Features

A whole heap of songs have been banned by radio; some of them deemed too racy, some of them too political, some considered offensive. Simon Sweetman picks out some of the classics radio ignored. Audio

This is your first look at the incredible new video from Northland musician Troy Kingi. ‘Ethiopia’ is visually stunning, political and a bit surreal.

Our Changing World - The Department of Conservation and volunteer groups, including the Coal Island Trust, are hard at work removing pests such as stoats and deer from Fiordland's many islands. Audio

Don't bother watching this weekend's Test match between the All Blacks and Springboks, Hamish Bidwell writes.

Australia is pushing to secure its status as the security partner of choice for Pacific nations, forming a new expeditionary training force to work with key regional neighbours, including Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Vanuatu.

The chief executive of Samoa's Pacific Games Office says he hopes the legacy of this year's games will be a more positive outlook for the country.

A former MP in Nauru, campaigning to return to parliament in next month's election, claims bribery is rife among candidates.

After a six-year hiatus, Mike Skinner and his band The Streets are back with their early-2000s hip-hop club bangers. RNZ Music's Kirsten Johnstone caught the final show of their world tour in Wellington.

A new collective is attempting to make contemporary music more accessible. Violinist Mark Menzies and percussionist Justin DeHart of the cLoud Collective explain. Video, Audio

Snail master Neil Riseborough trained the UK's champion snail. Sammy has just won the world title of snail speedsters with a time of 13 inches in 2 minutes 38 seconds. Video, Audio

The Detail - Fifty years ago a very British-style ceremony marked the bicentennial of Captain Cook's arrival in Aotearoa. This year for the 250th, Māori have found their voices and will tell their version of events.  Audio

DIY coffins are becoming popular around the world but the coffin club trend really started here in New Zealand, in Rotorua. Now there are clubs all over the country.  Audio

A new report on the contamination near a US Army Garrison in the Marshall Islands confirms that fish around Kwajalein Island contain dangerous levels of toxic chemicals.

The head of the International Seabed Authority has largely ignored criticism of himself, and the agency, by environmental NGOs.

Indonesia's government has distributed aid to West Papuans displaced by violence in the Central Highlands

After a six-year hiatus, Mike Skinner and The Streets are on a world tour with their early-2000s hip-hop club bangers. RNZ Music's Kirsten Johnstone caught the final show last night. Did anyone cry their eyes out?

Opinion - All Blacks captain Kieran Read earns about 10 times the amount of money the top Silver Ferns reportedly do, Hamish Bidwell explains why. Audio

British philosopher Professor AC Grayling has written numerous books on philosophy, politics and history. His latest The History of Philosophy, a huge endeavour, looks back on 2000 years of philosophical thought. Audio

Music critic Amy Raphael first wrote about sexism and music in 1995. She's revisited the subject for her new book A Seat at the Table, where Christine and the Queens, Alison Moyet, Kate Tempest and others share their experiences. Audio

Host Trevor Reekie spins some tunes and speaks with American banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck, who has collaborated with a diverse array of musicians and won Grammys in more categories than any other instrumentalist in history. Audio

Some Māori are urging whānau to improve their health by ditching dairy and meat - and embracing veganism. Video

A controversial app that took photos of clothed women and stripped them naked may have been shut down, but it hasn't stopped versions of it from cropping up on the internet. Audio

Eight star performers of the festival mix-and-match to perform music by Dvořák and Bartók, as well as a new work by New Zealander Louise Webster.

One of the Pacific's most successful musicians Daniel Rae Costello Junior has died following a long battle with cancer. Video