Features

Georgian mezzo-soprano Nino Surguladze is in NZ to play the lead role in NZ Opera's season of Carmen. It's Bizet's tale with a feminist twist. Audio

The band's keyboardist Gus Unger-Hamilton loves a good metaphor. Speaking to Alex Behan, he compares making music to running a reustaurant, both of which he's been doing a lot recently. Audio

RNZ's Barry Guy remembers the shock of being 9 years old and realising his father was rooting for the Lions in their 1971 series against the All Blacks. Video

An economist says New Zealand is among a number of 'debt zombie' nations with out of control private debt, and he predicts a housing bust in the next two years. Audio

Samoan-born Sonny Natanielu has come a long way from trying to scrub his skin off as a teen, to now celebrating his language, culture and identity. Video

The repatriation of nearly 150 whales' teeth to Fiji today is being called a "rare event" by the Secretary General of an international convention protecting endangered species.

The National Library was alive with the sound of 64 children from 16 schools yesterday, battling it out to be national champions of the Kids' Lit Quiz. Audio

Could online gaming help solve the problems of real cities in the future? 'Sand-box' games are starting to have an impact on urban design by teaching people how to create sustainable cites. Video, Audio, Gallery

In between the last Alt-J album and 'Relaxer', keyboardist Gus Unger-Hamilton opened a restaurant and he's quick to draw comparisons between being in the kitchen and being in a band.  Audio

Ardijah's Betty-Anne and Ryan Monga join Wallace Chapman to sing some songs and reflect on more than three decades in the music industry. Audio

The media struggled with the contrasting moods of horror, anger and sorrow in the wake of this week's suicide attack in Manchester.  Audio

Courtney Sina Meredith is a young contemporary teller of tales about Samoan life. Video

Malcolm Diack of Dunedin breeds locusts – which he calls "sky prawns" – in his garden shed. He's part of the movement towards eating insects as an eco-friendly and sustainable protein source. Audio, Gallery

Some believe terroir and appellations would the best way for NZ to market high-quality wine, but an international property expert says there would be serious downsides for the industry. Audio

Hardworking alt-country rocker Ryan Adams talks with Kim Hill about melancholy, Ménière's disease and his love of the small moments. Audio

Chk Chk Chk are a dance- punk outfit who formed in California in 1996. 20 years later they've just released their 7th album Shake The Shudder, which is getting all sorts of love from the music press. Audio

Cartoonist Toby Morris delivers a series of takes on the government's election-year budget.

Back in the 1960s, Larry’s Rebels was one of our biggest local bands. Former frontman Larry Morris plays some songs that influenced him back in the day and shares anecdotes about the sixties pop scene. Audio

Jacqueline Fahey's paintings have illustrated the everyday theatricality that is domestic life since the 1950s. She tells Kim Hill she was always a rebel. Audio, Gallery

The America's Cup sets off on its 35th regatta on Sunday morning (NZ time), and in key aspects is unlike any preceding contest for international sport's oldest trophy. Video

Larry Morris was vocalist for the iconic Auckland-based pop band Larry's Rebels back in the swinging 60's. Larry's Rebels built a massive fan base on what was an incredibly competitive circuit playing residencies and their own concerts. Audio

Operatic royalty hits the stage this week as Anna Netrebko sings Tatiana in Tchaikovsky's romantic tragedy.

The actor and musician best known as Shortland Street's 'Ferndale Strangler' released a new album this week. Alex Behan chats to him about learning instruments and living in Spain. Video, Audio

There was some formidable talent on display at the 2016 Wallace National Junior Piano Competition.