Features

Trevor Reekie introduces Benson, who spent the best part of eight years working on an ambitious and uncompromising album called Zealandia which aspires to lend a contemporary voice to the history of Aotearoa.  Video, Audio

Nick Bollinger eavesdrops on an intimate studio recording from the year before Purple Rain, capturing Prince on his own at the keyboard, as he writes, revises and rehearses material for some future purpose. Audio

Dozens of South Taranaki pensioners ditched the slippers and bingo in favour of laser strike weapons and virtual reality goggles at an Ageing Disgracefully event in Normanby yesterday.

Silver Scroll nominated song ‘Hunnybee’ had its beginnings as a lullaby for Ruban Nielson’s daughter. The Unknown Mortal Orchestra leader lays out the struggle of writing an earnest love song for our Anatomy of a Scroll series. Video, Audio

The last two years have seen a mini explosion of New Zealand artisan distillers making gin, Antony Michalik of Spirits Workshop Distillery says. Audio

Chelsea Jade describes her Silver Scroll nominated single Laugh it Off as being close to the epitome of what she wants to be as an artist. Video, Audio

Three Pacific leaders have called out Indonesia at the UN for their human rights abuses in West Papua.

French Polynesia's nuclear test veterans organisation says the latest visit by a French delegation appears designed to drag out the compensation process.

The world premiere of Talune, commemorating the centenary of the 1918 influenza pandemic in Samoa, is in London on 12 November.

Voices - Auckland council is considering whether traditional Samoan tattooing - tatau - should be recognised as different to commercial tattoo, and whether it should continue to be licenced.  Audio

A meeting of leading scientists this week is likely to produce the most critical and controversial report on climate change in recent years.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator continues to be used by employers, the military, educators and churches the world over despite having no scientific validity. Audio

Godfrey De Grut may be the only APRA Silver Scroll winner to have been personally schooled by Kanye West never to play an F-chord again. The musician and music lecturer shares with us some stories and the songs that formed his sensibility. Video, Audio

Parliament is a place where plans are solid, but change regularly. It’s the inevitable outcome of decision-making institution with built-in opposition. Audio

RNZ Music is proud to share this debut minute-and-a-half pop morsel from former Salad Boys’ drummer Ben Woods. “It was a pretty strange and fun experience being dressed as Waylon Jennings, with stage make up on us all...”

The very best in Americana, alt country and blues music, hosted by Mark Rogers. Monday nights after the 11 o'clock news on RNZ National, 101 FM.

A highly regarded economist says the US has regressed to "developing nation" status and its middle class is disappearing fast. Audio

A Samoan-Tokelaun reverend is hoping to promote multi-culturalism as the elected leader of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Audio

Mediawatch - Jacinda Ardern - and her family - attracted plenty of attention at the UN in New York this week, but did the media mistake exposure and international interest for genuine impact and influence? Video, Audio

RNZ Pacific’s Sports Editor Vinnie Wylie asks if a Pacific based rugby team will ever get off the ground and why the New Zealand government is getting involved? Audio

Chelsea Jade describes her Silver Scroll nominated single Laugh it Off as being close to the epitome of what she wants to be as an artist. Video, Audio

Justine Murray meets a reverend/scholar and a musician who've led the way in te reo Māori revitalisation. Video, Audio

RNZ Pacific’s Sports Editor Vinnie Wylie asks if a Pacific based rugby team will ever get off the ground and why the New Zealand government is getting involved? Audio

Voices - Auckland council is considering whether traditional Samoan tattooing - tatau - should be recognised as different to commercial tattoo, and whether it should continue to be licenced.  Audio