CATEGORIES
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.
Pages of delight
Charming survey of children's literature throughout the centuries should be treasured and reread.
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.
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.
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.
Irresistible force
A new documentary about gentle rugby giant Jonah Lomu reveals little but is a reminder of what made him special.
Fleeing the nest
A tale of building a new life after an abusive relationship makes for an impressive debut.
Life less ordinary
Chelsie Preston Crayford follows a big 2024 with a new comedy role and putting the finishing touches on her debut feature as a director and writer.
Not on our watch
Nasa, one of the most technologically advanced organisations on the planet, made prospective astronauts take inkblot tests to determine their sexuality.
No free lunch
The new, cut-price school lunch programme will shut out many community providers. But will bulk-supplied meals meet children’s needs?
First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
Kava chameleons
A drink that is a revered part of Pacific culture is under threat from US-grown crops and heady new mixes.
Word blender
What happens to identity when our language becomes a hybrid? The answer lies with the people.
Overwhelming evidence
For the head of the inquiry into abuse in care, doing justice to the survivors' stories fully vindicates the six-year process.
'Just be Māori, all day, every day'
In calling iwi to a hui in January, the Kiingitanga leader sent a powerful message to the new government. Aaron Smale looks at the legacy of the truck driver who ascended the throne.
Charting success
In the second coming of charter schools, Act leader David Seymour plans a much bigger roll-out. But what evidence is there that they do any better than state schools?
Seeds of hope
A team of botanists is saving one of our most threatened orchids and reintroducing it into the wild.
The Clinton factor
Kamala Harris is battling a double whammy of racism and sexism in her presidential quest.
Stuff & nonsense
The gutsy woman who took on ownership of media company Stuff for $1 scoffs at the idea that she's a mogul.
Pop goes the union
It's a wee, thin piece of plastic, barely a centimetre long, but it's as good as a whole new referendum to reaffirm that the Brexit spirit is alive and in grumbling good health.
Delusions of grandeur
In life, and therefore in politics, when things become difficult at home we tend to look at problems elsewhere, either for distraction or reassurance.