Jane Clifton
Columnist
Jane Clifton is a columnist for the NZ Listener
The listener.co.nz is the website of the award-winning New Zealand Listener, which has been covering the political, cultural and literary life of Aotearoa New Zealand for 80 years with features on current events, politics, social issues, health, technology, arts, food, culture and entertainment.
Check out Jane’s latest content
Jane Clifton: Is fun at the UK’s historic sites worth the cost?
The National Trust’s new vision for heritage site sparks debate and division.
Jane Clifton: Loo and behold - language class barriers are taking a break
Being able to determine one’s class by the words one uses may be on its way out.
Jane Clifton: The weight of reality as a new chapter in obesity treatment opens
Economists are generally keener on weight-loss drugs than doctors.
The horrendous rigmarole required to buy tickets for Oasis comeback
Can you legislate to force a business to have an adequate IT system?
Jane Clifton: Shock and awe at Eurovision
Viewers were pounded with such an onslaught of garishness as to cause outrage outage.
Jane Clifton: High fashion ditches pants, profits soar (but please, wear underwear)
Celebrities might be able to get away with underwear as outwear; us mere mortals cannot.
Jane Clifton: Just when you thought you understood something... “it’s not that simple”
Opinion: Too much time on a screen is bad for kids’ development, right?
Jane Clifton: We’ve been fooled! The travel experiences based on lies
Opinion: At what point do facts spoil travellers' fun?
Jane Clifton: Does science ever say sorry?
Science is losing its sheen thanks to two new reports on diet & exercise.
Jane Clifton: A spud crisis and a water shortage - Ireland’s rain paradox
It’s a forecast no Irish person with a sense of history expected ever to hear again.
Bum notes: Jane Clifton takes a rear view of fashion
Jane Clifton: You know a fad has hit the big time when it’s on the shelves of M&S.
Jane Clifton: UK celebrity designer's list of what's common causes Christmas debates
Debating what’s “common” according to a celebrity designer becomes new Christmas tradition
Jane Clifton: A scandal short of a secret
A 350-page sulk by a jilted British MP reveals no scandal or conspiracy.
Jane Clifton: Playing the blame game in the Covid inquiry
"Politicians, officials and scientists are still at war over the most basic facts."
Jane Clifton: Is it overkill to catch motorists in car traps?
Recent complaints from indignant drivers have brought to light a little-known scheme.
Jane Clifton: Quelle horreur in the bedroom
A third of UK residents don’t wash their towels above every three months.
Riders of the storm: Trauma at a young age can be a path to extraordinary lives
What if an alternative route to greatness was a nasty, brutish, Dickensian childhood?
Jane Clifton: Why the UK hates heat pumps and EVs
As so often, the real problem is not the changes themselves, but fear of them.
Jane Clifton: It’s no New Zealand, but Dublin’s wildlife puts on a pretty good show
Here, Fox News starts after dusk in this busy corner-section garden.
New gardening regime: More is more, even of weeds
Manicured lawns are making way for gardens that are naturalistic.
Jane Clifton: More and more businesses seem to be scalping customers
Pubs in Britain and parts of Europe are dabbling in what we might call Unhappy Hour.
Jane Clifton: Companies treat customers like morons, yet somehow continue to get away with it
Tactics include shrinkflation, placebo and condescension
Jane Clifton: Are we one Taylor Swift tour away from a mass currency collapse?
The joyful activity of attending a pop concert turns out to be fiscally damaging.
Jane Clifton: How do airlines get away with inconvenience?
The frustration when catching a plane wouldn't be accepted in any other modern activity.
Jane Clifton: Beauty prioritised over risk as enhancements become affordable
No one but a dutiful medical professional wants to be the killjoy who dwells on risk.
Diet hack: The simple new rule for managing your blood sugar and weight
This chance discovery could revolutionise the way we eat and help fight obesity.
Jane Clifton: TikTok eating broadcasters for lunch with younger audiences
It’s easy to blame the internet. But youths were developing their own culture for aeons.
Jane Clifton: Why have these breakthroughs sparked indignation?
They will improve life for a probable majority, but have sparked a lot of criticism.