Harry McNaughton started out as an 18 year old on Shortland Street but now plies his trade behind the scene championing Kiwi screen projects. He talks to Francesca about how the NZ screen industry doesn't get enough credit and his new project Head Girl.

Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong is making a play for Parliament through the Mt Albert electorate. She tells Francesca it doesn't change her focus on getting the party past the 5 percent threshold.  

Elon Musk is the world's first trillionaire - Francesca asks the question, what's next for SpaceX and Musk himself.

And AI has created its first vaccine and it is now being tested on humans, Dr Michelle Dickinson has all the details.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Since then, he's built up a presence on the other side of the camera, having worked on other New Zealand TV shows like The Pact, Madam, Under the Vines, and The Sounds.

His new show is set to arrive on Three soon - it's called Head Girl and McNaughton is the co-creator and writer.

"If I'm working as a showrunner, particularly if I'm a writer-creator who's on set and who's filling more of a producer role, then the benefit of that is that you can have people at any stage go - this doesn't feel like it's working, or you can see that it's not working...being able to change that is hugely helpful." 

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Glenrothan has been described as a 'love letter to Scotland' and it's in cinemas this week.

He says he never intended to direct a film, but his producer gave him the idea to take on this project.

"I'm not particularly visual as a person... I realised I'd have to get myself a bloody good DP, which I did - Jaime Ackroyd, whose father is also an excellent DP - he did a wonderful job." 

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On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah. On the day her daughter leaves home, Annie’s husband tells her he’s fallen for a younger woman and their marriage is over. Devastated, she goes back to Mystic, the town where she grew up, to start to rebuild her life, and where she reconnects with a man who was her first love. Of course though, nothing is straightforward. Kristin Hannah writes terrific character lead fiction, being most well known recently for her wonderful book The Women. 

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The trend refers to actively seeking out traditional analogue experiences from the older generation, including nonna-led pasta classes or the 63-year-old Parisian woman who teaches Macaron classes.

GetYourGuide’s platform says bookings for workshops and classes have increased by more than 250 percent between 2023 and 2025, significantly outperforming traditional attraction tickets.

Megan Singleton explains the impacts of this new travel trend.

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The Opportunity Party has launched a bid for the Mount Albert electorate ahead of the 2026 election. Do we see this going anywhere? Do we think Kiwis are looking for an alternative to the status quo? 

Is it time to cut the perks for MPs? The job commands a lot of time and there's a clear need for a travel allowance, but Heather du Plessis-Allan claimed earlier that the perks need to be examined. Do we agree with this? 

Six months after the Australian Government introduced its world-first social media ban, young people say it is not working. Are we surprised by this? What changes need to be made? 

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It impacts how and when you eat, sleep, exercise and maintain relationships, and concerns have been raised over the long-term health impacts.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained how to mitigate the long-term health impacts.

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Cook time: 25 minutes 

Prep minutes: 20 minutes 

Serves: 6-8

1 size 14 chicken  

2 tbsp cooking oil  

1 onion, peeled and diced  

2 cloves garlic, crushed  

1 can wholepeeled tomatoes, chopped  

200ml water  

1 vegetable stock cube 

Pinch of salt if required  

1/2 cup chopped mint leaves  

1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves  

Curry powder  

1 tbsp coriander seeds  

1 tbsp cummin seeds  

1/2 tbsp fennel seeds  

1/2 tbsp black mustard seeds  

1 tbsp garam masala  

1/2 tbsp turmeric  

Cooked rice

Using a fry-pan toast the seeds in the pan until they start to become fragrant. Remove and crush in a pestle and mortar until powdered. Add the garam masala and turmeric powders. Set aside.

Cut the chicken into 8 pieces. So 2 drumsticks, 2 thighs, 2 lower breast and 2 upper breast. Coat the chicken evenly with a couple tbsp’s of the curry powder and set aside. Heat a pressure cooker over high heat. Drizzle the oil over the top of the chicken before placing into the cooker, fry until golden on both sides.  

Add in the chopped onions and crushed garlic, sauté for another minute before adding in the whole-peeled tomatoes, water and vegetable cube. Bring to the boil and stir before placing the lid on to bring up to pressure. Once the cooker starts to whistle, turn down to a medium heat, cook for 20 minutes, before releasing

Remove and garnish with mint, coriander and serve over rice. 

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Researchers have published results in the Journal of Infection from a Phase I clinical trial of pEVAC-PS, an experimental vaccine designed using AI and computational modelling.  

Their goal is ambitious: create a single vaccine capable of protecting against not just today's coronaviruses, but future ones that have yet to emerge.

That might sound impossible, but it addresses one of the biggest challenges in vaccine development.

Traditional vaccines are built to recognise a specific virus. They work brilliantly, until the virus changes. We've seen this repeatedly with influenza and, more recently, with COVID-19, where new variants emerged faster than vaccines could be updated and distributed.

This team took a very different approach.

Instead of focusing on a single virus, they used AI and computational screening tools to analyse thousands of related coronaviruses from the group that includes SARS, COVID-19, and many bat viruses that have the potential to jump into humans in the future. The algorithms searched for regions of these viruses that remain remarkably consistent across strains and over time. These conserved regions are often critical to the virus's survival, making them less likely to mutate.

The result was a synthetic vaccine antigen designed to train the immune system to recognise shared features across an entire family of viruses rather than one specific strain.  

Unlike the mRNA vaccines many people became familiar with during the COVID-19 pandemic, pEVAC-PS is a DNA vaccine. DNA vaccines have several practical advantages. They are generally more stable, easier to store, and less dependent on ultra-cold refrigeration.  

The vaccine was also delivered without a needle. Instead, researchers used a high-pressure device that injects the vaccine through the skin using a fine stream of liquid. Needle-free delivery reduces sharps waste, can improve vaccine acceptance, and may simplify large-scale deployment during future outbreaks.

The Phase I trial enrolled 39 healthy volunteers who had previously received COVID-19 vaccines. The primary purpose was not to determine whether the vaccine prevented disease, but to answer two fundamental questions: Is it safe? And does it trigger an immune response?

The good news is that the vaccine performed well from a safety perspective. Across four different dose levels, researchers found no serious safety concerns and no evidence that higher doses created more significant side effects. Overall, the vaccine was described as safe and well tolerated.

Detailed analysis showed that some antibodies targeted areas of the virus that scientists believe are important for broad protection across the coronavirus family. This is an encouraging sign because it suggests the AI-guided design strategy is identifying biologically meaningful targets.

However, the overall immune response was modest. Antibody levels generally remained close to pre-existing levels, and increases in neutralising antibodies were relatively small. In other words, it did not yet generate the strong, broad protection researchers ultimately hope to achieve.

That doesn't mean the approach has failed.

Phase I trials are designed primarily to establish safety and provide an early signal of biological activity. In this case, the study demonstrated that a vaccine designed using computational methods and AI can be safely administered to humans and can stimulate immune responses against conserved coronavirus targets. That's an important proof of concept.

The bigger story may be what this means for the future of vaccine development.

For decades, vaccine design has largely been reactive: a new virus appears, scientists study it, and then create a vaccine. AI offers the possibility of becoming more proactive. By analysing huge datasets of viral genomes, identifying stable targets, and predicting how viruses might evolve, future vaccines could be designed to provide protection against threats before they emerge.

We're not there yet. A universal coronavirus vaccine remains several years away, and larger clinical trials will be needed to determine whether this approach provides meaningful protection in the real world. But this study offers an intriguing glimpse of what next-generation vaccine design could look like.

Rather than chasing the next pandemic, AI may eventually help us prepare for it before it arrives. 

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Spotify recently revealed the project  became the most-streamed album in a single day in 2026 so far by a female artist.

Entertainments correspondent Steve Newall unpacked the album further.

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Shares soared above $160 US dollars as the rocket, satellite and data centre company hit the market yesterday. 

It's sent Elon Musk skyrocketing to trillionaire status - a world first.

Eric Berger, who's authored two books about Musk, says it's still a risky investment for those buying in - partly due to Musk's erratic personality.

"You're betting on the company being able to get Starship, the rocket, flying rapidly and safely - and then build an enormous consolidation of data centres in space." 

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Leader Qiulae Wong is gunning for the Mount Albert seat - currently held by Labour's Helen White. 

Political commentator Peter Dunne says she's made the right call focusing on that electorate, but it's a big challenge.

He says part of the difficulty for smaller parties is convincing voters their vote will mean something.

"If she can get a toehold there, then that makes it much easier to persuade voters that their vote isn't wasted elsewhere in the country." 

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Wong's launching a campaign dedicated to her race for the electorate this weekend. 

The seat's currently held by Labour MP Helen White, but in the past it's been held by former Prime Ministers Helen Clark and Jacinda Ardern. 

She says the party's gotten a clear message from its supporters. 

"Seeing us go for an electorate where we think we can win would help with that sort of 'wasted vote' mentality. Obviously, if we win an electorate, that brings the threshold down to 3 percent, which we're already polling above - so it really increases our chances." 

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Then this week, the world got its first trillionaire and suddenly getting your head around a huge windfall got even more surreal, and the wealth gap got so much more confronting.  

With the SpaceX float, the public got to invest in Elon Musk’s dream of humans on Mars and data banks in space. The biggest float in history, the shares opened at US$150, then rocketed up to $168 within an hour. This price gave the company a market value of US$2.21 trillion - Musk himself is now worth around US$1.1 trillion according to Forbes. 

A trillion is a thousand billion. These are inconceivable amounts for all of us.  

What’s really interesting about this IPO is that on paper, and using traditional valuation methods, many experts felt the company was overvalued - but these reservations didn’t stop investors from flocking to be part of the dream.  

SpaceX lost around $4.9 billion in 2025, and is trading at around 90-95 times its annual revenue. Many analysts argue its valuation is out of whack with what the business fundamentals support, with some estimates putting fair value at roughly half the IPO valuation.  

So, what does this IPO tell us about investors, about ourselves? It tells us that in this time of uncertainly, economic pressures, and geopolitical chaos, we still love a good story. And man, does Elon Musk know how to sell a good story.

Investors are valuing SpaceX not as a company, but as a platform for multiple future industries. It’s not about its present profitability - there is none, it’s about what it could become. Much like Amazon and Telsa when they were first floated - but super-sized.

This is a story about spaceships, orbital infrastructure, AI computing, and creating a one million person Martian colony. According to SpaceX it’s about saving humanity by establishing other outposts in space, as well as massive AI data centres. And to do all this Space X needs money. Lots and lots of money.  

I quite like that people are buying into this sci-fi future, the Mars shot. It’s ambitious, adventurous, and SpaceX’s vision is much more fascinating than almost all other companies. It’s clear why investors flocked to buy - if you had the chance, why wouldn’t you buy into what could become the defining company of the 21st century.  

And that’s the next interesting aspect of this IPO. As much as investors have shown they have faith in Elon Musk, how well will the share price hold up? If you are keen to invest through the S&P 500 - you will have to wait 12 months. Who knows what the share price will be. I suppose that’s the fun in being an investor.  

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Rising to fame alongside The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, he's released  64 albums, been nominated for four Grammys and one Golden Globe, and he's kept the attention of millions of listeners over 60 years.

He turned 90 last month and he's still going  strong, with his Celebration Tour set to arrive in New Zealand later in the month.

"I've been so used to travelling and doing my thing, it's second nature to me, I don't worry about things like that."

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His new show, Celebrity Escape, will be available on Three and Three Now from Tuesday, and it's set to showcase comedians from both sides of the Tasman.

McManus says he was expecting someone to step in and fill his shoes after he left for America after the end of Rove Live, but so far, no one's been able to.

"Obviously, other shows did come through, but they didn't last or have the same impact - and then, of course, as the nature of the way people watch things changed - that probably has an effect on it as well." 

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Stakes by Noelle McCarthy. Readers who, like me, adored Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand will love this. It’s a remarkably honest, candid and brave account of grappling with life’s troubles - shame, trauma and an early influence which provided something to hang onto through her adult years and which manifests itself in both literary and personal ways. She’s an extraordinary writer and her book is wonderful. 

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If you've noticed an airline has damaged your bag, you can get repairs or a replacement by utilising your insurance, but it's important to fie a report before you leave the airport.

BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton unveiled the steps you need to take.

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There's been plenty of announcements on the future of the health sector, all centred around primary care and taking pressures off. Is this a smarter way to work to utilise the workforce we already have? Do we think this is meaningful change to lighten the workload on primary care?

Anthropic has warned AI could soon build itself - and they're calling for a slowdown. Should we take this seriously, or is this virtue signalling?

McDonald's New Zealand turns 50 today - what are our best memories? 

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However, experts believe more money could be directed towards primary healthcare and focus on prevention.

Naturopath Erin O'Hara outlined what needs to change.

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Crumble mix 

200 gm unsalted butter 

150 gm raw sugar 

200 gm plain flour 

50 gm wholemeal flour 

50 gm chopped dates

Preheat oven to 170*C. Blitz all of the ingredients until just combined, apart from the dates. Spread the mix out on 1 large baking tray. Bake for 15 minutes, remove from oven. Add in the dates and turn the mix over with a spatula or wooden spoon then return to the oven for a further 15 minutes until crunchy and golden. Allow to cool, before crushing into slightly smaller pieces.

Pear, apple and berry filling 

500 packman pears, peeled and chopped 

500 gm granny smith apples, peeled and chopped 

200 gm frozen blackberries 

150 gm sultanas 

100 gm raw sugar 

2 tbsp sunflower oil 

Keep the pears and apples in cold lemon water whilst preparing them, to avoid turning brown 

In a large saucepan over a high heat sauté the apples, pears in the oil until they just start to gain a touch of colour and soften. Remove and in a large bowl combine with the remaining ingredients.

Pouring cream 

250 ml cream 

1 tbsp vanilla paste 

Icing sugar if required 

Combine the pouring cream with the vanilla paste and set aside

Blackberry marshmallow 

350 gm caster sugar 

30 gm liquid glucose 

80 ml water 

180 gm or 6 egg whites 

1 tbsp freeze-dried blackberries

Bring the sugar and water together in a pot and heat till 110*c, keeping the sides of the pot clean with a brush dipped in cold water.

Start beating your egg whites at this stage, you want the egg whites to be stiff before adding the sugar, turn down to a medium speed to stabilize whites before adding sugar. 

When the sugar reaches 120*c, take of the heat and slowly pour over the egg whites. Turn the mixer up faster as the sugar blends in. 

Continue to beat until the egg whites are cool and glossy. Fold through the blackberry powder and place mixture into piping bags ready.

To serve: 

Preheat the oven to 160*c 

Put 2-3 big spoonsful of the apple mix into the average sized cups (about 250ml capacity), then top with the same amount of the crumble mix.

Place into the oven for 25 minutes insuring the crumble mixture doesn’t colour any further. 

Remove the crumbles from the oven and pipe over a dollop of marshmallow, using a blow torch then to burn the top. Just before serving the pour a tbsp of cream into the crumble. 

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Yet despite our long history with these remarkable birds, one mystery has remained unsolved: how do pigeons always know where home is? 
 
Scientists have known for decades that pigeons use a combination of clues to navigate. They can recognize landmarks, use the position of the Sun, and even detect smells carried by the wind. 
 
But researchers have long suspected there was another navigation system at work, one that allows pigeons to find their way even when the sky is completely overcast. 
 
A new study published in the journal Science may have uncovered the answer, and it's stranger than anyone expected. 
 
The compass might be hiding inside the pigeon's liver. 
 
Many animals appear capable of sensing Earth's magnetic field. 
 
Migratory birds travel thousands of kilometres with astonishing accuracy. Sea turtles return to the beaches where they were born. Sharks navigate across entire oceans. 
 
Scientists call this ability magnetoreception, the capacity to detect Earth's magnetic field and use it like a compass. 
 
The problem is that nobody has been entirely sure how animals do it. 
 
Now researchers have identified something unexpected: specialised immune cells called macrophages in pigeon livers that contain large amounts of iron.

Normally, macrophages help clean up the body by removing old red blood cells. Because red blood cells contain iron, these liver macrophages gradually accumulate iron-rich particles.

What surprised researchers was that these particles appear to have a property called superparamagnetism.

The team discovered that these iron-rich macrophages sit close to nerve fibres inside the liver.

That means they may be able to detect changes in Earth's magnetic field and pass that information directly to the brain.

To test the theory, the researchers trained 34 homing pigeons to return home from a location 19 kilometres away.

Half of the birds were then given a treatment that temporarily removed these specialised macrophages from their livers.

The next day, the pigeons were released under completely overcast skies.

Every pigeon with an intact liver compass found its way home within about an hour.

The pigeons whose macrophages had been removed became hopelessly disoriented. They flew in random directions and none returned home that day.

When the Sun came out again, those same pigeons were suddenly able to navigate normally.

Their flight ability hadn't been affected. They weren't sick. They simply seemed unable to determine direction when they couldn't see the Sun.

The study suggests that pigeons may possess two different navigation systems.

The first relies on familiar cues such as the Sun and visual landmarks.

The second appears to rely on magnetic information gathered by specialised immune cells in the liver.

When one system becomes unavailable, the other takes over.

If confirmed, this would be one of the most surprising examples yet of how biology repurposes ordinary cells for extraordinary tasks. 

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The first films confirmed for the 2026 programme include Comédie-Française, Jim Jarmusch's Father Mother Sister Brother, a documentary about All Black Jonah Lomu and queer classic Mysterious Skin.

Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall explained further. 

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In a joint venture with Icehouse, five high school students will be offered a fully funded scholarship to Crimson Global Academy and provided a yearlong immersive experience to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions.

Beaton says entrepreneurship is one of the most exciting careers out there, because it helps people be creative and create future jobs. 

"I want more young Kiwis able to do this, and I want them able to do it earlier in their lives. And through my work at Crimson, I've seen many entrepreneurs who are 20 years old, 24 years old in Silicon Valley, and I want New Zealand to be this kind of startup nation."

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What began as a single restaurant in Porirua in 1976 has grown into a network of 177 restaurants, with thousands of employees and 53 local franchises.

McDonald’s managing director Kylie Freeland says McDonald's was initially focused on expanding out to bigger countries, but a convincing business case saw New Zealand being one of the first countries to get one.

"By 1991, we had 50 restaurants and between 1991-97, we doubled that to 100 restaurants. Today, we have 177, but we've got another 6 opening this year." 

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Christopher Luxon returned from Queensland after meeting with his counterpart Anthony Albanese with a group of New Zealand businesses. 

Luxon has been making the pitch for New Zealand to be involved in building infrastructure for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. 

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says both nations are allies, and it's important for Luxon to keep the working relationship going.

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This week, a news article about the sentencing and early release of George Starling, a repeat sexual offender, reignited the debate about New Zealand’s sentencing laws. It’s easy to see why - it’s one of many examples of how a punishment doesn’t appear to fit the crime, and gives the impression we have a system favouring offenders over victims.

Starling was convicted of drugging and raping a woman in 2011. She was one of two victims on the same night. He was not charged until 2020, and by then had served time for a 2011 rape of a third woman. He was found guilty and the judge set a sentencing start point of 10 years’ imprisonment. 

However, once discounts had been applied - for youth and prior good character - the final sentence was reduced by 40 percent, resulting in a prison term of six years. He was also credited for his prior jail sentence, which judges are required by law to take into consideration, and a head injury he sustained after the offending.  

Then comes how parole works - under New Zealand law, offenders who are not subject to a minimum non-parole period and are serving sentences of more than two years become eligible for parole after serving one-third of their sentence.

As a result, a six-year sentence may lead to parole consideration after two years. Release is not automatic, but if the Parole Board determines an offender no longer poses an undue risk to the community parole may be granted. In this case, the parole board cited Starling’s low risk, and that he had not offended after his first prison sentence.  

After all this maths, the result was Starling was released after serving less than two years. 

This case highlights the ongoing tension between rehabilitation-focused justice and public expectations of accountability and deterrence. The arguments for sentence discounts are that they encourage guilty pleas, reduce court costs, acknowledge personal circumstances and promote rehabilitation, while parole provides incentives for prisoners to address their offending behaviour.   

This is all well and good, except that this approach fails to adequately reflect the harm suffered by victims. It’s little wonder victims of serious violence or sexual offending feel the legal process focuses heavily on the offender's circumstances while giving less weight to the long-term impacts of on their lives. 

One of Starling’s victims stated they had only just began to put the ordeal behind them when they were notified by the parole board that Starling’s first parole hearing was coming up.   

The challenge for policymakers is finding a balance between protecting victims' interests, ensuring public confidence in the justice system, and maintaining principles of fairness and rehabilitation for offenders.  

The National Party has already instigated sentencing changes, which came into force in June 2025, but recently announced that if it wins re-election it will prohibit judges from treating an offender's "good character" as a mitigating factor when sentencing for sexual offending, as well as increasing support for victims.  

It is a step in the right direction - because at present, cases with large discounts and early parole simply undermine public confidence in the justice system.  

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Planned changes to the Medicines Act are set to allow paramedics to be prescribers, with consultation underway on what medicines can be authorised.

The Government says training programmes will be established for them to gain the necessary qualifications.

Health Minister Simeon Brown says it's important New Zealand maximises its paramedic workforce to benefit communities.

"Our paramedic workforce is probably best known for the work they do on ambulances, but paramedics also work in primary care and urgent care, and in a range of other areas in the community as well. So by expanding their scope of practice and allowing them to prescribe - it takes pressure off other parts of the workforce.  

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In 2002, Freud painted Naked Portrait of Moss while she was pregnant with her daughter, which was the beginning of an unusual friendship between the pair.

James Lucas managed to get Kate Moss herself on board as an executive producer when it came time to create Moss & Freud.

"The incongruity of their relationship definitely piqued my interest very early on, I actually remember the painting being done at the time, I was there in London and it really did intrigue me." 

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She's relocated to Nashville, but she's been working hard on her creative projects.

Her new album, Live At The Civic, is out on June 5th, and she says it captures a unique performance and experience. 

"It was one of those things that was like - let's just record it and let's capture it anyway, and then we can make a decision later on. And I'm so grateful that we did...it just makes me so emotional - look what I got to do."  

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John of John by Douglas Stuart. Douglas Stuart’s first book Shuggie Bain won the Booker Prize in 2022. This new book is about a father and son who live in denial in a small, remote community where they keep secrets from each other and where their lives are lived according to what God and the neighbours might think. There’s so much to love in it - the language is extraordinary, the writing exceptional, and it moves between old traditions and the modern world, and between generations, seamlessly. I can’t recommend it highly enough. 

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The shell game, the friendship bracelet, the Colosseum ticket tout and the fake police officer are just some of the scams groups run on tourists in order to steal their money.

BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton reveals how to get ahead of these scams - read more about it here.

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Budget 2026 was revealed last week, and it forecasts a return to surplus in the 2028/29 year. Some experts have raised questions over how likely this actually is - what do we think? 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis also indicated discussions about the future of NZ Super need to take place. Do we agree with this?  

Rum and raisin ice cream is back on the shelves - will we buy it?

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When you're snacking too much between meals,  you’re most likely consuming more food than your body needs, which can add to additional issues down the track.

Wellness expert Erin O'Hara reveals her tips and strategies for breaking through boredom eating. 

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Serves: 6-8 

2 cups red wine  

1 cup fresh thyme  

6 garlic cloves, crushed  

12 baby white onions, outer skin removed, cut in half  

2 tbsp oil  

Pinch flaky salt and white pepper  

400 gm button mushrooms, cut in half  

10 rashers streaky bacon  

2 cubes chicken stock dissolved in 2 cups of water

Cut the chicken legs in half between the drum and thigh.  

Cover the chicken in red wine, garlic and thyme and place in the fridge overnight to marinate.  

Preheat oven to 160*C.  

Heat a large cast iron pan until hot, add a touch of oil and then lay in the baby onions cut side down. Cook until well coloured before turning. Remove and repeat with the cut mushrooms before setting them aside. Finally saute bacon until fat is rendered out. Remove bacon and chop into large pieces, Keeping the bacon fat in the pan, gently heat. Remove chicken thighs from marinade and fry the chicken in batches to avoid stewing. When all coloured on both sides.  

Place the chicken back into the pan and slowly pour over the red wine marinate, including the garlic and thyme and reduce by half. (note if the pan is to small you can use a roasting tray instead).

Top with the bacon, onions, mushrooms and stock. Cover with baking paper cook in oven for 45-60 minutes.  

The end result should be crispy chicken with a reduced sauce that is thick enough to coat the chicken. Serve with some creamy mash potatoes. 

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Under current mission plans, astronauts could spend nearly three years completing a round trip to the Red Planet. The journey to Mars alone typically takes seven to ten months, and crews then have to wait for Earth and Mars to align again before returning home. 

But now, an accidental discovery published in the journal Acta astronautica and inspired by asteroid trajectories suggests that future Mars missions might one day take less than a year-round trip.  

The idea came from a scientist who was studying near-Earth asteroids - specifically how scientists estimate their trajectories when first discovered. 

One asteroid caught his attention: 2001 CA21. 

Early calculations suggested the asteroid followed an unusual orbital path that crossed both Earth’s and Mars’ orbital regions. Later observations refined the asteroid’s true trajectory, and the original estimates were essentially discarded. 

But the scientist noticed something fascinating hidden inside those early calculations. 

The geometry of the asteroid’s path hinted at an ultra-fast route between Earth and Mars.  

Mars is much farther from the sun than Earth, and the planets are constantly moving around the sun at different speeds. 

To save fuel, spacecraft usually travel along carefully timed transfer orbits that take advantage of planetary alignment. These efficient routes are slower but practical. 

The problem is timing. Earth and Mars only line up properly for these fuel-efficient missions roughly every 26 months. Missing the return window means astronauts could be stranded waiting for another alignment. 

Using the new asteroid-inspired geometry, the researchers calculated that an extremely fast route to Mars could theoretically take as little as 34 days.  

The spacecraft would need to travel at around 32.5 kilometres per second which is far beyond the capabilities of current rockets. 

Also, arriving at Mars would be even more challenging. The spacecraft would hit the Martian system traveling so fast that current landing technologies couldn’t safely slow it down. 

So while the 34-day mission is mathematically possible, it remains impractical with today’s technology. 

Rather than focusing on the impossible extreme case, the researchers explored whether similar geometric paths could work during future Mars alignments using technology that may exist in the near future. 

And one opportunity stood out: the 2031 Mars opposition. 

According to the calculations, astronauts could potentially complete a round trip to Mars in about 153 days (roughly five months), or a lower-energy version lasting around 226 days (about 7.5 months)  

That’s still dramatically shorter than the multi-year missions currently envisioned. 

The proposed mission profile would involve: 

• A 33-day trip to Mars 
• About one month on the Martian surface 
• A 90-day return journey to Earth  

NASA’s NASA probe New Horizons became the fastest spacecraft ever launched from Earth when it left for Pluto at around 16.26 kilometres per second.  

Future rockets like SpaceX Starship or Blue Origin New Glenn may eventually push those limits even further. 

One of the most fascinating parts of this story is that the discovery wasn’t the result of a grand Mars mission plan. It came from a scientist noticing something unusual in old asteroid calculations that everyone else had moved past. 

Breakthroughs don’t always emerge from people searching directly for answers. 

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Kate Moss is something of an enigma, shying away from interviews and turning down many requests for films and documentaries. However she agreed to the request of Oscar winning British Kiwi director James Lucas. James tells Francesca show he convinced Moss to be part of his new film Moss and Freud.

New Zealand's gaming industry is booming, hitting $1 billion in revenue two years ahead of target. New Zealand Game Developers Association Executive Director Joy Keene talks about what is driving the success in the sector.

Meanwhile, Francesca applauds the Government's long term approach to the budget.

And Megan Singleton has details of the latest street scam happening in Europe and lets us know how to avoid it.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Williams was named Best Solo artist at the ceremony held at Auckland’s Civic Theatre on Thursday night.

His single, Aua Atu Rā, was named best of the year and his most recent record Te Whare Tīwekaweka was named Best Album.

Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall explained further.

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The players are coming together, New Zealand's own All Whites are on the ground - but there's another Kiwi set to play a signicant role at this year's event.

Eden Park turf manager Blair Christiansen has been in the US for a couple of weeks - in his new role as pitch venue manager for New York New Jersey Stadium.

"What I'll do is sort of just provide confidence, feedback, assistance, and sort of just linking a pretty big operation on an international sporting body to a local venue." 

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In an address at an Asia-Pacific security conference, Hegseth called for nations to spend 3.5 percent of GDP on defence.

He says Wellington's plan to boost spending to 2 percent in the next eight years isn't enough.

Political commentator Brigitte Morten says recent defence spending moves indicate the Government is aware the sector needs more funding - and they're making moves to boost it.

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Under Health NZ's $5 million plan, pharmacists will be able to prescribe medicines for pain, head lice, conjunctivitis, urinary tract infections and the emergency contraceptive pill from Tuesday.

Pharmaceutical Society of NZ President, Michael Hammond says all pharmacies can offer the service, but participation is optional.

"They do have the time, because they're having these conversations with patients every day. So what the real change here is there's funding wrapped around it - and access to some funded pharmaceuticals."

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The sector hit its $1 billion annual revenue target two years early, and it's on track to double that figure by the end of the decade.

NZ Game Developers Association executive director Joy Keene says there are quite a few factors behind this.

"We're a very creative country, obviously, we have some number 8 wire kind of thinking. And couple that with the Government support that we've been receiving over the last few years, that has super-charged what our game developers have been able to do."

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It does appear to make progress toward reducing spending growth. Major savings are expected from restructuring the public service and ending the final-year “fees free” tertiary policy. Whether these cuts are fully achievable is uncertain. The plan to reduce around 8700 public-sector jobs by 2029 relies on agency mergers, technology adoption, and continued restraint across departments. That’s a lot to get done right. Critics argue these reductions may prove politically difficult due to differences between the coalition parties.  

On the revenue side, the Government introduced a new levy on banks and insurers and adjusted several tax settings, but the Budget largely depends on stronger future growth to lift tax receipts over time to make the numbers work.

The Government also attempted to address productivity and long-term growth through increased capital investment in infrastructure, defence, hospitals, schools, vocational training, and technology development. Supporters argue these investments will improve economic capacity over time. Critics contend we still lack a comprehensive productivity strategy and under-invest in innovation and business growth.

So it’s not an aspirational Budget. Or an interesting one. It’s not a Budget that is going to seriously address inequality and inequity in NZ. It’s a back to basics, practical Budget and pretty much what we were expecting.  

But what I do like, and what makes this Budget distinctive, is the medium and long-term approach which, considering the pickle we’re in, is refreshingly grown-up. 

This is a Budget focused on long-term economic management rather than near-term popularity. It largely devoid of gimmicks, bribes, or incentives for voters. This is a Budget that draws a line in the sand. This is National and the coalition practising what they preach and defining themselves by their decision making.  

Whether the strategy succeeds politically is another question. Yes, it demonstrates fiscal credibility and attempts to address underlying economic weaknesses. But you can also argue the Government has underestimated public demand for immediate cost-of-living relief.  

Overall, the Budget moves New Zealand closer to stabilising debt and returning to surplus, but its success depends heavily on economic growth forecasts, successful implementation of spending cuts, and stable global conditions.

Given weaker growth projections and international uncertainty, achieving surplus by 2029–2030 is far from guaranteed.  

As ever, it’s another case of us needing to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. 

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RBG: Of Many, One debuts at Auckland theatre company this week, and will run until June 7th - and Mitchell portrays the late US Supreme Court Justice.

It's a one-woman show, where Mitchell portrays Ginsburg from the age of 13 to 97, and she plays numerous characters across a story that lasts almost two hours.

"Really, all it requires is being present and in the moment and being there, for those imaginary characters."  

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From Th’ Dudes to DD Smash to a highly successful solo career, he's made an impact on New Zealand music, with many of his hits becoming Kiwi anthems.

He's set to do a one night show in Auckland later this year, 'Selected Songs Encore' - a follow-up to last year's 'Selected Songs' tour.

"It was a real thrill and I warmed to it, because every time you play for an audience, you just become closer - and that's a pretty satisfying feeling." 

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Famesick by Lena Dunham. Lena Dunham became extremely famous in her early 20’s as the writer and lead actor in the TV series Girls and has maintained a high profile since. Her memoir is fascinating - she’s struggled with debilitating sickness for much of her life and survived addictions, celebrity and a fair amount of public humiliation - all whilst working frenetically, displaying early and rare talent, and she puts it all on the page in this book which I couldn’t put down. She’s a very talented writer and her own life has given her a remarkable canvas against which to tell her story. 

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Brennan's is a historic institution best known for their Bananas Foster, and Megan's written down the recipe for the highly requested dish.

Read more here.

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Nicola Willis announced that public service jobs would be slashed, and it's been viewed as controversial. Do we need these cuts? Should a reduction in public service roles also mean a reduction in politicians? Surely if the state shrinks, so should the number of politicians?

The Enhanced Games are set to kick off in the US tomorrow - what do we make of this? Does this send the wrong message? 

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Heather Mitchell has been called Australia's hardest working actress and her latest role shows why.  Heather tells Francesca just how demanding her latest solo show is and why she is so passionate about the role portraying Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Auckland FC are A League champions, Sky Sport analyst Jacob Spoonley tells Francesca just how much this historic win means for the club and for the whole of football in New Zealand.

Francesca looks at the good and the bad messaging from the Government this week and implores the Government to make systematic changes without being nasty or bringing people down.

And the panel talk about tomorrow's "Doping Olympics", The Enhanced Games, taking place in Las Vegas tomorrow.  Ethics aside, are they just a little bit cuiorus to see what these athletes can do.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Some say it can help compare the nutritional profiles of similarly packaged foods, but some say its voluntary nature and algorithms mean it can sometimes be misleading or fail to reflect whole-food healthiness. 

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained further.

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Cook time: 30 minutes 

Prep time: 15 minutes 

Serves: 6

500 gm gurnard fillets  

1 cup milk  

4 medium agria potatoes, peeled  

Zest of 1 lemon  

½ cup parsley, chopped  

1 red chilli, finely chopped  

½ red onion, finely chopped  

Salt and black pepper  

2 eggs, lightly beaten  

1 cup milk  

2 cups panko crumbs  

3 Tbsp sunflower oil  

Curry lime mayonnaise  

2 egg yolks 

juice of 2 limes  

1 tbsp curry powder  

Pinch salt  

Pinch sugar  

1 tbsp Dijon mustard  

1 cup sunflower oil

Preheat oven to 180*C.  

Place the fish and the milk into a pot and bring to the boil then turn the heat off and allow the fish to cool in the milk. 

Meanwhile, cook the potatoes by starting them in cold salted water bring to the boil. Turn down until just tender, drain and mash with a potato masher. Set aside.  

Remove the fish and flake it into a bowl containing along with the potato, lemon, parsley, chilli, onion and seasoning. Mix until combined. Roll the mix into golf ball sized balls, then press to flatten slightly. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.  

Crumb the fish cakes by rolling them first in the egg and milk then in the panko crumbs. Pan fry until golden and crispy, then finish in the oven for about 10 minutes.  

Curry lime mayonnaise 

Place all the ingredients except the oil into a food processor and blitz for 30 seconds. Then with the motor running gradually add the oil until the mix is smooth and creamy. Season and serve. 

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But new research published in the journal PLOS ONE suggests something surprising - you may be able to improve your balance while lying flat on your back.

The researchers found that just 10 minutes a day of simple floor-based exercises improved people’s balance and side-to-side agility in as little as two weeks.

Humans are actually built in a fairly awkward way. Our centre of gravity sits high in the body, around the chest area, balanced above a relatively tiny base: our feet.

In engineering terms, we are basically top-heavy towers wobbling around on two narrow supports.

To stay upright, the body constantly coordinates signals between the core muscles, hips, legs, ankles, and nervous system. When that coordination weakens, balance problems, injuries, falls, and back pain can follow.

Most exercise programs focus on strengthening either the 'core' or the legs separately. But researchers wanted to test something different: what happens if you train the body to coordinate both systems together?

The researchers designed a simple routine performed entirely in a lying-down position.

Participants lay on their backs and completed a short series of movements including: 

• Gentle abdominal tightening 
• Small pelvic lifts similar to mini bridges 
• Controlled heel slides 
• Ankle flexing 
• Toe movements resembling a “rock-paper-scissors” motion  

The routine was low intensity, required no equipment, and took only about 10 minutes to complete. Participants repeated the exercises daily for two weeks. 

After the program, participants showed measurable improvements in balance and agility. 

Researchers observed: 

• Reduced body wobbling while standing still 
• Better stability with feet close together 
• Faster side-to-side stepping movements  

Interestingly, participants did not become significantly stronger or more powerful. 

That suggests the improvements likely came from the nervous system becoming better at coordinating the body, essentially improving communication between the trunk and legs. 

It seems like the exercises may have trained the body to work smarter, not necessarily harder. 

Balance is one of those abilities we rarely think about until we begin losing it. 

Because the routine is gentle and performed lying down, it could potentially help: 

• Older adults 
• People recovering from injury 
• Those with limited mobility 
• People intimidated by traditional exercise 
• Anyone wanting a low-impact daily routine  

This study highlights something scientists are increasingly discovering about the human body: small, consistent movements can have surprisingly meaningful effects.

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The 2026 Comedy Festival is almost over, with the Last Laughs Awards Gala taking place 7PM at SkyCity Theatre tonight.

Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall unpacked the nominees further.

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Medical supervision will monitor the 40 elite athletes competing for millions of dollars as it streams online.

Sports scientist and former Olympic coach Dr Adam Storey says this competition goes against what New Zealand organisations support, as the nation prides itself on avoiding performance enhancers.

"To see what's going to happen in Las Vegas over the next few days, it's a little bit concerning - and also really disappointing." 

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Ahead of Thursday's big reveal, new announcements about defence spending, education, and healthcare have been released.

Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths says the Government's looking to be 'bold' this time round, with their controversial announcement over public service job cuts raising some eyebrows. 

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As part of a $1.58 billion investment in maritime security ahead of the Budget, the Government will invest in two different types of unmanned aerial aircraft for collecting intelligence.

It says there are manufacturers and suppliers of the technology here already. 

Defence Minister Chris Penk says it's important to invest in the best technology.

"I'm really pleased that we've managed to find some creative ways to do things a bit differently in defence, as well as the dollar figures involved."

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They've beaten Sydney FC 1-nil to win the A-League title, after staying at an Auckland hotel on Friday to simulate an away game.

Sky Sport analyst and former footballer Jacob Spoonley says Auckland FC's rapid success in the A-League is historic.

"The amount of success, and so soon, is something that truly sets Auckland apart from the pack." 

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It wasn’t surprising then that the 2024 and 2025 budgets were all about fiscal discipline, a halt to excessive spending, reduced borrowing and “living within our means.”

Tax cuts aside, the Government has, for the most part, managed to present its decision making as fair and reasonable. Too reasonable for some people’s liking. Ruth Richardson argues that Nicola Willis has not gone far or fast enough in restoring New Zealand’s fiscal position, and that the Government is balancing political caution with fiscal repair, instead of making harder and more impactful structural changes.

This week, the Government presented a harder edge as it doubled down on reducing the number of public servants and rearranging parts of New Zealand’s welfare system. Once again, messaging was key. Some of it was good. Some just made the Government look mean.  

A change in social housing policy was announced, which aims to balance the support provided for those struggling in social housing with those struggling in private rentals. We absolutely want to make sure those who can look after themselves do so, and those in genuine need are able to access social housing. However getting those in social housing to fit the bill with increased rents to subsidise people in private rentals doesn’t appear to be getting anyone ahead - we’re just asking one disadvantaged group to help another.  

There is some interesting thinking around this policy - changing the RMA to allow for an increased supply of long-term, low-rent properties, or properties catering to people with mental health issues or disabilities, so that people can move out of social housing and into private rentals while still getting an accommodation subsidy isn’t a bad idea. If you can pull it off. But Nicola Willis’ flippant comment that social housing tenants had "won the lotto" - which she expressed regret for - reduced the big picture down to a policy that implied the Government reckons you’ve got it too good so are going to kick you out of your home.  

This week, Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston introduced the Disability Support Services Bill to Parliament. While supposedly intended to provide clarity and stability to the system which supports thousands of disabled New Zealanders, it did pretty much the opposite for those who look after a disabled family member by sidestepping a 2025 Supreme Court ruling. The Bill allows the Government to now claim the Crown is not the employer of family carers, those who care for loved ones, sometimes 24/7 and sometimes for their entire lives. It had been a long hard battle for carers to be heard and recognised, and it feels like a recently resolved issue of fairness has been sacrificed.  

While people affected by the announcements this week may not naturally vote for the current Government, New Zealanders respond well to a sense of fairness. Regardless of who we vote for, we’re a decent bunch and don’t want to see policy decisions that feel like the final tug of the rug from underneath New Zealanders genuinely in need, at a time when fuel and other costs are increasing.  

This doesn’t mean we can’t change systems. This doesn’t mean we can’t find a more efficient, sustainable and fairer means of looking after as many New Zealanders in need as needed. But you don’t have to be or look mean doing it.  

Thursday is Budget day. The Finance Minister has reduced the amount of new money the Government is giving themselves for day-to-day spending, and is still working to get the books back in balance and the debt curve bending down. Are changes to the public sector or social welfare going to cut it? Maybe it’s time to also rethink tax cuts, landlord tax incentives, tobacco breaks and many of the other election incentives that get in the way of achieving this.  

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Throughout his career he’s performed with bands like Air Supply and Men at Work, headlined tours around the Globe and toured with Eric Clapton and John Denver.

Among his many career awards, he’s won a Grammy for best instrumental arrangement and is one of only 5 ever Chet Atkins certified guitar players.

His Living in the Light Tour starts in Auckland at the Town Hall tonight.

"I feel it's my calling to play for people, because when I play, people get happy. So I don't call it the music business, I call it the happiness business. I play, you get happy - everyone's happy." 

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Patrick has written six books, all best sellers - with Empire of Pain and Say Nothing being the standouts.

His latest book is London Falling, a story of London teenager Zac Brettler who mysteriously fell to his death in 2019, and it's available in stores now. 

"Part of what I was trying to do with this book was look at the way in which any of us as parents, when we're parenting an adolescent  - particularly these days when everybody's on their phones - is that the child we thought we knew can start to become somebody unrecognisable." 

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The Valley by Asher Emanuel - the culmination of over two years of field research and hundreds of hours of interviews, this extraordinary book follows three Hutt Valley men through courtrooms, prison, hospital, rehab, boarding houses and welfare offices, two of whom are recidivist offenders, the other being their legal aid lawyer. Told largely in verbatim dialogue, it’s a remarkable up-close and personal account bringing the realities of the New Zealand criminal justice system to life through the voices of those who experience it first-hand. 

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This follows the man successfully suing his tour operator for allowing the practice to take place while he was on holiday with his family in 2024, claiming he spent 20 minutes a day trying to find a sun lounger early in the morning.

Bloggeratlarge writer Megan Singleton explained further.

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The Government has unveiled their new system designed to replace NCEA. Do we think parents and students are getting enough clarity around the curriculum and how assessments are going to go? What does this mean for the humanities? Do we think the Government's taking the right approach here?

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Legendary guitarist Tommy Emmanuel performs live in studio and talks through is six decade long career.

Education Minister Erica Stanford runs us through the new national secondary school qualification announced to replace NCEA, while Francesca discusses how funding Wegovy could be a gamechanger in New Zealand.

And ever struggled to get a sun lounger on holiday? Well one fed up tourist has sued his tour operator over his inability to secure a sun bathing spot. Travel contributor Megan Singleton runs us through the case and why it has hotels and resorts cracking down on lounger hoggers.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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While FDA-approved peptides are generally safe under medical guidance, many others lack safety studies, and improperly sourced peptides may contain contaminants, leading to severe reactions.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained further.

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Instead, they scuttle sideways with surprising speed and agility, a movement so iconic it has practically become the defining feature of crabs themselves. 

Now, scientists have published in the journal eLife that they believe they know where this unusual walk came from.  

Researchers studying crab movement discovered that sideways walking likely evolved only once in the history of “true crabs,” a group known scientifically as Brachyura.  

That’s remarkable because in evolution, useful traits often appear independently many times. Wings evolved separately in birds, bats, and insects. Streamlined body shapes evolved in dolphins and sharks despite them not being closely related. 

But sideways walking? Scientists think crabs only invented it once, and then stuck with it.

The researchers studied how 50 different crab species moved, filming them individually in specially designed arenas that mimicked their natural environments. When they mapped those movements onto the crab family tree, a striking pattern appeared - most modern crabs inherited their sideways movement from one ancient ancestor.  

At first glance, walking sideways seems awkward. 

But for crabs, it may actually be a survival superpower. 

Crabs have wide, flattened bodies with legs that naturally extend outward. Moving sideways allows them to move faster and more efficiently without constantly twisting their bodies. 

A sideways-moving crab can rapidly dart left or right in unpredictable bursts, making it harder for predators to anticipate where it will go next.  

Today there are nearly 8,000 known species of true crabs living in environments ranging from deep oceans to rivers, forests, and even land.  

The scientists believe this evolutionary shift happened shortly after one of Earth’s major extinction events: the Triassic–Jurassic extinction around 200 million years ago.  

At that time, the world was changing dramatically and nature was opening up entirely new ecological opportunities. Crabs may have arrived with the perfect new adaptation at exactly the right moment. 

Scientists often talk about “carcinization” the repeated evolution of crab-like body shapes across different crustacean groups. Oddly enough, becoming crab-shaped has happened multiple times in evolutionary history. 

But sideways walking appears to have been much rarer.  

That suggests some behaviours are surprisingly difficult to evolve, even if they turn out to be highly successful once they appear. 

It’s easy to dismiss a crab’s sideways scuttle as just a quirky detail of nature. 

But this study suggests it may have been one of the most important movement innovations in marine evolution. 

A single change in how an animal moved may have helped crabs spread across the planet, adapt to countless environments, and become one of the most successful groups of crustaceans on Earth. 

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Cook time: 30 minutes 

Prep time: 15 minutes 

Serves: 6-8

1 crown pumpkin, peeled and de-seeded 

2 medium sized onions 

10 cloves garlic

1 tbsp garam masala 

1 tbsp ground coriander 

1 tbsp ground cummin 

1 tsp tumeric  

1.5 ltr vegetable stock 

400 gm coconut cream

1 cup cream 

100 gm butter 

Salt 

Sunflower oil

Heat a pot, adding in a touch of oil before sweating the onions and garlic, followed by the spices. Cook out for a few minutes.

Add in the pumpkin and continue to stir until the pumpkin is fully coated. Cover the pumpkin with the vegetable stock, coconut cream and salt.  

Bring the soup up to a boil. Turn down and simmer for a further 30 minutes or until the pumpkin is well cooked.

Using a blender or using stick blender, blend the soup well and slowly add in all the butter and cream.

Check the seasoning. 

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The Once in a Lifetime show was headlined by Six60, Kaylee Bell, Cassie Henderson and Synthony, among others.

Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall explained further. 

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The inaugural Aotearoa Stone Skimming Championship just wrapped up this weekend, with the money raised by the event going to Melanoma NZ. 

Organiser Richie Laming says an event like this had been floated at Lake Hāwea in the past - and it's a prime location to skip stones.

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The Tamaki MP in March revealed she would leave Parliament this year and won't be standing at the election. 

She explained that this isn't why she's standing down, but she says it seems like it was meant to be - and she is thrilled to be starting the journey into motherhood.  

Newstalk ZB political reporter Azaria Howell says the baby is due within days of the November election. 

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Year 11 students will now need to get a foundational literacy and numeracy award before they pass Year 12 and 13. 

Senior students will also face a compulsory exam in each subject, and must pass at least three subjects each year to pass. 

But Chair of the New Zealand Secondary Principals' Council, Steve McCracken, says while the new system seems easy to understand - NCEA is still a valid qualification.

"What I think we've got is actually an advancement in terms of the minister's priorities - it makes it really clear and concise and able to be read really easily."

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Yesterday, Erica Stanford announced senior students will need to pass three out of five subjects to achieve the new certificates. 

The new system will be phased in from 2028 and reward students with endorsements for passing all five subjects. 

Stanford explained that the first tranche of the curriculum has been sent out for consultation.

"They're going to be dropping it in three tranches, just to not overwhelm the sector. I've got a group of principals who are keeping an eye on it - the curriculum advisory group."

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Hopefully this will come about sooner than later. I’m not talking about funding it for every Tom, Dick and Harry who wants to lose a few kgs, but for the seriously obese who are dealing with all the risks and diseases that come with it - such as diabetes, renal failure, cardiovascular disease and impacts on joints.  

At this stage the criteria for funding the drug states it would be available for people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of more than 50 and also to those with a BMI of more than 35 and at least two co-morbidities. 

Last week, an article in the NZ Herald caught my attention and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. The title of the article was: Leading causes of death by age in New Zealand. I know, it’s a cheery number. 

Now, while the when and where of our deaths is largely unknown to many of us, the data explains how we’re likely to die depending on how old we are. 

In our 20s, external injuries are the leading cause of death. These are classified as intentional - suicide, self-harm or assault - or unintentional, including falls, burns, vehicle crashes, dog bites and drownings.  

As we move into our 30s ‘all cancers’ become the leading cause of death, but in our 40s a trend emergences that stays with us until our 80s and beyond. The ‘all cancer’ group remains the leading cause of death but heart disease moves into second. As we age, suicide reduces, and the chance of dying from respiratory diseases, diabetes, or strokes also increases.  

Not hugely surprising, right? But when clearly defined by the data and in graphs, it’s a little confronting. It’s a simple way to look at how to prioritise health care, and as I found an effective motivator to encourage people to do what they can to beat the odds. 

So yes, let's fund Wegovy. Think of the impact it could have on our over-burdened health care system, and the country’s productivity. This drug could be a game changer for young people and their mental health, for those unable to work due to weight related issues, and those who could potentially end up needed a heart transplant.  

But it’s also worth starting slow. When it comes to criteria for funding the drug, we need to start with those most at risk, and who will benefit the most from it. With one in three New Zealand adults regarded as obese - being labelled obese shouldn’t be enough to qualify. Like all drugs, there are side effects and risks and more research is needed to determine long term effects.  

But hey, when you’re got a tool as powerful as this, we should be making the most of it in the most equitable manner possible.  

In the meantime, I shall be doing what I can to look after myself.  

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The Auckland Travel Show is on this weekend, and it's clear demand is alive and well, but there are some new trends emerging. 

Founder Rob Eliott says people have redirected their plans - with plenty still planning trips for Asia and the Pacific Islands. 

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Labour had disastrous local election results, with right-wing party Reform making huge gains.

UK Labour MP Catherine West says she will trigger a challenge to Starmer's leadership if Cabinet doesn't.

UK correspondent Enda Brady says the results are a vote against Starmer.

"People don't know who he is, people don't know what he stands for, nothing has changed. This summer will mark two years of him being in power and he hasn't delivered the change people wanted." 

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Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed it'll end at the Budget, with 2026 being the final year students are eligible. 

Victoria University of Wellington Student Association President Aidan Donaghue says it's being binned as the cost of living bites. 

"There's huge opportunity costs...we can't work full time while also studying. So energy, heating, groceries, fuel - those are all just compounding on students as they try and better themselves." 

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Aidan Donoghue from the Victoria University Wellington Student Association shares his thoughts on the Government's decision to scrap the fees free scheme. He says it's another kick in the guts for struggling students.

Francesca gives her thoughts on the ex-CRL bosses' comments on the expensive project: Yes, it's over budget. But weren't you the guy making those decisions? 

And doctor Michelle Dickinson shares a research paper that asks the question, 'How do you give CPR in space?'.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress by Ariel Lawhon whose most recent new book was The Frozen River. As with her other writing, this is based on real events - in 1930’s NYC, a judge stepped into a taxicab and simply disappeared - he was never heard from again, and it haunted New York society for years. This fictional account tells the story of the judge’s wife, the maid who cleaned their apartment and the showgirl who had been his lover, and posits a totally compelling and credible answer to the mystery. With access to some archival material from the times she’s done a great job of recreating what might have happened. 

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The Government has confirmed fees-free uni is over and done ahead of the Budget. What kind of impact will this have? Would it be better to find other ways to support young people? Are we worried it will be another factor that will drive young talent from New Zealand? Do we think interest-free student loans are on their way out? 

The Government's given councils three months to put forward merger proposals, or it will force them to join up under its own process. Do we think this is enough time? What will this mean for jobs?

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Stories About My Body examines years of growth and change, as Morgana looks back on her stories and memories and diary entries.

She says it took a while to craft the project - and it adds more cinematic touches to the one-woman show.

"I think the whole thing is essentially a love letter...to all of your 13-year-old selves, all the way up until pushing babies out of one's body." 

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Some argue they fuel chronic inflammation and disease, while others have pointed out that they lower cholesterol and reduce heart disease risk.

Naturopath and wellness research Erin O'Hara weighed in - and revealed which oils are better for you. 

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Cook time: 10 minutes 

Prep time: 30 minutes 

Serves: makes 10-15

375 ml warm water 

250 ml milk 

1 tbsp dried yeast 

1 tbsp raw sugar 

400 gm plain flour 

1 tsp baking powder 

1 tsp baking soda 

Pinch of salt 

Sunflower oil for cooking

Combine the water, milk, yeast and sugar in a jug and set aside to activate. 

Place the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Slowly stir in the yeast mixture and continue to mix until smooth. 

Cover with a clean damp towel and set aside somewhere warm to ferment for a hour. 

The batter should start to bubble during this time.  

10 minutes before you start to cook the crumpets, dissolve the baking soda in a little water. Mix through the batter and set aside. 

Heat a large cast iron frypan over a medium heat. Add a touch of oil and spread it around. Drop in some 10cm crumpet moulds or steel pastry cutters. Spoon in about 1/4 cup of crumpet batter into each mould. Allow the bubbles to rise to the surface for a couple of minutes before removing the moulds. After 5 minutes, flip and continue to cook on a low heat until golden. 

Repeat until all the batter is used. 

Serve hot with marmalade and butter.

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Now, imagine someone suffers a cardiac arrest. 

On Earth, CPR is a life-saving skill we take for granted. Push hard and fast on the chest to keep blood flowing to the brain and organs until medical help arrives. But in space, things get complicated very quickly. 

Research published in the journal Microgravity are now exploring a question most of us have never considered: how does blood move through the body during CPR when gravity is reduced? 

CPR relies heavily on gravity and body positioning here on Earth. When you compress someone’s chest, you are helping pump blood through the cardiovascular system toward vital organs like the brain. 

But in space, astronauts float.

Without gravity, rescuers can’t brace themselves properly, and the body itself behaves differently. Fluids shift upward toward the head, the heart can shrink slightly over time, and circulation changes in ways scientists are still trying to fully understand. 

That means traditional CPR techniques may not work as effectively in reduced gravity environments like the moon, Mars, or spacecraft. 

Researchers have proposed several “space CPR” methods over the years, but there has been a major problem: nobody has really been able to measure what is happening inside the body during those attempts. 

The Concordia research team developed a remarkably advanced CPR simulator designed specifically for hypogravity environments. 

At first glance, it looks like a medical training mannequin. But inside, it contains a surprisingly realistic artificial cardiovascular system. 

Instead of simply measuring how deep chest compressions are, the system measures whether blood is actually moving effectively through the body. 

To test the system, the researchers took their mannequin aboard a specially modified Falcon 20 aircraft used for space science experiments. 

The plane flies in steep arcs called parabolic flights. During parts of the flight, passengers experience brief periods of reduced gravity, similar to what astronauts feel in space. 

During these moments of hypogravity, the mannequin received automated chest compressions while sensors tracked how fluid moved through its artificial arteries. 

One of the key measurement points was the carotid artery, the major vessel that carries blood to the brain. 

The team observed measurable differences in blood pressure compared with Earth-based CPR. Systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, pulse pressure, and mean arterial pressure were all higher in reduced gravity conditions. 

The body appears to respond differently to CPR in low gravity than it does on Earth. 

That’s an important discovery because it suggests Earth-based assumptions about resuscitation may not fully apply in space. 

As humans spend more time away from Earth, medical emergencies become inevitable and unlike on Earth, there is no ambulance coming. 

Future astronauts may need to handle life-threatening emergencies entirely on their own, with limited equipment and delayed communication with Earth. 

Understanding how CPR works in reduced gravity could one day save lives millions of kilometres from the nearest hospital. 

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His new book, Mortified, is far from a highlight reel - it focuses on the shame, the cringe and all the stupid things that leave many wanting to die from embarrassment.

Assadi says he was in a 'creative zone' developing stand-up when the book concept came to him.

"I just thought it was cool, counterculture thing to do against the backdrop of our social media society that is obsessed with making sure we all look pristine - and I'm just kind of sick of it. I'm a little bit sick of us all pretending like we're all perfect."  

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Winston Peters told Newstalk ZB on Friday that they'd get rid of the final free year of tertiary education, and Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed it. 

She says they will have more to say on it in due course.

NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says it's likely the Government isn't thrilled with Peters leaking these details - and it wasn't pre-authorised by Willis or anyone else. 

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More so, I can’t wait to see if it does what it was intended to do - transform the city's rail network from a "one-way cul-de-sac" into a two-way through-system, designed to double the network's capacity and improve accessibility across the region.  

It’s been a monster of a ride getting this underground railway built, and yes it’s costs a bundle, but I was intrigued this week that those most vocal about the decision making and costs are the people responsible for the project. 

Good on former CRL boss Sean Sweeney for coming out and calling it how he sees it. We need people with experience expressing views on how we do things in this country. Sweeney oversaw the CRL, and its many cost increases and associated challenges for six years, and admits he would do things differently if he had his time again.

He feels the main issue with the CRL was that it was over-specified. It’s not just the CRL, he also thinks the Christchurch stadium could have been built for less. As much as Cantabrians are enjoying the stadium, I’m sure there are many who feel the same way.  

Building infrastructure is a bit like buying a house. When you buy you’re convinced you’re being ripped off and then 7-10 years later you’re generally pretty happy with the price and capital gain. I’m sure that over the next 10, 20, 100 years we’ll feel pretty pleased with ourselves for future proofing these investments: a platform long enough to cope with extra train carriages in anticipation of Auckland’s population growth, and a roof on Christchurch’s stadium. 

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop took the opportunity to reinforce National’s ‘fiscally responsible’ stance by ordering a review into the build, while still trying to stay positive about a project which will open on his watch. It was a bit of a headline grab. An effort to look proactive in response to the criticism. But anything that costs $5.5 billion, and was as difficult and disruptive as the CRL has been, should be reviewed and learnt from. Preferably before we launch into a second Auckland Harbour crossing.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown also piped up, expressing his long held view on the cost of the CRL, saying the project was “set up poorly” and he would take a tougher approach to projects.  

But weirdly, I don’t hear Aucklanders talking about it the same way as those who were or are involved in it.

Remember City Rail Link Limited was formed between the National Government and the Phil Goff-led Auckland Council in 2017 to jointly fund and oversee it through to completion. Both local and central Government are responsible for this project. 

While the CRL has been a torturous affair, especially for those living, working or trying to run a business around its construction, most locals just want it to open, for it to make a fundamental change to how we get around our clogged up city, and can’t wait to give it a try.

Spending $2 billion more on the CRL is worth a discussion, but maybe we need to keep it in perspective.

Superannuation currently costs the country over $24 billion annually and is estimated by Treasury to cost over $45 billion in 10 years. The reluctance of political parties to thoughtfully address this is neglectful. So, enjoy the fancy infrastructure where you can, there’s unlikely to be much more on the way. 

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When investigative journalist Karen Hao started looking into Sam Altman’s OpenAI, she had hopes for the technology, but extensive research and unparalleled access to those closest to the AI arms race left her with a different view. 

Her work in this space has made her one of the foremost tech journos covering AI.  She’s been listed in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People.  

She's heading to New Zealand for the Auckland Writers Festival with her book EMPIRE OF AI: Inside the Reckless Race for Total Domination.

"My criticism of companies that use this kind of rhetoric is that they are essentially just leveraging the lack of a shared definition as a way to just hype up their technologies." 

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Shortly after retiring from the high-performance canoe Slalom at the Paris Olympics, Luuka received a call and an offer to appear as Charlize Theron’s stunt double in the Netflix film Apex. 

She says the offer felt like an 'April Fools joke' at first, but she was on a plane to the South Island to begin filming before she knew it. 

"I just received at text from a friend down in the South Island and he called me and said he's been doing a bunch of water safety on some films and that this film had approached him and they needs a kayak double for Charlize Theron - and it kind of went from there." 

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London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe. He’s the author who gave us the wonderful Empire of Pain a few years ago. This is about a young man whose fall from the balcony of a high end apartment block beside the Thames was filmed by MI6 cameras across the river. Zac Brettler always wanted more, and passed himself off as the child of a Russian oligarch which ultimately resulted in him getting in with the wrong crowd. Despite the footage, the Metropolitan Police refused to investigate and when Radden Keefe got involved he found a great deal to answer for. This is fascinating, investigative writing of the highest order. 

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After she learned the Abyssinian Baptist Church was booked out, she checked out the spring blossoms in Central Park, explored the Met and visited Little Island - which is built on wine glass shaped stilts across 4 acres in the Hudson River.  

Read more of Megan's travel tips here.

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ACT has recently revealed their new immigration policy - what do we think? Is this going to attract the right people to New Zealand? A lot of what ACT is talking about here is just about enforcing existing laws - have we been too soft in the past? 

There's been disagreements in the coalition this week - do we see them lasting until the election? Is Winston Peters trying to get one over Chris Luxon? 

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A diverse microbiome is key for our overall wellbeing, as it influences everything from our mood to our metabolism and our brain health, and processed food can have a harmful impact.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained further. 

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Luuka Jones-Yaxley has gone from being an Olympic Silver Medalist to Hollywood Stunt Performer. Francesca gets the details on her journey, including rubbing elbows with some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

Francesca gives her thoughts on a chaotic week in politics, backed up by a visit from ACT Party Leader David Seymour, who has just announced a new immigration policy.

And doctor Michelle Dickinson tells us where the safest spot to sit is on an airplane.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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But it appears that ‘chaotic’ and ‘eventful’ is likely to be how we’re going to describe the next 27 weeks until the election, if the coalition can hold itself together through to November.  

The nonsense and the scheming this week included what could quite possibly have been a leaked story about embattled TVNZ reporter Maiki Sherman, lawyers letters flying between media companies keen to report the juicy details, Winston Peters releasing emails under an OIA request revealing the Prime Minister’s potentially damaging views on the US war against Iran, and a feisty retaliation by the National Party on NZ First. All I could think at the end of this week was - surely both the media and politicians can do better.  

I get it - everyone is coming out firing on all cylinders - that’s what you’ve got to do in election year. National has a new campaign leader and communications adviser, and I am sure many National voters like the new fighting spirit being shown by the Nats. After all, the Foreign Affairs Minister was out of line this week.  

But with Winston Peters stating, 'No, we won’t do a deal with Labour or their Marxist and separatist mates', then you’d think that having ruled out being part of an opposing coalition there would be some shared effort to sell this one to voters.  

The number of people who this week said to me, 'I don’t want to vote for any of them' was a bit of a surprise. Civility is often put aside during an election year, and yet I think it’s what most of us are craving right now. We’d like the people we have entrusted to run the country to act like grown-ups and get on with the job without the backstabbing. 

Budget month is going to be tough, and yet all National and the coalition have to do to sell this budget is deliver it straight-up. We all know the story - whatever economic recovery and confidence we were gaining heading into 2026 has been wiped out by decisions made elsewhere in the world.  

It’s not just our story - it’s happening everywhere. This week, the Bank of England warned inflation could hit 6.2 percent in the UK by early 2027, and food prices could rise by 6-7 percent by the end of this year. In Australia inflation rose to 4.6 percent in March, with an expectation it will peak higher with consumer prices now growing at their fastest pace in two and a half years.  

No. It’s not the economic recovery story National was hoping to campaign on, but with little policy or innovation coming from the Labour Party there is an opportunity to double down on their fiscally responsible approach to managing the economy.  

The revelation of Christopher Luxon’s support for the war wrecking our economy - isn’t helpful for him. But what would be more damaging is having coalition party leaders calling out each other for poor judgement over the coming months.

Luxon has done a good job keeping the coalition together, but if they’re going to spend the next 6 months sabotaging each other rather than continuing to work on how they can come together on policy, selling the budget will be the least of National’s problems. 

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There’s a global aviation safety standard rule you’ve probably never heard of: every passenger must be able to evacuate a plane in 90 seconds.

But here’s the catch: it's based on controlled tests, under perfect conditions, involving calm people and ideal scenarios.

I've never been in a plane emergency, but I imagine people panic, aisles clog and not all passengers will move at the same speed. 
 
The new research asked a simple question - what actually happens during a realistic evacuation and does the passenger type and seating location affect survival?

The researchers built a full digital model of an Airbus A320 cabin and simulated emergency evacuations under one of the worst-case scenarios: a dual-engine fire. This scenario prevents the use of wing exits, forcing everyone to escape only through the front and back doors 
 
They ran 27 different scenarios with different passenger mixes and seating arrangements. 
 
Surprisingly they found that the fastest evacuation didn’t happen with the strongest, fastest passengers but instead when only 20 percent of passengers were elderly and evenly distributed near exits.

That scenario took 141 seconds. It still didn't meet the 90 seconds target, but it was the fastest of all of the scenarios and much better than the worst evacuation, which took over 218 seconds.

At first glance, the findings seem obvious. Older passengers move more slowly, which slows down evacuation, but the real insight is not just how many slower passengers you have, it’s where they are

Here’s what the study found: 

• Older passengers may move more slowly, take longer to react, need assistance and struggle in stressful, unfamiliar situations.
• Clustering slower passengers in one area creates bottlenecks
• Random placement causes unpredictable surges and congestion
• Even distribution smooths the flow and reduces jams
• When exits are limited (like in a fire scenario), small delays ripple outward and slow everyone down. 
   

This research is important because the world is aging, meaning that in the near future, more flights will include a higher proportion of older passengers.
 
The researchers suggest that airlines should strategically distribute slower-moving passengers evenly to improve safety, so maybe in the future your seating choice might be made by your age, not whether or not you like the window seat. 

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Cook time: 25 minutes 

Prep time: 30 minutes 

Serves: 6

250 gm duck livers  

1/2 cup red wine  

1/4 cup port  

3/4 cup cream  

6 field mushrooms  

1/2 onion, peeled and sliced thin  

2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced

2 tbsp sunflower oil  

Salt and pepper

Take a large cast iron or similar pan. Heat to a high heat.  

Add the oil and quickly add in the onions and garlic. Then add in the livers and continue to cook for a couple of minutes until the livers are well coloured on both sides.  

Add the red wine and port and quickly reduce. Once it reduces by half, add in the cream, mushrooms, salt and pepper. When the livers are pink inside, remove and continue to reduce the sauce until thick.  

To serve, toast some sourdough or similar and spoon the livers and sauce over the top.

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Geneva AM, The Mint Chicks and Marlon Williams were among the big winners on the night.

Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall explained further.

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Politicians have voiced support for a teen social media ban in line with Australia, but experts say more needs to be done in this area.

B416 advisor Jade Varney says education is important, but the technology's gone too far to let young people use it without a proper intervention. 

"These technology platforms have been engineered to intercept our control functions in our brains, and a young person relying on the knowledge they've been taught in school just may not be enough at this current stage."

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Winston Peters' office released emails showing Prime Minister Chris Luxon wanted the Government to explicitly support US/Israeli action in Iran, which Peters later rejected.

Former Minister and commentator Peter Dunne says Peters is running rings around Luxon ahead of the election - and it's unclear what this could mean for the coalition after the election.

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The Kiwi side will play Adelaide United across a two-leg semi-final.

CEO Nick Becker says it was 'crazy' watching the team's performance on the night.

"Sport is such an incredible thing, I think with football especially, because it's such a low-scoring game - the scarcity of goals and then the drama... it was a real emotional rollercoaster. 

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It includes a $6 a day infrastructure surcharge on temporary work visas, which is expected to pocket $80 million a year.

The party also wants stronger English language requirements, and would also establish a dedicated unit around enforcement for people over-staying their visas.

Leader David Seymour says New Zealand was built on immigration, but it's important to keep the right balance.

"What those waves of settlement have done is two things. One is that they built a Kiwi character that's the envy of the world...whether it's our troops out there doing peacekeeping, our sportspeople, our businesspeople - Kiwis have a reputation that we can fix anything, we do what we say we're going to do, we're compassionate and thoughtful people."

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Alongside the full band, Reyne will be performing the hits of Australian Crawl next month in Auckland and Wellington.

Reyne says he knows it's unusual to celebrate the fall of a band, but it felt right.

"I'm very grateful for that, as I get older, I realise how grateful I am." 

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Thornton was targeted by obsessive messages from a stranger overseas back in 2024, and things escalated when the individual flew to New Zealand and turned up at her house.

Inspired by her own story and those of others, Jazz has created a new documentary ‘Stalked’ - which is coming soon to Sky.  

"It was the unpredictability, and you have the commander of the police on the phone and all of these detectives, and cameras are getting installed in your house...and you know there's concern from the police and you can't know why."

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Murder in Paris ’68 by Edward Chisholm. Paris in 1968 was a world of chic, celebrity and glamour alongside a parallel underworld in which the demimonde lived dangerous and darker lives. Alain Delon was a movie star of the era - globally famous, he moved in fashionable circles. When a young man was found dead on a road outside Paris it was initially assumed he was indigent, but his clothes and well manicured fingernails told a different story and he was soon linked to Delon. This is extraordinary narrative nonfiction in which politicians, police, diplomats, gangsters, petty criminals and a raft of famous names became caught up in scandal and corruption. 

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She got to go to the Grand Ole Opry and listen to the Oakridge Boys singing Elvira - as well as take some studio tours.

Read more about Megan's experience here.

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It's been 40 years since the end of iconic Australian band Australian Crawl, lead singer James Reyne is commemorating the end with a tour, he joins Francesca to talk about the hey day of the band that shaped the sound of Australian music.

When Dr Clive Price moved to New Zealand from the UK, he saw gaps in our bowel screening processes. He joins Francesca to talk about what he's doing to help younger people be more proactive about bowel screening.

Francesca looks at Christpher Luxon's decision to cancel his weekly Breakfast interview with TVNZs Tova O'Brien and questions whether it makes him look like he can't handle the pressure.

And the panel discuss Anzac Day and whether it hit a bit differently this year with the current world situation.

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Luxon's dropped the weekly TVNZ Breakfast programme - what do we make of this? Is this a smart move by Luxon here...or a misstep? Especially in an election year?

It's ANZAC weekend - did the dawn services and commemorations hit different yesterday given current world events?

After years of waiting, Christchurch's Te Kaha Stadium is finally open. What do we make of this? Will we try the deep-fried pie sandwich? 

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They also give you a Vitamin D boost, improve gut health and have been linked to reduced cancer risk.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained further.

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Cook time: 20 minutes 

Prep time: 5 minutes 

Serves: 12 cookies 

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup shaved coconut

1/2 cup chopped almonds

3 tbsp sunflower oil  

3 tbsp honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp baking soda

Water if required

Combine oats, coconut and almonds into a mixer  

Add oil, honey, baking soda and vanilla  

Mix well until combined and form into small cookies (smaller cookies are healthier cookies) and place onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper.

Flatten down with enough room around each cookie.

Bake for 20 minutes in a low 150c oven until golden brown.

Cool completely before eating, and enjoy.

Store in an airtight container for as long as it takes to eat them!

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These 'designer dogs' have exploded in popularity, often chosen for a simple reason - they’re supposed to be easier. 

Easier to train. Better with kids. A perfect blend of the 'best' traits from two breeds. 

But a new scientific study suggests the reality might be a lot messier. 

Crossbreeding isn’t new, but “doodles” are a modern phenomenon. 

The logic seems straightforward. combine two desirable breeds (like a poodle and a Labrador), and you’ll get a dog that inherits the best of both. 

It’s a concept rooted in something called hybrid vigour, the idea that mixing genetic lines can reduce inherited health problems and improve traits. 

But behaviour isn’t that simple.

In a study published in PLOS One, researchers set out to test whether these popular beliefs hold up. 

They focused on three common poodle crossbreeds: 

• Cockapoos (cocker spaniel × poodle)
• Labradoodles (Labrador × poodle)
• Cavapoos (Cavalier King Charles spaniel × poodle) 

And compared them to their purebred parent breeds.

Instead of relying on anecdote, they collected large-scale behavioural data from over 9,400 dogs, one-third of which were crossbreeds. Their owners completed detailed surveys covering 12 behavioural traits, including: 

• Trainability 
• Aggression
• Attachment to owners
• Fear responses
• Excitability
• Interaction with other dogs 

Across the dataset, the results challenged the popular narrative. 

Crossbreeds showed more behavioural problems in 44 percent of comparisons and they showed fewer problems in only 10 percent.

In other words, doodles were more likely to have behavioural challenges than their purebred parents, not less. 

The differences weren’t trivial. 

Across all three crossbreeds, researchers found higher levels of: 

• Non-social fear (e.g. loud noises, unfamiliar objects)
• Separation-related behaviours (distress when left alone)
• Excitability and over-arousal 

Cockapoos stood out the most, showing the highest levels of undesirable behaviours compared to their parent breeds.

Cavapoos also showed elevated issues, but Labradoodles were more nuanced - better behaved than poodles, but worse than Labrador retrievers. 

Behaviour is what scientists call a complex trait, it emerges from the interaction of genetics, environment, training and early life experiences. 

The data showed that owners of crossbred dogs were more likely to be first-time dog owners and rely on non-professional training advice 

This is important information as a dog’s behaviour isn’t just what it is, it’s what it experiences. 

As demand for designer dogs has surged, so has poor breeding practice. 

High demand can lead to: 

• Less controlled breeding
• Reduced focus on temperament
• Stress on breeding dogs
• Early-life environments that aren’t ideal 

All of these factors can shape behaviour long before a puppy ever reaches a home. 

This study isn’t really about whether doodles are “good” or “bad” dogs. It’s about how mixing two breeds doesn’t guarantee a specific behaviour and what matters most is: 

• Early socialisation
• Consistent training
• Environment
• Informed expectations 

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The award, named in honour of late Kiwi music journalist Dylan Taite, celebrates the best of New Zealand's musical output.

Ahead of the ceremony on April 29, entertainment correspondent Steve Newall recapped the nominees.

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The stadium opened with Super Rugby Pacific’s Super Round, and one new delicacy on the menu has caught the attention of the wider public.

Sunday Session investigative reporter Claire Sherwood got to try the deep-fried pie sandwich and she's outlined her thoughts.

"The pie itself was pretty significant, like a good inch thicker, a big steak and cheese pie - then double deep-fried. It was super, super crispy." 

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A month ago, the Government detailed our response phases and what would trigger a move between phases - but the country remains in level one with no restrictions. 

Wise Response Society chair Nathan Surendran says margins are getting eroded and the economic outlook is worsening as a result.

"We should at least be at phase two, we should be saving, we should be conserving fuel - it takes time for people to adapt, they have to think through what they can actually do without."

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TVNZ says Chris Luxon's office informed them he'll no longer appear every Monday, and consider interviews case-by-case.

Luxon will continue to appear on Newstalk ZB and RNZ. 

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the party's also laid out a complaint against TVNZ over the 'aggressive' conduct of the journalists. 

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New Zealand's national screening programme doesn’t kick in until 58, and advocates are calling for more to be done to screen younger Kiwis.

GP Dr Clive Price recently moved from the UK, and he's set up a screening company called Truescreen to fill the gaps.

"It's about just filling that gap in the market, really, and offering a service to Kiwis." 

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Some actual business took place - the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement was confirmed by Labour agreeing to support it, the Finance Minister acknowledged the economy had been disrupted by the volatility of oil prices since the Iran conflict began, and the Prime Minister took it upon himself to call for a caucus confidence vote after weeks of speculation about his leadership - securing his position now and most likely until the election.  

But it was also a week of nonsense. Aside from this rare slip of dissent within the National Party, it was also a week of coalition friction, unnecessary comments about Willis' weight and migrants, and apologies or refusals to apologise. It was a week of whining about the media, bizarre late night door knocking, and a complaint laid by the National Party about those persistent door knockers from TVNZ’s political team.

And then the Prime Minister put his foot down and decided to cancel his regular Monday morning TV slot on TVNZ’s Breakfast show. The door-knockers had given the Prime Minister a passable excuse to step away from Breakfast, where he has been struggling with interviews, and he took it. He’s entitled to. As Heather du Plessis-Allan noted on Friday afternoon, we have very good access to politicians here in New Zealand. And yet, it’s a mistake. It looks weak in a week when the PM was trying to look like he was in command.  

The relationship between politicians and the media is a co-dependent one, but the balance shifts in an election year when politicians need the media a little more to give them visibility to sell policy, and project leadership, credibility and authority; quite simply - they need to be heard.  

Of course, the media needs politicians too. Just look at the headlines and attention Tova O’Brien’s interactions with the Prime Minister have given Breakfast. Beyond creating content and audience engagement, there is the more substantial reason the media need politicians, and that is of course to hold them to account. And for that you need access.  

I don’t mind Christopher Luxon’s faffs - his missteps in interviews. There’s something refreshing about his lack of political intuition, his inability at times to swat a question away without answering it. He appears human. He should be more relaxed about the gotcha-moments and not get flustered trying to get out of them.  I know - it’s easier said than done when you are in the national spotlight.

But with his leadership confirmed, National needs to do something to improve its polling and solidify their position leading the coalition come election day. TV appearances are a long-standing and recurring weakness - the Prime Minister hasn’t appeared in TVNZ’s Q & A with Jack Tame since December 2024 - so it’s understandable this is a step they’ve taken.  

But Judith Collins’ words about Jacinda Ardern cancelling her weekly interview slot with Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking in 2021 keep ringing in my head. As the National leader at the time she told a radio station, "I think what you're seeing is the absolute arrogance of this Government." She went on to question whether Ardern didn’t like hard questions. "The point is those hard questions are actually what you get paid for” she said.  

You might be able to pick and choose whose hard questions you answer, but be careful it doesn’t look too much like you just can’t handle the pressure.  

Anyway, only 28 more weeks until the election. There’s little chance it will be boring. 

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She's supported a range of notable artists including PJ Morton, Deva Mahal, and Olivia Dean on tour.

She says opening for Olivia Dean represented a lot of firsts for her, and she revealed that getting the gig was just a matter of reaching out and staying persistent. 

"It was just really surreal - and then the support that I got from her audience was amazing as well, so I'm super grateful to have had that opportunity." 

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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 largely been kept alive through his descendants but it’s now been turned into a film.

Sgt. Haane was directed by Tearepa Kahi and stars Alex Tarrant - and the pair are committed to bringing this story to life. 

"I knew there were things about his story that were familiar, and when you're a storyteller, you want to get off the beaten track and into the unknown world. So it was sort of sitting down with what was unknown, what remained - what stones remained unturned." 

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Other People's Bodies by Megan Nicol Reed. Set in Auckland, this is the story of a group of women who join a gym which is operated by an enigmatic man named Lars, where they discover friendship, shared goals and become drawn more and more into his orbit. As things go on though, something in the dynamic changes and his influence and control of their lives becomes overbearing and somewhat sinister. Lars is married to Priya, in a relationship where the power balance is uneven, and she reaches a point, watching, where she must decide if she should step out of the shadows and intervene, whatever the cost. 

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She's being checking out the local cuisine and exploring the bars - and the historic Storyville Museum.

Read more about her experiences here. 

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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 Michael Jackson biopic is out in theatres this week - will we see it? Can we separate the artist from the art? 

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South African born Kiwi artists Tusekah is on the rise, she joins Francesca in studio for a live performance of her latest single 'Lay Me Down'.

After a short reprieve, the Strait of Hormuz is closed again. Geopolitical analyst Dr Geoffrey Miller talks about how moves by Iran and the US in the last 24 hours could threaten any peace deal between the two countries.

Francesca has embraced AI for one of life's more mundane jobs - has it converted her thinking on using it more in the future?

And science has found a healthier way to produce a crispy French fry, Dr Michelle Dickinson with all the details.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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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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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 

 juice of ½ lemon  

3 tbsp brown sugar  

½ tsp cinnamon  

1 tbsp icing sugar

Pre-heat a oven to 180 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, vanilla and salt. Cut butter into small cubes and add to flour mix. Rub together until the mix starts to fine breadcrumbs. Add beaten egg and continue to mix. Once dough is formed, remove from bowl and knead by hand to form a ball. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Take 2/3 of the pastry, wrap and return rest to fridge. Using plenty of flour, roll out to 1cm thickness on a clean work surface. Lay the pastry over your floured rolling pin, and then gently lay it in a greased 20cm tart tin. Press gently into the tin and use any leftovers to patch rips or holes. Return to the fridge while you prepare the filling.  

Soak raisins in brandy and warm water for 10 minutes. Peel apples, then cut into thick slices around the core. Place in a large bowl with lemon juice, brown sugar and cinnamon. Drain raisins, add to apples and toss to coat, add in the rhubarb. Retrieve tart base from fridge and arrange apple mix inside. Roll out reserved pastry to at least same diameter as the tart and cut into 2-3 cm strips. Using a long palette knife, lift strips off work surface and lay over apple filling in a lattice pattern. Brush the pastry lattice with water and dust with icing sugar. Bake for 40 minutes, remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. 

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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 love. 

To make the perfect - and healthy - French fry, hybrid cooking which combined traditional frying with microwave heating was used.

The result was fries that absorb less oil, cook faster, and still come out crispy. 

The key science lies in what’s happening inside the potato while it cooks. 

When potatoes are dropped into hot oil, something interesting happens beneath the surface. 

At first, the potato is full of water, leaving no room for oil to get in. But as the heat builds, that water starts to evaporate, creating tiny empty spaces inside the fry. These spaces act like little tunnels that pull oil in. 

Think of it like using a straw: Blow air into it, and liquid is pushed out, suck on it, and liquid is pulled in.

During frying, the potato often ends up in that 'sucking' state, drawing oil inward. 

This is where microwaves come in. 

Unlike conventional frying, which heats food from the outside in, microwaves heat from the inside out. They energize water molecules throughout the potato, causing them to rapidly turn into vapor. 

This creates positive pressure inside the fry, which helps push oil out rather than letting it seep in. 

In simple terms: microwaves help the potato resist soaking up oil. 

Faster Cooking, Less Grease 

The research showed several benefits to this combined method: 

Lower oil absorption → fewer calories and less fat 

Faster cooking times → more efficient preparation 

Maintained texture → still crispy and satisfying 

Microwaves alone make fries soggy which is why the combination works so well: 

Microwaves reduce oil and cook the inside 

Traditional frying delivers the crispy exterior 

Instead of reinventing the entire cooking process, food manufacturers could simply upgrade existing fryers by adding microwave technology. Since microwave generators are relatively affordable and widely available, this could be an easy change for large-scale food production. 

Let’s be honest, most people want to eat healthier, but cravings often win in the moment. Foods like French fries are hard to give up because they taste so good. 

This new approach could offer a middle ground: enjoying the same indulgent foods, but with less fat and fewer health risks. 

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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 this time round.

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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. 

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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 bit of a merge, if you like. So I started thinking - what are we really good at?" 

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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 in job losses and business closures have all cumulated into the current increase.

"Mostly, what we're seeing at Simplicity is just that people have lost their jobs, they've lost their businesses, or they can't repay their mortgage - it's kind of life stuff. But the recession has real human cost." 

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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 already agreed to handover uranium and are making demands like sanction relief and getting frozen funds unlocked. 

Geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller says this is why the deal is being brokered by Pakistan. 

"Things were looking up, there was talk that there was going to be another meeting in Pakistan - perhaps this Monday - between Iran and the United States...it seemed like everything was coming together." 

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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 search for a car began. We had pretty simple parameters when it came to age, km’s and cost - and after spending days looking at cars online I had a sizable list of possibilities. Yesterday, my partner and I sat down to wade through this list with the intention of comparing all the cars we’d found.

But you know what - we had other things to do with our weekend so my partner said to me - let’s AI it. And then we giggled because AI is frowned upon in our household by, bizarrely, our tech savy, online loving children.  

It took about 2 minutes for ChatGPT to assess the list of cars, and all their data from their listings to give me a comparative table. It looked at everything from the car’s year, its engine size, km's, fuel type, fuel consumption, safety rating, whether it had a current WOF and registration amongst other things. It summed it all up with a list of cars with the best fuel economy, safety and the best value when it comes to price vs km.  

Then I got ChatGPT to list the top 5 picks out of all these cars to buy, and why. And which ones I should avoid, and why. It kindly also told me which order I should test drive them in.  

Then to top off this very productive 5 minutes, ChatGPT offered me a NZ Used Car Inspection Checklist, which I was impressed with and accepted. Job done.  

Here’s the thing. We’d done the hard work in finding these cars - we probably should have used AI for that too - but at least we’d learnt quite a bit as we went. Yes, we probably would have come to very similar conclusions, and I would have written a similar checklist for myself, but it would have taken us hours.  

“If you’re not using AI you’re a mug”, my partner said before heading outside to mow the lawns before the rain hit. 

But are you a mug?  

All this car hunting was being done under the disappointed gaze of our other child who believes AI is rotting our brains.  

But AI is here. So where do you draw the line?  

I find this question fascinating. I can’t help but click on articles about the threat and potential of AI. When implemented with a human focus AI has the potential to change lives for the better. When created with little regulation and for financial gain, the benefit for humans is harder to judge. It’s hard to celebrate productivity gains when it’s accompanied by layoffs, and with two kids in tertiary education I’m obsessed about what jobs AI is stealing. And yet as I saw yesterday, it can be a great way to make our lives easier.

I like young people with strong opinions and their anti-AI stance, and I am more interested in continuing to grow my neural pathways than lessen them, so my use of AI will always be restrained. But I think my partner is right - you’d be a mug to ignore it. Understanding and being able to use AI is going to be as necessary as being able to type was once upon a time.  

AI was not used in the writing of this editorial. You can probably tell! 

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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, and that is that the one constant I've had ever since I can absolutely remember is music." 

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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 air.

"We've done a heck of a lot, we've put a lot of people together who have approached us - and one person doesn't want to do it or the story, from a television perspective, doesn't quite stack up."

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Bonfire of the Murdochs by Gabriel Sherman. It was widely known that Rupert Murdoch favoured his son Lachlan as the heir to his empire, to the point where he attempted to remove Lachlan’s three siblings from the trust which had been in place for years, in order to anoint him as the rightful successor - and paid his children a billion dollars each to go quietly, but they rebelled and took the case to court. This is the story of one of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful families caught up in lawsuits, betrayals, and revenge. It has been described as being Shakespearian in its tragedy - a family ripped apart by the very man who created their empire. It makes for a fascinating read. 

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She's staying near some of the city's biggest museums, but she's noticed extra police gathered around some key monuments.

Read more about Megan's tips for Washington DC here. 

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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 Iranian and US delegates are arriving in Pakistan, it's unclear how the peace talks will go. How confident are we that we will get some kind of resolution out of these peace talks? 

Are we worried about 'digital dementia'?

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The condition is growing more common in younger people, and it's largely a result of heavy screen exposure.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained further.

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Prep time: 20 minutes

Serves 6 

1 de-boned lamb shoulder  

1 small jars chipotle in adobo sauce (available from most supermarkets)  

1 bottle hoppy beer  

1 tbsp tomato paste  

1 tbsp brown sugar  

1 tsp salt  

1 tsp smoked paprika  

1 tsp oregano

Preheat oven to 150*C.  

Place the lamb in to deep roasting tray, approx 25 x 20cm. You want the lamb to loosely fit in.  

Cover with the chipotle, tomato paste, sugar, paprika, salt and oregano. Time to get you hands dirty, rub all ingredients into the lamb. Then pour over the beer and mix again.  

Place a large sheet of greaseproof paper over the lamb then cover the entire roasting tray with tin foil and place into your oven. Cook for 90 minutes, then remove the tinfoil, leaving the paper on and cook for a further 90 minutes.  

After this time, time to check the lamb. Remove from the oven and lightly press down the flesh of the lamb. If it stays down, it's ready. If it springs back place it back into the oven. This time really does depend on the size and age of the lamb. Remove the lamb and allow to cool in the juices.  

Using a fork, pull apart the meat keeping the meat and discarding the fat. Place into a bowl and pour over the juices. Season with salt if required.  

Place back into a clean oven proof dish, cover and keep warm in the oven until required.

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LA based singer songwriter Greg Johnson is celebrating a milestone birthday this year - instead of shying away from aging, he's touring New Zealand.  Greg joins Francesca to talk about finally accepting being 60.

The completed mission of Artemis II has heralded a new era for space exploration, former NASA scientist Dr Morgan Cable tells Francesca just what this means and how soon humans could have a presence on the moon.

Erin O'Hara talks through the latest research into digital dementia and just what excessive screentime is doing to our brains.

And Mike Van de Elzen has the perfect recipe for the rainy Sunday night - chipotle pulled lamb shoulder.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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New research published in the journal Royal Society Open Science found that humans are incredibly good at recognising faces. In fact, we’re so good that our brains often find them where none exist, on handbags, in TV static, or even in burnt toast. 

Researchers asked participants to look at everyday objects and random visual “noise” and describe what they saw. 

In one experiment, participants looked at a handbag. Its zips and folds consistently appeared to form a smiling face to many viewers. But when shown random visual noise - essentially meaningless patterns, responses became much more imaginative. 

People reported seeing everything from angels and dragons to demons and religious figures. 

What’s fascinating is that there was nothing actually there, the images were just noise, but the brain filled in the gaps anyway. 

In another experiment, researchers added a subtle vertical symmetry feature to the images which is a key characteristic of human faces. 

That small tweak made a big difference and suddenly, participants were much more likely to report seeing faces. and not just any faces, but often angry ones. 

Across the experiments, patterns started to emerge. Many participants tended to see male faces, and a significant number perceived those faces as angry. 

One theory is that our brains rely on a kind of built-in 'face template,' which may lean toward male features. Interestingly, this bias shows up even in young children, suggesting it might be deeply ingrained. 

As for the anger, evolution may play a role. When faced with uncertainty, it’s safer for the brain to assume a potential threat to prepare you for danger than risk missing it. 

Pareidolia reveals something profound about how we see the world. Our brains don’t just passively receive information, they actively interpret it, often jumping to conclusions based on minimal clues. 

When it comes to faces, the brain seems to follow a simple rule: detect first, analyse later. 

This makes sense when you consider how important face recognition has been throughout human history. for communication, survival, and social connection. 

So next time you spot a face in the clouds or a smile in your morning coffee, relax as it's just brain doing exactly what it evolved to do, finding meaning in the world, even when there’s nothing there at all. 

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Prime Minister is in the running for Best Documentary, and Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary - and it explores Ardern's  five-year tenure as New Zealand’s 40th Prime Minister. 

Entertainment correspondent Chris Henry explained further.

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The competition will debut in the South Island, with the the ITM Christchurch Super 440 starting on Friday.

Canterbury Car Club general manager Mark Wederall says this is big news for fans in the South Island, and it's one of the biggest events to hit the region.

"It's massive, it's probably going to be one of the bigger events that come to Christchurch...it'll be the biggest that we've ever had." 

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James Christmas is now a barrister and had worked under senior National figures including Sir John Key, Sir Bill English, and Chris Finlayson. 

Christmas was considered a possible option to take on the Attorney-General role and act as a Treaty Negotiations Minister.

Newstalk ZB political reporter Azaria Howell explains further - ahead of the election.

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Watches and warnings cover the upper half of the country, and a scattering of regions between Northland and Hawke's Bay have declared States of Emergency. 

Heavy overnight gusts have already knocked out power for thousands of homes, with crews out this morning working to restore supply. 

Whitianga could be cut off at High Tide - with the deluge causing flooding in the Coromandel. 

Several Auckland Roads are also seeing flooding - and NZTA warns there could be more road closures across Waikato and Bay of Plenty. 

MetService meteorologist John Law says strong Northeasterlies at the eastern flank of that low pressure system, are driving the large seas and strong winds around the Bay of Plenty. 

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The four astronauts returned 'happy and healthy' from their 10 day journey, careening safely down into the Pacific Ocean.

Former NASA scientist Dr Morgan Cable says she was pleased to see the mission went well - even with a few bumps in the road.

"Being able to understand how that can affect the crew, even on this shorter, 10-day mission, can really be helpful for understanding what it means to have a long-term human presence around the moon - or on the way to Mars."

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You discover a new event, learn a whole lot of new words, and almost immediately think you know what you’re talking about - but really you’re a novice and have no idea of the complexity involved in what you’re watching.  

But regardless of how much you understand about the engineering, physics and tech behind what has just taken place over the last 10 days, it’s been easy to be awed by this historic mission, which sent humans further into space than ever before.  

The photos and descriptions of the Earth and moon from the 4 astronauts aboard Artemis II, have drawn us in.  

But for all the poetic touches and strategic messaging about this being a mission to unite humanity - it’s what comes next that has really captured my attention. With the success of both Artemis I and II, the vision of building a base on the moon has become that much more realistic.  

Not since 1970 and Apollo 13 have humans ventured this far from Earth. That’s a pause longer than my lifetime. After the Apollo era, NASA’s priorities shifted to programs such as the Space Shuttle program and the International Space Station, which were focused on the low Earth orbit.

But the focus now is on testing and advancing new exploration systems that will allow humans to live in space. Through the Artemis programme scientists have learned valuable lessons about deep-space radiation, Orion’s spacecraft, life support and propulsion systems and re-entry heat protection.  

The benefits of the Artemis II mission extend beyond NASA. Private companies, such as SpaceX and other aerospace contractors, gain opportunities to develop new technologies and expand the commercial space industry. Governments and international partners also benefit by strengthening diplomatic relationships and shared science. 

Over the years there has been a lot of discussion about whether humans should return to the moon, at what cost and for what purpose? But this mission has reignited something in many of us. There is something captivating about pushing the boundaries of what is possible, of laying the groundwork for future discoveries that could benefit life on Earth and expand our presence into space.  

I may not understand the physics required to make this all happen, and I have no idea how far things we’ll get in my lifetime, but the knowledge we’re on our way is inspiring. 

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The trail inspired his latest film The North  - in cinemas now - which has been referred to as the ultimate hiking film.

Schrijver says hiking the trail was an 'interesting' experience, and it helped inspire the journey of the characters in the film.

"When we were walking, I was 26, 27 - and still not really knowing what I wanted to do, and then Neil, my friend, did an internship and was looking for a job, we were on this point where we were diverging into different lives. And now...the lives of us were so different." 

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Australian comedian Felicity Ward, who fans may recognise from The Office Australia, Time Bandits or The Inbetweeners, is one of the bigger international draws, with her new show ‘I Wish I Could Come Out of My Shell’. 

She says she's used to the attention being on stage brings - after years of being involved in the medium. 

"I get a thrill out of being on stage, I've been doing standup since the prehistoric era. But I love stand-up more now than I did when I started, I love it." 

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Based on a True Story by Sarah Vaughan. Dame Elinor Kingman is one of the UK’s most beloved authors, and as she prepares to turn 70, she’s organising a huge celebration party at her estate in Cornwell. Her three children will be in attendance, as will many of her friends and the literary world’s great and good, along with a TV crew who are filming a documentary on her life. Then, the night before the party, someone sends her an email threatening to expose something they claim to know about her which could destroy her legacy, reputation and family. I’ve loved Sarah Vaghan’s books since Anatomy of a Scandal a few years ago - she’s great at writing about secrets that have the potential to derail everything and this one is great.

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She's set to head to a gospel church in Harlem on Easter Sunday - the Abyssinian Baptist Church founded in 1808 where Martin Luther King and Malcom X attended.

She plans to catch an afternoon game at Yankee Stadium, and then head to the Plaza hotel for an afternoon high tea. 

Read more about Megan's travel experiences here.

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Film director Bart Schrijver has used his experience walking the length of New Zealand to make his new film 'The North'.  Bart tells Francesca of his experience on the Te Araroa trail and why he turned it into what has been called the ultimate hiking film.

Yesterday, marathon swimmer Jono Ridler completed a history making journey. 90 days, 1367 kilometres and more than 468 hours swimming in the ocean with nothing more than togs, swim cap and goggles. Jono tells Francesca the impact the swim has had on him.

Francesca talks the pros and cons of the Tom Phillips documentary, while there's a clear case for the story to be told, she says the OIA documents released this week complicate things.

And did you know bumble bees can survive days in water without drowning? Dr Michelle Dickinson explains.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The Government had their Cabinet reshuffle last week, with Minister Chris Bishop losing a few key roles. What did we make of this? Should Chris Bishop be worried?

The Tom Phillips doco - will we watch it? Given the police involvement, are we confident it’ll be an accurate account of what happened?

Would we pay to own one of Bob Marley's dreadlocks? 

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Many people experience a predictable 2–4 PM craving window, and it’s not just about blood sugar - with the brain's reward system calling out for dopamine and energy.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained further.

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Fig topping  

125 gm unsalted butter  

150 gm soft brown sugar 

6 figs, stem removed and cut in half 

Cake mix  

225 gm unsalted butter, softened  

225 gm caster sugar  

4 eggs  

3 tbsp milk  

100 gm whole ground almonds  

1/2 tsp salt  

1 tsp ginger powder  

150 gm flour  

Serve with yogurt or ice-cream

To start:

Line a small cake loaf tin approx. 20cm x 12cm with greaseproof paper and then grease with a touch of butter.  

Melt butter in saucepan over a low heat. Add sugar and stir over heat until the mix becomes foamy and pale (2-3 minutes). Pour evenly into the greased loaf tin. Place the half figs, flesh side down and set aside.  

Preheat oven to 180*C.  

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. In another bowl, lightly beat eggs together with milk. Gradually add eggs to butter and sugar, beating well after each addition. Stir in ground almond, baking powder, salt, and ginger. Gently fold in flour. Pour cake mixture over figs, place on a baking tray and bake for 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into cake comes out clean.

Remove from oven and rest on a wire rack for 5 minutes before sliding a warm knife around the edge of the dish to loosen. Carefully invert to turn loaf out onto a board Slice into thick pieces, serve hot with yogurt or ice-cream.

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A scientist was storing hibernating bumblebee queens in a refrigerator. These bees were in a deep resting state called diapause which is basically a kind of suspended animation that helps them survive winter.

Condensation from the fridge dripped into the containers, leaving the bees submerged in water, by the time they were found, it was assumed they had drowned, but they hadn’t which led to the question, can bees can survive underwater? The results were published in the journal Royal Society Proceedings B.

Bumblebees don’t have lungs, and like most insects they breathe through tiny openings in their bodies connected to tubes that deliver oxygen directly to their tissues. If those openings are blocked, for example with water, you would expect the bee to run out of oxygen pretty quickly.

To figure out how they survived, the researchers placed hibernating queen bees in water and carefully measured how much carbon dioxide (CO₂) they produced.

They found that the bees reduced their metabolism by more than half, producing 75 percent less CO₂ almost immediately and their metabolism continued to slow over time .

But that wasn’t the whole story. The researchers also found signs that the bees were partially switching to anaerobic metabolism which is a way of producing energy without oxygen (similar to what happens in your muscles during intense exercise). This process isn’t ideal long-term but it can keep organisms alive in tough conditions.

And there was one more clever trick.

Scientists believe the bees may be using something called a “physical gill.” This is a thin layer of air that clings to the bee’s body underwater, allowing oxygen to diffuse in and carbon dioxide to diffuse out. It’s a bit like carrying your own tiny oxygen bubble.

When removed from the water, the bees slowly woke up over several days and carried on as normal.

This discovery could have real implications as bumblebee queens often hibernate underground, sometimes in areas that flood.  

This ability to survive underwater could be a crucial survival strategy and reminds us that insects are far more resilient than we give them credit for. 

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It follows a struggling British Pakistani actor, played by Riz Ahmed, as tries to audition for the role of James Bond.

Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall explains further.

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A new app created by a Kiwi nurse is looking to help us navigate the supermarket shelves and make healthier choices.

KaiWise founder Peter Bird says the nation's food system is 'broken' and his own health issues inspired him to help Kiwi shoppers make a change.

"Being a practical chap - I'm a farming boy from way back - you just had to get on and make things happen yourself. And I just thought - what can I do?"

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The National MP's also lost his Leader of the House and Associate Sport Minister roles in yesterday's Cabinet reshuffle, but is replacing outgoing MP Judith Collins as Attorney General.

Former Minister and commentator Peter Dunne says Luxon might be trying to give Chris Bishop a warning on where he stands in the party.

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Open-water swimmer Jono Ridler has swum more 1300 kilometres, from the top of the North Island to the capital - with only his togs, goggles, and swim cap.

His trip was segmented, starting in January, and ending in Wellington only yesterday.

Ridler says yesterday was 'incredible', with lots of Wellingtonians coming out to help celebrate the cause.

"All of the excitement of the moment, the joy of finishing, the sadness of ending what has been an all-consuming mission - just a lot of different emotions." 

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The planned Netflix documentary sits right in the middle of the tension between public interest storytelling, and the welfare of vulnerable children. It is not just a media issue - the information that was released poses legal, ethical, and social questions.  

On one hand, there is a clear argument for the documentary to go ahead. The Phillips case gripped the nation: three children were missing for nearly four years before being recovered after a violent police confrontation in 2025. A documentary could provide transparency, explain police decision-making, and help the public understand how such a prolonged disappearance was able to happen.  

From the production company perspective a documentary is a good business opportunity. Global true-crime documentaries sell, and this story has undeniable international appeal. Producer Dame Julie Christie isn’t one to sit around discussing placing levy's on streaming services, rather she believes in producing globally appealing content they will buy. So, it was no surprise to learn this doco would be broadcast on Netflix - Christie has always walked the talk.  

However, the OIA documents complicate things. They show that filmmakers were granted unusually high levels of access to police operations, including briefings and access to a crime scene, in what could be seen as an exchange for police oversight of the final product.  

This raises two concerns. First, it risks turning the documentary into what critics describe as “police PR,” rather than an independent account. The police have final sign off on the editing of the documentary, which implies they have a certain amount of control over the narrative.  

Second, it suggests the production company was given privileges beyond what is typical for media. The production company was given a heads up about Philip’s death before his family or the media, which the Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has expressed regret for.  

The Commissioner also added that the documentary was not always handled in line with the usual protocols and processes that apply to documentaries police are involved in. That’s not on the production company, which clearly built a good working relationship with police and were just doing their job when asking for co-operation and access. If it’s granted, they’re not going to turn it down.  

But where most New Zealanders will be wary of this documentary is when it comes to the welfare of the children. Experts and family members have already warned that a film could retraumatise them, particularly given their prolonged isolation and the ongoing process of reintegration. There are court injunctions limiting what can be reported, signalling that the legal system prioritises their protection over public disclosure.

But if there was not this documentary there will only be another one - or a book, or articles. Everyone has an opinion on this story; the interest won’t go away.  

The Police Commissioner said, “There were strict conditions in place to protect the children and sensitive police operational information,” Let’s hope that’s the case. 

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The leading role that saw him beat out Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothee Chalamet, and Michael B. Jordan was his depiction of  Scottish Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson in I Swear. 

Robert Aramayo and director Kirk Jones explained why it was important to tell Davidson's story in the most authentic way.

"I think it was a shared responsibility, really. We all felt that we wanted to make a good, authentic version of his life."

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Helen Clark in Six Outfits will trace her journey from the farm in Waikato where she grew up all the way to taking on the top role in the Beehive.

The play was written by Kiwi actress and writer Fiona Samuel - and she says she worked to find the story in the facts about the former Prime Minister's life.

"I did know that there was going to be humour in it, but I thought - humour alone won't get you through an evening in the theatre, you've got to have some substance. So what is the substance here? What are the moments, what are the other characters?"

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The Secret Society of Librarians by Kate Thompson. Historical fiction, based during WW2 with much of the story being recreated from actual events. It’s about a group of librarians from various places in England and Poland, who trained together and became very good friends - in particular, two of them - Joyce in London and Dorotha who’s incarcerated in a Polish ghetto, Despite everything which is going on around them, they’re determined to keep getting books into the hands of readers as a means of escapism and of comfort. 

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In the months before your trip, if you open Booking.com and reserve a refundable room and lock it in for the dates you need, come back and check about two days before your payment will be taken.

Then, you go back into Booking.com and add your dates in again and see what the prices are, and it's likely you'll find that prices have dropped.

Read more about Megan's travel tips here. 

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Labour's Chris Hipkins has refused to offer up a solution to the fuel crisis, after the Government rolled out their divisive relief scheme. Do we think Labour missed a beat, especially considering we're in an election year?

Speaking of which, do we think the Government should have given everyone free public transport for a year instead of their relief package? Would this have been a better move?

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Fiona Samuel was given a two word brief when asked to write her latest play, those words were Helen Clark.  The result is a satire 'Helen Clark in Six Outfits'.  Fiona talks about how a frustrating element of Clark's career inspired the show.

In light of closures for both McCain and Watties this week, Buy NZ Made Executive Director Dane Ambler is calling for policy that prioritises New Zealand suppliers.

Francesca reflects on missed opportunities for Chris Hipkins this week.

And it turns out cockroaches form long term relationships by doing something a little bit unexpected to their prospective partner - Dr Michelle Dickinson has the details.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The trend involves dry sauna and winter-sea swimming; hot and cold immersion traditions commonly found in Nordic countries such as Iceland, Finland, and Norway.

The fast-growing Viking wellness trend often sees the hot-cold experiences paired with nature-based activities like barefoot walking and forest bathing.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained the health benefits of this new trend further. 

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Cook time: 10 minutes 

Prep time: 10 minutes