Stories by Nik Dirga

Analysis - American history is littered with presidential candidates chosen at the last minute and even a few who've quit - but there are plenty of risks if that happens, Nik Dirga writes. Video

It's Biden-Trump round two as the first debate of the US presidential election kicks off Friday at 1pm NZ time. Here's what you need to know. Audio

What might happen if you were turned into a chicken nugget? In a new Korean series, it's a wacky and surreal comic ride that's weird enough to be almost great. Nik Dirga takes a look at an underrated… Video

Russia has always been a complicated place, and the fanciful historical comedy of The Great has an awful lot to say about class, sex and power. Nik Dirga looks at an underrated streaming gem. Video

Oppenheimer continues its march to Oscars domination, but there are a few New Zealand chances for golden glory as well in this year's nominees. Video

RNZ asked several of Aotearoa's most noteworthy authors and book lovers to pick their favourite New Zealand-authored book they read in 2023 - whether a bold new work or a timeless classic.

It's a most American holiday, but for many US immigrants living in New Zealand, finding their own ways to celebrate Thanksgiving in Aotearoa has truly given them something to be grateful for.

Old books never die - they end up filling up banana boxes at book fair fundraisers and recycling book love to new readers, as Auckland hosts one of the country's biggest events this weekend.

Every year for 24 years in a row, hardcore movie fans have gathered in Auckland for a day-long feast of cinema. It's a 'marathon for the mind' and it's not for the timid.

New Zealand is notorious for rejecting dodgy baby names - sorry Royal, Messiah and Rogue - but an Australian journalist has named her baby Methamphetamine Rules in an experiment gone badly wrong.

It's not your average sausage sizzle. 'Low and slow' style American barbecue has found a home in Aotearoa, with restaurants serving up painstakingly cooked brisket, ribs and more.

First Person - Dozens of homes out on Auckland's West Coast were damaged or destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle. A month on, RNZ's Nik Dirga returned to Karekare and the ruins of a bach that had been a…

Multiverse epic Everything Everywhere All At Once dominated the Oscars today with seven big wins. Look back all all the action with RNZ's live blog.

The West Auckland suburb of Titirangi has been hit particularly hard by flooding and slips, with multiple locals forced to evacuate, roads cut off and some residents without water for days. Audio

What better time to read than than the holidays? RNZ asked several of Aotearoa's leading authors, critics and book lovers to recommend the best book they read in 2022.

There's plenty of streaming services, but when it comes to classic cinema, the pickings can be lean. RNZ's Nik Dirga looks at 10 iconic movies made before 1980 on top platforms to catch up on.

Look, there's literally too much of everything to watch right now, right? RNZ's Nik Dirga offers some pointers on what might have slipped under the radar.

Change is the word of the day - and most of the major cities in New Zealand will have new mayors after today's local body elections.

Today is New Zealand's official Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day public holiday, with a wide range of events planned and closures around the motu to honour Her Majesty. Audio

Midnight Oil blazed through Auckland on their farewell tour last night. Nik Dirga celebrates the legacy of a band that changed his way of thinking about the wider world. Audio

It's one of the biggest buzz words online these days: NFTs. Are they a gimmicky, expensive status symbol or are they a starting point for a technological revolution? RNZ is here to clear it all up.

Opinion - I watched a mob of angry, disaffected and violent people storm the seat of my government, waving flags and placards and attempting to force change. That was just over a year ago. Yesterday…

First Person - Nik Dirga wasn't going to make the trip home to California until things returned to "normal" but a family emergency saw him board on a plane only two weeks after Omicron first emerged.

New Zealand artist Robert Ellis died this week at the age of 92, leaving behind a prominent body of artwork that brought together pakeha and Māori influences. Audio

Analysis: Two deadly viruses exist currently - one is Covid-19, the other is misinformation. Unfortunately, there's only a vaccine for one of them, Nik Dirga writes.