Features

The call of the Tui, heard in the Marlborough Sounds, was the inspiration behind New Zealand composer Gareth Farr’s new string quartet Te Kōanga, where the players pluck and snap their strings. Audio

Squeaky Bum Time - Emile Donovan, Max Towle, Iain Macintosh and Patrick O'Meara talk German despair, English cynicism and look ahead to the knock-out stage. Audio

Nick checks out the new album Suites and Moods from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band, plays a mini-set by Melba Liston, and includes tracks by Pat Metheny, Alice Coltrane, and the Mingus Big Band. Audio

After Shona Daubé was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis five years ago, she started sending group emails to her friends and family. Shona's darkly humorous yarns have become the book Does My Bum Look Big with This Stick? Audio

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Hundreds of citrus, feijoa, plum and apple trees are being planted in remote parts of Northland as part of a rural regeneration plan to help Ngāpuhi whānau return to a culture of living off the land. Audio

A Northern Marianas lawmaker is hoping to drum up support for a resolution opposing a proposed ban on cockfighting in US territories.

There is a push in Australia to re-establish Radio Australia's services to the Asia/Pacific region.

New Zealand, Hawaii and Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, have been admitted as members of the Polynesian Leaders Group.

Children who sacrifice their own emotional needs to support a parent can end up struggling with identity and intimacy as adults, says psychologist Sarb Johal. Audio

William Dart submits to Damned Devotion – a darkly arresting new album from American songwriter Joan Wasser (aka Joan As Police Woman). Video, Audio

Every Thursday morning, the shops of Waiheke Island fill up with Gulf News fans in Zimmer frames. A locally-owned publication that truly advocates for its community will always get readers, says the newspaper's editor. Audio, Gallery

The Tertiary Education Union is asking the university “… to immediately stop silencing debate at the University of Auckland” following a recent restructure.

More real thinking goes on in a bike shop than in a think tank, says American philosopher and motorcycle mechanic Matthew B Crawford. Audio

Mountain biker Kate Weatherly says the wrong message is being sent to Kiwi trans athletes.

Solar-powered rubbish bins have been popping up on New Zealand streets since 2015. The managing director of an Auckland waste firm tells Jesse Mulligan how they work. Audio

When Ken Perkins died, he left behind a collection of more than 80,000 records. It's thought to be one of the most extensive private collections in the world. Audio

With Kendrick Lamar heading to our shores for gigs in a couple of weeks, have a listen to Nick Bollinger's review of Damn.  Audio

The Argentine pianist joins the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra for a concert including Liszt's first piano concerto and music by Kodaly and Rachmaninov.

Conditions like eczema are skyrocketing because we're over-cleaning our skin and messing with its natural balance, says dermatologist Dr Sandy Skotnicki. Audio

A group behind plans for a floating island in the Pacific have launched a competition to find a government willing to host the project.

A social media campaign alleging corruption against two Papua New Guinea daily newspapers has been heavily criticised by the local media council.

It's about time that we had better maps for the 70 percent of the planet that's covered in water, says New Zealand’s National Hydrographer Adam Greenland. Audio

“The moment we struck up together vocally, we felt we suddenly had something quite special. You couldn’t manufacture it, it just happened.” Kirsten Johnstone tells the story of well-loved 60s folk-pop group The Seekers.  Video, Audio

Every day around the world billions of bowel actions take place in an "exercise that can take a few desperate seconds, or any number of interminable lonely minutes” says an Australian surgeon. Audio