Features

A high school in the Cook Islands will ban soft drinks from its tuck shop next year.

Famous for the film score to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, luminary composer/conductor Tan Dun makes his APO debut. Music Alive at 7pm tonight on RNZ Concert. Audio

How the pampered, private schooled daughter of Crown Lynn's founder became a breast-baring battler for women.

Josh Perry says he rarely sees people with disabilities in bars or in relationships – and it's time that changed.

Analysis - People often want an easy formula for how much they need to save for retirement - but working out how much they'll need to spend is crucial, writes Mary Holm.

This week on Nasville Babylon, favourites from Pokey LaFarge, Elmore James and Little Esther; classic country from Tammy Wynette and Lyle Lovett; new music from Margo Price; and a festive classic courtesy of CW Stoneking. Audio

One of the most mysterious outsider figures in contemporary music was Connie Converse, considered now to be one of the first of the modern singer-songwriters. Audio

You can hear a rare performance of Eve de Castro-Robinson's Triple Clarinet Concerto recorded at Wigram Air Force Museum tonight at 7pm in Music Alive on RNZ Concert.

The costs of installing an effective water treatment system is prohibitive for many small towns and communities, Water New Zealand says. Audio

The Logan Campbell Centre was a sweatbox last night as 80s synthpop hitmakers Human League and Pseudo ripped through hits like 'Don't You Want Me' and 'Funky Town'.

One more day to vote for the piece of classical music you've enjoyed the most this year. Tune in to RNZ Concert on New Year’s Day for the full countdown.

This January, a group of Kiwi teens will spend a week hanging out, learning instruments, forming bands and watching live music.

The formation of New Caledonia's new government has been completed with the allocation of portfolios.

Vanuatu have made history with their double success in table tennis at the Pacific Mini Games.

Evolution is an important aspect of keeping a tradition alive. Anoushka Shankar continues the legacy and tradition of one of the 20th century’s most influential musicians – her father Ravi Shankar. Audio

Simon Morris checks out James Franco's tribute to a one-of-a-kind director in The Disaster Artist, assesses festive fare The Man Who Invented Christmas and bemoans a lack of surprises in Wonder. Video, Audio

The Logan Campbell Centre was a sweatbox last night as 80s synthpop hitmakers Human League and Pseudo ripped through hits like 'Don't You Want Me' and 'Funky Town'.

In the early 2000s, student allowance marriages were so commonplace there was one on Shortland Street. Justin Gregory was one who said 'I do' and did it. Audio

Why do we dream? What do bad dreams mean? Why does Max Towle dream his teeth are falling out? He talks to a dream therapist to find out more.

Nick Bollinger dips into a disc of out-takes and ephemera from indie artist Angel Olsen. Audio

There are high hopes for tree kangaroo conservation in Papua New Guinea following the screening of a film documenting work being done to save them in the Torricelli Mountains. Audio

The Pacific Community (SPC) has revised the Pacific nutrition guidelines issued to all Ministry of Health sectors in the region.

The head of the UN Environment's Pacific Office says protecting the oceans from plastic pollution is a high priority at the current global meeting in Kenya. Audio

Amnesty International has urged Indonesia to investigate allegations of torture leading to the death of a man in Papua province's Merauke district.