Features

Hundreds of singers and musicians have taken George Gershwin's 'Summertime' into their repertoire and, as an appropriately seasonal launch for this year's New Horizons, William Dart looks over a couple of handfuls of them, from Kiri Te Kanawa and Dinah Lee to Sarah Vaughan, Sam Cooke and Janis Joplin. Audio

Back in the 1920s, Rev William Fullerton from Belfast set a hymn he’d written to a traditional Irish tune: Londonderry Air. You can hear the result in this week’s programme. Audio

Nick Tipping checks out a new album from Wellington drummer Mark Lockett, featuring New York stars Matt Penman, David Binney, and Duane Eubanks. Audio

We've been fed a model of parenting that feels awful and doesn't work, says US psychologist Becky Kennedy. Audio

Hātea Kapa Haka is one of the many groups taking part in the prestigious Māori performing arts festival this February. Bryan Crump caught up with the group’s choral master arranger, David Tapene. Audio

Dan Slevin reviews Steven Spielberg's autobiographical movie which stars Michelle Williams and Paul Dano. Video, Audio

"Childhood is a party", says composer, song writer and children's entertainer Chris Lam Sam. He tells Bryan why it's important for children to have songs written just for them. Audio

LISTEN - For NZ Live this week we're bringing you a slice of Americana infused with some Kiwi roots. T-Bone is a five-piece band that formed in Wellington out of a shared love of folk and bluegrass music. Audio

Auckland postman Mike Paterson has had a surprise hit with his children's book Postie Mike, A Dog's Best Friend. Audio

Oil from mānuka trees grown in East Cape is being used to develop treatment for skin infections that are typically treated with antibiotics. Audio

Academy Award winning director Damien Chazelle portrays a licentious movie business on the cusp of a transition from silent to sound. Dan Slevin reviews. Video, Audio

Opinion - Birds sold in the pet trade are often colourful and charismatic creatures. But there are negative aspects of the pet trade that warrant a closer look.

Dear Prudence offers advice about prickly predicaments for Slate.com. Jenee Desmond Harris took over the column two years ago, she explains the enduring popularity of the advice column. Audio

"I like to throw in a few unexpected moments," says Chris Artley of his choral compositions, which win prizes all around the world.  Audio

Our Changing World - Singapore is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, but also one of the greenest and most biodiverse, a Wellington student is looking at whether native plants could do a similar job in the capital. Audio

Mark Rogers has a birthday tune for blues legend Earl Hooker, reggae courtesy of U Roy, and tracks from Richard Thompson, Nina Simone and Van Morrison - plus a soul smash from Irma Thomas. Audio

SoundsWell Singers is a therapeutic choir in Wellington that supports people with a variety of neurological conditions. Audio

The NZ Choral Federation's Singing for Lifelong Wellbeing initiative will receive funding from the Ministry for Culture & Heritage. Audio

Analysis - The choices he makes this week will have a huge impact on what happens in October, when we go to the polls, Tim Watkin writes.

Generative AI ChatGPT offers endless opportunities to seek an answer to any question you've ever had, but its creation has also been met with concern.

Were you born between 1977 and 1983? If so, you're a Xennial – perhaps not as self-reliant as a Gen-Xer nor as entitled as a Millennial. Audio

British writer Simon Barnes talks to Kathryn Ryan about the deep, ancient relationship between humans and plants. Audio

His profile has soared since composing the ear-catching theme for the hit HBO series The White Lotus, but Cristobal Tapia de Veer has been generating inventive music for film and TV for a long time. Video, Audio

Holding on to resentment towards someone we felt hurt by can be really stressful for our bodies, says relationship therapist Steven Dromgool.  Audio