Features

The BBC Proms concerts this week in Music Alive feature more than one work searching for the meaning of life!

The city of Nelson - thanks in part to the stunning weather - did a fantastic job of hosting its first-ever All Blacks test, writes Jamie Wall.

Nick Bollinger delves into the dark studies of politics and power on fifth album from Wellington's All-Seeing Hand. Audio

Analysis - Winston Peters gives Labour another policy problem, Clare Curran's performance in Parliament raises questions about her future, and National gets serious about identifying the leaker.

Blair Jollands is an ex-pat Kiwi living and working in London as a sound designer for film and TV. His songwriting has attracted praise from David Bowie and his new album 7 Blood draws its title from a herb he used to help him battle Lyme disease. Video, Audio

The Orchards in Schools programme is teaching school kids in Canterbury how to grow and care for trees. Teachers say that many have been inspired to grow their own vegetables. Audio, Gallery

Review - The bittersweetness of Atonement was almost unbearable, and it's repeated in On Chesil Beach, another Ian McEwan book adaptation also starring Saoirse Ronan, Simon Morris writes. Video, Audio

The Royal Opera House and the Roundhouse in London collaborate to perform one of only three surviving operas by the Renaissance composer Claudio Monteverdi. RNZ Concert from 6pm.

Every fortnight, MPs have a chance to get their own legislation debated in Parliament – if their proposed bill is pulled out of a biscuit tin. Rino Tirikatene and Chris Bishop talk to The House about the law changes they're after. Audio

The Wellington Filipino Choir (aka FilCoro) join Bryan Crump for a live acapella session, including a gorgeous version of the Leonard Bernstein song 'Somewhere'. Audio, Gallery

As a young man in the early 1950s, John Bluck received lessons on work, biculturalism and how to be a man in a Hawke's Bay transport shed.

Fiona McDonald has been singing her whole life and is best known for her work with Strawpeople and Headless Chickens. She shares songs and stories on the RNZ Music Mixtape. Video, Audio

Claude Debussy went with his wife to the mountains to write La Mer as he thought being too close to the sea would distract him. Listen to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's version.

A little aimlessness, solitude and time away from your phone isn't only good for the soul, it's essential for wellbeing and creativity, says the author of In Praise of Wasting Time Alan Lightman.​ Audio

Nick Bollinger discusses the first equal-billing album from father-and-son duo Neil and Liam Finn. Audio

From non-flowering kōwhai, to kitten poo, to tickling your seedlings - Lynda Hallinan has plenty of answers to more of our listeners' gardening questions. Audio

One of New Zealand's finest songwriters treats us to a live session - with some special guests and the extra-special bonus of a brand new song. Video, Audio

Toronto's Lemon Bucket Orkestra live on stage at WOMAD in Taranaki. The group are 'Canada's only Balkan-Klezmer-Gypsy-Party-Punk supergroup'.

This month, over 200 artworks from Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, Hawai'i, West Papua and Easter Island will go on show in the exhibition Oceania at London's Royal Academy of Arts. Audio

Plus it's a huge week for the Warriors, women and men, Mahe Drysdale discusses his shift to a bigger boat and Silver Fern Laura Langman talks about her return to the Sunshine Coast. Listen to our weekly sports roundup Extra Time. Audio

James Lavelle launched the careers of some hugely influential musicians with his record label Mo' Wax and found success with his band Unkle. He talks to Tony Stamp about his life and the documentary The Man From Mo' Wax. Video, Audio

Like a great story-teller Verdi draws the listener in with every colourful phrase of his dramatic Requiem. You can hear Orchestra Wellington and friends perform the Requiem live on RNZ Concert at 7.30pm. Audio

Parents need to focus less on enforcing rules and more on developing their kids' independence if they want to help them handle real-world pressures, says family coach Yvonne Godfrey. Audio

We're celebrating Maori Language week with Moana Maniapoto, Anna Coddington, and Dave Dobbyn; Rob Ruha and Ria Hall tell us about their upcoming tour; James Lavelle is on the line to discuss new doco The Man From MoWax, and heaps more!