The Sunday Session
9am-12pm Sun
THE SUNDAY SESSION WITH FRANCESCA RUDKIN
9am-Noon
Sink into your Sunday with the best session around.
This is the show that delivers a little bit of everything.
News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered.
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Kiwi demand for travel holds firm amid cost-of-living crisis
Despite the rising cost of living, growing fuel prices and ongoing concerns about inflation, the demand for travel still hasn't dropped. The Auckland Travel Show...
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Explained: What do the local election results mean for Starmer's political future?
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is up against it, with growing calls for a leadership challenge. Labour had disastrous local election results, with right-wing party...
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'Gobsmacked': Govt move to scrap fees-free scheme met with outrage from student groups
University student groups want the Government to reconsider the scrapping of the fees-free study scheme. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed it'll end...
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Whitcoulls Recommends: The Calamity Club and The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett. She wrote a book called The Help fifteen years ago which was a sensation at the time and subsequently made into a movie. This...
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The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast: 10 May 2026
On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 10 May 2026, Francesca speaks to comedian and author Pax Assadi about his new book full...
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The Sunday Panel: Will the end of fees-free uni drive more talent out of NZ?
This week on the Sunday Panel, Director at 818, Chris Henry and journalist and editor, Jo McCarroll, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the...
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Stories About My Body: Morgana O’Reilly pivots to comedy for new event
Kiwi actress Morgana O’Reilly has made the leap to the world of comedy, with her newest project proving successful at the NZICF. Stories About My Body examines years...
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Erin O'Hara: Are seed oils bad for you?
Seed oils like canola and sunflower oil have attracted controversial claims about harmful effects - but should we be worried? Some argue they fuel chronic inflammation...
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Mike van de Elzen: Mother's Day crumpets
Mother's Day crumpets Cook time: 10 minutes Prep time: 30 minutes Serves: makes 10-15 375 ml warm water 250 ml milk 1 tbsp dried yeast 1 tbsp raw sugar 400...
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Space tourism: How can we work around heart attacks with reduced gravity?
Space tourism is now a thing, and it probably won’t be too long before that tour consists of an orbit around the moon. We already have a situation where astronauts...
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'Painful experience': Pax Assadi talks about embracing authenticity in new memoir
Pax Assadi has revealed the unlikely source of inspiration for his new memoir. His new book, Mortified, is far from a highlight reel - it focuses on the shame, the...
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Thomas Coughlan: Why is Peters leaking key Budget details?
There's concerns about what the Government's latest pre-Budget announcement means for students. Winston Peters told Newstalk ZB on Friday that they'd get rid of...
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Francesca Rudkin: Maybe we need to keep the CRL costs in perspective
I can’t wait to get onto Auckland’s CRL. I can’t wait to check out the overly grand stations. And I can’t wait to experience moving around our city in a way residents...
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'It's about power and money': Journalist raises concerns on AI's impact in new book
No-one knows what the future of AI has in store for us, and one journalist has raised concerns about the impact of the technology. When investigative journalist...
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Kiwi Olympian Luuka Jones-Yaxley lands unexpected role in Netflix project
Olympic paddler Luuka Jones-Yaxley's lined up an unexpected project after her success in Paris. Shortly after retiring from the high-performance canoe Slalom at...
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Whitcoulls Recommends: Yesteryear and London Falling
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. Natalie Heller Mills drifts into marriage with a real loser, and in a last desperate attempt to help him make something of himself,...
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Megan Singleton: A day of serendipity in New York
Travel expert Megan Singleton's been in New York seeing the sights, and making some unexpected discoveries. After she learned the Abyssinian Baptist Church was...
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The Sunday Panel: What could ACT's immigration policy do for NZ's economy?
This week on The Sunday Panel, broadcaster and journalist Wilhelmina O’Keefe and Resident Economist at Opes Partners, Ed McKnight, joined in on a discussion about...
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Erin O'Hara: How are additives affecting your gut microbiome?
Additives are added to processed food to keep it fresher for longer but these might unexpectedly affect the health of the microbes in our guts. A diverse microbiome...
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Francesca Rudkin: We need more civility in this election season
Last week I started my editorial with: ‘Well, it was a rather chaotic, eventful week in politics wasn’t it’, and went on to speak about how I thought it was a mistake...
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The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast: 03 May 2026
On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 3 May 2026, Francesca speaks to investigative reporter and influential AI expert Karen Howe,...
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Research reveals the safest seat on the plane
When you board a plane, you probably think about whether or not you want a window or aisle seat that is either close to the bathroom, or far away. But new research...
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Mike van de Elzen: Fired duck livers with port and cream
Fired duck livers with port and cream Cook time: 25 minutes Prep time: 30 minutes Serves: 6 250 gm duck livers 1/2 cup red wine 1/4 cup port 3/4 cup cream...
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2026 Taite Music Awards: Which Kiwi artists won big?
The 2026 Taite Music Awards took place last week, where Kiwi artists and industry experts celebrated New Zealand's independent music scene. Geneva AM, The Mint Chicks...
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Advocates voice concern on social media's impact amid ban discussion
There's growing concerns about the impact of social media on young people, with advocates calling for tighter regulations. Politicians have voiced support for a...
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Peter Dunne: Is Peters trying to sabotage Luxon?
There's concerns about the stability of the coalition after National and NZ First had it out last week. Winston Peters' office released emails showing Prime Minister...
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'Really special night': Auckland FC CEO on the team beating out Melbourne City
The A-League will have a new champion after Auckland FC ended Melbourne City's season in a thrilling 14-goal penalty shootout. The Kiwi side will play Adelaide United...
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'There needs to be some rebalancing': ACT releases immigration policy ahead of the election
ACT has launched its immigration policy ahead of this year's election - with surcharges and tougher limits for serious offenders. It includes a $6 a day infrastructure...
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'I'm very lucky': James Reyne's new tour set to celebrate the history of Australian Crawl
James Reyne is regarded as an Australian musical icon thanks to his success in Australian Crawl, and he's set to celebrate the band's success in his new tour. Alongside...
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Stalked: Jazz Thornton launches brand-new documentary series
Influencer and mental health advocate Jazz Thornton has been campaigning hard for stalking to be criminalised, with new reforms set to be added to the Crimes Act...
