Features

Among the ten semi-finalists in this year's prestigious Lexus Song Quest are two brothers: baritone Alfred and tenor Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono. They talk with David Morriss about their love of opera, and how their preparations for the competition are going.  Audio

Boys, caught up in a world which talks about toxic masculinity, feel people have decided that they're harmful before they even get started, says a US-based author. Audio

Our Changing World - As sea levels rise what will this mean for our low-lying wetlands? Will they get eroded, releasing more carbon? Or will they grow at the same rate, and hold their ground? Audio

Thousands of singers from around the world gathered at Auckland's Spark Arena this week to kick off the 13th World Choir Games. Some teams have set their sights on a gold medal - and some just want to have a good time.

In 1996 an episode of The Simpsons featured a joke where Cypress Hill mistakenly booked the London Symphony Orchestra whilst under the influence. On Wednesday night, that joke becomes a reality at the Royal Albert Hall.

After nearly 20 years judging children's movies by adult standards, Dan Slevin does the same for some pre-schooler TV.

Young pianist Ben Kennedy is this year's recipient of the Upper Hutt Grand Piano Trust Scholarship. He talks with David Morriss about his upcoming concert, and a trip to Switzerland next month where he'll be taking part in piano masterclasses. Audio

Congratulations to music scholar Professor Samantha Owens, who's just been awarded the Lilburn Research Fellowship for 2025. She talks with RNZ Concert's David Morriss about her research topic for the year: the history of brass bands in Aotearoa New Zealand from 1842 to 1920. Audio

MaryJane Thompson was born deaf, but that didn't stop her love for music, writes Caitlin Lester.

The trailer release has inspired a huge response, despite suggesting the Paul Mescal-starring sequel will copy the original. Video

The prosthetic acts as a "third thumb" and augments the user's range of movement. Video, Audio

The 32-year-old who spent seven years in a US prison for her role in her mother's murder is 11 weeks pregnant.

Not sure what to eat tonight? Christchurch-based chef, author and busy mum Sam Parish knows the feeling. She shares a simple and super-tasty recipe for pantry pasta that the whole whānau will love

It is the first time the games have been held in Oceania and only the second time it has been in the Southern Hemisphere. More than 11,000 singers from over 40 countries are set to compete.

Disputes between neighbours over things such as fences and trees can be fairly common - but what's the best way to get them resolved? Audio

Amichai Lau-Lavie comes from the "Kennedys of Judaism" a 38-generation unbroken line of rabbis. He's also gay - and a drag queen. Audio

"You couldn't get too close with anyone." The veteran music journalist and writer selects five of his favourite tracks for the RNZ Mixtape. Video, Audio

The series has found fans in a local police officer and forensic toxicologist.

"We'll be ready in time... we don't have a choice," promises the owner of Meow Nui, whose self-imposed deadline is approaching fast.

The 2024 national brass band championships begin on Wednesday, and this year the contest is widening participation to outside New Zealand and into the Pacific. RNZ Concert's David Morriss talks with two of the organisers, William Kingi and Owen Melhuish. Audio

When writer John Connell found the creative well had run dry, he found solace in "12 little Buddhas wrapped in white fleeces". Audio

NZ-born, L.A.- based singer-songwriter Jess Cornelius has a reputation for lyrical candor, with lines on her new album Care/Taking dealing with pregnancy, breaking up with the father of her child, and death. Video, Audio

Lyttelton creative TG Shand is not a "city person", and instead loves to watch the weather change over Banks Peninsula. Video, Audio

Australian musician Warren Ellis, a long-time member of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, tells Music 101 he was spiritually bereft before forming the instrumental rock trio Dirty Three in the early '90s. Audio