Sunday Morning

Mark Reason, Stuff's senior sports columnist, gives us his post-match analysis of the Rugby World Cup Final between the All Blacks and Springboks.

The first 1000 days are the most important of our lives - why? Because in those first three years of life our brain is rapidly changing and developing, our neuroplasticity is at its peak. It was once thought that this remarkable capacity to remodel ended with youth, but the brain's plasticity is a constant force in shaping who we are. Change can come about unconsciously and, interestingly, through conscious effort. Science journalist and BBC Future reporter Melissa Hogenboom, recently decided to test the theory of mindfulness and its power to physically alter the mind - book ending the experiment with MRI scans. At the end of six weeks, she had the results of her effort to rewire her brain.

No cook likes to be told that their culinary creations look disgusting, but there’s no pretending otherwise with Fiona Hugues’ creepy Halloween cake. Here's how to make it - and some wriggly marzipan maggots.

Sir Bryan Williams - former All Black and coach of the Samoan national rugby team - gives us his unbridled take post-Rugby World Cup showdown between the All Blacks and Springboks.

Will it be jubilation or devastation for Kiwi All Blacks' fans? We soak in the atmosphere - whatever it may be - from Stade de France with Christina Persico. Christina is RNZ's Pacific Bulletin Editor.

In the space of a few short years, discussions around 'anxiety' and 'feeling anxious' have entered the mainstream. While the rise in anxiety among humans is a well-documented phenomenon, the similarly rapid rise in our companion animals has flown under the radar. Yet, our pets, particularly pooches, are increasingly prescribed anti-anxiety medication. So, are our animals really more anxious? Or are we pathologising normal pet behaviour? The jury is out. Dr Zazie Todd is an animal behaviour expert who founded Companion Animal Psychology in 2012 to explore ways in which science can help us to have happier pets.

Covering news from all over the country is a struggle for media companies dealing with rising costs and falling revenues. But some local outlets are surviving - and even thriving. Mediawatch's Hayden Donnel finds out who's doing the business in Whanganui - and how they're doing it.

Christina Persico - RNZ's Pacific Bulletin Editor - is match-side at the Rugby World Cup Final. She joins us at halftime from the Stade France.

Cantabrian Giles Cooper has many strings to his bow - lawyer by day, bar owner by night. Arriving in the Vietnamese metropolis of Hanoi in 1999, he opened a New Zealand style café, Puku, and hasn't looked back since.

Duncan Paterson is in the eye of the Rugby World Cup storm. He speaks to us from his packed Parisian pub - The Black Sheep Society - a slice of Kiwi paradise on Rue Daval.