Sunday Morning
Sunday Morning is a New Zealand radio program that airs news, discussion, features, and ideas until midday. Hosted by RNZ, it covers a range of topics from current events to cultural commentary.
Episodes
Useful Science with Bonnie Harrison
Bonnie Harrison is here guiding us through the latest weird and useful headlines from the world of science, including whether smelling dark chocolate before exercise improves performance and whether being too happy can be harmful.
Ali Hill: The Nutrition Edition
Dr Ali Hill from Otago University's Department of Human Nutrition is back with us on Sunday Morning. This week: the pros and cons of instant coffee, and the importance of vitamin D.
The 2026 Bookshop of the Year
Schrödinger's Books in Petone has won the Bookshop of the Year at the 2026 Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry Awards. Schrödinger's owner and manager Mary Fawcett joins Jim to talk about what makes the shop a little different and to give some book suggestions.
Mars: More Hype Than Home
Philosopher Ben Bramble, author of Lunacy: Ten False Promises of the New Space Age, explains why living, working and vacationing in space would be a giant mistake.
US Correspondent Karen Kasler
Statehouse News bureau chief Karen Kasler joins Jim to discuss the latest in US politics.
Calling Home: Dara Klein from London
Italy-born, New Zealand-raised Dara Klein is the head chef and founder of acclaimed Bethnal Green restaurant, Tiella Trattoria & Bar. She's with Jim to talk about her life in London, the pub she has re-imagined, and her new cookbook.
Feel unsteady? Judo might be the answer
More than 770,000 New Zealanders injure themselves through slips, trips, and falls every year. Professor Ngaire Kerse joins Jim to discuss how to fall well and whether learning judo could help.
Sunday Morning Quiz with Jack Waley-Cohen
Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen is back with his Sunday Morning quiz. Jack is the mind behind the questions on BBC's quiz show Only Connect, renowned for being both hard - and at the same time totally obvious. Wake up your brain and have a go!
Cedric Leighton on the latest in the Middle East
CNN military analyst and retired US Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton joins Jim to give us the latest on the ongoing conflict between the USA and Iran.
Why do parrots talk?
A parrot saying "hello" is more than a party trick. Popular Science editor Sarah Durn explores the science behind talking birds and the surprising reasons some species mimic human speech.
Mike Munro: From press gallery to power broker
In a memoir packed with insider stories, Munro reflects on the fall of Muldoon, the turbulence of the Lange years, leadership coups, media battles and the rise of two Labour prime ministers.
Useful Science with Bonnie Harrison
Bonnie Harrison is back guiding us through the latest weird and useful headlines from the world of science, including how to weigh an octopus and the perils of holding in a sneeze.
Murder and Mojitos: Gareth and Louise Ward
The popular New Zealand-based cosy crime series, The Bookshop Detectives. The finale features Art Deco glamour, a Cuban crime queen and a grammar-obsessed killer. Authors Gareth and Louise Ward join Jim to discuss the book.
Why is Homer's Odyssey so enduring?
Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated The Odyssey has arrived in cinemas. Patrick O'Sullivan is an expert in Greek culture, art and the literary reception of myth from Homer to Euripides. He joins Jim.
Calling Home: Matthew Lawrence from Shetland
Matthew Lawrence is the founder and primary instructor at the Shetland Community School of Ballet. Before moving to Shetland, he was a former professional dancer with the RNZB. He joins Jim.
Chef Helen Turnbull: Roasted brussel sprout soup
Queue Restaurateur and chef Helen Turnbull returns to Sunday Morning to share a recipe for a wholesome roasted Brussel sprout soup.
Spain vs Argentina: Who has it in the bag?
Sports reporter Coen Lammers joins Jim on the eve of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.
Sunday Morning Quiz with Jack Waley-Cohen
Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen is back with his Sunday Morning quiz. Jack is the mind behind the questions on BBC's quiz show Only Connect, renowned for being both hard - and at the same time totally obvious. Wake up your brain and have a go!
The latest from the UK with the BBC's Rich Preston
BBC News anchor and journalist, Rich Preston, join Jim live from the UK as its seventh Prime Minister in a decade prepares to take office.
Your skincare questions answered by dermatologist AJ Seine
Dermatologist Dr AJ Seine joins Jim to answer your questions about skin health and skin conditions. Dr Seine is in private and public practice in Hamilton and Tauranga, and is a spokesperson for the NZ Dermatological Society.
Ali Hill: The Nutrition Edition
Dr Ali Hill from Otago University's Department of Human Nutrition is back with us on Sunday Morning.
Where has all the cash gone?
Cash is being used less for over-the-counter transactions - but money is still being printed. So where is it?
Coming off anti-depressants? Here’s what you need to know
Coming off antidepressants is a medical process and needs to involve a doctor, but there are things people can do to help the process go well.
Louis de Bernières: The problem with the word 'like'
English novelist Louis de Bernières recently penned an impassioned column for The Guardian condemning the creeping use of imprecise and redundant speech.
Why Iran won’t be able to toll the Strait of Hormuz
Professor Jennifer Parker joins Jim to tell him why a toll on the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely to happen.
Lucy Corry: The magic of mince
Lucy shares a recipe she has dubbed ‘posh mince’ which can be easily whipped up for a tasty Matariki lunch.
Al Gillespie: Is geopolitics becoming more chaotic?
Waikato University International Law professor Alexander Gillespie joins the show to discuss the escalating geopolitical situation.
Sunday Morning Quiz with Jack Waley-Cohen
Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen is back with his Sunday Morning quiz. Jack is the mind behind the questions on BBC's quiz show Only Connect, renowned for being both hard - and at the same time totally obvious. Wake up your brain and have a go!
Footy frenzy: the FIFA World Cup heats up
Sports reporter Coen Lammers joins us with the latest on FIFA World Cup 2026, and his predictions for the remaining matches.
Dr Johanna Emeney: Horses & Us
For her latest book, Dr Johanna Emeney travelled across the country in search of people whose lives have been shaped by the equine species.
A world-first for actor Jarod Rawiri
Actor Jarod Rawiri is treading the boards at Q Theatre in the world's first indigenous adaptation of British playwright Nick Payne's Constellations.
Chef Helen Turnbull: What to do with winter produce
Restaurateur and chef Helen Turnbull joins us hot off the heels of having her Kapiti Coast establishment 50-50 being included in the first NZ Michelin Guide.
Love Heart: The opportunity for life-long learning
A new learning community for older New Zealanders has been launched in Hawke's Bay and Auckland.
Peter Janssen: Mid-winter walks worth taking
Peter Janssen is well-known for his comprehensive series of NZ travel books, which he has been publishing for almost 20 years.
Mid-Winter Magic in Hokitika
The West Coast town of Hokitika has just kicked off a month-long celebration.
Calling Home: Leteisha Te Awhe-Downey from Manoa, Hawai’i
Fulbright Scholar Leteisha Te Awhe-Downey has spent most of this year in Manoa as a visiting student researcher at the University of Hawai'i.
Want your child to sleep better? Ban phones from the bedroom
New research has shown screen time is preventing quality sleep for young children. T
Authentic new voice for Google Maps NZ
If you've been using Google Maps in the past few days - you may have noticed a change.
Can the body’s ‘sixth sense’ be used to improve our well-being?
Interoception is sometimes described as the body's 'sixth sense' - it's the way we perceive and interpret our internal senses and signals like hunger, thirst, and injury.
Frances Cook: Tips for saving and prospects for job seekers
Independent financial journalist and host of the award-winning Making Cents podcast Frances Cook joins the show once again, this time to discuss the job market, on-line shopping and savings tips.
Jenny Bindon: Who's looking good for FIFA World Cup
Former footballer Jenny Bindon, football coach and mother of All Whites defender Tyler Bindon joins Jim from the USA to discuss the outlook of the FIFA World Cup following this weekend's fixtures.
The latest from the UK with Christian Smith
UK correspondent Christian Smith talks to Jim about the stories making news in Britain - including soaring temperatures and the new "prime minister in waiting".
Sunday Morning Quiz with Jack Waley-Cohen
Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen is back with his Sunday Morning quiz.
Mark Almond: What is happening in the Middle East?
British historian and geopolitical commentator Mark Almond joins Jim to discuss the latest in the Middle East.
The four risk factors for heart attacks and strokes
Professor Theresa Larkin is with us once again, this time to discuss her research on the human heart.
What’s My Book About: Anne Cleary
Self-taught, Tauranga-based author Anne Cleary is poised to release her debut novel, The Nowhere Boy.
Useful Science with Bonnie Harrison
Bonnie Harrison is here guiding us through the latest weird and useful headlines from the world of science.
Football playing mum and son make World Cup history
All Whites defender Tyler Bindon and his mum Jenny Bindon are the first mother-son pair to both appear in a World Cup.
Calling Home: James Mitchell from Bali
James Mitchell is originally from Mount Maunganui and now lives in Bali.
Best Song Eva: Alan Davies
Comedian, actor, and writer Alan Davies is bringing his brand new show Think Ahead to New Zealand in July.
The Sunday Morning Quiz with Hamish McDouall
Former Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDouall joins us with a couple of curly questions for today's quiz.
Al Gilliespie: Who’s the winner of the US-Iran war?
Professor Alexander Gillespie joins the show to discuss the wider implications of the deal struck between US and Iran.
The mood-bosting impact of gardening
It might not be a magic pill for improving mental health, but there are proven links between gardening, mental wellbeing, and life satisfaction. A 2023 study of 5000 Brisbane adults found a significant increase in the wellbeing of participants who did 2.5 hours or more of gardening per week - and even more of an increase for those aged 64 or over. Swinburne University of Technology's School o
Jill Harris: Clawmarks Down The Jetty
Imagine leaving your perfectly good job, stepping onto a 34-foot home-made steel sloop, with zero sailing experience, and heading out into open ocean to circumnavigate the globe with $50 dollars in your pocket and a bottle of apple cider. Jill Harris lives these days on a farm in Northland; she has written a memoir about what happened in her earlier life called Clawmarks Down The Jetty: A Nea
Celebrating volunteers with ReliefAid’s Anne Bulley
Humanitarian organisation ReliefAid delivers life-saving aid directly to families living in the world's conflict zones who otherwise would not receive assistance. This leads Kiwi volunteers into extraordinary situations, whether that's in Gaza, Ukraine, Lebanon or Afghanistan. ReliefAid board member and active volunteer Anne Bulley joins Jim to mark the start of National Volunteer Week.
US Correspondent Karen Kasler
Statehouse News bureau chief Karen Kasler joins Jim to discuss the latest in US politics.
André Spicer on the short shelf-life of leaders
UK prime minister Keir Starmer may be only two years into his five-year parliamentary term, but his leadership is being questioned, with other politicians eyeing the keys to Downing Street. University of London organisational behavior professor André Spicer says political tenures have become nasty, brutish, and short - and it's a trend not confined to politics alone, with stints at the top sh
