The empire strikes back

Russia's Vladimir Putin has deep, bitter regrets about diminished influence over the former Soviet Union.

Under the influence

In this extract from his book The Drinking Game, GUYON ESPINER explores the relationship politicians have with the alcohol industry.

Ruffled feathers

The price of eggs has suddenly shot up all around the world. So what's going on in New Zealand?

Campbell's last stand

As the drama over Rob Campbell's public sacking subsides, he has mixed views on the jobs he's left behind.

Cut & run

Tairāwhiti forestry workers fear they will become collateral damage as the industry's harvesting practices come under fierce public scrutiny.

Not getting the message

Attention spans are plummeting as desk workers juggle incoming pings, beeps and social media distractions. Is tech destroying our focus – at work and at home?

Murky waters

Forget core voter issues, this year is all about saving ourselves from the elements, and it won't be cheap.

Hair today, gone tomorrow

As anyone who has watched Back to the Future knows for a fact, reaching back into the past, even with the best of intentions, is unnatural and bound to end badly. Yet here are three horrifying history-tinkering proposals that make Elon Musk's decision to buy Twitter seem really quite clear-sighted by comparison.

Flowery twats

Amid all the sadness of the past few weeks, one news item delighted me. John Cleese has decided to reboot Fawlty Towers with his daughter, Camilla Cleese. This production will not, however, be hosted by the BBC because Cleese considers the British broadcaster to be the epicentre of wokery.

Voice of hope

As I awaited the Devonport ferry for the brief ride to downtown Auckland, there came a happy confusion; a barrage of te reo Māori signs triggered momentary doubt. Had the right vessel been boarded?

A place in the poi line

This year's Te Matatini kapa haka competition was a huge success. The four-day event has been described as the Olympics of Maoridom, and drew a crowd of about 40,000 to Auckland's Eden Park, as well as an online and TV viewership of around 1.4 million.

Still waiting

Filmmaker LOUISE LEVER admits she was constantly surprised while making a documentary about feminism in the 21st century.

Fast and curious

An emergency response handler's life is changed forever by a tricky call in this three-part thriller.

In deep symphony

As she prepares for the premiere of her Requiem, Auckland composer Victoria Kelly talks about the personal loss and poetry that inspired the work.

Time to shine

A powerful first film about a divorced dad holidaying with his young daughter is touching audiences all over the world.

Brash & beautiful

“Everyone has their own Sydney,’ writes the author of a500-page bio of the famous city.

Peak district

A rollicking narrative that’s rich with anecdotes about the famous mountain range.

Women at war

Three novels feature young women rising to very different challenges.

Teenage kicks

Thirty years ago, Taranaki writer David Hill struck literary gold, turbocharging a career reaching far beyond young adult fiction.

Waste not

Biofuels can be bad for the environment, but better options from wood waste could be on the horizon.

Calm after the storm

Helping children recover after natural disasters can have long-lasting benefits.

Hot stuff

Why can some people happily munch on chillies whereas others abhor the intense burning sensation that comes from erage them? It turns out that our genes play a part.

Hidden harm

Latest research suggests that simply informing women about their breast density isn’t enough.

A matter of mana

Maori performers finally have a dedicated venue to be proud of in West Auckland.

Open access

The fine art of subtitling has become even more useful in the age of streaming and is too important to be left to machines, Dan Buckingham tells SHARON STEPHENSON.

In the wind

The sun may be sinking on Taranaki’s fossil-fuel industries, but another offshore resource one that is fully renewable is looming on the horizon.

Desperate measures

A gripping exposé of US people-smugglers is full of the writer's trademark rigour and humanity.

The eyes of others

Human brains have developed a magic trick for responding at lightning speed to threats.

Ports in the storm

Amid the destruction wrought by Cyclone Gabrielle, marae stand as places of refuge, support and aroha.

A rebellious stage

The composer of NZ Opera's controversial new work explains the musical thinking behind it.