Arts
Traffic jams as Te Matatini competition begins
See all the pictures as teams take the stage and visitors queue for hours on the first day of the "Olympics of Kapa Haka".
Music feature: star producer John Simon
Celebrated music producer John Simon has produced some of the greatest rock'n'roll ever recorded including The Band's Music from Big Pink, The Band, The Last Waltz; Janis Joplin's Cheap Thrills; Simon… Audio
Book Critic: 'Mrs D is Not on a Diet', 'Route 52', 'Book People'
Today Catherine Robertson reviews two nonfiction books and a novel. They are: Mrs D is Not on a Diet (Allen and Unwin) by Lotta Dann. Route 52: A Big Lump of Country Unknown (Ugly Hill Press) by Simon… Audio
A series about young Kiwis living in isolation
According to our most recent General Social Survey, a quarter of New Zealanders aged between 15 and 25 say they are lonely some or all of the time. The majority of that group live in the regions… Audio
What to expect at Te Matatini 2025
The biennial Te Matatini Kapa Haka Festival kicked off today. 55 groups are vying for the coveted Toa Whakaihuwaka title in the competition this year, making it the biggest iteration of the festival… Audio
Te Matatini underway in New Plymouth
The first day of the national kapa haka championships - Te Matatini is well underway - with 14 groups performing on the first day of preliminary competitions. Māori news reporter Pokere Paewai spoke… Audio
Kapa haka crews take the stage as Te Matatini 2025 begins
The first performers are taking the stage at the national kapa haka championships, with more than 2000 people and 55 groups set to perform. Audio
Whakataukī of the Week with Wharehoka Wano
Wharehoka Wano, the chief executive of Te Kahui o Taranaki, joins Emile Donovan to share the tears, sweat and determination leading up to hosting Te Matatini. Audio
Cronenberg's The Brood inspires new Wellington exhibition
David Cronenberg's 1979 body horror The Brood teases in its trailer that it's "a film so terrifying that it will devastate you totally". Audio
Bringing to light the culture stories of Fijian-Indians
Nadia Freeman's show The Girmit takes us back to the time between 1879 and 1916 when more than 60,000 people were transferred from India to Fiji by the British to work on sugar-cane plantations as… Audio
Why do we like to be frightened so? Art and the Horror Movie with Curator of Screams
David Cronenberg's 1979 body horror The Brood teases in its trailer that it's "a film so terrifying that it will devastate you totally". What possesses us to love horror films so? Curator of Screams… Audio
Pasifika women leading: Anapela Polata'ivao
Tina, the debut feature film of Miki Magasiva is a love letter to both Samoan culture and how choral music, across cultures, can assist people in change. The way art can enable acceptance of the… Audio
David Kilgour on The Clean’s latest projects and Port Noise
David Kilgour is a heavyweight in New Zealand music. The singer-songwriter has been prolific with his band, The Heavy Eights, who have released 11 albums. The group has been enlisted to play the Port… Audio
Ringlets: Rising stars at Hamilton Arts Fest
They've been described as the funnest, most charming musical groups in Aotearoa right now, the post punk band from Tamaki Makaurau 'Ringlets' are playing a very special gig next Saturday alongside… Audio
The Stranglers: 'I would make my mistakes all over again'
Formed in 1974, The Stranglers are one of the longest-surviving and successful bands to have originated in the UK punk scene. They stood out for their musicianship, their often aggressive or… Audio
Miki Magasiva: Tinā
Miki’s feature directorial debut Tinā follows a Samoan teacher at a private school and he speaks to Susie about the film and his career. Audio
John Johns: NZ Forest's first official photographer
A new exhibition shines a light on the photography of John Johns - New Zealand's first official photographer. Audio
Amazon MGM Studios takes creative control of James Bond franchise
The joint venture's formation may hint that Amazon MGM Studios is gearing up to announce a new Bond film - and a new actor for the titular role.
Answering some colourful questions
Who names colours, are there colours left to name? Nick Nightingale, the managing director of Resene paints joins Emile Donovan to answer these questions and more Audio
