
Is NZ ready for its first musical sitcom? The makers of Happiness think so
Rebecca Gibney-starring show is queer, very Kiwi and set in Tauranga.

Jane Clifton: I have seen the future of road-traffic management
Forget about orange cones and get ready to welcome a more organic alternative.
Politics

Greg Dixon’s Another Kind of Politics: Indiana Luxon and the World’s Fastest Indian (Trade Deal)
The near-manic enthusiasm displayed during the PM's trip to India was something to behold.

Best intentions: The reasons leftist governments can’t build infrastructure
A captivation by governments with progressive causes stymies growth, claims a new book.
Opinion

From Bezos with love? Brit horror at 007’s new American overlord
Britain's favourite film hero, James Bond, to come under control of an American overlord.

Duncan Garner: The only question that will matter at the 2026 election
If the answer is 'no', our government will have a fight on its hands.

Jane Clifton: I have seen the future of road-traffic management
Forget about orange cones and get ready to welcome a more organic alternative.
New Zealand

Listener weekly quiz: March 19
Test your general knowledge with the Listener's weekly quiz.

Our quiet achievers: 15 of the most influential NZers you’ve never heard of
Forget the 'Kiwi greats'. Our best and brightest are famous in fields that don't make news

Kiwi exceptionalism: Does NZ really punch above its weight?
It's a phrase thrown around in conversation, but is it true?
Enterprise & Tech
Health

Health in 2025: Smoking, alcohol and diet
Social factors play a role in so-called 'lifestyle' diseases.

Why it’s time to stop seeing food as the enemy and treat it as a source of joy
The real secret to health isn’t avoiding cake but making peace with it.

Health in 2025: Is there any hope for our mental health system?
Rising rates of mental distress means changes must be made to our health system.
Life

The Good Life: Pass the guillotine
"Chickens have not just colonised the world, they have colonised our vernacular."

UK food writer Michael Zee on celebrating breakfast Chinese-style
Recipes for red oil dumplings, spring onion pancakes and taro-filled biscuit sandwiches.

Weekend wine guide: Hunter’s run
Experience shows in the wines coming from Marlborough’s oldest producer.
Culture

The dark side of genius: Remembering the life of one of NZ’s most enigmatic artists
Forty years ago, a young novice met painter Tony Fomison. A new book brings back memories.

Artist Dick Frizzell on aspirations, obsessions & guilty pleasures
Dick Frizzell once dreamt of a hairdressing salon with a fountain, then he discovered art.

He made it big in the dotcom era, now he’s making music for Ukraine
NZ software engineer turns composer to write a symphony for Ukraine.
Entertainment

Listener’s songs of the week: New tracks by Phoebe Rings, Ringlets and Mel Parsons
Listen to the best of this week's new releases - selected by the Listener team.

The Bigger Picture: Shihad’s last blast
Barring future reunions, Shihad brought its 37-year history to a close.

Is NZ ready for its first musical sitcom? The makers of Happiness think so
Rebecca Gibney-starring show is queer, very Kiwi and set in Tauranga.
Books

Country Calendar meets Project Runway in new book on Southland farmer Eden Hore’s couture collection
Sumptuous new book on farmer Eden Hore’s couture collection tells an 'only in NZ' story.

Kiwi’s controversial Meta expose tops bestseller lists - but is it worth reading?
Listener Books editor Mark Broatch on Sarah Wynn-Williams' Careless People.
Crime

Russell Brown: Northland green fairy arrest exposes a flawed system
The arrest of a Northland ‘green fairy’ highlights NZ's onerous medical cannabis rules.

NZ’s top cop on the crime he’ll never forget
"Investigating crimes against children has been the hardest part of my career."

Lights, camera and bare-faced lies: The Canadian who fooled NZ
A fake résumé secured him a top job — until a tenacious reporter got suspicious.
World

Jane Clifton: I have seen the future of road-traffic management
Forget about orange cones and get ready to welcome a more organic alternative.

Gunboat diplomacy: NZ faces growing defence challenges after China’s naval incursion
Chinese navy’s activities bolster the case for rapid replacement of NZ's ageing frigates.

Jane Clifton: Eurovision might be the ultimate foreign policy test for Trump and Putin
Politics meets pop in the venerable annual song contest.
Sponsored Stories

10 things we learnt from listener.co.nz stories this week
Peacekeeping, population and why cannabis could cure insomnia.

10 things we learnt from listener.co.nz stories this week
The former PM who helped solve a violent crime to 11 words to say before you die.

10 things we learnt from listener.co.nz stories this week
From politics to entertainment & books, points worth noting from our most recent stories.