Books
Book review: Queen Esther by John Irving
Lisa Adler of Unity Books Wellington reviews Queen Esther by John Irving, published by Simon & Schuster. Audio
What we borrowed from the library in 2025
Emile Donovan speaks to Auckland Libraries Manager of Public Engagement Krissy Taylor. Audio
Bookmarks with American singer songwriter Santigold
Time for bookmarks now, the feature where an interesting person shares their favourite cultural picks with us and today we're joined by American singer and songwriter Santigold She's headlining this… Audio
New Zealand authors get payouts in massive AI lawsuit
Award-winning author Catherine Chidgey's books have been caught up in a class action in the US which saw Anthropic AI agree to pay up to $2.6 billion. Audio
The most popular books at the library this year
So many books have hit the shelves this year, but what caught readers' and listeners' attention in New Zealand?
Feature: Ruby Tandoh digests food culture in 2025
Food isn't just something we eat anymore. We're served up food culture all day long, whether we invite it in or not, feeding our cravings and shaping our choices in ways we don't always notice. Ruby… Audio
Book Critic: Claire Mabey shares her picks
Let's chat books now and our critic Claire Mabey has some excellent offerings - especially if you're thinking of books for Christmas: Good Things Come and Go by Josie Shapiro Wrapping Things by Linda… Audio
Book review: The Silver Book by Olivia Laing
Kiran Dass reviews The Silver Book by Olivia Laing, published by Penguin Books NZ. Audio
The Reread with Hera Lindsay Bird
Tonight Hera Lindsay Bird joins us for the Reread. Audio
From cooking on the Rainbow Warrior to becoming a Buddhist Nun
Not many cookbooks - if any - are launched with a live theatre performance. But then Jade Reidy isn't your average author. Jade has not only been a professional non-fiction writer for 40 years, she is… Audio
Book review: The Mushroom Tapes by Helen Garner
Dean Bedford reviews The Mushroom Tapes by Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper & Sarah Krasnostein, published by Text Publishing. Audio
Law, violence and revolution: New book examines what happens after war
Marika Sosnowski joins Emile Donovan to discuss her new book, 'Fifty-eight Facets'. Audio
Bookmarks with Clare Bowden from Mandatory Menswear
Today for Bookmarks, we're stepping into the world of fashion with Clare Bowden, owner, founder, and designer of Mandatory menswear. It's been almost three decades since she launched the brand, and in… Audio
Author Fleur Beale, why local stories are crucial for kids
Every year the New Zealand Society of Authors gives out the President of Honour award. The award is to recognise contributions to writing and to the NZ literary scene. This year's recipient is child &… Audio
The life and times of the small town of Herbertville
How a conversation on RNZ about the town has been immortalised in the book Route 52. Audio
Book Critic: A self-help book for brainboxes
Book critic Bill Hastings reviews: Lea Ypi, Indignity: A Life Reimagined (Allen Lane Penguin, 2025), Daniel Kalderimis, Zest: Climbing from Depression to Philosophy (Ugly Hill Press, 2024). Audio
Book review: Super-Frog Saves Tokyo by Haruki Murakami
Phil Vine reviews Super-Frog Saves Tokyo by Haruki Murakami, published by Penguin Random House. Audio
Book review: New Zealand Photography Collected
David Hill reviews New Zealand Photography Collected by Athol McCredie, published by Te Papa Press. Audio
The profound truths behind famous sayings
Social psychologist Hugh Mackay explores influential quotes from thinkers like Bertrand Russell and Germaine Greer in his new book Just Saying.
The secret mission to save Gaza's historical artefacts
A restoration team is painstakingly retrieving historical manuscripts, rare volumes, and archival documents from beneath the rubble of a destroyed mosque in Gaza.
