Unknown quantity

Prebiotics help the beneficial little critters in your gut to thrive, but evidence of honey's effect on the human microbiome is limited

Fresh take on air bugs

Air purifiers may be good for keeping Covid and other viruses at bay, but that's at the cost of helpful microbes

Against the tide

In a small Greek village, Kiwi soldiers are remembered each year for their part in the brutal Battle for Crete in 1941

For what it's worth

It's been 400 years since Shakespeare's First Folio was published, and unbeknown to many, a copy lies in Auckland's main public library

Breaking the cycle

Our failure to improve the lot of disadvantaged families costs us all. A new report calls for increased accountability for officials and more trust in frontline initiatives that work

Virtuous circle

With his innovative company, Oliver Hunt is saving hospitals money and reducing their waste

Seeing out the fog

Science is slowly figuring out why debilitating symptoms linger so long for many after Covid. Meanwhile, the sufferers are largely on their own

No substitute

Sydney chef and cooking-show host HELEN TZOUGANATOS brings a Mediterranean flavour to gluten-free.

Home to roost

Scottish star Robert Carlyle follows his Trainspotting sequel with a return to his other early career-defining character in a TV version of The Full Monty.

Uneasy allies

Why the relationship between Russia and China is so important to the world.

Winter of our discontent

Out-of-sync circadian rhythms may help explain a seasonal form of depression.

What's your poison?

Alcohol may relieve pain, relax us and even make us euphoric, but its harmful effects outweigh its allure.

Love is not enough

It's time to reconsider what keeping furry friends as pets is doing to the animals - as well as the environment, write PETER SINGER and AGATA SAGAN in this third and final essay.

Southside stories

South Auckland has long been stigmatised. Local identity COLLEEN BROWN talks to community leaders working to change the narrative.

Eyes on the spies

A new review recommends diluting the PM's oversight of NZ's intelligence agencies but Chris Hipkins remains unconvinced.

Monsters from the id

The technology is here to make our lives easier, but the old prejudices are emerging in turbo-charged form

High hopes

From LSD microdoses to MDMA, New Zealand researchers are exploring the potential of psychedelic drugs to treat mental illness.

Making waves

Environmentalist and business operator Bianca Ranson talks to ELISABETH EASTHER about how immersing people in nature can be life changing.

Funny haha

Politicians who are still getting around on training wheels should leave the joke-telling to more seasoned MPs.

Eurovision jam

A recent European championship produced a shock result, causing continent-wide catastrophising, soul-searching and rancour to dwarf that of most trade deals or football clashes.

What the doctor ordered

In the cafe, B said, \"Everyone complains about the public health system. But my mother was in Auckland City Hospital for seven weeks, and I rate her care as 99.9% excellent.\"

Anger is not a plan

When they were little, both my children were perpetual flight risks. They weren't running away from anything in particular, they just liked to go where they wanted and they often didn't bother filing a flight plan before taking off. But they came by it honestly, as I have a long history of devising exit strategies even before I cross any threshold.

Ties that blind

Rather than the collar-and-tie uniform, give men smarter, gender-neutral clothing options, argues BEN WALLACE.

Lean on me

Legendary violinist Wilma Smith returns to judge the Michael Hill International Violin Competition.

An amateur exposed

'Kia ora,\" I said. June the postie gave me a look. \"Kia ora,\" she said, and smiled. Then: \"Kei te pēhea koe?\" It was my turn to give a look. \"Er, sorry, 'kia ora' is about as far as my Maori goes,\" I mumbled.

Keep it in the family

Miranda Otto takes a frightening turn in an adaptation of NZ writer JP Pomare's book inspired by a real Australian cult leader.

The French connection

A look at what’s on offer at this year’s local celebration of le cinéma francais.

Street sounds

Nearly 30 years after its groundbreaking debut, Proud is back, this time on vinyl, writes GRAHAM REID.

The Garage project

RICHARD LANGSTON writes about how his DIY Duned-in music mag in the 1980s has returned as a US-published time capsule.

SPITTING DISTANCE

Photographer JONATHAN GANLEY reflects on how his new book revisits the influential wave of post-punk bands that hit these shores 40 years ago.