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Books & Authors
What Spare means for Prince Harry and the royals?
A new tell-all book by Prince Harry has been officially released. Spare is not short on bombshell revelations, which have already had a good airing after details were leaked last week. Anna is joined… Audio
Harry Ricketts: The Life and Influence of Fay Weldon
Novelist and screen writer Fay Weldon died this week She had a 55-year long writing career, and is perhaps most know for her novel The Life and Loves of a She-Devil She was shortlisted for the Booker… Audio
Summer reading picks from a Wellington bookseller
Relaxing with a good book is a real summer treat. Melissa Oliver from Wellington's Unity Books recommends a few top page-turners and upcoming releases. Audio
Government to discuss establishment of book commission
Organisations involved in the New Zealand book sector are set to meet with government agencies to discuss the establishment of a book commission.
'The best book I read this year is...'
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.
Books of 2023: Prince Harry's Spare kicks off publishing bonanza
From the memoirs of a prince who left the palace to New Zealander Eleanor Catton's follow-up to The Luminaries, here's a look at the books that we'll be turning the pages on in 2023.
A few of Sam Neill's favourite things
In October this year, New Zealand actor Sam Neill "swallowed his scruples" and accepted a knighthood. Next year, he'll release the memoir Did I Ever Tell You This? In the meantime, Sam tells us about… Video, Audio
Book review: The Climate Book created by Greta Thunberg
Sophie Handford reviews The Climate Book created by Greta Thunberg, published by Penguin Random House. Audio
Book Critic: Pip Adam
Today Pip talks to Jesse about books coming out in 2023 that she's excited about. Audio
Book Review: Bournville by Jonathan Coe
Ralph McAllister reviews Bournville by Jonathan Coe, published by Penguin. Audio
Dylan Coburn - from movie storyboards to children's picture book
Visual effects art director, Dylan Coburn has drawn storyboards for some of the biggest recent New Zealand projects - Rings of Power, Cowboy Bebop - even Dame Valerie Adams More Than Gold... It's an… Audio
The best books of 2022
Writers Kate De Goldi and Laura Kroetsch join Kim Hill to share their favourite books of the year. From a tour of sea creatures to a novel with four versions of the same story, and a history of bodily… Audio
Bee Dawson: the heroes of Otari-Wilton's bush
Wellington's Otari-Wilton's Bush is the only botanic garden dedicated solely to the collection and conservation of plants unique to Aotearoa. For writer and historian Bee Dawson it's a place of… Audio
Brigid Delaney: how to be Stoic in Chaotic Times
If you're feeling frazzled with the festive season, then you might want to take a leaf out of Brigid Delaney's new book. The author and senior writer for Guardian Australia says she spent years living… Audio
Danyl McLauchlan: neurodiversity and me
Danyl McLauchlan joins Kim to tackle life's big questions, ideas and thinkers. This week, how neurodiverse really are we? Audio
Book review: Swanfolk by Kristín Ómarsdóttir
Olly Clifton of Unity Books Auckland reviews Swanfolk by Kristín Ómarsdóttir, published by Harvill Secker. Audio
The challenge of making Sesame Street in Russia
When the Soviet Union fell, the US poured billions into Russia to help its transition into Western-style democracy. But how could the free-market and capitalist values be sold to ordinary Russians… Audio
Around the motu : Georgina Campbell in Wellington
A case of too many books. About half of the 500,000 items in Wellington's central library on-site collection will be kept in storage when the building reopens to make way for a play space, events room… Audio
The amazing sensors of the animal kingdom
We can never follow magnetic fields like birds and sea turtles do to find their way to a destination. We can't see the infrared radiation of a person or predator, like rattlesnakes do, or feel the air… Audio
Yaks 'n Yetis: Peter Hillary and Ant Sang's new book's Himalayan magic
Mountaineer Peter Hillary has teamed up with artist Ant Sang and the result is 4 Yaks and a Yeti - a book that see a young Nepalese boy undertake a perilous journey to find the mythical palace… Audio