies everywhere and his Madge Allsop helped put New Ze...

The school holidays are almost over- how can we prepare teen learners for the return to the classroom? Getting reluctant teenagers to school is often challenging and the two-week Easter break can amplify existing issues. Clinical psychologist and life coach Karen Nimmo says teenagers have lots of anxieties about school, ranging from bullying, friend drama, academic worries, learning difficulties a...

Comedian and ZM breakfast host Hayley Sproull is embarking on her most risqué project yet. The new 10-part podcast Sex. Life aims to educate listeners about sex and sexuality as co-host Morgan Penn embarks on a journey through a secret sex school in rural New Zealand. Hayley Sproull says the podcast was Morgan Penn's idea and she only went in knowing that she was in for a shocking experience. "Whe...

Kiwi actress Stefania LaVie Owen made her debut in 2009, in Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones. Other career highlights include The Carrie Diaries, The Beach Bum and Netflix originals Messiah and Sweet Tooth. Stefania LaVie Owen has returned to our screens for her latest film Paper Spiders, in which she plays Melanie, a teenager struggling with mother's mental illness. She says she was taken by the...

One Auckland-based open water swimmer will test the limits of human endurance in the coming days. Jono Ridler has planned a record-breaking 100km open water swim, all to raise awareness around the urgent action needed to restore the Hauraki Gulf. Swim4thegulf will take place as soon as the weather conditions are ideal, between April 25 to May 5th Jono Ridler says he's watching and waiting for the...

An anticipated report by the IRD could put a capital gains tax back on the agenda. The report is due to be released Wednesday, and it will look into 400 of New Zealand's wealthiest families and individuals. Speculation indicates this report could pave the way for New Zealand to establish a capital gains tax, aided by Jacinda Ardern's absence. University of Auckland Taxation Law Professor Craig Ell...

The Australian citizenship pathway is being viewed as a simple solution to the 501 deportation issue. Hundreds of thousands of New Zealand residents living across the Tasman will be eligible for citizenship come July. Newstalk ZB Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen says it's politically smart, as it also addresses the issue of criminals being deported here. "If you have Australian citizenship, t...

Australia recently announced a direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders, a move that thrilled many. From July 1st, New Zealanders who have lived in Australia for four years will be able to apply for citizenship without having to become permanent residents first. Oz Kiwi, an advocacy group campaigning for the fair treatment of New Zealanders living in Australia had been pushing for these ch...

So, there’s been big news over the weekend as New Zealanders living in Australia are now afforded similar rights to Australians who live in New Zealand when it comes to having a pathway to citizenship. Since 2001, New Zealanders have been able to live and work in Australia indefinitely on a Special Category Visa, but getting permanent residency and citizenship has been a long, difficult and expens...

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld. She was a hot young author a few years ago with her first book Prep which established her reputation from the outset. This one is about Sally who’s a writer on a late night NYC TV comedy show (think Saturday Night Live), and who ponders the fact that her colleague Danny who is very funny but otherwise unremarkable, hooks up with an incredibly beautiful and suc...

BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton has carefully laid out what to do- or not do- in Las Vegas. Some of Megan's advice for what not to do includes not wearing uncomfortable shoes or waiting for your Uber on the Vegas Strip and not underestimating how hot or cold the weather will be. Megan also recommends avoiding the casino ATMs (they charge extra), not jaywalking and always tipping the street artist...