Features

From the archives of Papers Past at NZ's National Library, the story of the tragic demise of the balloonist and parachutist, Captain Charles Lorraine. Audio

  Audio

Best of 2016 – Play is essential for developing children's intelligence, and even helps keep your child out of jail down the line, a parenting expert told Nine to Noon. Audio

Best of 2016 – In August, Jamie Wall dissected the NZ men's sevens team's ignominious exit from the Rio Olympics.

Taiwanese political activist, civic hacker and Cabinet Member Audrey Tang on technology and democratising decision-making. Audio

Disney film Moana faced criticism for its portrayal of Pacific culture, but some movie-goers have changed their minds after seeing it. Audio

Trump takes the reins, Bill English as Prime Minister and more hot weather. Here are RNZ reporters' picks for what might happen in 2017.

New Zealand society underwent a sea change during the late 1970s/'80s. Flying Nun started documenting the southern music scene, fuelled by freakishly good songwriters and creative types.

Best of 2016 – Honey-voiced Lyttleton musican Marlon Williams performed for RNZ after touring the US and Europe earlier this year. Video, Audio, Gallery

Best of 2016 – In March, the flag saga was finally over, banished to eternal life as a pub quiz trivia question. So why did Toby Morris still feel so rotten about it all?

Best of 2016 – In November, Steven Adams' phenomenal rise on the NBA scene - and the associated pay cheque – was celebrated, but Stephen Hewson says NZ basketball is unlikely to benefit.

Best of 2016 – Twelve-year old Samoan author Lupe Va'ai travelled to London to launch her environmental-focussed book The Voice of an Island.

Best of 2016 – Neuroscientist Donna Rose Addis on a study which says the ability to think about the future is significantly impaired during depression. Audio

At home, David Morriss has some real treasures in his record collection and this week on Summer Sonic he shares with us a personal selection of the rare, the exquisite and the sometimes astounding. Audio, Gallery

Best of 2016 – Checkpoint host John Campbell talks Sam Wicks through a cassette tape's worth of handpicked tunes in an instalment of The Mixtape. Video, Audio

Best of 2016 – In June, Jesse Mulligan spoke with New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz about his passion for puzzles and the future of the form. Audio

Best of 2016 - Katchafire are New Zealand's soundtrack to summer but they are also one of our most internationally recognised bands. Video, Audio

Would the founding fathers have approved of Donald Trump? Probably not, says the panel in episode one of Great Ideas, a new RNZ podcast series in collaboration with Victoria University. Audio

Best of 2016 – Photographer Jenny O'Connor’s reflection on what it means to be heading towards the big ‘Six O’. Audio, Gallery

Our free monthly podcast is Beethoven's Symphony No 3 in E flat Op 55, the Eroica by played by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Edo de Waart.

Best of 2016 - How two young Tongan woman became the first Pacific academics at the University of Auckland's Business School.   Audio

Best of 2016 – The perfect complement to the post-party New-Year’s-Day blues, a compilation of the saddest ever songs, as voted by Afternoons listeners. Audio

Best of 2016 – To get you in the mood for NYE, some Afternoons listeners' picks of the most ripping guitar solos of all time.   Video, Audio

In the best New Year's Day tradition, the full countdown of Settling the Score is being broadcast from 6 am to 10 pm on RNZ Concert. Time to wallow in in all your favourite classics.

Best of 2016 – November’s magnitude 7.8 Kaikōura earthquake triggered a massive underwater landslide that was still flowing more than 300km away. Audio