Features

Two new books on the Silk Roads crisscrossing central Asia give very different views on the heart of Eurasia.

It was a busy year for the countries of the Pacific, which had more global spotlight than usual as it found itself in the middle of feuding great powers. That brought a slew of new deals and partnerships, but also pressures. RNZ Pacific's Johnny Blades and Jamie Tahana look back on the year the world discovered the Pacific.

The United Nations recently made a Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, Just seven countries voted against its adoption recently, and one of those was New Zealand. Audio

This year's global spotlight on countries of the Pacific brought a slew of new deals and partnerships, but also new pressures. RNZ Pacific's Johnny Blades and Jamie Tahana look back.

When the great opera singer Luciano Pavarotti first visited New Zealand in 2004, Julie Biuso was invited to cook for him. She made a Kiwi-style glazed ham which he pronounced to be 'magnifique'. Audio

A duo with a proven international pedigree has been lured from across the Tasman to head up the Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth, replacing Simon Rees who departed suddenly.

"The Peters-du-resistance was when the Deputy Leader deftly ignored an incoming call mid-song, so that the youthful press core could fully experience the swirling chorus of Peter’s summer jam."

How do you make a Christmas dinner (or breakfast, or lunch) without meat, eggs, milk or cream? Vegans say it's easier than you might think to make a plant-based pav or roast roll. 

Trevor Reekie takes us on an entertaining Yuletide ride with festive songs from a diverse variety of artists. Audio

New Zealand's first (and currently only) Wikipedian-at-large Mike Dickison has been working hard to make more New Zealand information and content freely available, and encourage more Kiwis to contribute. Audio

American composer John Adams tells the Christmas story in a fresh and powerful oratorio. On RNZ Concert from 6pm.

Fair Play podcast - Only 8 percent of guest analysts on Sky sports coverage are women, even though coverage of women in sport has increased, according to new research. Zoë George investigates. Audio

William Dart makes it down the chimney with treats from Sufjan Stevens, John Legend, Big Maybelle, William Shatner, and Aretha Franklin of course.

Our inner life - the time spent alone with our thoughts when we sort out our emotions and make sense of experience - is at risk when we constantly present ourselves on social media, Washington Post art critic Sebastian Smee says. Audio

Grocery shoppers are being warned not to overfill their trolleys in the lead-up to Christmas (plus some other handy tips) to avoid unnecessary climate change gas emissions. 

Wellington pest trap company Goodnature says the business is growing so fast it is hiring more staff and will need to move to bigger premises and expects to be 80 percent exports in the next two to three years. Audio

Christmas is nearly here and today's programme has some great carols to sing along with. Audio

William Dart makes it down the chimney with treats from Sufjan Stevens, John Legend, Big Maybelle, William Shatner and Aretha Franklin, of course. Video, Audio

The final concert in Orchestra Wellington's series paying tribute to impresario Serge Diaghilev includes Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring'.

Shania Twain's first ever New Zealand show at Auckland's Spark Arena last night was an absolute banger. Our reviewer Susan Strongman had the time of her life.

The government's approach to welfare and work continues to ignore the largest labour market in every economy in the world, former National MP and groundbreaking feminist economist Dr Marilyn Waring's new book warns.  Audio

Two refugee families are preparing to celebrate their first New Zealand Christmas in their new homes next week, Indira Stewart writes.  Audio

Some seasonal sparkle from the brass and percussion players of the NZSO, led by American Brian Buerkle.

Hundreds of lambs are on the loose in the Marlborough Sounds after a stock truck crashed earlier this week.