Rutherfurd, whose new tome is called Paris, had an extra hour added to yesterday's Writers & Readers schedule after selling out tomorrow and recalled having to speak to a row of schoolboys scowling at him.

A painting of actress Bea Arthur topless has sold for US$1.9 million at a New York City auction.

A Jean-Michel Basquiat painting has set a new auction record for the graffiti artist at a sale of postwar and contemporary art in New York.

Patua means "to hit, kill, subdue, ill-treat", and writer-director Renae Maihi bravely takes on the subject of child abuse in the 75 nicely paced minutes of this, her second play.

The city of Auckland was named after "a dud ex-colonial mediocrity who stuffed up on a quite spectacular scale", says British historian William Dalrymple.

The biggest game in town is Michael Parekowhai et al at Michael Lett. It combines the talents of an artist and a collective.

Michal Dworzynski will launch the Auckland Philharmonia's Splendour Series.

Cars slowed and heads turned as almost 200 brightly coloured mood sticks were carried through central Auckland by people with white gloves.

Works of art featuring the model Kate Moss have gone up for auction at Christie's in London. From an photograph of Moss from a Calvin Klein campaign in 1993 to a recent shot of her in a bronze body suit, the model is an iconic figure on the catwalk. The British model's career spans over two decades and she continues to front numerous campaigns today.

If there's one thing George Henare can't do to prepare for his latest role - as chauffeur Hoke Colburn in the play Driving Miss Daisy - it is draw upon his own driving experiences.

Julia Fischer's new CD with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zurich under David Zinman is a clever concerto combo that will hopefully bring the lesser-known Dvorak to listeners initially drawn to the more popular Bruch.

The Auckland Triennial, which opens next month, brings together a host of local and international artists responding to what it is like to live here.

Dick Frizzell's famous Mickey to Tiki Tu Meke had him labelled a 'spiritual assassin'. Now it's up for auction and Frizzell revisits the Kiwi icon.

Gallery curator Danae Mossman shares her love for contemporary art.

The risk of serious injury from chilly theatre conditions has forced the Royal New Zealand Ballet to cancel two shows in its tour of China.

Haunting images of Auckland's rugged west coast captured by film-maker Adam Strange are proving a hit and a talking point with art lovers.

The promise of New Zealand Opera's Madame Butterfly has been with us for weeks, with striking images of the heroine on posters around town.