Books
Can you drink your way sober?
Drink, quit, relapse. For almost 20 years, that was the exhausting cycle that ruled Katie Herzog's life.
Winner of Sargeson Prize: Aotearoa's largest short story competition
Author Becky Manawatu has won The Sargeson Prize, the country's biggest short story competition, taking home $15,000 for her work, The Vase. Audio
Celebrating our bookshops
Tomorrow is national bookshop day and given that a number of bookshops have had to close their doors this year, we think bookshops need some celebrating. Independent booksellers around the country are… Audio
Book review: It's a Bit More Complicated Than That
Lisa Finucane reviews It's a Bit More Complicated Than That by Hannah Marshall, published by Allen & Unwin. Audio
Poet Serie Barford on new poetry collection and facing death
Serie is currently receiving hospice care for her cancer, and she says her new book, Standing on my Shadow, may be her last. Audio
Review launched into death of famed journalist Hunter S Thompson
Police have said there is no new evidence suggesting foul play, but the review was ordered at the request of Thompson's widow.
Bookmarks with Susette Goldsmith
It's time for Bookmarks, it's a segment where we invite interesting people on Afternoons to chat about their cultural interests. Today we're joined by Susette Goldsmith Susette is an Adjunct Research… Audio
British author Jilly Cooper, famous for novels of sex and snobbery, dies at 88
The author of bonkbusters Rivals and Riders has died.
'Skux', 'skody', 'pack a sad': The words that represent us
Can you encapsulate what it means to be Kiwi in 100 words? Mark Broatch decided to find out.
Brigid Delaney: The Seeker and The Sage
Having piqued the world's interest in modern stoicism in 2022 with her debut book Reasons Not To Worry, former journalist Brigid Delaney is returning with her new offering The Seeker and The Sage. Audio
New book explores reimagined life in Taranaki in 1940s
Airana Ngarewa has just released his third book, 'The Last Living Cannibal', inspired by Ngāruahine leader Tītokowaru. Audio
From cult kid to chess master: 'I was literally abducted and taken away'
When Danny Rensch was 12 he discovered he was a chess prodigy, but he was living in a religious cult in Arizona and this exceptional talent led him to some dark places.
Winners of The Surrey Hotel Writers Residency Announced
Steve Braunias joins Jesse to announce the winners of what he calls the strangest writers residency award in New Zealand. Now in its ninth year, The Surrey Hotel writers residency award celebrates… Audio
Book review: Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York
Dean Bedford reviews Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York by Andrew Lownie, published by Harper Collins. Audio
Book Critic: Putting Ali Smith in the spotlight
Ali Smith is a Scottish author, playwright, academic and journalist. She's a pretty prolific writer, over the last ten years writing 14 novels, 5 short story collections and 8 plays. Book critic Pip… Audio
The book helping our kids see the extraordinary in the ordinary
Author and illustrator Giselle Clarkson has a new book to share. Giselle's first book 'The Observologist' has been a huge international success, translated into 10 languages and the recipient of… Audio
What do we get out of Jacinda Ardern's children's book?
Where does Mum's Busy Work fit when women with young kids are struggling to stay in the workforce?
Fast Favourites with singer-songwriter Julia Deans
She joins Perlina Lau to share some of her cultural picks Audio
Bill Bryson: A Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0
Much-loved American British journalist and author Bill Bryson is heading back to our shores for two shows in February 2026. Audio
Polluted minds: How industrial emissions may have driven a violent crime spree
In the 1970s, the Pacific Northwest was home to some of the most notorious serial killers in US history.
