Features

This week's featured playlist offers a selection of opera arias, art-song and song-cycles recorded by RNZ Concert.

Music journalist Simon Sweetman talks to Jesse Mulligan about his first-ever book of poems – The Death of Music Journalism. Video, Audio

Wellington chef Hasan Alwarhani shares the recipe for the spicy date cookies served at his Syrian restaurant Damascus.

If you're in the mood for a comic fable that's very nicely shot, It Must Be Heaven may well be for you, writes Simon Morris. Video, Audio

Country Life - Johan 'The Hoofman' Buys spends his days tending cows' feet. It can be a mucky job but he says it's enormously satisfying, too. Audio, Gallery

Aotearoa’s favourite supergroup L.A.B took home an impressive four awards – Best Group, Best Songwriter, Best Single, and Best Pop album. Check out the full list of winners. 

Has NZR been arrogant in how it's handled itself in 2020 and can its relationships be repaired? Brenton Vannisselroy, Aayden Clarke, David Moffett, Christy Doran and Joe Porter discuss. Audio

Analysis: Judith Collins faces a problem created by one of her own MPs, Jacinda Ardern shows her strength in the third leaders' debate, and Labour holds its lead in the latest poll.

RNZ Music is stoked to present the new single and video from former Shapeshifter sax-n-synth man Devin Abrams, aka Pacific Heights. ‘The Weight Of It’ is the first single from his upcoming album.

Sofia Coppola’s latest film On the Rocks seems to be a case study in “daddy issues”, writes Simon Morris. Video, Audio

Generation Next: My Pacific vote counts because I deserve to have a say in the country and economy my Papa and many of our mamas and papas worked long, laborious hours to build, writes Taualofa Totua.

Your October classical download is Mozart's Linz Symphony from Amalia & Friends at an Orchestra Wellington concert.

Singer-songwriter Stan Walker has opened up for the first time about the horrific abuse and neglect he suffered as a child and young man. Video, Audio, Gallery

What's going on in our brains when we experience dark or negative thoughts, and how can we combat them? Lance Burdett spent 22 years in the police and was the national advisor for all police negotiation teams. Audio

Aaron Sorkin's take on a headline-grabbing court case in 1968 reminds us that baby boomers were once young and idealistic, and prepared to do whatever it took to stop the war in Vietnam. Video, Audio

Are We There yet? Our children are growing up and venturing out into the big wide world on their own or with friends. Katy Gosset looks at how we manage our own anxiety and let our children spread their wings. Audio

From bad boys of tango to Ethiopian soul queens and everything in-between, RNZ’s Worlds of Music has been showcasing global sounds since 2016.

Caucus - The New Zealand First Foundation in court, Judith Collins pays a price on Ponsonby Rd, Jacinda Ardern finds some form & a chance for Te Pati Māori. Video, Audio

A mother-of-three ruthlessly exploited male chauvinism to evade British, US and Nazi intelligence agencies as she brazenly ran spy networks for the Soviets, a new book says. Audio

L.A.B., Benee, The Beths and Six60 dominate this year’s nominations, which celebrate 38 finalists across 16 different categories.

The Detail - Dyslexia was recognised officially as a learning condition 13 years ago, but our attitudes towards children - and adults - who think differently have barely moved. Isn't it about time this changed?  Audio

Widescreen - Dan Slevin has finally fallen for ‘reality’ television – but it’s nice reality television.

It's voting season and now is the time to share the love of your favourite pieces in New Zealand's greatest classical music poll.

Can you tell the difference between a korimako/bellbird and a tūī, or a morepork and a kiwi? Birdsong expert of 39 years Paul Cuming shares tips on how to tell one bird from another. Audio