Features

Pacific researcher Dr Vanessa Griffen says Island states have an important, ongoing role to play in the campaign to rid the world of nuclear weapons. Audio

On this week's show Mark spins tunes from the Byrds, the Felice Brothers, Dr John and Ray Charles, festive faves from the Handsome Family and Patsy Raye & The Beatniks, plus a demo version of a Graham Nash classic. Audio

Red Cross nurse Guru Dev Singh has just returned home to Wellington from Cox’s Bazar – the main camp for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. She tells Voices the living conditions there and the stories she heard were overwhelming. Audio

Don't be intimidated by Christmas pudding – you can whip one up in the crock pot on the day, says Michelle Matthews from Kitchen Six in Napier. Audio

The distinguished British pianist Kathryn Stott joins forces with the New Zealand String Quartet in music by Gillian Whitehead and Dvorak. She also gives a rare public performance of Dutilleux's Piano Sonata.

A company is launching a new project where consumers buy products in ultra-durable packaging that they borrow and then send back to the retailer for cleaning and refilling. Audio, Gallery

The Long Way Home - Bruce has left Mercer and is on his way to Te Kuiti but hot days and the high hills are giving his body grief. Audio

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He's NZ's top country musician and he's travelled the world for 30 years sharing his music and stories. This year Marsh released his 29th album I Believe. RNZ visited him at his Pukekohe home. Audio

Te Ahi Kaa visits New Zealand's best-selling country music artist Dennis Marsh at his home in Pukekohe. Audio

A joint venture between Corrections and the Royal New Zealand Ballet is bringing dance into Arohata Women's Prison for the first time. Video, Audio

David Walliams will be best known to grown ups as an actor, presenter and comedian. But to millions of children he is a much-loved author - his books selling in the millions. Audio

Opinion - Another year is coming to an end - time for Toby Manhire and Toby Morris to dish out awards for the year's greatest and grottiest achievements.

The number of children having rotting teeth surgically removed has doubled in the past ten years. A New Zealand dentist says enough is enough and has renewed calls for a tax on sugary drinks. Audio

Featuring songs from Sia, Sole Mio, Sam Sparro and Sufjan Stevens. Video, Audio

Mediawatch : Law changes to limit foreign influence on business and politics in Australia prompted calls for similar moves here this week. Audio

German cellist Daniel Müller-Schott joins the NZSO conducted by James Feddeck for a programme of music featuring Schumann's Cello Concerto and Barber's First Symphony.

Rules Of Engagement is Ria Hall’s first album. It is full of great individual tracks, but the artistry is in the way she has threaded them together, like a fine piece of tāniko, writes Nick Bollinger. Audio

Under NZ's MMP system, the highest polling party is not leading government. Former RNZ political editor Brent Edwards investigates if MMP is still the right option. Video, Audio

Traditionally, a cancer diagnosis involves blood tests, medical imaging and tissue samples or biopsies. But now a team in Massachusetts are using blood tests alone to detect and monitor the disease. Audio

It’s been the strongest year for local music, perhaps ever, evidenced by the fact that three kiwis have topped local and international 'best of' lists. The RNZ Music team discuss Lorde, Aldous Harding, Nadia Reid and more. Video, Audio

Joanna Hunkin painted a pretty dark view of the state of our local music industry in a NZ Herald article last week, but is chart success even worth worrying about? Includes top 11 NZ music moments of 2017! Video, Audio

2017 has been a massive year for self-described 'haka soul' musician Rob Ruha. In a track on his new album Survivance, Ruha pushes back against what he says is harmful misinformation about Māori history. Audio

George Block of consumer.org.nz looks at how the major retailers are performing in the customer satisfaction stakes and tells us why it's usually worthwhile haggling over price. Audio

Read about the Trumpishness of Ivana, Harvey Weinstein's complicity machine, and what it takes for a film about queer love to be 'universal'.