Features

New thriller Next of Kin, which debuts in New Zealand on Monday, centres on a British Pakistani family in London whose world is shattered by a brutal act of terrorism.  Video, Audio

Hymns of thankfulness feature in this week's programme, along with several settings of the Psalms. You can close the doors and loudly sing along - the words are all here. Audio

Richard Scott meets former librarian Drew Ackerman, whose soothing podcast helps thousands of people around the world get to sleep. Audio

Beloved Kiwi songwriter Julia Deans is touring the country this month with a predominantly female crew. She plays us a couple of tracks from the new album We Light Fire. Video, Audio

Daniela Maoate-Cox investigates why the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill – aka 'waka jumping' bill – has got politicians so fired up.

The discovery of a  new Chinese species of sauropod named the "amazing dragon of Lingwu" pushes the appearance of advanced sauropods, back by 15 million years. Audio

The NZSO National Youth Orchestra had a blast working with Spanish conductor Jaime Martín, last month. They premièred a new work called Redwood, written especially for them by Josiah Carr, and played a rarely heard bassoon concerto with Todd Gibson-Cornish.

In recent weeks, the United States seems to have belatedly joined other Western countries working to counter Chinese influence and promote stability in the Pacific region.

The words 'vegan' and 'butchery' don't really go hand in hand, but Grater Goods is a combo of the two. Plugged as the country's first plant-based deli, the soon-to-be-opened butchery was founded by musician Flip Grater. Audio

The Italian group Ensemble Zefiro have hit the ground running and begun their nationwide tour for Chamber Music New Zealand. They talk to Upbeat about the versatility of their baroque wind instruments. Audio

There's a prevailing myth that is often brought up in conversations about our history - that Māori killed off the Moriori people in New Zealand.  Audio

We speak to prince's producer Susan Rogers who's in NZ for music-making workshop Songhubs; Nick Boillinger reviews Tom Scott's Avantdale Bowling Club and Dudley Benson's Zealandia; the RNZ Music team pick their favourite songs from the last few months for the Mixtape; and heaps more!

In a five part podcast, John Drummond takes a look at famous pieces of piano music as windows into the world in which they were created.

International tourists should be encouraged to visit lesser-known regions to take pressure off popular destinations like Auckland and Queenstown, the government says.

Businesses struggling to keep up with Kiwis’ demand for avocado - Businesses struggling to keep up with Kiwis’ demand for avocado. Video, Audio

Six excited student chamber music groups from around the country competed in Christchurch last weekend, at the annual NZCT Chamber Music Contest. RNZ Concert captured it all on tape and you can hear the music and drama in Music Alive tonight at 7.30pm. Audio

Regular physical activity lasting 45 minutes three to five times a week can reduce poor mental health - but doing more than that is not always beneficial, a large US study suggests.

China's first counter-tenor Xiao Ma shares Sichuan heritage with composer Gao Ping. They're collaborating on a work called Wild Cherry Tree for Orchestra Wellington this month. Audio

APEC is being billed by PNG's government as the ultimate chance to unlock the resource-rich country's economic potential, but not everyone is convinced that hosting the summit will put PNG on the global map.

The government's goal to have one million New Zealanders able to speak basic reo Māori by 2040 is achievable, a Māori Language teacher says.

Lord$eez is 16-year-old Kiwi-born South African, Sizwe Singhsesi. He's an Auckland-based trap rapper building a name online and drawing young audiences to his energetic live performances. 

The finalists for the 2018 Waiata Māori Music Awards have just been announced with Ria Hall, Tory Kingi and Rob Ruha all picking up multiple nominations.

Mission Impossible Fallout is the sixth for Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. This one co-stars Rebecca Fergusson, Michelle Monaghan and Vanessa Kirby (The Crown). Video, Audio