Simon Morris
Review - McLaren
McLaren is Roger Donaldson's passion-project - the story of Bruce McLaren, the Kiwi kid from Remuera who conquered the international racing scene first as a driver, then as a car designer. Audio
At The Movies
Simon Morris looks at two contrasting female-directed movies, and a new documentary about a New Zealand legend who built an empire from a glorified shed. Video, Audio
The Passion of Augustine
And The Passion of Augustine requires some familiarity with nuns, Vatican 2 and Quebec's Quiet Revolution of the early 1960s. Audio
The Hippopotamus
The film version of Stephen Fry's novel The Hippopotamus depends heavily on sharing Fry's enthusiasms. Audio
Norman
Norman sees Richard Gere in the unlikely role of a loser, New York "fixer". Also featuring Dan Stevens, Steve Buscemi and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Audio
At the Movies
In At The Movies Simon Morris dives into three movies, all rather outside his usual specialist subjects. Video, Audio
Mixing it up at the Wellington Jazz Festival
The upcoming Wellington Jazz Festival boast the usual riches you'd expect - top overseas artists like singer Dianne Reeves, guitarist Bill Frisell and drummer Dave Wecki, and some stellar local talent… Audio, Gallery
Movie review - The sense of an ending
The sense of an ending is based on a novel by Booker Prize-winning author Julian Barnes. Stars Jim Broadbent, Charlotte Rampling and Michelle (Downton Abbey) Dockery. Audio
Movie review - Pecking order
New Zealand documentary Pecking Order is a fascinating - and often hilarious - view of the world of the poultry-fancier. Directed by Slavko Martinov. Audio
Movie review - Legend of the Sword
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword sees Guy Ritchie assume, wrongly, that audiences today want a rough-neck, rock and roll version of Camelot. Stars Charlie (Sons of Anarchy) Hunnam and Jude Law. Audio
At the Movies
On At The Movies, Simon Morris looks at the two modern phobias - the fear off missing out, and the fear of being left behind by modern trends. Video, Audio
After the NZ Book Awards
Last week saw the presentation of the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards - our most prestigious celebration of our top writers. Nicola Legat, Chairwoman of the NZ Book Awards Trust, took some time out… Audio
Dr Faustus makes a new deal
Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus tells the story of a man who makes a deal with the Devil. He gets unlimited power, money, glory, women - anything he could ever want. But he forgets to check the… Audio
James Harrison returns home for New Zealand Opera's Carmen.
New Zealand Baritone James Harrison has now well and truly got his foot on the international opera ladder. He's this year's Dame Malvina Major Foundation Fellow/Scholar, he's taken time out from a… Audio
Being Viola di Grado
Italian writer Viola di Grado is fascinated by language. A graduate from Turin in Chinese and Japanese, her first novel 30 percent wool, 70 percent acrylic won awards at home for "linguistic invention… Audio
The Civic Spills its Secrets
The Civic is the jewel in Auckland's cinema scene - a throwback to when cinemas weren't just a place to see movies but Motion Picture Palaces. As Auckland Live announces the launch of public tours of… Audio, Gallery
Jingles The Musical - it's a thing - and you'll love it!
Maybe we get the musical theatre we deserve. Italy gets grand opera, Germany gets Wagnerian Ring Cycles, Britain and America tap into pop songs and the Great American Songbook. We get Jingles the… Audio
Framing Identity
This years Auckland Festival of Photography features a string of exhibitions based on this year's theme - Identity. What is identity? How does is shape us and our work? ...and why does is seem so… Audio, Gallery
Movie Review: After the Storm
And After the storm is a charming family drama from writer director Hirokazu (Like father like son) Koreeda. Audio
Movie Review: Viceroy's House
Viceroy's House tells the story of the last Viceroy of India, and how the struggle for India's independence in 1947 ended in the bloody Partition. Starring Hugh Bonneville and Gillian Anderson. Audio
