Duncan Garner: Amid job losses, are climate talks a taxpayer-funded outing?
Costly overseas climate commitments seem out of touch with current economic climate.
Tasty recipes from Chelsea Winter’s new book
Chelsea Winter's latest book is designed to suit every style of eater.
Politics
Greg Dixon’s Another kind of politics: Wayne and Simeon, a love story?
What text messages reveal about their relationship.
Harris vs Trump: Will we see an ‘October surprise’ in the presidential race?
US politics has a rich past and frightening present when it comes to October surprises.
Danyl McLauchlan: The government cuts that won’t heal
Backflip on Dunedin’s new hospital contrasts with willingness to pour billions into roads.
Opinion
Diary of a doomscroller
Doomscrolling is inevitable in the countdown to the US presidential election.
Duncan Garner: Amid job losses, are climate talks a taxpayer-funded outing?
Costly overseas climate commitments seem out of touch with current economic climate.
Jane Clifton: Saying yes to the dress is not a good look for UK’s government
Behind a billionaire's donation is a more consequential risk than vanity: political advice
New Zealand
Listener weekly quiz: October 9
Test your general knowledge with the Listener's weekly quiz.
City of the future: The good life in a new-look Wellington
Harvard Graduate School of Design students reimagine Wellington for a greener future.
Enterprise & Tech
Health
New research indicates vaping risks even more serious for young users
Vaping now linked to poorer fitness among young adults, echoing smokers' struggles.
Can some ‘ultra-processed’ foods contribute to a healthy diet?
A new study suggests some ‘ultra-processed’ foods are beneficial.
Tempted to cut a tiny bit of mould off cheese and eat the rest? Why you might want to think again
Even a tiny circle of mould can send toxins deep inside food.
Life
A window seat fanatic contemplates the view from above to below
You can spot the window-gazers on any flight.
The Good Life: Into the unknown
Greg Dixon's trip to Wellington Hospital results in some unwelcome news.
Tasty recipes from Chelsea Winter’s new book
Chelsea Winter's latest book is designed to suit every style of eater.
Culture
From ballet to the ring: Rebecca Jensen slips into dance and wrestling
They might be polls apart, but dance and wrestling are inspiring one NZ creative.
Young composer’s big debut shares her music on NZTrio tour
Rising composer Eva Bedggood’s new work features in NZTrio’s national tour.
Nailing it: Acclaimed NZ dancer on building a double life
Ross McCormack goes from building site to waltzing with Benedict Cumberbatch in a weekend.
Entertainment
Lady Gaga helps turn Joker sequel into a hybrid musical, but it falls flat
The film’s big problem is that it’s not really saying anything.
Listener’s October viewing guide: Cate Blanchett in thriller Disclaimer, Citadel sets up shop in Italy
The best television across free to air and streaming platforms in October.
Sir Ian McKellen on criticism, ageing and still being Gandalf
Recovering from a recent fall, Sir Ian McKellen on why he has no plans to retire.
Books
Kāwai continues: Monty Soutar’s powerful narrative continues to unfold
Pre-colonial sequel explores shattering of traditional Māori society by arrival of musket.
Oceans enchant and lives unravel in Richard Powers’ novel Playground
Complicated characters pepper this multi-narrative novel from Pulitzer Prize winner.
Crime
NZ spy scandal: 50 years on and still a mystery
In 1974 one of our most respected public servants became first NZer charged with espionage
War crime: Why did a NZ WWII soldier gun down an innocent Japanese civilian?
Archivist Chris Adams details a senseless killing during post-WWII occupation of Japan.
World
What it’s really like at a Trump rally
Plunging into the parallel universe that is a Donald Trump rally.
Harrowing tales of migrants trying to enter US highlight political failure
Behind the scary headlines are a million human stories.
Nazism rears its head as Germany reaches a turning point
The success of the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, does not bode well.
Sponsored Stories
Looking for a long read this weekend? The best of the Listener's agenda-setting journalism
Top politics, culture, current affairs and health stories.
This Auckland bungalow perfectly captures the sunlight
An Auckland architect’s home is all about sun, family life and views of the zoo
The future is wool
An ambitious new wool education programme aims to advance the New Zealand wool industry