Features

Scholars and activists Ngahuia Te Awekotuku and Dr Elizabeth Kerekere on why old stories illustrating diverse sexualities and gender expressions in Te Ao Māori aren’t better known. Audio

Jackie Lee Morrison has worked at some of London's top eateries and is now wowing Wellington with her hand-made brownies. Audio, Gallery

Edward Castelow has been making music under the name Dictaphone Blues for around a decade now. His new EP Elastic Meditation is out now, so we invited Ed and his all-star band into the studio to play a few songs. Video, Audio

Singing to babies helps develop bonding between parent and child and encourages children to self-regulate. Lullabies like 'Twinkle, twinkle' are a great place to start.

As Pacific countries look to taxes and other regulations to battle an obesity crisis, they're coming up against stepped up lobbying from global giants like Coca-Cola, eager to make up for falling sales in western countries.

The person behind the movie Anote's Ark says the Kiribati government's criticism of his climate change documentary is based on political differences and is part of a crack down on media freedom.

The Solomon Islands has welcomed 1500 participants to this year's Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival in Honiara.

Exploring indigenous feminism will be discussed by Pacific artist Ane Tonga this week.

There's concern in Papua New Guinea that the violent unrest in Hela and Southern highlands is spreading across the Highlands region. Audio

A Tongan is among 10 artists who have told their own stories of the stars by carving stone sculptures as part of a symposium for Matariki or Maori New Year celebrations in New Zealand. Audio

On the dawn of Mataraki a new generation of kapa haka exponents gathered in Rangitane, Palmerston North to battle it out at the National Secondary Schools Competition. Video, Audio

Described as the US's best all-around alpinist, Conrad Anker says his recent film Meru, with climbers Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk, is an authentic documentation accepting the cold and hunger and exposed nature of a climb.  Video, Audio

In Ōtara, South Auckland, they've been experimenting with new ways of providing to those in need. including a Monday night soup kitchen combined with an open-mic talent night. It has been an extraordinary success. Video, Audio, Gallery

Schools and parents always want the best for children, but a researcher has opened a can of worms by denouncing rigid rules on school lunchbox food. Audio

The Incredibles theme song is back as the sequel opened last week in New Zealand. Pixar film music has been performed by numerous orchestras around the world. Upbeat curates a few favourites.

A navy ship that started its life supporting oil rigs is changing tack to protect the Pacific Ocean from old warships leaking oil, writes Eva Corlett. Video, Audio

One of the great string quartets of the world, the Takács Quartet visited these shores last year and toured for Chamber Music New Zealand. Here we catch them in Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre.

The classic rock era started with Sgt Peppers in 1967 and ended in 1999 when Napster nailed a Nine Inch Nails release, music writer Steven Hyden says.  Audio

Aotearoa is not immune to stirrings of republicanism, but expert Sean Palmer of Monarchy New Zealand is adamant it's worth staying royal: for price, security, equality, and for democracy itself. Audio

Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and Senegalese Kora player Seckou Keita have collaborated on the album Soar. It is a meeting of two cultures that value oral tradition, and a "family reunion" for their stringed instruments. Audio

Three Porirua teenagers who became internet sensations after a video of them singing the New Zealand national anthem went viral have been invited to sing at a Silver Ferns game. Video, Audio

In a blast from the political past, the former McGillicuddy Serious Party president is publishing a new edition of the party's manifesto in a 328-page book.  Audio

Pasifika women in Aotearoa New Zealand are twice as likely to die from breast cancer than Palagi women. Audio

Our free classical podcast this month is Enigma Variations by Sir Edward Elgar played by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Antony Hermus.