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Award Winning Drama Te Pō comes to RNZ
When you fall in love, death is the last thing you think of.
A policeman, a priest and a blind man look for clues that will lead them to the
missing playwright Bruce Mason. Where has he gone? What made him leave his desk and vanish into the night?
For Te Pō's odd characters finding Bruce Mason has become a matter of life, death and catching a big fish.
Te Pō is about searching for someone you have loved and lost and finding them again.
A collaboration between PANNZ, RNZ and with the support of Creative NZ (through PANNZ).
You can listen to this radio drama here.
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A Boy Called Piano
2 May 2021Auckland 1963, three eleven-year-old boys meet in family court. Two Māori and one Samoan: Wheels, Piwi and a boy called Piano. Made wards of state, they are taken to Owairaka Boys home. There begins a story into the heart of darkness, abuse and pain but also the remarkable resilience of the boys as they seek to survive through the power of friendship, culture, music and the light of the human spirit. Audio
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Unapologetic about how it is for Samoan women
3 Mar 2021Brilliant all-female ensemble delivers Tusiata Avia's equally brilliant verse. A coup for RNZ audiences, Wild Dogs Under My Skirt sparkles and growls with in-your-face honesty. Catch it on air and online from 7 March
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All the world's a stage - especially when you're a living exhibit
9 Oct 2019Ambitious young Hemi Poneke plays the part of the savage in a living exhibition
Tina Makereti's tale of a young Māori in Victorian London is a compelling and timely reminder of the complexities of colonial contact.
Series & Collections
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Short Stories
Single short stories and multi-episode stories from freelance writers and published collections.
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Go Ahead Caller
It's Ken Oath, the voice of reason - cutting the crap with a heart of gold
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Short-Episode Drama Series
Dramatic plays in short-episode form.
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Comedy and Satire
Current and past funny stuff - short series.
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Short Story Stack
A growing stack of short stories by independent and published writers from all over New Zealand.
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The Reading
New Zealand novels, short stories and short dramas adapted by RNZ. Broadcast every weekday around 10:45am on Nine to Noon.
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The Listen Anytime Library
Adapted novels, biographies, travelogues as well as quick links to other story collections
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Major Plays
Full-length audio plays - drama and comedy
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Not For Children
Young Adult books and stories – parental guidance advised.
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New Shorts
Short plays by emerging writers and writers new to audio drama.
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Encore - the Story of New Zealand theatre
The past, present and future of theatre in Aotearoa.
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
Kind, cruel, occasionally shocking and often just absurd.
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Jennifer Ward-Lealand: more intimacy training on the horizon for actors
14 May 2022A well-known face of stage and screen, Jennifer Ward-Lealand is finding herself getting increasingly busy behind the camera in recent years, including working as an intimacy coordinator. Audio
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The Week that Was with Michele A'Court and Irene Pink
13 May 2022Our comedians Michele A'Court and Irene Pink bring some levity to the end of the week Audio
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Auckland Theatre Company reaches out to youth
3 Apr 2022Young aspiring actors, directors, designers, writers, and theatre artists are being invited to apply for a new Youth Theatre company in Tamakai Makarau. It's for 16-25 year olds, and it's the… Audio, Gallery
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The tour that changed the face of NZ theatre
13 Mar 2022Graeme Lay's new novel, Larry & Viv, is different to anything else he's ever written. The book tells the story of two of the 20th Century's most glamorous stars of stage and screen, Laurence Olivier… Audio
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The Best Song Ever Written: Laura Daniel
27 Feb 2022Actor and comedian Laura Daniel joins the show to discuss what she has on at the moment, her desire to get overseas to perform, and why 'King of Wishful Thinking' by Go West should be viewed as one of… Audio
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The Laugh Track - comedian Ryan McGhee
20 Feb 2022One of the best things about the last couple of weeks on the Laugh Track is that the guests - mostly about to star in the upcoming Fringe Festival - have generally picked other Fringe performers. It… Audio
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Rose Matafeo: ‘No one should go out with a comedian’
19 Feb 2022Rather than being 'starstruck' New Zealander Rose Matafeo has herself truly struck star status. Video, Audio
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Sam Trubridge: making the city a theatre during Covid
19 Feb 2022In a summer of Covid cancellations, Performance Arcade is one of the few festivals still standing. Now in its 11th year, a set of shipping containers on the Wellington waterfront is temporary home to… Video, Audio
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The Laugh Track - Jojo Bellini
6 Feb 2022This week's Laugh Track guest is cabaret and burlesque performer Jojo Bellini speaking with Lynn Freeman. Audio
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Fake steaks and guillotines - Props Master Jay Duckworth on making movie magic
6 Feb 2022For almost 40 years, Professor Jay Duckworth has fashioned realistic props - or "properties" for productions such as hit musical Hamilton. He speaks with Lynn Freeman about the creativity and… Audio, Gallery
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Lifting the spirits - Belle: an aerial circus delight
1 Feb 2022A performance of air, featuring aerialists, live music and dance artists, Belle is featuring in the upcoming Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts. The performance is above and all around you… Audio, Gallery
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Celebrating the music of Stephen Sondheim
Today we're celebrating the music of Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. We've invited Auckland University musicologist Gregory Camp to join us to play some of Sondheim's work to give us… Audio
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Eye of the Taika - a new book on the films and comedy of Taika Waititi
12 Dec 2021Taika Waititi's films take three of the New Zealand Box Office Top 10 Films, including the top two Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Boy. Taika's unique style of film-making has also made him one of the… Video, Audio
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The week that was with Gemma Gracewood and Te Radar
10 Dec 2021Comedians Te Radar and Gemma Gracewood with some humourous stories. Audio
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Nathan Joe - this is clearly his year!
28 Nov 2021It's been a tough secret to keep but we are delighted to announce the winner of this year's Bruce Mason Playwriting Award. The $10,000 prize goes to Chinese-Kiwi, Christchurch-based playwright Nathan… Audio
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The week that was with Te Radar and James Elliott
26 Nov 2021Comedians Te Radar and James Elliott bring a few laughs. Audio
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Bookmarks with Chye-Ling Huang
24 Nov 2021Our Bookmarks guest is director, actor, writer, and co-founder of Proudly Asian Theatre, Chye-Ling Huang. She talks to Jesse about books, music, movies and more. Audio
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Sophie Roberts: taking destiny into her own hands
Sophie Roberts is working on an ambitious Silo commission called Break Bread which broadcasts the rambunctious hidden lives of all of us. Working under the constraints of the pandemic, the production… Audio
