A rare Maori statue is being sold at auction in France, and is expected to fetch up to $3.1 million.

Stars of stage and screen will fly in to pay tribute to the modest Kiwi vocal coach and mentor who helped put them on the map.

National's Hamilton West MP Tim Macindoe has been referred to police along with Free FM in Hamilton for allegedly airing an election advertisement outside the proper period.

On Tuesday night Philip Patston went to Parliament to collect the inaugural Arts Access Accolade.

Johan Kobborg's Les Lutins, still in classical mode, cavorts and struts its sweetly saucy stuff to the live virtuoso violin of Benjamin Baker and Michael Pansters on piano.

Is it a lamp, a work of art, a piece of furniture, or a magical prop from a science fiction film?

Architect David Mitchell has just returned from Venice where he's been doing a turn as the creative director and host of the NZ pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale.

Aucklanders could be issued with an arts passport that includes reduced travel costs to arts and cultures events in the city.

Sick of shopping and with time to explore before the next great meal, Catherine Smith walked her feet off exploring some of Sydney's culture highlights.

The Auckland Council is bending all the rules to fast-track the erection of a mock ye olde state house on Queens Wharf, the nation's most expensive piece of real estate, writes Brian Rudman.