Features

Now-retired former Commissioner of Works Bob Norman built roads, dams, canals and viaducts for 40 years, and says the government again needs the kind of expert advice the Ministry once offered.  Audio

Holst's Planets, Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, and Debussy's Images all feature on RNZ Concert from 7.30pm or you can listen here at your leisure.

Opinion: Take a grain of salt or two when considering global ranking lists and surveys that talk up New Zealand's prospects, writes David Cohen.

Orchestra Wellington has announced its 2019 season and it’s an epic one. Audio

Opera singer Jonathan Fa'afetai Lemalu joins Kirsten Johnstone for an hour of chat and some of his favourite songs. Audio

Marika Hodgson is one of our most talented bass players. She's worked with Hollie Smith, Nathan Haines, Moana & The Tribe and Estere. 'Look up' is the first single from her new collaborative project Sorrento.

Eyewitness - Being the new cop in town, the people of Lawrence tested Mike Lodge - so it's forgivable that he didn't believe it when he got a call about lions menacing the local rugby team.  Audio

In the summer of 1971-72 the nation was plastered with posters announcing 'BLERTA Is Coming!'; Then, an antique bus covered in psychedelic imagery and containing minstrels and multimedia pioneers - including the late Geoff Murphy - trundled into town....

The fourth stage of passing a bill in Parliament is either a sprint or a crawl. With several bills set down for committee stage this week, a mix of both seems likely.  Audio

Orchestra Wellington is reaching out to new audiences by going old school with a vinyl release, and a little help from RNZ Concert.

Journalist and podcaster Leonie Hayden shares some high-end fried chicken with James Nokise while talking hair loss, happiness, Te Ao Māori and coping with criticism. Audio

There have been more than 27 suicide attempts in the last two weeks by refugees detained on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island, a refugee says.

Marika Hodgson is one of Aotearoa's most talented bass players. She's worked with the likes of Hollie Smith, Nathan Haines, Moana & The Tribe and Estere. 'Look up' is the first single from her new collaborative project Sorrento.

The most intact V-Class locomotives in the world have been unearthed in a river near the Southland town of Lumsden, volunteers hope the 100-year-old locos can be fully excavated by 2020 and eventually restored. Audio, Gallery

Our muscles lose strength and mass as we age, and old age expert Debra Waters says we should do resistance training so we won't develop sarcopenia. Audio

Working mothers are facing the stress of managing the family alongside their careers - and employers' inflexibility on school and holidays makes things even harder, new research suggests.  Audio

Star Wars fans will feel the force when the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra accompanies the films live in 2019.

This composition shows Mussorgsky’s populist approach to expressing the Russian world, painting musical pictures of comedy and tragedy, life and death, fantasy and reality. Check out the story and the music here. Audio

Opinion - High stakes, high stress, bad temper and bullying often go together and in Parliament it's a perfect storm, Peter Wilson writes.

With more thunderstorms expected on Thursday, meteorologist Chris Brandolino talks to Afternoons' Jesse Mulligan about the underlying science and offers some tips on staying safe. Audio

Berlin-based Tongan-New Zealand soul singer and producer Noah Slee has followed up his debut album Otherland with a short film based on the music and its themes.  Video, Audio

Elon Musk is unusual, difficult and vindictive - but he and his company Tesla have achieved amazing things, a New Zealander who worked there says in a new book.  Audio

Hamilton-based Rwandan rapper Raiza-Biza and Melbourne-based rapper Remi speak to Phodiso Dintwe about their new EP Black Hole Sun. Video, Audio

A Pacific think tank in New Zealand is being overhauled after a government review found it was failing its purpose.