The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

On this day in 1943, the actions of young 28th Māori battalion solider, Lance Sergeant Haane Manahi, changed the course of World War II in North Africa.

Just before midnight, Manahi led a group of soldiers up a vertical cliff to capture the Tunisian town of Takrouna from Axis powers - he took hundreds of prisoners, carried injured comrades down the mountain and protected locals from danger. 

Up until now, Haane’s story has lar...

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke. This is set on a remote Scottish island to which seven aspiring authors have been invited, and when they arrive find that the reclusive famous author who lives there has died, and his publisher is desperate to find someone who can write the last chapter of his unfinished manuscript. There is an enormous payday for the successful writer, but as they settle in for the contest the bodies star...

This week on the Sunday Panel, TV producer, journalist, and commentator, Irene Gardiner and host of The Front Page podcast, Chelsea Daniels, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

Is National in a pickle? The party underperformed in another poll and it's sparked discussions about Luxon's future as a leader. Do we see him lasting ahead of the election? Do we see him getting rolled?

The new Michae...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 19 April 2026, today in 1943, Sergeant Haane Manahi changed the course of World War II in North America.  A film has been made about his heroic efforts, director Tearepa Kahi and lead actor Alex Tarrant tell Francesca talk about the little known soldier and why they wanted to tell his story.

South African born Kiwi artists Tusekah is on the rise, she join...

The standard 'dad bod' is characterised by increased abdominal fat and reduced muscle definition - and one expert has issued a warning about it.

These changes typically happen due to a combination of lifestyle changes, metabolic shifts, and hormonal changes after becoming a father.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara reveals how you can can improve your health and avoid the related issues. 

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Oma's apple and rhubarb tart

Cook time: 40 minutes 

Prep time: 25 minutes 

Serves: 6

300gm self raising flour, sifted  

100gm brown sugar  

1 tsp vanilla paste  

Pinch salt  

150gm butter  

1 egg, beaten  

Plain flour for rolling  

Filling  

1 cup raisins  

3 tbsp brandy  

4 tbsp warm water  

3 apples  

2 stalks rhubarb, peeled and diced 

 juic...

French fries are one of the world’s most beloved comfort foods, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and hard to resist. But there’s a catch, they’re also packed with oil, which adds extra calories and is linked to health issues like obesity and high blood pressure. 

New research published in the Journal of Food Science has found a way to enjoy fries with less guilt, without sacrificing the taste and texture people lov...

Phil Collins, Iron Maiden, Billy Idol, Queen Latifah, Oasis, Sade and Joy Division/New Order will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, alongside first-time nominees Wu-Tang Clan and the late Luther Vandross.

The nominees were voted on by more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals.

Entertainment correspondent Lorna Riley recapped the full list - including the nominees who didn't make the cut thi...

Another disappointing showing in the polls has raised questions over Luxon's future as a leader.

Multiple sources within the party have told our newsroom there's significant discontent with Chris Luxon's performance, coming close to boiling point before Easter. 

Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths says these rumblings have been and gone, but the growing discussions show he doesn't have the numbers in caucus. 

L...

Kiwi Jules Moore has claimed another international victory - in the world of gardening.

Moore won gold and Best Feature Garden at the Shenzhen Flower Show, with a whopping 2.1 million people viewing her garden. 

She says it was an honour even being invited to the event, given the strict criteria to get in.

"I got the invitation around July, and I was asked to do something that reflected New Zealand and their country, China. A ...

KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals have spiked to their highest in a decade last month, amid rising fuel prices.

According to the IRD, more than 5600 people withdrew their savings due to financial hardship - the second-highest amount ever since August 2016.

Over 49 million dollars was withdrawn, a 12.6 percent increase from March last year.

Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub says the cost of living crisis, and the recent spike ...

It is believed talks are set to begin in the coming days as pressure mounts on the US and Iran to reach a lasting ceasefire. 

A ceasefire is in place in the region until Wednesday local time - with delegates expected to be meeting in Pakistan. 

President Donald Trump says he may not extend the ceasefire if a deal isn't reached and they take hold of Iran's enriched uranium. 

Iranian officials rejects claims its alread...

So, this week I’m making a flying visit to Christchurch to help my son buy a car.  

It’s taken a couple of months to find a part time job to support himself while studying, but he’s got one, and while he’s been making the most of public transport over the last year, with this job it would be much easier to have a car.

I know, it’s not great timing. He’ll only be able to afford to drive to and from work.  

But still, the s...

Kiwi singer-songwriter Greg Johnson is celebrating his 60th birthday with a career-spanning national tour.

His new upcoming album Somenight, Somewhere is out this October, but the tour will cover decades of hits from over the course of his career.

He says he's been reflecting on his career over the years, and he's learned a lot about his own creative abilities. 

"There's a consistent thing I've come to understand about myself,...

TV investigator David Lomas is set to discover more answers and reunite families in his new local documentary series.

David Lomas Breakthrough involves the investigative reporter going to great lengths - and often great distances - to find family members who've have lost touch with a particular blood relative.

Ahead of the series debuting on Three, he explained he's lost count of how many reunions he's formed, both on and off the a...

The Keeper by Tana French, who is one of my all time favourite authors. This is the 3rd in a trilogy which began with The Searcher and then The Hunter but you can read this new one without needing to read the others (although they’re so good I would highly recommend it). Cal Hooper, the retired Chicago detective is back, with the village of Ardnakelty in crisis as a young woman is found dead just as a local big shot has plans for t...

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

What did we think of the Artemis II mission, now that it's done. Are we excited about the new era of space exploration that this mission has brought? Does the thought of an actual moon landing excite us? What about Mars? 

While ...