Features

RNZ Music is at WOMAD New Zealand 2018, which opened just over an hour ago. Alex Behan took a stroll around, chatted to some punters and quizzed organiser Emere Wano.

Kamasi Washington, the young tenor saxophonist heralded as the saviour of jazz, tells us that he’ll be leaving 'the music wide open' when he and his band play at WOMAD Taranaki this weekend. Video, Audio

Music videos for Justin Bieber, work on JLo world tours, her own album...now Parris Goebel has written Young Queen, telling how she became one of the most sought-after choreographers in hip hop. Video, Audio

Paramount flicked what could be the best film of the year to Netflix, outraging critics. Let’s all calm down, says Dan Slevin, there’s an upside to the small screen experience.

 

Two members of Canada-based Constantinople perform 'Le Poisson au fond de l'Ocean' ahead of WOMAD 2018 in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

An eco-friendly Auckland apartment block with 33 units but no parking spaces for residents' cars is causing a bit of a stir. Audio

Grammy-nominated Iraqi musician and composer Rahim AlHaj regards himself as a peace activist who accompanies his message with an oud, one of civilisation's most ancient stringed instruments.

Eyewitness - In early 90s Christchurch, a remarkable group of Pasifika performers take their first steps towards success. Audio

Perfume Genius - the performing name of American musician Mike Hadreas - is in New Zealand for festival shows in Wellington and Auckland. Nick Bollinger caught one of his concerts. Audio

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The takahē recovery programme has run into the best sort of problem - it has too many of the endangered birds and is scrambling to find places to establish them. Audio

The WOMAD festival kicks off tonight at New Plymouth’s Bowl of Brooklands and it’s set to be a very special weekend. Trevor Reekie gives us the lowdown. Video, Audio

Prompted by a new album by Idaho singer Eilen Jewell, William Dart listens to a number of white women singing the blues. Video, Audio

Early Facebook investor Roger McNamee knew something wasn't right with the platform in early 2016, when he saw "viciously misogynistic" memes attacking Hilary Clinton. Audio

Kim Deal bassist and sometime singer in The Pixies, and leader of her own band The Breeders, speaks to Kirsten Johnstone about The Breeders' new album, sobriety, and having songs written about her. Video, Audio

Veronika Eberle joins the orchestra for Schumann's beautiful Violin Concerto written in the last year before his final mental health collapse. Other works on the programme are by Wagner and Mendelssohn.

Simon Morris reviews the remake of the vigilante thriller Death Wish starring Bruce Willis, The Mercy, and New Zealand documentary Kobi. Video, Audio

Perfume Genius - the performing name of American musician Mike Hadreas - is in New Zealand for festival shows in Wellington and Auckland. Nick Bollinger talked to him and caught one of his Wellington concerts. Audio

In the early 1990s in Christchurch, a remarkable group of Pasifika performers take their first steps towards success. Audio

Joseph Parker is training in Las Vegas ahead of his fight with Anthony Joshua, who is overwhelmingly the favourite. But the New Zealand Samoan boxer tells John Campbell he's the underdog and he's got what it takes to win. Video, Audio

Kim Deal is one of the most iconic and influential voices of the 90s as bassist and sometime singer of The Pixies, and as leader of her own band The Breeders.  She speaks to Kirsten Johnstone about The Breeders' new album All Nerve, sobriety, and having songs written about her. Video, Audio

Two years ago few people knew Jordan Peterson's name, now he is either, depending on your stance, the public intellectual de jour or the acceptable face of alt-right cultural warriors. Audio

Vanuatu's kava industry is to have ongoing discussions about the scientific data on the "tudei" variety of kava.

A Solomon Islands academic working in New Zealand is urging Pasifika youth to embrace their culture and draw strength from their heritage.

Samoan Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi is concerned at the possibility of his police officers being enticed to move to New Zealand.