Features

Opinion - The law curbing foreign purchases of existing New Zealand homes is rushed policy-making and is likely to have an imperceptible impact on the housing crisis, Shamubeel Eaqub writes. 

At a time when Norway was asserting its cultural and political freedom, Grieg was able to grasp these historical aspirations and give them artistic expression through his music. Audio

Listen: New Zealand musicians perform the songs of Aretha Franklin in 'Respect', part of the Auckland Arts Festival 2017. Featuring Annie Crummer, Aaradhna, Bella Kalolo and Esther Stephens. Audio

It's just a little effort that's required to curb the health hazards of sitting down for long periods of time, a University of Otago researcher says, but getting people to change their habits is tricky. Audio

Father and son Neil and Liam Finn talk to Kim Hill about their new album Lightsleeper, which is out on August 24th. The pair also perform the album's first single 'Back To Life' live in studio. Video, Audio

In a Prom special, the London Contemporary Orchestra leads a late-night tribute to the legacy of these pioneers of experimental electronic music, featuring Daphne Oram’s groundbreaking 'Still Point' and music by Radiophonic Workshop stalwart Delia Derbyshire.

Tony and Afsaneh Howey come from farming families in South Canterbury and Iran, respectively. The hard-working couple now produce organic blackcurrants near Timaru for the ViBERi range of snacks and supplements. Audio

A dawn-to-dusk climbing trip in the Bavarian mountains is depicted in An Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss. Indra Hughes discovers there are also other levels of meaning here. Audio

Kiwi rock band Dragon was formed in 1972 by the bass player Todd Hunter, who brought in his charismatic brother Marc Hunter on vocals.  Audio

This week Nick features Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, along with Lena Horne, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Sidney Bechet. Audio

Opinion - It's been a pretty relaxed build up to the Bledisloe Cup this week in Sydney, but compared to last year, anything would be, Jamie Wall writes.  Video

Upheaval and protest marked 1968, when the first baby boomers saw the world they were inheriting and grew angry. It's now 50 years on, as we dive into Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision archives to relive it.  Audio

We talk to two veteran players returning to the Silver Ferns' squad, our rugby experts discuss the opening Bledisloe Cup clash and the new Black Caps cricket coach outlines his plan for the future.  Audio

As the Quartet is setting out on a new national tour, here they play works by Haydn, Gareth Farr, Schubert and Dvořák .

Enjoy Aaradhna, Annie Crummer, Bella Kalolo and Esther Stephens performing Aretha Franklin classics at the 2017 Auckland Arts Festival. Audio

We pay tribute to Aretha Franklin; Chelsea Jade is back from LA and joins us for a chat; we talk to Tom Scott about his new jazz album; Local Americana musician Emily Farlight performs live ahead of her album release tour; and Hamilton rockers Devilskin join us for the Mixtape.

Father and son Neil and Liam Finn talk to Kim Hill about their new album Lightsleeper, which is out on August 24th. The pair also perform the album's first single 'Back To Life' live in studio. Video, Audio

Power Play - If a National Party MP is named as the source of the leak of Simon Bridges' travel bill their political career will come to an abrupt end.

Northland Regional Corrections Facility’s arts programme has flourished under Beth Hill, changing from paints on canvas to a rehabilitative career path for prisoners. Audio

Musician, writer and advocate Áine Kelly-Costello talks with Upbeat about progress in making the arts more accessible for people with disabilities. Audio

Several documentaries about great female rock stars have come to film festivals in recent years, so music enthusiast and RNZ Music studio operator Jana Whitta offers some highlights and insights.  Video, Audio

A selection of live music performances from some of NZ's favourite musicians, including Bic Runga, Neil Finn, Tiny Ruins, David Dallas, Ladi6, Dave Dobbyn and the Phoenix Foundation. 8:30 pm Fridays on Nights with Bryan Crump.

When Beethoven was 22 he moved to Vienna and found an abundance of virtuoso pianists - fertile ground for the development of the piano concerto genre. Audio

Virgie Tovar says her battle has been with fat discrimination, not weight loss. Now she accepts who she is and no longer starts the day with the thought that she hates her body. Audio