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Books & Authors
New Zealand's 50 top birdwatching sites
As the number of wildlife sanctuaries and predator controlled areas increase around New Zealand, thanks largely to the efforts of communities, there are also more opportunities for people to go bird… Audio, Gallery
Book review - The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls
Carole Beu of the Women's Bookshop reviews The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls by Mona Eltahawy. This book is published by Hardie Grant. Audio
Libraries need more books, less tech
An interesting article in The Spinoff by one of the leading lights of the New Zealand literary scene, Lloyd Jones. He argues that our literary culture is being slowly eroded. Audio
Question of the day for 4 December 2019
What's your favourite New Zealand book, and why? Audio
Why David Bowie Matters
When Will Brooker was 13, he borrowed a cassette from his Mum, popped it in his new red Walkman and played music that would change his life forever. Let's Dance became Brooker's introduction to David… Video, Audio
Christmas reads with Robert Kelly
Peak book buying time continues around the country as people trek to their local bookstores ferret out presents But what do you get for the tricky to pick for people in your life? RNZ producer Robert… Audio
Will with a catch. Compelling true story of lives transformed
Pieced together from evidence in archives, newspapers and family lore, Bettina Bradbury tells the riveting true story of a woman (Caroline Kearney) forced to travel half way across the world with her… Audio
Book review - Strong Words 2019
Louise O'Brien from quarterly review periodical New Zealand Review of Books Pukapuka Aotearoa, reviews Strong Words 2019: The Best of the Landfall Essay Competition. This collection is selected by… Audio
Good manners guide. Time to show some respect!
Simon Griffin talks to Kathryn Ryan about his irreverent pocket-sized guide to social etiquette and some of life's biggest irritations, like man-spreading on public transport, using emojiis in… Audio
Bookclub: Stephen Jaquiery - The life of an ODT photographer
Focused - A Life Behind the Lens, is a visual feast of photos taken over the forty year career of the Otago Daily Times photographer, Stephen Jaquiery. Stephen joined the ODT in 1979 as a teenager… Audio, Gallery
Independent book publishing in Aotearoa
Writer and reviewer Pip Adam looks at where independent publishing sits within the Aotearoa literary scene and how communities are built up around the publications. Audio
Book review - Afakasi Woman by Lani Wendt Young
Lisa Finucane reviews Afakasi Woman by Lani Wendt Young, which is published by OneTree House. Audio
Remembering Bob Hawke
Sue Pieters-Hawke remembers her father Bob Hawke in her new book Remembering Bob. She joins us on the line from Australia. Audio
Cilka Klein - colluding with the enemy
Cilka Klein was just 16 when she was sent to Auschwitz. She caught the eye of a Nazi officer and survived the camp, only to be sent to a Siberian prison camp when the war ended, charged with… Audio
Steve Braunias on the demise of the NZ Review of Books
After almost 30 years, literary journal New Zealand Review of Books has been forced to close down after Creative New Zealand declined its funding application. Audio
Book review - Highlights of recent crime fiction
Catriona Ferguson with a round-up of three of the best 2019 crime fiction releases. Audio
Making rare investments: Annette Campbell-White
New Zealand-born Annette Campbell-White lists collecting books, philanthropy and venture capitalism among her interests. Audio
Andi C Buchanan's From a Shallow Grave
When pregnant 17-year-old Phyllis Symons's body was found buried in the construction site of Wellington's Mount Victoria Tunnel in 1931 her death and the subsequent trial of her boyfriend for murder… Audio
Greg O'Brien publishes on painter Melvin Day
Three years after his death, a new book offers for the first time a comprehensive look at the life, work and legacy of painter Melvin Day - also known as Pat. Encompassing seven prolific decades of… Audio, Gallery
The story behind the worst drubbing in football history
On April 11, 2001, the Australian football team smashed American Samoa 31-0 in a World Cup qualifying match. Journalist James Montague wrote the book, Thirty-One Nil, and now New Zealand's Taika… Audio