The stage is dark with just the faint gleam of drum kit, sita, cello, violin and four seated musicians.

When the Basement theatre is packed out at 10pm on a Monday night for a local production based on a 19th century novella by Henry James, I think it is safe to say the Auckland Fringe Festival and the Auckland Arts Festival are going off.

Anil Sharma and Rachel Jones arrived in Freemans Bay eight years ago from Britain, via Palmerston North. Rachel tells Catherine Smith what the family loves about the area.

Our four-legged beasts can now share the love in Auckland parks.

Ancient forests and waterfalls are all part of a short trek through the Waitakeres, writes Danielle Wright.

Twenty Three Cafe, from the same people who introduced The Corner Store next door, found at 23 Mt Eden Rd is a nice, modern place with a hint of psychedelic thrown in.

If I could be a fly on the wall during any aspect of the production of Masterchef New Zealand, it wouldn't be the North Shore mansion they live, cook and bitch in.

A season of kids' cricket can take over your weekends, but it's great family time, finds Gill South.

Central Auckland would suffer only a few casualties if struck by an earthquake similar to the Lyttelton shake.

This Prairie-style dwelling is a living testament to Auckland's architectural history.

Financier Mark Hotchin has lashed out at "mindless persecution" of his family after the theft of a memorial to his late father.

An authentic eatery in Glen Innes encourages adventurous dining.

French dancer-choreographer Rachid Ouramdane's multimedia performance reviewed by Raewyn White

Bernadette Rae talks to the man many consider the guru of New Zealand dance, master choreographer Douglas Wright.

Renovating a former power substation held many challenges for an Auckland couple, including choosing paint.

Heroes don't come much kookier than Xerxes. He may be the King of Persia but he opens Handel's opera by extolling the beauties of a plane tree; a man who, as one character comments, "is aroused by a rough trunk."

There's no beating round the bush, Mt Eden’s Mulberry has its recipe right.

The latest piece of youth-oriented theatre from Massive Company adopts the admirably egalitarian but dramatically unsatisfying strategy of giving what amounts to a lead role to each member of the 14 person cast.

It's an exciting thing to discover a bar that has the right mix of interesting wines and good music.

Rebecca Barry talks to Kiwi opera singer Kristen Darragh about her drive to perform around the world.