Features

Sir William Gallagher won't miss a Fieldays - he's been at all 50 of them. And he's not alone. Country Life catches up with Sir William and with other exhibitors who've been coming back to the agriculture event for five decades. Audio, Gallery

Nick Bollinger considers the hard-road song-tales of Bernie Griffen. Audio

A hand-picked selection of Preludes and Fugues by JS Bach is this month's Podcast Classic. Michael Houstoun brings his unique insight to these gems of the piano repertoire.

William Dart recalls some personal highlights of saxophone listening on his way to featuring some recordings by the Delta Saxophone Quartet, including their new one of music by David Bowie from his Berlin Years. Video, Audio

When Julie Biuso's son tried this curry he told her it was the best chicken dish she'd ever made. "It's just got everything that a good chicken curry should have," Julie says. Audio

The first of a short season of operas from San Francisco is Chinese-American composer Bright Sheng's Dream of the Red Chamber, based on a classic Chinese love story. On RNZ Concert at 6pm.

Alt-country songwriter Bill Hickman has performed at bars and venues around Wellington for many years now. He joins us for his NZ Live solo debut (accompanied by Paddy Burgin). Video, Audio

The new technology we'll see in this year's FIFA World Cup; a review of YouTube Music; and critics worry a big reform of European privacy laws could have a chilling effect on free speech on the internet. Audio

William Dart's grandparents once played sax in a dance band. Since then he's been spellbound by Coltrane, the sax solo in Dusty Springfield's 'Look of Love' and most recently the Delta Saxophone Quartet playing Berlin-years Bowie. Video, Audio

Nick Bollinger celebrates the return of 78-year-old Yorkshire folk treasure Norma Waterson. Audio

New York-based Kiwi journalist and jewellery designer Olivia Fleming talks to Sonia Sly about the reality behind the glossy facade of the fashion industry. Audio

'Ofa-ki-Levuka Guttenbeil-Likiliki is one of eight women writing and directing a segment of Vai – a new film from the producers of Waru which tells the life story of a Pacific woman. Audio

James Reid and Hamish Gee from The Feelers reflect on 25 years as one of New Zealand's most successful bands. Video, Audio

Pitchfork called Snail Mail a leader in the next generation of indie rock and the "wisest teenage indie rocker we know". Alex Behan speaks to Lindsay Jordan, aka Snail Mail.  Video, Audio

The battle between 'natural' wine advocates and the $250 billion-dollar global wine industry is the "biggest conflict in the world of wine for a generation" says Guardian journalist Stephen Buranyi. Audio

Nick plays a mixed bag, including tracks from Vi Redd and Bill Evans, a classic from Miles Davis, and a new album by Auckland band Dog, featuring Roger Manins, Ron Samsom, Kevin Field, Olivier Holland, and guest James Muller. RNZ Concert from 5pm. Audio

A new source of rainy day money could be available to New Zealanders if an idea proposed at a conference is taken up by the government. Mary Holms talks about its possible merits. Audio

Salina Fisher's latest orchestral work Tupaia is inspired by Captain Cook's guest navigator. Also on the programme the NZSO accompanies Sasha Cooke in Berlioz's song-cycle Summer Nights and plays music by Debussy and Ravel.

Finding a hole in one of your favourite thick socks is bad news at this time of year. Aside from the environmental benefits, fixing your own clothing makes you value it more, says Bernadette Casey, who runs darning classes in Wellington. Video, Audio

England is tempering its expectations this time round, but there's still the odd bubble of optimism. Check out the latest episode of RNZ's Squeaky Bum Time podcast to find out more. Audio

We chat to Jon Toogood about new songs from The Adults; The Feelers perform live ahead of their 25th-anniversary tour; We talk with a Senegalese kora player and Welsh harpist who play 69 strings between them; and highly acclaimed Dunedin musician and poet Bill Direen joins us for the Mixtape.

What are the most popular classical albums at the moment? Find out which are in this week's top ten on RNZ Concert at 12 noon.

Until recently China has been the world's recycling bin, but it will soon start restricting waste imports. We ask Bloomberg journalist and junk junkie Adam Minter about the situation. Audio

Amelia Kerr shatters cricket records older than she is, we chat Football World Cup with RNZ's Squeeky Bum Time host Max Towle and can the All Blacks close out the series against France this weekend? Audio