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New Zealand Listener
When caring is ‘woke'
Some years ago, I sat in a small plane circling over Punta del Este in Uruguay. There was a delay and we sat in tense silence until we began our descent. Outside the tiny airport, a taxi ferried us past private Lear jets; these had been the cause of the hold-up. The driver pointed to two planes side by side. \"This one is a Trump plane.\"
2 min |
March 1-7, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Getting along swimmingly
The presenters of Endangered Species Aotearoa spend a fair bit of time on and in the water in the second season.
4 min |
March 1-7, 2025
New Zealand Listener
That clingy feeling
Our pets display the same types of attachment behaviours as we do, or so it seems.
2 min |
March 1-7, 2025
New Zealand Listener
The famous furred
A peaceful little spot in LA is the final resting place for the pets of some of Hollywood's biggest names.
4 min |
March 1-7, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Gone girl
She wandered in on Thursday morning looking very wan, and climbed into her bed. I sat on the edge and stroked her back.
2 min |
March 1-7, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Squid games
Downbeat, dancey, art music from Brigton and serene tunes from a Prince.
2 min |
March 1-7, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Leaps & bounds
Scottish Ballet head Chris Hampson talks of how Tennessee Williams, Pedro Almodóvar, Marlon Brando and Joan Rivers have influenced the contemporary works the acclaimed company is bringing to New Zealand.
6 min |
March 1-7, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Lost in the labyrinth
New Zealand was once one of the world’s most prosperous countries but it’s been mainly) down hill since the 60s. Dany. McLaucuLan identifies what’s gone wrong and the changes needed to keep us afloat.
10+ min |
March 1-7, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Sniff test
There's more to the nose than meets the eye. Swedish psychology professor Jonas Olofsson smells it like it is in a new book.
7 min |
March 1-7, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Welcome to the new club
I seldom travel into Soho on a Friday night because it increasingly looks and feels like one of the dystopian urban scenes from Blade Runner, a neon city packed with people in search of god knows what. But I made an exception recently to attend a party at the Groucho Club held by an American publication that seeks to realign traditional political allegiances of left and right.
2 min |
March 1-7, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Whiskers at the ready
Even by the maddening contrarian standards cats have set themselves since their domestication, Scotland has a peculiarly perverse cat problem. Not only are too many domestic Scottish cats behaving like cats - as in, killing endangered wildlife - but some wild cats have been found to be completely incompetent at cat-ness - as in, being incapable of killing anything, even when their lives depend on it.
2 min |
March 1-7, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Shopping for salvation
Voters are angry, so the government is turning to desperate measures to avoid the ignominy of being booted out after one term.
4 min |
March 1-7, 2025
New Zealand Listener
A never-coming-of-age tale
Across 14 chapters, we chronologically follow the fortunes of George, from age 12 through to almost 40. George is an unlikeable character and we should be thankful that he is a fictional creation, because in real life no one would tolerate his deliberate and calculating cruelty.
3 min |
February 22-28, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Past glories
Debut novel takes a leaf out of the book of modern Irish writing, hurtling classical antiquity into the present.
3 min |
February 22-28, 2025
New Zealand Listener
A touch of flamboyance
Miki Magasiva fell in love with film at an early age and has finally launched a debut feature that takes a tragi-comic look at grief and families.
8 min |
February 22-28, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Pushing all the buttons
The fourth film in the hit romcom series arrives with familiar charms and fresh blokes. But it would be a good place to stop.
2 min |
February 22-28, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Gone to ground
The Te Aroha-filmed detective series that blends Irish and Māori cultures is back.
3 min |
February 22-28, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Refinding the self
Strokes and brain diseases can radically change our personalities. But with more understanding of how brains work, a leading neurologist says sometimes, our old selves can be restored.
9 min |
February 22-28, 2025
New Zealand Listener
In the cross hairs
Danish actor Claes Bang's late-career boost shows no sign of abating, as he moves from TV villain to big-screen hero.
5 min |
February 22-28, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Fabric of time
Tapa cloth samples collected from Polynesian nations on Cook's voyages have made their way into our museums and libraries.
6 min |
February 22-28, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Let's dance
Kiwi dancer, teacher and choreographer LEILA LOIS visited one of Manila's innovative dance companies as it celebrated its 10th anniversary.
4 min |
February 22-28, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Don't stop the dance
In this edited extract from Our Brains, Our Selves, neurologist Masud Husain meets a young woman whose limbs appear to have a mind of their own.
6 min |
February 22-28, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Live from Munich
Riveting drama about how terror attack at the 1972 Olympics made television history.
2 min |
February 22-28, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Last orders
New Zealand's unique climate for grape growing meant it was once seen as the 'France of the Southern Hemisphere'. Now, it's a case of survival of the fittest.
7 min |
February 22-28, 2025
New Zealand Listener
Sights to behold
Being blind didn't deter Aucklander FRASER ALEXANDER and his partially-sighted wife from travelling in Europe. Their memories were shaped by sound, touch and smell.
6 min |
Febuary 1-7 2025
New Zealand Listener
Pages of delight
Charming survey of children's literature throughout the centuries should be treasured and reread.
5 min |
Febuary 1-7 2025
New Zealand Listener
Heart of the matter
Women are less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than men, and less likely to get best treatment. Researchers are struggling with old stereotypes to right the balance.
8 min |
Febuary 1-7 2025
New Zealand Listener
Balaclava beats
Their paramilitary shtick is intentionally menacing, offensive and alienating, but to be fair to the hip-hop trio Kneecap, their infamous balaclava is disarmingly hilarious. Kneecap, the 2024 movie that offers a fictionalised account of their rise to fame, is a Bafta- and Oscar-nominated Northern Irish film sensation.
2 min |
Febuary 1-7 2025
New Zealand Listener
Friends like these
One of the stranger characteristics of the populist oligarchy mobilising around Donald Trump's new administration is the interest taken in the domestic politics of the UK.
2 min |
Febuary 1-7 2025
New Zealand Listener
Irresistible force
A new documentary about gentle rugby giant Jonah Lomu reveals little but is a reminder of what made him special.
3 min |