The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Pati Umaga was once given ultimatum by his father to become a either a church minister or a lawyer - and instead launched a career in music that changed his life.

He found success as the bass player of the Holiday Makers, but he was left tetraplegic after a fall.

He suffered years of hardship but eventually re-found his purpose as an advocate for the disabled community through his music - and he's turned his story into a stage show...

Workhorse by Caroline Palmer. This is set in a Vogue magazine-like environment, where Clodagh (Clo) Harmon is trying to make her way up the ladder, but struggles because she doesn’t have the pedigree, monied background and social confidence of her colleagues - she’s a workhorse, not a showhorse. It’s been compared in a lot of places to a combination of The Devil Wears Prada and The Talented Mister Ripley - as Clo makes more and mor...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 25 January 2026, search crews are into their fourth day of the recovery operation at Mount Maunganui, head of the police search team Senior Constable Barry Shepherd shares insights into the complex search.

Kiwi Samoan screen legends Nathaniel Lees and Oscar Kightley are bringing the inspiring story of Pati Umaga to life on stage, they join Francesca to talk ab...

There's a new trend emerging in the world of travel, and experts say it could help people recharge like never before.

'Skillcations' are designed to help people learn new skills while on vacation, allowing them to return to work feeling motivated without sacrificing relaxation time.

BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton explained the trend further, and opened up about her experiences with learning to surf at Bondi Beach and lea...

This week on The Sunday Panel, Newstalk ZB host Roman Travers and host of the Prosperity Project podcast, Nadine Higgins, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  

It's been a bad week for the North Island, following the days of extreme weather. How have we felt about this week's events? How has the disaster impacted us?

Many communities, and regions in the North Island are impacted - the Co...

Everyone wants to make sure they're making an informed choice when it comes to staying healthy, and marketing experts know how to utilise that demand to their advantage.

Marketing significantly impacts supplement choices by creating demand through increased advertising exposure, which directly correlates to higher consumption rates.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained further.

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What does it mean to be 'cool'?  

While the word can feel slippery and subjective, a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology suggests that people around the world largely agree on what makes someone cool - and the answer transcends culture, language and borders. 

According to the research, people deemed cool consistently share six personality traits, whether they live in the US, China, South Africa o...

Vampire horror movie Sinners has made Oscars history - picking up a record 16 nominations, the most ever for a single film.

It beats the previous record of 14 received by All About Eve in 1951, Titanic in 1998 and La La Land in 2018.

Michael B Jordan is nominated for his starring role, alongside British actors Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo, while Jessie Buckley is tipped to win best actress for Hamnet.

Flicks.co.nz editor...

Rātana has kicked off the year in New Zealand politics, as the country eyes up the November 7 election.

MPs spoke at the central North Island pā site, with Labour's Chris Hipkins speaking about the importance of using Te Reo Māori.

The Greens launched a Members' Bill at the event to entrench Māori seats, and it was announced the Government would invest 10 million dollars into a new Ringatū Marae complex in the Bay of Plenty.

Newsta...

The search for those unaccounted for in the Mount Maunganui landslide has entered its fourth day - although now the operation is in a recovery phase.

Six people are unaccounted for after a large slip swept through the Beachside Holiday Park at the base of the mountain.

They include two Pakuranga College students who are aged 15, two 71-year-old friends from Rotorua, a 50-year-old Morrinsville school tutor, and a 20-year-old Swedish...

The recovery efforts are continuing at the Mount Maunganui landslide as families and friends of the six missing victims grieve their loved ones.

Those still missing include two Pakuranga College students, two 71-year-old friends from Rotorua, a Morrinsville school tutor, and a Swedish tourist.

The operation has now switched from rescue to recovery.

NZ Herald senior investigative reporter Michael Morrah, who's been in Mount Maunganu...

More and more job hunters are using AI to craft their CVs, but experts are looking to warn them away from the concept.

Recent research shows half of Kiwi jobseekers are using AI tools to try and find work, but the trend is proving inconvenient for recruiters - and could be damaging their chances.

GoGetta CEO Colleen Getley says everyone is utilising ChatGPT and similar platforms to create their CVs, resulting in too many job applic...

What a week.  

What a heartbreaking, devastating week across the North Island.  

The weather raged. Homes ruined. Livelihoods swept away. Communities cut off. And most tragically - lives lost. The power of Mother Nature was on show in full force, reminding us that life can change in a moment.

I don’t think there is a New Zealander who hasn’t spent time over the last 3 days thinking of the grieving families and friends of ...

Wagner Moura is a Brazilian actor, filmmaker and producer, and he made history with his first Golden Globes win last week.

He won for his role in political thriller The Secret Agent, and he's also earned acclaim for his roles in Narcos, Dope Thief and The Gray Man. 

He opened up about his emotional journey on the project, and how important it was to win an award for a role that felt so significant to his homeland.

"To see the ...

On January 15, 2001, Wikipedia officially launched online, giving users a new platform to learn from.

While the site's credibility and reliability were questioned in the early days, it is now well-regarded as a globally trusted source of facts.

Wikipedia founder and internet entrepreneur, Jimmy Wales, has revealed the platform taught him a lot about trust and information in the digital age - and he's turned his findings into a new ...

The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage - I touched on this one in the fiction round up at the end of last year but given time constraints with a number of books in that piece, it really warrants a bit more attention. Lexi Villiers is a trainee doctor in Tasmania when she’s suddenly summarily summonsed back to London by her grandmother the Queen, after her father and twin brother are killed in a skiing accident -  meaning she’s ...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 18 January 2026, Wikipedia turned 25 this week.  Founder Jimmy Wales joins the show to share how he started the site based on trust and what it has taught him about people and the internet.

This week actor Wagner Moura made Golden Globe history as the first Brazilian to win Best Actor in a Drama. He joins Francesca to talk about the role that won him the ...

This week on the Sunday Panel, editor and journalist Jo McCarroll and resident economist at Opes Partners, Ed McKnight, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

The CTU is looking to ensure New Zealand establishes its own 'right to disconnect' laws. Do we think a change is needed?  

Shock among sports fans last week after All Blacks coach Scott Robertson was sacked. Read more