The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

The Girl with the Suitcase by Lesley Pearse. Mary and Elizabeth meet in London during WW2, and soon after find themselves in an air raid shelter where they’re hit by a bomb, and Elizabeth dies. The hospital staff mistake their identities and give her possessions to Mary, which offers her the chance for total reinvention and a whole new life. This is classic Lesley Pearse - a strong female lead, with tragedy and heartbreak in her pa...

Every day, thousands of items are confiscated from travellers everywhere, meaning it's important to remember what you can and can't pack before your next flight.

Weapons and explosives are obviously a no-go, but there's plenty of lists to consult about what you can pack in your checked bag - and what has to stay in your carry-on.

BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton explains further - and reveals what can happen if you don't pack ...

This week on the Sunday Panel NZ Herald senior writer, Simon Wilson, and Resident Economist at Opes Partners, Ed McKnight, joined in on a discussion about the following issue...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 3rd August 2025, screenwriter and actress Sophie Henderson reveals the lengths she went to, to keep the doors of the Basement Theatre open, and why she's based a film on it.

Dr Rachel Clarke tells the heart breaking story of organ donation that centres around 9 year olds Max and Keira.

Tourists will now pay to walk some of our public walking tracks and Conserv...

Research indicates the weather outside plays a role on what's going on on the inside - which is why sunny weather comes with health benefits.

Sunshine is linked to improved moods, better sleep, lower blood pressure, and added vitamin D.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara opens up about the benefits of sunny weather - and explains how to increase your sun exposure in the winter months.

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Farm Lime Tart 

Cook time: 55 minutes 

Prep time: 20 minutes 

Serves: 2 tarts 

1 x sweet shortcrust pastry  

1 egg, lightly beaten  

Zest and juice of 7 limes  

1 cup + 1tbsp caster sugar  

500ml cream  

3 ...

Have you ever instinctively taken a step back when someone sneezes near you on the bus? It turns out that your body may be doing more than just helping you avoid germs, it might be quietly powering up your immune system too. 

In a new study published this week in Nature Neuroscience, researchers found that even the sight of someone who looks contagious can kickstart a biological response in your body. 

In the study, virtu...

Kiwi screenwriter Sophie Henderson's been behind many New Zealand-produced hits, and she's drawn on her personal experiences for her next film.

Henderson's latest film - in which she also stars - made its debut at the New Zealand International Film Festival, and it's inspired by her time at Auc...

The 2025 New Zealand Beer Awards recently took place, with the best in local beer being celebrated and appreciated by experts.

25 trophies were handed out - selected from 625 beers submitted from 70 different breweries.

Head judge of the awards, Tina Panoutsos, has spent many years in the industry and she says New Zealand-produced beer is on par with the best in the world.

"I think New Zealanders are spoilt for choice when it comes...

The Prime Minister believes the United States' tariff hike of 15 percent was a blunt and late decision.

The US announced the increase for New Zealand exporters, while the UK and Australia remain at 10 percent.

Trade Minister Todd McClay's been invited by his US counterpart to visit and discuss the tariffs.

NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse says it's expected McClay will make the trip in the next two weeks.

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The Government's newly introduced Online Casino Gambling (OCG) Bill has been met with backlash from some on  New Zealand's leading sporting bodies.

The legislation would regulate online casinos and allow them to operate in New Zealand, but concerns have been raised that the bill won't make them return community funding grants.

Cycling NZ Chair Martin Snedden says this bill poses as risk to the future of local sport - as it ben...

The Government says it's charting a course towards more growth on conservation land. 

It's upped entry fees to $40 dollars for overseas visitors looking to visit areas like Cathedral Cove, Tongariro Crossing and Aoraki Mount Cook. 

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says there was demand from Kiwis to charge foreign tourists.

"Not only that, some recent international visitor surveys also suggested international visitors ar...

If you’re a footballer or have a young footballer in the family there’s a chance you received an email from New Zealand Football on Friday asking you to have your say on the new Online Casino Gambling (OCG) Bill.  

It’s not just New Zealand Football who are making their participants aware of how this bill could potentially impact them. 33 of our biggest sports codes have come together in an impressively coordinated effort to w...

In this edition of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, we hear from the iconic Helena Bonham Carter on her new movie Four Letters of Love and how she reflects on her storied career. 

And Francesca speaks with Owain Mulligan who ended up serving in the Iraq War after joining the Territorial Army as an outlet. He's told his story in the book The Accidental Soldier. 

Plus Canadian band Cowboy Junkies have been around for...

Dame Harriet Walter's got plenty of memorable roles under her belt, from Succession, to Ted Lasso, to Killing Eve - and now she's taking on a part like no other.

She portrays former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the docuseries Brian and Maggie and she's opened up about taking on such a challenging role.

Dr Timoti Te Moke became a doctor at age 56, but it wasn't an easy road to get into medical school.

Before he started at Middlemore Hospital, he endured a childhood filled with abuse, time in state care, in prison and eventually gangs. 

He detailed his journey in his new book, The Unlikely Doctor, and says he wrote it to shine a light on the barriers holding Kiwis back from reaching their potential.

"There are a lot of people ...

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson. This has a hugely implausible premise. Jet Mason is attacked in her kitchen one evening, after which her doctors tell her she’ll be dead by an aneurysm in seven days, so she decides to spend the week hunting down her murderer. It took me a little while to get into the rhythm - the black humour, sarcasm, farce, twisted family relationships, and roving suspicion of everyone she knows who might be ...