Features

Upon the death of Fidel Castro, all espectaculos (concerts) in Cuba were suspended for nine days. To mark the return of music, Nick Bollinger shares ten Cuban classics.

Musician Warren Maxwell's trip to Antarctica has changed him and deepened his appreciation of the power of silence. Video, Audio, Gallery

During rehearsals Stravinsky was apparently 'in a frenzy of enthusiasm, inventiveness, joy, indignation, headache; leaping on the piano as if it were a dangerous foe that had to be subdued by a bout of fisticuffs'. Elizabeth Kerr introduces The Soldier's Tale. Audio

The 'alt-right' has shot to prominence since the election of Donald Trump, but what is it?  Video, Audio

Sixteen gentle songs that Washington Phillips recorded on the handmade instrument he called a 'Manzarene' are "just the sort of music that we need today". Audio

Disaster response is speeding up thanks to drone technology and ‘crisis maps’ pieced together from publicly available data, eyewitness accounts and social media posts. Audio, Gallery

Twenty years on from the Gillian Welch's timeless debut Revival, Nick Bollinger assess a new release of outtakes from that album – Boots No.1: The Official Revival Bootleg. Audio

After the Kaikōura earthquake, many people just wanted to get back to normal. But it wasn’t as simple as that for many Wellington hospo workers, writes Annabella Gamboni.

A chance meeting on the street with a fellow named Merelli turned the course of Giuseppe Verdi's composing life. John Drummond explains. Audio

Since 2014, over 130 people have lost their lives after taking photos of themselves. A team of researchers are working to figure out whether an app could save lives in the future. Audio

Kim Hill meets Valerie Steele, described by The Washington Post as one of “fashion’s brainiest women”. Audio

The Mint Chicks and Ray Columbus worked up this "trouble-gum version of Ray's defining hit for The Invader's Hall of Fame induction in 2009 Audio

The Others Way Festival 2016 closing act honours went to Cut Off Your Hands, who left fans hanging after their second album Honour in 2008. Video, Audio

A new book travels to 50 territories that exist outside the established order and sometimes only in the minds of those who live there. Audio, Gallery

Netflix is now offering a download option (not just streaming) for some shows, and BNZ introduces a smartphone payment service for Android phones. Audio

A New Zealander shares her experience joining protesters at Standing Rock at a makeshift tent city next to the Missouri River.

A difficult week for the New Zealand Breakers with guard Corey Webster arrested; and the men of tennis try to match the outstanding female field at the ASB Classic. Audio

Kevin Jarrett' skills as a player, conductor, teacher and leader are legendary in NZ brass band circles. David Bremner and friends pay tribute in this week's Brilliant Brass. Audio

Hawaiian YouTube stars Honoka and Azita (who are 18 and 15) visit the studio ahead of their performance at the NZ Ukulele Festival in Auckland. Video, Audio

Verdi had decided to compose no more, but a chance meeting led him to the libretto of Nabucco and the beginnings of his fame. Audio

One of the most ambitious chapters in New Zealand's manufacturing history opened 50 years ago today.

A new campaign has been launched to tackle the problem of waste food and get it to those who need it, with a community fridge in central Auckland. Audio

Every week around 20,000 Kiwis drink the legal narcotic kava, which lends itself to “good-quality, deep conversations” says a researcher. Audio

The silly season is under way for a Wairarapa business that grows real Christmas trees, each year they sell nearly 1000 firs, spruces and pines. Audio, Gallery