Latest from Books

Book reviews: Sci-fi and fantasy
Annabel Gooder reviews the latest sci-fi and fantasy books and points out some of the year's best reads.

Kids flock to summer reading programme
An initiative keeping children learning over the six weeks of summer break is attracting more interest than ever.

Book reviews: poetry
Siobhan Harvey reviews recent poetry books and picks favourites from the year.

Book reviews: Crime fiction
Greg Fleming reviews the latest crop of crime fiction and points out some of the year's best reads.

Millionaire Wall St whiz to PM
In light of John Key's announcement that he will resign as Prime Minister of New Zealand, we take revisit some crucial moments throughout his leadership.

Linda Hall: In Harry Potter's defence
Today I'm using my pen (computer actually) as a wand to defend Harry Potter. I know I wrote about Brian Tamaki a few weeks ago but

Tamaki warns of 'demonic' Harry Potter
According to Tamaki, Harry Potter is a tool to recruit people toward evil.

Waikato delta: Milk and water
Farmer Stu Muir talks to Matt Philp about transformation and taniwha.

My bookshelf: Donovan Bixley
Acclaimed author and illustrator Donovan Bixley shares tales of the books that inspired him.

Ranulph Fiennes faces his fears
Sir Ranulph Fiennes faces his fears - and writes about them, anyway.

The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr spills all to Karl Puschmann
Johnny Marr: I'm not going to have my life story sullied by some bullshit agenda. I'll tell it really how it was.

On the waterfront
First-time author Jonothan Cullinane puts the 1951 Waterfront Strike front and centre of his critically acclaimed crime novel

2017 Ockham book awards long list announced
Are these the best New Zealand books of the year?

Book Review: Hidden Bodies - Caroline Kepnes
Joe Goldberg's your average, cantankerous New York rare books seller. He's also an accomplished serial killer. When we meet him

Holiday hours for Auckland libraries
Local Boards across Auckland have confirmed which libraries will be open during the four days between Christmas and New Year.

Was the Dunedin sound a thing?
The echoes of the Dunedin sound debate have faded with the decades but a new book hears them reverberating louder.

The woman who read Auckland: Janet McAllister visits New Lynn Library
The woman who read Auckland checks out New Lynn War Memorial Library.

Fisher denies saying Ford was 'bad in bed'
Carrie Fisher has denied criticising the sexual skills of her Star Wars co-star and secret squeeze Harrison Ford.

Big guns fire up young authors
Former All Black Keven Mealamu continues to draw on art skills.

Writer's writer Sir James McNeish dies
Celebrated New Zealand writer Sir James McNeish has died aged 85.

Death by marriage: From loving husband to wife-killer
After nearly 50 years together, a husband is jailed for life for the strangulation of his wife. Greg Bruce discovers how an ordinary relationship went so horribly wrong.

Ceramic artist moulds his own career
Ceramic artist John Parker's stunning book encompasses 50 years of his work.

Deserving successor of Dahl's magic has got talent
Everyone wants to get in on the act during an interview with author David Walliams.

Book Reviews: Crime fiction
Reviews of crime-fiction by Michael Connelly, Ian Austin, Sam Carmody and Laura Lippman

Kiwi inks Bob Dylan book deal
A New Zealand-educated Harvard professor has signed a publishing deal to write a new book on Bob Dylan. University of Auckland PhD

Second world award for West Coast author
West Coast author Wendy Scott has picked up a second international award for her teen novel Hieroglyph.

Balanced view of NZ wars will be well-received
COMMENT: Over the past 150 years the New Zealand Wars have always been central to New Zealand's history and even its popular culture.

Looking back on 50 years of life
As we reach - and pass- the age of 50, it is a time to reflect. David Slack says it should not be a time to regret.

Fresh directions for chef Rick Stein
Celebrity chef Rick Stein has been on a food-finding tour of European cities, so we don't have to.