Features

Chalk, toilet rolls and rubbish destined for recycling are providing people with both creative license and distraction during the lockdown.

In the late '80s, Terry Waite was captured by Hezbollah militants and spent the next 1,736 days chained to the wall in a dark cell in Beirut. He tells Jesse Mulligan how he coped. Audio

The Pacific Rugby Players Welfare group is stressing caution over big promises being made by the two contenders for the World Rugby Chairmanship.

Looking for some lockdown escapism? Set sail to Antartica with artist Joseph Michael as he records the sights and sounds of icebergs. Audio, Gallery

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra invites you to sing or play Pōkarekare Ana with them at 3pm Saturday. You could also record yourselves and share it online. More information here. Video, Audio

Opinion – Covid-19 is denying families all the things that it's natural to do together when a loved one dies, writes Sharon Stephenson.

Country singer Big Al Ammo visits Moe the Monster from Mount Moehau to sing a silly song about a tiny pony called Tony. Hilarity ensues! Audio

The free online event is hosted by the NZSO and wil be held at 3pm on Saturday afternoon. Paraire Huata – who composed the well-loved waiata – would be chuffed, his granddaughter says. Video, Audio

The jazz / hip-hop collective founded by rapper and main songwriter Tom Scott perform to an energetic sold-out audience at Auckland’s Powerstation. This RNZ Music recording is also available on streaming services. Audio

Quarantunes - The Lyttleton violinist and her musical hero Roby Lakatos perform 'La Vie En Rose' together while 12,000 miles apart.

New Zealand birds are loving this lockdown, no longer having to compete with cars, buses, trains, planes or people.

Fiji's government has declared the country's second State of Natural Disaster in a week, following the country's 17th confirmed case of Covid-19.

Opinion - Physical distancing is fast-becoming the new normal. But what does that mean for our sex lives? Melody Thomas investigates.

Tim Watkin looks back at the Waitara Dispute of 1860, which sparked decades of conflict and set the scene for his ancestors' arrival in Aotearoa. Audio

One of the silver linings of working from home is you always get to pick the music! RNZ Music’s Tony Stamp has put together an eight-hour workday playlist.

When Māui and his brothers go fishing, Māui pulls up something amazing! Listen to this super-classic Aoteraroa origin story in te reo Māori or English – or both! Now, that's a great idea.

Dr Kristen Ghodsee thinks so. The American writer and professor spoke to Kim Hill at last month's New Zealand Festival of the Arts in Wellington. Audio

Vanuatu's Pentecost is in desperate need of aid after Tropical Cyclone Harold devastated the island.

Kiwi poet Sam Hunt is holed up in the far north listening to Bob Dylan and German composer Ernest Bloch, but mostly listening to silence. He talks to Karyn Hay and reads a couple of poems. Video, Audio

Join musicians from the NZSO string section beam in from their bubbles for this week's 'Play Our Part' performance. Online only.

Opinion - As New Zealand looks towards moving out of lockdown, fear and ambiguity remain. Dr Jess Berentson-Shaw explores the public narratives we need.

New Zealand's immigrant whānau talk frankly about love, ancestry and home in this RNZ series from last summer.

Nick Bollinger reviews songs with a southern accent from Waxahatchee; jazz-soul fusion from Thundercat and minimalist meditations from Nils Frahm. Audio

Heard enough Baby Shark to last a lifetime? Wishing you could escape into childhood right now? RNZ Concert offers you the best classical music-with-a-story, written with children in mind.