New Zealand Listener

New Zealand Listener is the country’s most respected general interest magazine, bringing you a wide variety of news, stories, columns, reviews, plus TV listings, every week.

New Zealand Listener

What’s hot online at listener. co.nz • Exclusive content for online subscribers

Sands of time • With confirmation that asbestos-contaminated play-sand products can release airborne fibres, IAN SHAW calls for the children exposed to be monitored.

Power play

“Quote Marks”

10 Quick Questions

Bright Lines

A nationalist’s dream • Narendra Modi can count India as a ‘one nation’ success but New Zealand First’s erratic taste in candidates is unlikely to deliver the same result.

Let Freedom Side ring

Heatwave madness

Whole-of-government destruction

Saturday morning coming down

Standing up to the dragon

Sundays with the Lord • Part one of a two-part encounter with the cult leader who dumped the body of a follower in Gulf Harbour.

Without a care • Moves to place even more onus on whānau to support people with disabilities follow years of policy flip-flops and restrictions on services.

POSTCODE LOTTERY • Changes aim to bring national consistency to support access and funding.

Kiwi wings clipped • The dual-British-citizen passport debacle is just the start of a global trend for tracking visitors in and out of countries, curbing our globe-trotting whims.

What Alison did next • Trailblazing company director Dame Alison Paterson swapped the boardroom to indulge her love of art – with a masters degree at age 90.

At death’s door • Top-drawer crime writers return with fresh new investigations led by their indefatigable heroes.

On the dark side • Aussie philosopher gazes at the ‘new space age’ and finds the bad eclipses the good.

Short cuts

Barbs & the bard • Droll coming-of-age YA novel about an angry, bereaved teen having to return to small-town New Zealand.

In the red corner

Mother of wisdom • Lauded New Yorker author examines the centrality of mother-daughter relationships in seven essays.

BESTSELLERS

Heartbreak high • Dunedin author BRETON DUKES, whose latest novel drew on his time at Otago Boys’ High, writes about The Broken Heartbreakers and their new album via his school-years connection to the group’s John Howell.

‘He writes so fearlessly’ • A Heartbreaker responds.

About face • Expat director Andrew Niccol on the first New Zealand movie he’s made and the Jacinda Ardern movie he didn’t.

Bougie nights • San Fran dramedy earns top marks for its witty script and strong cast.

Beyond the music • Gifted protégé of Vivaldi struggles to live life on her own terms.

An old person’s guide to the Rolling Stones • Before he tackles the Stones’ latest album, GRAHAM REID offers some picks from the band’s daunting back catalogue.

Southern accents • For studio album No 32, the Stones’ foreign tongues remain distinctly American.

SUNDAY JULY 19

Flutters of imagination • Antony Ernst returns to direct Madama Butterfly.

Extrusions apply • Ultra-processed foods dominate Western diets despite compelling evidence of their harmful effects on health.

Nutrition bites

Cult following • Malaysian-born chef Tony Tan shares secrets to making a success of these Hong Kong classics.

The greenest of vineyards • Organic wines are becoming increasingly popular and ever more sophisticated.

Chasing the sun • Reduced light in winter may affect our mood but spring can be a danger zone.

Heidi’s helping hand • AI won’t fix the health system, but it can give ED doctors a bit more time with...