
Death becomes him: Crime writer Michael Connelly’s long exploration of LA continues
With the streaming premiere of Ballard, Micheal Connelly shows no signs of slowing down.

Jane Clifton: Europe’s new pest threat - ants, bedbugs and moths run rampant
There’s something karmically dystopian about insects destroying human habitats.
Politics

Greg Dixon’s Another Kind of Politics: Road Cone Hotline identifies over 650 total losers
Greg Dixon runs a satirical eye over the week in local and international politics.

Danyl McLauchlan: Is it time to rid ourselves of local councils?
What will become of local councils?
Opinion

Law & society: Does MMP need a tweak?
MMP has brought unintended consequences, so how can we make it more representative.

Aaron Smale: Shane Jones's achievements don’t match his rhetoric
Shane Jones believes he’s going to force Ngāpuhi into settling their treaty claims.

Why breaking up with the US may be in Australia’s best interests
In this new world, Australia will look to other allies to help deepen its security.
New Zealand

The Bigger Picture: End of the rainbow
July 10 marks the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.

Why NZ may raise glyphosate limits – and who’s pushing back
A proposed 100-fold rise in permitted glyphosate residue in food hits fierce opposition.
Enterprise & Tech
Health

Does junk food cause teenage acne?
Highly processed “junk” food may influence the development and severity of acne.

Does kānuka extract have life-extending potential?
Exploratory science finds Kānuka oil's bio-actives may have anti-ageing properties.

Russell Brown: Medsafe stance could signal a new era for psychedelic medicine
Changes to rules on psilocybin point to possible breakthroughs in mental health treatment.
Life

Weekend wine guide: Cyclone Gabrielle’s lasting impact on Hawke’s Bay 2023 chardonnays
These 2023 chardonnays stood out for their quality and/or value.

Food with empathy: Four recipes from Kiwi chef Wendy Morgan
The cordon bleu chef's second cookbook focuses on simple comforts.
Culture

Why local musician has the wind in her sails
Gabrielle Pho has been devoted to the French horn since the age of three.

Young NZ composer Luka Venter takes to the ice
Luka Venter's new work digs into glaciers from the inside out.

Gillian follows the wharenui: New opera pays tribute to a whare that’s endured
Dame Gillian Whitehead's new opera is a story relevant to past and present.
Entertainment

Tami Neilson’s Neon Cowgirl reviewed – her time to shine
Neil Finn steps into Willie Nelson’s boots for duet on new album.

NZ-made killer doll sequel another scary merry dance
M3GAN 2.0 heads into Mission: Impossible territory.

Ringlets: Post-punk with a grip that won’t let go
The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) reviewed.
Books

Death becomes him: Crime writer Michael Connelly’s long exploration of LA continues
With the streaming premiere of Ballard, Micheal Connelly shows no signs of slowing down.

Meet New Zealand's new reading ambassador
Author Kate De Goldi has been preparing for her new role for years.

Kiwis flock to Jacinda Ardern memoir, smashing local sales records
Her memoir’s healthy early sales suggest Jacinda Ardern’s pulling power endures.
Crime

The mystery of Minnie Dean: Was the only woman executed by law in New Zealand innocent?
Notorious "baby farmer” Minnie Dean hanged for infanticide but did the judge get it right?

Justice with heart: Steve Braunias spends a day at NZ’s court for the mentally ill
Our one specialist court assessing whether a defendant is mentally fit to enter plea.

Eyewitness doubts continue to haunt Scott Watson case 25 years after conviction
Eyewitnesses to solve crimes is a standard policing procedure, but how reliable are they?
World

Why breaking up with the US may be in Australia’s best interests
In this new world, Australia will look to other allies to help deepen its security.

How Trump’s tantrums are awakening America’s conscience
Trump’s White House is a playground battlefield and he's the kindergarten king.

Jane Clifton: Éire odyssey
James Joyce’s Ulysses induces adoration and confusion in equal measure.
Sponsored Stories

This contemporary Redcliffs home maximises its view of the estuary
A home on a Christchurch estuary provides its owner with an outlook that’s always changing

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.