Top seed: Nick Cave’s musical mate Warren Ellis

A mad chat with Ellis, who almost died in NZ just as he started life as a Bad Seed.

The Police’s Stewart Copeland: From being the son of spies to composer of operas

A preview of his gab-fest tour, starring Kim Philby, Chrissie Hynde but no Sting.

Listener’s best movies of the year

The Listener's picks of the best movies in 2025.

Listener’s best on telly for 2025: Did your favourite shows make the cut?

Our tv writers nail down the shows that impressed them the most.

Old Dagg, new flick: John Clarke’s genius on film

Lorin Clarke follows her memoir about her father John Clarke with a documentary.

Listener’s Songs of the Week: A Plea from Flea, a CV from SIX60, and special in memoriam section

New tracks from NZ's biggest band and songs in remembrance of three figures in Kiwi rock.

Kiwi runs the show as Amazon Prime’s hit sci-fi series Fallout returns

Geneva Robertson-Dworet is on a roll.

NZ Listener’s Songs of the Week: New tracks by Robyn with Jamie xx, Fred Again, Nick Cave, Jeff Tweedy and more

The latest and possibly greatest new songs picked by the NZ Listener's music dept.

Aussie songwriting great Paul Kelly on turning 70 (and calling his new album that)

Turning 70, Paul Kelly is in a reflective frame of mind.

Listener’s Songs of the Week: New Tracks by Lady Shaka feat Rubi Du, Troy Kingi, Pulp’s Johnny Cash cover, and more

New tracks recommended by the Listener's music dept.

Opera star Joyce DiDonato tunes in for an NZ tour

The American mezzo-soprano has been described as one of the greats of her generation.

NZ Listener’s Songs of the Week: New tracks by Kirsten Morrell, Jonathan Bree with Princess Chelsea, Dudley Benson, and more

New – and some old – tracks of interest selected by the NZ Listener's music department.

A long lens on Lee Tamahori part 2: In his own words

His candid thoughts on the movies he made and the films he loved.

A long lens on Lee Tamahori part 1: From ad man to movie maverick

How the Once Were Warriors director carved a career to Hollywood and back.

Watch Taika Waititi’s new Disney Christmas movie, in full

The Kiwi director releases second short for the House of Mouse

Listener’s Songs of the Week: That Bird of the Year track is a falcon hit, Charlie xcx’s Wuthering Heights double, and more

New tracks – including two new jingle singles – recommended by Listener music writers.

Battle of the saxes: NZSO guest star Jess Gillam on being a classical outsider

English saxophonist says her instrument has helped introduce audiences to classical music.

NZ Listener’s Songs of the Week: Paul Kelly’s ode to his granddaughter, Bic Runga’s to Paris and Harper Finn’s to Silo Park

Sound advice from the Listener's music dept.

Queen of comedy: Eddie Izzard on 40 years of being out

Ahead of an NZ tour, Eddie Izzard on Hamlet solo, old stand-up routines, and being Suzy.

Bruce Springsteen movie Deliver Me From Nowhere tries to break bio-pic mould but plays conventional riffs

Jeremy Allen White’s portrayal of a tortured Bruce Springsteen is for ardent fans only.

NZ Listener’s Songs of the Week: Benee’s hit sitcom song, Parris Goebel gets vocal, Lily Allen, Georgia Knight and more

The songs that pricked up the ears of the Listener music department this week

Auckland Arts Festival 2026 announces line-up, reverses trans-Tasman migration trend

Festival to feature many Aussie acrobats, and debuts by NZ playwrights.

TV review: BBC-NZ gothic mystery The Ridge is a very wobbly nightmare

Series with Outlander star has echoes of Jane Campion and Eleanor Catton stories.

NZ’s Best Homes with Phil Spencer Ep 6: How much the last three are worth, a great Kiwi artwork surprise, and is that really a home?

The last batch of lavish homes from the final of the $150 million series.

NZ Listener’s Songs of the Week: New tracks by Courtney Barnett, Reb Fountain,Sam Fender and more

New tracks selected by the Listener magazine's music department and where to find them.

NZ’s Best Homes with Phil Spencer Ep 5: Overall value drop as show turns to (slightly) more humble abodes in Matakana, Coromandel and Waikato

The next batch of multi-million dollar homes from the fifth episode.

Pike River director on Jacinda Ardern cameo and why he wants Brooke van Velden to see his film

The filmmaker on his approach to his third feature about real-life NZ tragedies.

NZ Listener’s Songs of the Week: US superstar producer covers Fat Freddy’s Drop classic, and more

What has impressed Listener music writers from the new-release pile.

Sweet cherubs and an unconventional tutor spells for a radical Spanish history lesson

Inspirational teacher tale is set against the dawning of the Spanish Civil War.

NZ’s Best Homes with Phil Spencer Ep 4: How much for a classic Bay of Islands lair or architects’ luxury Ponsonby pads?

The next batch of multi-million dollars homes from episode four.

NZ Listener’s Songs of the Week: New tracks by Bic Runga, Mel Parsons, Nadia Reid, Benee and more

Sound advice from the Listener's music department with streaming links.

Revealed: The songs banned by Radio NZ over the years in a new show... on RNZ

For decades, broadcasters kept a book of the songs too political, sexual or awful to play.