Features

Musician shave long used music to encourage unity and harmony, but music can equally divide us, a researcher says.  Audio

There's been plenty of trash-talking in the leadup, but it's finally decision time. No, we're not talking about the election – but Joseph Parker's WBO heavyweight title defence against England's Hughie Fury in Manchester. Audio

Lorde, Bic Runga and Chelsea Jade walk us through the making of their Silver Scroll nominated songs, Julia Stone chats to Alex about her new album, we report back from the Waiata Maori Music Awards, and heaps more!

The former editor of The Sunday Times is at war with opaque language, verbosity and word abuse in general. He's written a book about how to stop the march of the pleonasm and the monologophobes. Audio

In front of a Dunedin audience, a high-powered panel discusses the changes autonomous vehicles will make to our driving, our roads and our world.

His five consecutive Broadway musicals  in the 1970's re-defined the genre of musical theatre. Rachel Hyde marvels at the work and influence of a great American composer and lyricist. Audio

Like a Rugby World Cup or a James Cameron film, this election campaign feels like it’s gone on too damn long, writes Max Towle.

American Assassin revives the old-fashioned spy thriller, Victoria & Abdul reunites reliable English director Stephen Frears with Dame Judi Dench, and is mother! a breath of fresh air or one of the worst films ever?   Video, Audio

"Not much has changed for me in the past three years. I’ve pretty much got the same job and my savings account has only a slightly less vacant look. What has changed is me accepting it’s my responsibility to vote" –​ Max Towle.

Julia Deans, Anna Coddington, Jon Toogood and Laughton Kora join with the Auckland Philharmonia in a two-hour celebration of the music of English icon David Bowie. Audio

Over 5000 tourists attended last weekend's Goroka Show in Papua New Guinea creating what's been reported as the biggest crowd in the show's 61-year history.

The governor of Guam Eddie Calvo says North Korea would be destroyed by the United States if it fires missiles at the US territory.

A performing arts student, passionate about indigenous myths and legends, chose a rarely used Samoan fale in Auckland as the venue to stage his debut show. Audio, Gallery

The global community should take what's been learnt from climate change agreements and apply it to reducing the estimated 4-12 million tonnes of plastic making its way into the ocean every year, says scientist Stephanie Borrelle. Audio

1980s New Zealand was a very different place, with wage freezes, carless days and only two TV channels. Amid the hubbub of Muldoonism and Rogernomics, our music scene was flourishing – particularly in the capital. Audio

You can playlist Norman Meehan's six-part series covering the life and music of the late jazz supremo here. Audio

What can parents do to encourage children to think for themselves? Explore, debate, play and don't assess academic performance too early, says parenting consultant Nathan Mikaere-Wallis. Audio

They've hurdled notoriously difficult second album and are on their way to New Zealand at the end of this month. Guitarist Dan Rothman speaks to Music 101's Alex Behan. Audio

Trees may look stationary and inactive, but they're actually dynamic beings who communicate and have memories, according to biology professor and author David Haskell. They're also great to meditate on, he says. Audio

National Standards are preventing children from being creative and there's a flow-on effect in secondary and tertiary education, some education organisations and major political parties say. Audio

Indra Hughes unravels the mysteries of Elgar's popular set of orchestral variations. Audio

Before putting pen to ballot paper, dip into our collection of recent Insight podcasts covering the big issues that have got New Zealanders fired up recently.

1980s New Zealand was a very different place, with wage freezes, carless days and only two TV channels. Amid the hubbub of Muldoonism and Rogernomics, our music scene was flourishing – particularly in the capital. Audio

"Aggression, manipulativeness, low agreeableness.” Sound familiar?