The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Famed Australian comedian and social media star Jimmy Rees has made a name for himself across a number of platforms - and he's taking his latest tour on the road. 

He's set to perform in New Zealand for the first time ever, as well as Hobart, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, and Canberra between October and December 2025.

He says there's plenty in his act for people to laugh at on both sides of the Tas...

When you’re feeling stressed about work, it can be hard to leave it at the office - and this can impact sleeping habits.

Poor sleep quality, including interrupted sleep or non-restorative sleep, is associated with a variety of negative consequences - health-related problems, diminished quality of life, and economic costs.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara unpacked the impact of work stress and poor sleep - and unveiled how...

Carrot cupcakes 

Ingredients 

1 tsp baking powder

¾ cup plain flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

½ cup raw sugar

2 free range eggs

½ cup vegetable oil

2 cups grated carrots

½ cup chopped nuts (can be walnuts or hazelnuts).

2 tbsp raisins

2 tbsp of decoration

Icing

Juice of 1 lemon 

1 tbsp butter, softened

100g cream cheese, softened

½ cup icing sugar, sifted 

Method 

Preheat oven to 190*C. &nb...

We’ve all heard that regular exercise is good for you. But a major new study published in Cell might have just found a way to bottle its benefits and deliver them to people who can’t hit the gym.

Over six years, the researchers tracked 13 healthy volunteers as they exercised, from a single 5km run to a 25-day running plan and they collected as much data as they could across the body including genes, proteins, metabolism, gut bacter...

The 2025 edition of the New Zealand International Film Festival is set to open in Auckland from July 31st and run until September 10th.

The event is speculated to show a wide range of films, from local productions to overseas affairs with international prestige. 

Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall unpacked some of the films expected to be screening - and outlined some promising entries.

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Cardrona Alpine Resort has officially launched their highly-anticipated Soho Basin - expanding to become  New Zealand’s largest commercial ski area.

The expansion was part of a long-term investment program by RealNZ, Cardrona’s parent company, and it increases the area's total footprint to 615 hectares.

Cardrona and Treble Cone Chief Mountain Officer Laura Hedley says as soon as the conditions are right, they'll be opening the...

ACT leader David Seymour's had to step up over the last few days, as Prime Minister Luxon spends time working on relationships overseas.

Luxon's been in China and Europe, meaning Seymour's had to address the media as part of a post-Cabinet press conference - and answer questions.

Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Luxon's taken all the necessary steps to ensure both Deputy Prime Ministers were prepared for the role ahead...

The Danish Government is set to allow citizens to claim property rights over their features and voices in a bid to tackle the impact of AI deepfakes.

The proposed legislation would mean that people would have the right to ask platforms to take deepfake content down if it breached copyright infringement. 

Copyright lawyer Rick Shera is sceptical about the prospect of this new law making a difference.

"The real issue for me is t...

A spate of new sentencing reforms will take effect today, including the sentence discount caps that promise to restore 'real consequences' for crime. 

As part of the reforms, judges won't be able to reduce an offender's sentence by more than 40 percent for mitigating factors.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says the Government's top priority is to restore law and order.

"Remember, people were very worried about disorder in the...

So, what’s your number?  

What’s the amount you think would be perfect to win in Lotto Powerball? The amount that allows you to pay off the mortgage, set the kids up, help family, and maybe fulfil a dream or two - but without it upending your life in a negative way?  

We’ve all got a fantasy number, right? I reckon $10 million would be perfect, but to be honest, I’d take anything the numbers give me. A couple of grand - c...

In this edition of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, we hear from filmmaker Celine Song on her Hollywood hit, The Materialists starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans. 

Author AA Dhand talks his latest thriller, The Chemist. Francesca asks how his experiences with abuse, violence and overdoses while running a late hour pharmacy in the UK informed his writing.  

And one of our top comedians, C...

Comedian Chris Parker's new live show proved successful at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and he's ready to unleash it on the Kiwis.

Parker's touring Stop Being So Dramatic around the country and he's promised the show is his most personal yet.

He says he's expected a more reserved reception from Kiwi audiences - but he knows how to work with that.

"We still have this weird mentality sometimes, we're just like 'Oh, we're just littl...

In a previous life, crime writer AA Dhand dealt with a lot, including overdoses, violence, and abuse, to name a few. 

Amit worked on the frontline of the NHS crisis, running his 100 hour pharmacy in Bradford - surrounded by drugs, drug dealers and giving him insight into the lives of addicts and the dealers preying on the vulnerable. 

He turned these experiences into a crime thriller, The Chemist.

"I kind of wrote it as D...

A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan: In 1987, 10 year old Alix and her family are at the beach for the great New Zealand summer, but everything feels a little off - her teenage sister’s desperate to run with the in-crowd, her mother’s wildly distracted and her father is adrift. Alix befriends another holidaymaker, and they hunt for signs of a girl who went missing years ago, while a creepy neighbour watches everything they do....

One of ZB's resident travel experts, Megan Singleton, has been taking in the sights of the US - and this week, she's opening up about her experience with Dollywood.

Dollywood ppened in 1986 in Pigeon Forge on the site of former attractions dating back to the 1960s, and it's a must see for fans of Dolly Parton, or even fans of the old west.

Megan Singleton detailed her experience - and revealed why she also recommends taking in the ...