Features

Lauryn Hill will perform her first New Zealand show in eight years this February. The Grammy award winner is bringing rapper Nas as her support act, amid ongoing controversy involving his ex-wife, R&B star Kelis.

Whether they're calling for divine protection, bragging about the colour of a country's soil, or calling for citizens to rise up against the bourgeoisie, national anthems are a big part of many countries' collective identities. Anthony Ritchie talks with Jesse Mulligan. Audio

If you know how to mutter 'Ka Mate' under your breath ahead of an All Blacks game then the next logical step is to learn a waiata. Yadana Saw presents a step-by-step guide on how to get your wāhi mahi (workplace) waiata fit Video, Audio

Opinion - You don't need a degree from Harvard to know that New Zealand is facing challenging times on the higher education front in 2018, David Cohen writes.

South Canterbury isn't famous for its premium apples, but Honeycrisps love the cool climate there. They're grown exclusively for export to the US. Audio

 Two multi award-winning Māori artists, Rob Ruha and Ria Hall have merged the music from their latest albums into a powerful two hour show, which will tour in October.   Audio

Mediawatch - Hard on the heels of Limo-gate, flying the PM to Nauru this week turned political pundits into amateur accountants and talk radio hosts into advisors in parenting and Pacific diplomacy, Colin Peacock writes. ​ Audio

Review - The fifth album from Wellington trio The All Seeing Hand - combining heavy synth, complex drums and Mongolian throat singing - is more abrasive and accessible than their previous work, Nick Bollinger writes. Audio

US whistleblower Chelsea Manning told an audience in Wellington that after her release from prison in May 2017 she was struck with a realisation there was much more work to do.

Watch - Translated as 'A night in the house of refuge', Uapōifalemalu takes a look at the lives of Samoan women who often go unnoticed, their stories untold, their lives forgotten. 

The House - Labour’s Louisa Wall and National’s Jo Hayes are teaming up to represent New Zealand's women MPs in Ireland, and are aiming for cross-party law changes for women, writes Daniela Maoate-Cox.  Audio

The tiny coastal community of Mokau has 75 permanent residents and is famous for its museum, friendly butcher and whitebait fritters. Country Life pays a visit in the latest on its series on towns with a population under 500. Audio, Gallery

James Lavelle launched the careers of some hugely influential musicians on his record label Mo' Wax, and found further success with his own band Unkle. He's now the subject of a new documentary, which he discussed with Tony Stamp. Video, Audio

In Depth - These are the predicaments of NZ women working for minimum wage, told to filmmaker Kathleen Winter for short documentary project Minimum, launching on RNZ today ahead of the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage. Video

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.

Insight documentary - New Zealand's 55,000 practising nurses have secured a multimillion-dollar pay deal and a commitment to better staffing. RNZ Health Correspondent Karen Brown goes to Auckland City Hospital to find out the pressures they're facing.  Audio

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is touring the country playing some of your favourite classical hits. Video, Audio

Mediawatch - So how did Nauru - the island housing hundreds of asylum seekers who fled to Australia, and which has gone to great lengths to keep journalists out - handle hosting the Pacific Forum? Not too well, Colin Peacock writes.  Audio

Whanganui residents have mixed emotions over their local newspaper adopting the Māori spelling of the city in its front page banner.

See inside the DIY making of this one-man history of country music that's attracting new fans to the often mocked and neglected musical genre. This podcast episode tells the story of Bobbie Gentry's 1967 hit 'Ode to Billie Joe'. Audio

As part of te wiki o te reo Māori, Te Ahi Kaa looks at life in the classroom with student Pat Old and teacher Justin Kereama. Audio

Listen and read along so you can sing Reginald Heber's great Trinitarian hymn Holy, holy, holy as well as hymns by 19th century newspaper editor and poet James Montgomery. Audio

Shouting at the TV or radio is a national sport, so Phi Smith has prepared a bluffer’s guide to some of the ‘House rules’.

Eyewitness - New Zealand's school education model was the British system. The cane came with it and generations of kids got to feel its effect, Justin Gregory writes. Audio