The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

This week on the Sunday Panel, ZB host Roman Travers and Chelsea Daniels from The Front Page joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more!

A sperm donor who believed he had no biological children was shocked to discover he had a son on a DNA testing website. Do children have a right to learn who their biological parents are - or do we need to protect the anonymity of sperm donors?

Australia has made...

Kiwi singer/songwriter Georgia Lines has emerged with her debut album.

The Rose of Jericho, featuring lead single Grand Illusion, was released last Friday, to a slew of positive reviews.

She says the album was influenced by the hardest times in her life - but she hopes listeners will be able to interpret it in their own way.

"I feel like anyone that listens to the record is going to interpret the songs and go - oh, this reflects...

Many people enjoy making a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, but could it be setting you up for health issues?

Coffee has been linked to increased cognition, focus, energy, and lowered risk of diabetes - but also heartburn, GERD, ...

Chicken dumplings with a tamari dressing:

Cook time: 12 minutes 

Prep time: 20 minutes

Serves: 16

Ingredients: 

300gm chicken mince
20gm chives, finely chopped
2 stalks spring onion, finely chopped
1 cup peas, chopped
1 tbsp Tamari or soy sauce
1 tsp cider vinegar
1 pkt dumpling wrappers

Tamari dressing
4 tbsp tamari sauce
2 tbsp cider or black vinegar
½ tsp brown sugar
1 tsp black sesa...

If you are struggling to maintain or lose weight even though you think you are eating a healthy diet, new research out this week in the journal The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has a simple tip to help - take a photo of everything you eat through the day to help jog your memory. 

In the study, researchers gave a day's worth of food to 152 volunteers and split them into different groups.

Famed tea producer Dilmah has confirmed their Chairman is set to take part in a high-profile charity cook-off.

Tomorrow night, teams of leading Kiwi chefs and business leaders will prepare a three-course meal to raise funds for the Auckland City Mission.

Dilmah's Dilhan Fernando says it's 'inspiring' to play a part in this cause.

"Truly a group of heroes - I visited home ground the other day and it is an inspiring space, what th...

Comedian and Monty Python star Eric Idle is set to return to New Zealand shores when he brings his latest stage show to theatres this October.

Idle's Always Look on the Bright Side of Life tour is the latest step in a career spanning over 60 years - and he has no plan to slow down.

He says he'd never set out to have his output stand the test of time, despite his music and comedy still being held in high regard today.

"I think if...

Prime Minister Luxon has returned from his Pacific tour, after spending the last few days in Niue and Fiji.

Luxon has claimed his first trip to the region has been successful, as he managed to build rapport with Fijian Prime Minister Rabuka and Niue Premier, Tagelagi.

NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse says Luxon managed to hold his own with his international counterparts, given the circumstances. 

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Wellington mayor Tory Whanau has opened up about being diagnosed with ADHD and 'significant traits of autism', after seeking therapy for her drinking issues.

Whanau revealed after she went sober, her neurodiverse traits became more obvious.

She says she'd never considered her drinking habits were a symptom of something else until she sought professional help.

"It just meant that everything in my life made sense. I had never, eve...

Smoke by Michael Brissenden. Crime……Detective Alex Markov returns to her hometown of Jasper, California after a stint with the LAPD where she’s been accused of corruption – some good ole boys on the force there want her gone – but her colleagues back at the Jasper precinct don’t want her either. After a wildfire sweeps through the town a body is found in a shed, and the other cops are certain it’s just a casualty...

BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton managed to find a way into the elusive Gibbs Farm sculpture park - and she says it's worth a look.

Situated north-west of Auckland in the Kaipara Harbour, the carefully curated collection belonging to Kiwi rich-lister Alan Gibbs gives visitors a wide range of art and sculptures to see.

Megan says it's an 'extraordinary' experience exploring the wide open spaces of the area....

This week on the Sunday Panel, TV producer and journalist Irene Gardiner and Freebairn and Hehir Lawyers partner Liam Hehir joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

ZB host Heather du Plessis-Allan has accused Finance Minister Nicola Willis of o...

Experts are concerned more people are at risk of suffering from a 'digital overload', as technology becomes more prevalent.

Excess time in front of a screen watching TV, playing games or 'doomscrolling' have been found to increase anxiety, fatigue and contribute to depression and low moods.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains the benefits of attempting a 'digital detox' to improve your mental and physical health.

It's been over one year since King Charles III took to the throne - and it's been a rollercoaster for the ruler.

The monarch's had to deal with scandals, family drama and even significant health issues within the first 12 months of his reign.

Royal biographer Robert Hardman, off the back of releasing his new biography Charles III: The Inside Story, says it's been an eventful time - for good and bad reasons.

"I think a lot of peo...

Hearty veggie soup with parmesan, garlic bread:

Serves 6

2 tbsp sunflower oil

1 medium onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed

3 carrots, peeled and large diced

1 cup chopped celery

4 bay leaves

1 x 400g can whole peeled tomatoes

1 x 400g can cannellini beans, drained

1.5 ltr water

2 vegetable stock cube

½ tsp toasted and crushed fennel seeds

5 large silver beet leaves, destalked and roughly chopped

We know that the quality of the sleep we get at night sleep has a strong impact on our waking lives. However, what we don’t know is how the different sleep stages contribute to how we process life experiences and memories.

New research out this week in the journal eNeuro has used an unusual method to try and understand this more.

Our sleep consists of different stages that help us to process our day. Deep sleep, also known as slo...

The career and history of one of the world's most influential puppeteers gets examined in a new documentary on Disney+.

Directed by Ron Howard, Jim Henson Idea Man, explores the life and creative output of Jim Henson, the man behind the Muppets and Sesame Street, among others.

Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall says the documentary offers viewers a compelling and clever, if sanitised, depiction of Henson's work.

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