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.

Masthead

Ginger crunch and boiler suits • Feeling helpless in the face of Mauao’s landslide and tragic loss of life, local Simon Thompson brings a plate.

Accelerated learning

The Political Cartoon

“Quote Marks”

Bright Lines

10 Quick Questions

Increasingly common tragedy • When your leaders apply game theory to energy and climate policies, New Zealand looks like a particularly inept player.

A bridge too far

The more things change …

Where democracy slows down

Getting it right

Man of la mantra • Mental coach Ben Crowe is a big believer in catchphrases for keeping high performers on track and thinks the All Blacks are masters of the art.

This is who he is • We’re all on a shared journey to work out our identity and what we want from life writes BEN CROWE in Where the Light Gets In.

Gone to the dogs • A surge in attacks and horrific injuries to children have left enforcement staff, vets and trainers frustrated by our ‘toothless’ dog control laws.

A preventable crisis • A group of health leaders, economists and unionists is out to make retention of the public health system the country’s top election priority.

These airy kings • Against the odds, the magnificent albatrosses of Pukekura/Taiaroa Head survive.

Rare object • Philanthropist Christine Fernyhough seems determined to squander the family fortune on curiosities and Kiwiana. Her new book showcases her unusual treasures.

Barnes’ last dance • The final offering from Julian Barnes is slender, slippery and smart. But is it a novel?

Judged on their merits • The 2026 Ockham NZ Book Awards longlists are out – so who’s made the grade and who’s in the shade?

The 2026 Longlists

Taking Comfort • George Saunders’ novel about a monstrous oil tycoon being guided to the afterlife asks if forgiveness is essential.

Bestsellers

The band played on • A ‘band back together’ beach read wins polite applause.

Bestsellers

Homeland revisited • Award-winning playwright and director Hone Kouka writes about having his best-known, whānau-inspired work back on the stage after three decades.

It’s show time • On a historic site above the Waikato River, Hamilton’s new theatre replaces the city’s crumbling venues. Dionne Christian was there on opening night.

The year’s coming attractions • Our best guess of the movies worth a watch in 2026.

Homegrown fare to the fore

Birds of a feather • Laneway-bound Geese come with the best of references.

Reconsidered

High hopes on Italian slopes • NZ’s snow-sport stars could be aligning for Olympics glory.

Timetable of the Nz team in action

Tom’s odd cast • Comedian’s true-crime audio comedy series shifts to the screen with help of a British star.

Tv picks of the week

Tv Films • The big movies on TV this week

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Radio

Ear on a shoestring

Much in common • How the brains of fruit flies could one day help humans to ward off Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.

Dining on a dime • Hot off the Murdoch Books Test Kitchen press is this timely collection of more than 180 recipes for the budget-conscious.

Savour and save • Producing wines in quantity doesn’t mean trading off quality for affordability.

Doggone tragedy • Many of us grieve as much for lost pets as parents.

Outside in •...