Features

William Dart turns again to a regular favourite, British folk-rock veteran Richard Thompson, and reviews his new album 13 Rivers. Video, Audio

We look back on some highlights from John Campbell's time with Checkpoint, including laugh-out-loud moments and scenes you've never seen before. RNZ staff even sing a song for him... Video, Audio

Review - The story of unlikely East End fashion designer Alexander McQueen - aptly titled McQueen - is, like so many documentaries about tortured artists, predictable and sadly unenlightening, Simon Morris writes. Video, Audio

Fresh dates are good for us, says Julie Biuso. She shares a recipe for an "assertive" Middle Eastern-style eggplant and date salad that's good with lamb or on a vegetarian plate. Audio

It’s theatre month, and musical theatre week. While crowds are flocking to see the international production of Chicago in Wellington, Kiwis trying to make a living in the industry are struggling.

John Bluck looks back at a Hawke's Bay childhood of tree huts, fort-building and fishing in episode five of Nuhaka Dreaming.

After getting her music degree in NZ, Alayna Powley moved to NYC to discover herself. Still just 25, she’s already worked with some of the world’s biggest pop producers and clocked up over 9 million streams on Spotify. Video, Audio

Video - Latayvia Tualasea-Tautai  talks about how growing up in poverty motivated her to empower Pacific people.

The landscapes in Michael Kenna's unusual black & white photographs glow with an unearthly light the Englishman achieves by shooting at dawn or at night. Audio, Gallery

Top musicians from high schools around New Zealand will perform their original songs at the Smokefree Rock Quest National Final next weekend. Rangitoto High School student Gretel Donnelly is one of the finalists. Video, Audio

Nearly 200 singers of all ages, along with Aroha String Quartet joined together this weekend for Ode to the Moon.,  performing songs from China and New Zealand, including 'Hine e Hine', Gareth Farr's 'Mondo Rondo' and 'The Moon Represents My Heart' – a Chinese folk song. Video, Audio

This week's dazzling array of Proms concerts from the BBC includes Gypsy rhythms from Budapest and sunny Mahler from the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Hymns on Sunday celebrates Maori Language Week with a song to the Holy Spirit by Ngapo Wehi - Wairua tapu. Audio

Opinion - So who picked all that from the New Zealand Warriors this year? Certainly not Jamie Wall.

Ghana's Pat Thomas and The Kwashibu Area Band hail perform live at WOMAD.

Tāringa gets over 21,000 listens a month from all over the world. Cohost Te Puaheiri Snowden talks to Richard Scott about its beginnings and signature style. Audio

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan visiting Abel Tasman National Park next month will raise the profile of the "iconic but secondary visitor destination", says local tour operator Darryl Wilson. Audio

This week: jazz inspired by the rain, including Wes Montgomery with ‘Come Rain or Come Shine’, Paul Motian with ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, and Dee Dee Bridgewater singing ‘Here’s That Rainy Day’.

Precocious Long Island siblings Michael and Brian D’Addario have written a musical. Nick Bollinger takes a front row seat. Audio

The legendary Masaaki Suzuki brings an ensemble of 19 players from New York's Juilliard School to New Zealand to play Bach and Handel.

Rob Ruha checks in post-Waiata Maori Music Awards; Martin Phillips of The Chills talks their new album; The Beths perform live at their home studio; we visit Manurewa High ahead of the Rockquest and Tangata Beats finals; and heaps more!!

Te Kura o Waikare is one of two Kura-ā-Iwi in Te Tai Tokerau electorate, and the school's remote location is proving the perfect environment to strengthen the dialect of Ngāpuhi iwi, John Boynton writes.

Michael Norris blended the sounds of a throat singer, a new music ensemble and electronica for his SOUNZ Contemporary Award-nominated composition Sygyt. Video, Audio

Rob Ruha won four awards, Ria Hall was named Best Female Artist, Alien Weaponry took out Best Music Video, Troy Kingi won Best Pop Album, and Seth Haapu won Best Songwriter at the 11^th Annual Waiata Māori Music Awards in Hastings. Video, Audio