Sunday Morning for Sunday 7 September 2025

8:10 US Correspondent Mitch McCann 

We get the latest from the US from our correspondent Mitch McCann in New York.   

 

8:25 The Sunday Morning Quiz 

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, known for being both hard — and at the same time totally obvious.      

Wake up your brain and have a go!  

 

8:30 Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York 

Entitled is a joint biography of the Duke and Duchess of York. Its author Andrew Lownie is with Jim to discuss what he uncovered during years of research for the book, Prince Andrew’s role in the Falkland’s War, his business activities and the lifestyle choices the couple has made. 

 

9:10 Mediawatch 

Amazon investing here made breathless headlines earlier this week - but it turned out to be old news. Also: how the media handled the end of the ban on foreigners buying homes here and RNZ signalling changes in coverage of culture and music. 

 

9:40 Ali Hill: The Nutrition Edition 

Dr Ali Hill from Otago University's Department of Human Nutrition is back with us on Sunday Morning to discuss intermittent fasting – is it good for us? 

 

9:45 Frances Cook: No pay rise? How to ask for benefits instead...  

Financial journalist and creator of the Making Cents podcast, Frances Cook is with Jim to discuss ways of trimming back during the cost-of-living crisis, and how to approach your employer for more benefits in lieu of a pay rise. 

 

10:10 Humps and high speeds with motoring correspondent Dean Evans  

Have you ever been thrust into the air by a speed hump? Motoring journalist and editor of car guide Driven, Dean Evans joins Jim to discuss speed hump design, the best speed for comfortable and safe travel, and why the speed limit on motorways is sometimes restricted.  

 

10:30 Gregor Paul: All Blacks vs Springboks 

Rugby writer and columnist Gregor Paul is with Jim to assess last night’s performances during the New Zealand - South Africa came at Eden Park, Scott Robertson's leadership and recent findings about the impact of concussions on rugby players.

 

10:40 Is self-help making us selfish? 

Victoria University Psychology Professor Dr Marc Wilson joins Jim to share his views on whether our focus on self-improvement is making us self-serving.  

 

11:05 How to do home alterations without having family altercations 

Auckland interior designer Kelly Gammie is with Jim to talk about how to keep the family together while tearing the house apart and about which room, once renovated, tends to bring the most joy. 

 

11:20 I’m a Believer: End-of-life visions 

In his 33-year career as a hospice social worker, Scott Janssen has been at the bedside of thousands of people as they have approached death. As an atheist, he didn’t believe in death-bed visitations or end-of-life visions but, after witnessing and hearing the accounts of many, many patients, he’s had a change of heart. He’s with Jim to speak about what he has seen and what he now believes.