Features

Taika Waititi's Thor: Ragnarok has already grossed over $NZ600 million worldwide. It's the latest megahit in a comic book-inspired film revival kicked off by Batman in 1989, Dan Slevin says. Audio

Fixed, floating, revolving, long-term, short-term... A mortgage is a "huge big loan" that it's worth putting some thought into, says personal finance expert Mary Holm. Audio

Nick Bollinger explores the dark dance music of Christchurch's Yumi Zouma. Audio

Many universities are boosting their support services to cope with a growing number of calls for help with mental health, The Wireless reports.

Two Kiwi women have launched a make-up startup which gives 50 percent of profits to charity. The first indigo & iris product is a mascara that benefits the Fred Hollows Foundation. Audio

One of the most effective treatments for children prone to frequent high-level meltdowns involves teaching parents to rewire the relationship via play therapy, says the woman known as the Toddler Whisperer. Audio

Opinion - MMP doesn't remove the combative element of parliamentary politics, but yesterday's debacle was puerile, writes Finlay Macdonald.

Apple buys a NZ company that's developed an efficient way to move power around without wires, Amazon works on a way to deliver when you're not home and Facebook experiments with the display of news articles. Audio

Yadana Saw tries to make music using her laptop and a whole bunch of wires at Victoria University's Women and Music Technology symposium. Audio

Alex Mariakakis is developing apps that use smartphone cameras to provide a quick and early diagnosis of concussion, jaundice and even pancreatic cancer. Audio, Gallery

The Fijian Drua have labelled their debut season in the Australian National Rugby Championship a success, despite fading badly in the back-end of the campaign.

Education consultant Nathan Mikaere-Wallis discusses New Zealand's high youth suicide rate and what parents can do to minimise risk. Audio

This Way Up looks at The Photonic Fence, a laser fly swat that never misses the mark. Audio, Gallery

Our health is affected not by how much time we spend on social media but the way we use it, researchers at the University of Central Florida have found.

"It doesn’t matter how I see myself, how I’m just this Kiwi girl. It matters that other people are looking at us and seeing 'the other'.” Audio, Gallery

From the moment she stepped onstage to the opening chords of 'Homemade Dynamite' until the final shudder of 'Loveless', we were all enthralled in absolute and total ecstasy.

The preservation and promotion of Pacific languages is a priority for New Zealand's new Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito Su'a William Sio. Audio

Mate Ma'a Tonga are eying a shot at history in Saturday's Rugby League World Cup clash against New Zealand in Hamilton.

The head of Hawaii's Retail Association says the canned corned beef product Spam is being used as currency and traded for drugs.

"That’s a good thing for me, to come out of that shell."

Rural New Zealanders talk about their encounters with unidentified flying objects in a collection of archival interviews. Audio

English author Cressida Cowell, writer of the wildly popular How to Train Your Dragon books, approached her latest children’s book offering with some nervousness - but an important message to impart. Video, Audio

Björk. The Icelandic performer's music is unique, seemingly knitted to her own personality and performance style. Blackbird Ensemble are taking on the challenge of performing her songs. Let's visit a rehearsal... Video, Audio

The self-help industry focuses too much on self, says journalist and author Ruth Whipmann. She says happiness is other people. Audio