Features

Some clever people around New Zealand are finding ways to turn the silt and woody debris that is clogging beaches and riverbanks on the East Coast into a soil-saving resource.

"It's just an hour, but wow - what an hour!" says Lester Lynch. The US baritone is in New Zealand with UK soprano Susan Bullock to perform Bartok's opera Bluebeard's Castle in an innovative production that explores dementia. Video, Audio

Manukau Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Their next concert includes a work by David Hamilton commissioned especially to mark the occasion. Audio

Munich: The Edge of War tells a fictional story behind the British Prime Minister's famous Munich rendezvous meeting with Adolf Hitler, it is rather better than its 'straight to Netflix’ status might suggest, Simon Morris writes. Video, Audio

With food price inflation the highest it’s been in decades, growing your own vegetables has never been more appealing. But if you're not sure where to start, gardener Leah Evans is here to help. Audio

  Audio

'Avoid processed foods' is such a standard bit of advice that many of us probably don't even hear it anymore. But it's emerging that some 'processed' foods are a lot worse for us than others, Niki Bezzant writes.

The global popularity of the Barbie movie is resonating in Aotearoa with more than $10,398,849 in earnings at the NZ box office in its third week. Audio

The Lower Hutt-based music education programme is marking the occasion with a day of musical celebrations. Programme Director Margaret Guldborg talks with Bryan Crump about what's planned. Audio

Allergies are on the rise worldwide because the human immune system is like a “Windows 95” that can’t be upgraded, a scientist says. Audio

Is there anything more decadent than ditching work and other responsibilities to luxuriate in a daytime movie? Tony Stamp switches off his phone and settles in for a fortnight of film festival action.

Ōtautahi Christchurch-based writer and director Juanita Hepi talks with Bryan Crump about the multi-artform work, Hine Hōia, which is touring for Chamber Music New Zealand to five centres around the country. Audio

For Cook Island's language week Singer P Diggs talks about the new song featuring traditional Cook Islands drumming, and his hopes for raising awareness for one of the most endangered languages in the world. Audio

Principal timpanist of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Steven Logan, is very excited to show us the new set of timpani (kettle drums) that have just arrived from the Netherlands. Audio

Our four-legged best friends are the subject of a new photography book; Dogs with Stories. The work of Mardo El-Noor, the book showcases one hundred adorable dogs and their owners, elaborately staged in their homes. Audio

A new book on George Orwell’s wife Eileen O'Shaughnessy reveals him to be a darker character than existing biographies would have us believe. Audio

Rock Hudson was one of the biggest heart throbs in the 1950s and 60s during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Hudson was a closeted gay man; when he died of AIDS in 1985, it was a huge international story.   Video, Audio

Renowned chef Al Brown has just released Eat Up New Zealand: The Bach Edition, a collection of nostalgic recipes that celebrate seasonal ingredients, kaimoana, and the occasional sweet treat.  Audio

Being able to make film and TV roles ‘Polynesian by proxy’ is one of the unexpected benefits of the job for Samoan-Kiwi actor Frankie Adams. Audio

With sightings dating back to the 6th century, the Loch Ness Monster has remained a mystery - but could Nessie simply be a very large eel? Audio

Mediawatch asks RNZ’s chief executive Paul Thompson if the crisis sparked by 'inappropriate' edits to international news was due to a digital shift done on the cheap. Audio

The Sampler: The Britpop titans reflect on middle age in their restrained and polished new album. Video, Audio

Jen Chrisp cooks hearty meals for shepherds and other farm workers on a remote backcountry farm. Audio

Sending a skull emoji is the new way of saying "I'm dead, you've killed me with laughter", emoji expert Jeremy Burge tells Kim Hill. Audio, Gallery

Mediawatch - Climate might didn't get much of a mention after the National Party released its road-heavy $24 billion transport package. Audio