Books
Award-winning poet Anne Kennedy offers to support schools
One of the first Kiwi creatives to put up their hands to help schools struggling with post-Covid-mandate staff shortages has also just won a Prime Minister's Awards for Literary Achievement. And to… Audio
Giving New Zealand writers a Sporting chance
A starting point for many of Aotearoa's great writers, Sport folded last year after over 30 years in the New Zealand literary scene, but a new best-of collection explores the magazine's rich legacy. Audio
Fergus Barrowman: Giving writers a sporting chance
Preeminent literary magazine Sport was founded by writers Damien Wilkins, Elizabeth Knox, Nigel Cox and their Victoria University Press (VUP) publisher Fergus Barrowman in 1988. Sport folded in 2020… Audio
Unity Book review: 12 Bytes: How We Got Here. Where We Might Go Next by Jeanette Winterson
Ash Davida Jane from Unity Books Wellington reviews 12 Bytes: How We Got Here. Where We Might Go Next by Jeanette Winterson, published by Jonathan Cape. Audio
Gone Bush: Walking New Zealand's backcountry
Paul Kilgour has probably visited more huts than anyone else in New Zealand. He's a wanderer, a long-distance tramper and one of New Zealand's most famous hutbaggers, although he shies away from the… Audio, Gallery
Quirky New Zealand
The Big Carrot in Ohakune, the Hundertwasser Toilets in Kawakawa, a Toothbrush Fence in Te Pahu and the Bluff Paua Shell House all make up New Zealand's many weird and wonderful landmarks that dot the… Audio, Gallery
Book Review: Out Here: An Anthology of Takatapui and LGBTQU+ Writers from Aotearoa edited by Emma Barnes and Chris Tse :
Michelle Rahurahu reviews Out Here: An Anthology of Takatapui and LGBTQU+ Writers from Aotearoa edited by Emma Barnes and Chris Tse, published by Auckland University Press. Audio
Book review: Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout
Bel Monypenny from Scorpio Books in Christchurch reviews Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout, published by Penguin RandomHouse. Audio
Book review: Carnival of Snackery: Diaries 2003-2020
Leah McFall reviews Carnival of Snackery: Diaries 2003-2020 by David Sedaris, published by Hachette Aotearoa NZ Leah says: A second astringent instalment of diaries from America's foremost humorist… Audio
'Fry's Ties': A tale of neckwear and stalking Andy Warhol
A spring clean during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic led to writer Stephen Fry's newest book, detailing his obsession with ties. Audio
Philippa Werry on her new book The Other Sister
Wellington author Philippa Werry sets her latest novel immediately post the First World War, when communities were shattered by both the war years and a pandemic that killed tens of thousands around… Audio
Bestselling author Wilbur Smith dies aged 88
International best-selling author Wilbur Smith has died at his home in Cape Town at the age of 88, his publisher has announced.
The National Librarian defends decision to dispose books
The National Librarian Te Pouhuaki, Rachel Esson joins Karyn to respond to protesters concerns about the National Library's controversial decision to dispose of up to 600,000 books. Audio
Book Guardians heartbroken by National Library book disposal
A group of authors have banded together to form Book Guardians Aotearoa who are protesting about the Library's decision to dispose of up to 600,000 books. Journalist and writer Chris Bourke speaks… Audio
Book Critic: Catherine Robertson
Today Catherine Robertson looks at, Nine Lives. Its and initiative by Upstart Press which asked New Zealander writers to provide an essay on a notable New Zealander of their choice. Some subjects are… Audio
Georgia Pritchett's messy life
Georgia Pritchett's memoir is called My Mess Is a Bit of a Life: Adventures in Anxiety. Audio
Auckland libraries loan record three million e-books
Curling up with a book is many people's idea of "me time", and it seems more people have been doing it during lockdown, especially in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Auckland Library has just loaned its three… Audio
Wellington crime writer Anne Harré
It's taken a while but finally Wellington joins New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Paul Cleave's Christchurch as a cool crime novel city. As Anne Harre described it: "Dig a little deeper and the… Audio
She's a Killer: Imagining an Aotearoa overrun by 'wealthugees'
In the near future, the climate emergency has forced the wealthy to seek refuge in Aotearoa. Water is rationed, and things like coffee and beer are now luxury items - prohibitively expensive for most… Audio
Book review: Three Summers by Margarita Liberaki
Jenna Todd of Time Out Bookstore reviews Three Summers by Margarita Liberaki, published by Penguin. Audio