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Books & Authors
Julia Gillard: women and leadership
Julia Gillard was the 27th Prime Minister of Australia. She is currently the inaugural Chair of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership at Kings College London, which seeks to address women's… Audio
Girl A author Abigail Dean
Former bookseller Abigail Dean now works as a lawyer for Google. But last year she took some time off before turning 30 to write her debut novel. Girl A is already being tipped as one of the books of… Audio
Book review - The Narrow Land by Christine Dwyer Hickey
Jane Westaway reviews The Narrow Land by Christine Dwyer Hickey, published by Allen & Unwin. Audio
William Tullett: pongs of the past
The smell of freshly roasted coffee is now seen by many as an enticing aroma, but that wasn't the case in early 18th century London. It was described as smelling of "fresh urine" and old boots and the… Audio
Wellington City Council considering selling part of central library
The Wellington City Council's library saga has taken an unexpected turn - councillors are considering selling part of its ownership of the quake-prone library to private investors.
On top of that… Audio
Selling part of Wellington's library to solve financial woes
Dave Armstrong talks to Jesse about an idea that's been floated to sell off half of Wellington's beleaguered Central Library in order to raise money to quake strengthen the remainder of the building.
…Book review - The Warm Sun on My Face
Matthew Roche reviews The Warm Sun on My Face: The Story of Women's Cricket in New Zealand by Trevor Auger, with Adrienne Simpson. Published by Upstart Press. Audio
Hope and hype: the mixed history of stem cell science
Is stem cell treatment the holy grail of regenerative medicine or a over-hyped fakery? Stem cells have been called the body's raw materials - or the master builders generating all our tissues and… Audio
Book review - The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S.
Louise O'Brien reviews The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. by David Levithan, published by Text. Audio
Book Critic - Catherine Ross
Today's reviewer is sticking to a New Zealand theme, librarian Catherine Ross looks at great local reads for young adults. Audio
The world of honey bees
Victoria University professor of Ecology and Entomology, Phil Lester, has just written a book about the incredible honey bee. Audio
Book review - Wars Without End by Danny Keenan
Paul Diamond reviews Wars Without End: New Zealand’s Land Wars â€" A MÄori Perspective by Danny Keenan, published by Penguin Random House. Audio
Tangaroa Walker: life on the farm
By the time Tangaroa Walker was six, he'd lived in 16 different places, been to six primary schools, and had been adopted twice. As an 11 year old he met a dairy farmer, driving a pretty nice car, who… Video, Audio
Book review - Cook, Eat, Repeat by Nigella Lawson
Gail Pittaway reviews Cook, Eat, Repeat by Nigella Lawson, published by Penguin Random House. Audio
'It's a hell of a way to make a living... if it doesn't kill you'
Having started working as a roadie at the tender age of 17, Tana Douglas was offered a job with an up-and-coming band called AC/DC in 1975, thus starting her life as a roadie for some of the world's… Audio
Four adventurous women describe lives which are different, but all extraordinary
Four adventurous women discuss their lives with Miriama Kamo in the opener to the 2020 WORD Christchurch writers' festival Audio
Danyl McLauchlan: exploring life's big questions
Protein scientist and writer Danyl McLauchlan is following his two 'esoteric cult' novels Unspeakable Secrets of the Aro Valley and Mysterious Mysteries of the Aro Valley with a collection of essays… Audio
Ruth Coker Burks: caring for AIDS patients
As a young single mother in Arkansas with no medical training, Ruth Coker Burks cared for around 1000 men dying from AIDS through their final days. This was in the 1980s and 90s when the disease… Audio
Laura Jean McKay: winning Australia's richest literary prize
Palmerston North-based writer Laura Jean McKay recently won $125,000 at the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, taking out the Victorian Prize for Literature and the Fiction award for her novel The… Audio
Book review - Best of 2020 - Arihia Latham
Arihia Latham with her three top picks from 2020 reading: Funkhaus by Hinemoana Baker (Victoria University Press), Tōkū Pāpā by Ruby Solly (Victoria University Press), Te Whē ki Tukorehe - new… Audio