Alison Jones and Kuni Jenkins have been researching early engagement between Maori and Pakeha - and have turned up real gems.

Way back in the 1980s I was addicted to Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City novels.

Chat-show supremo Sir Michael Parkinson pays tribute to guests but despairs at TV's descent into mediocrity.

An artists' haven since the 1930s is now an art museum, writes Megan Anderson.

In 2009, a recession-generated ‘perfect storm’ saw poor ticket sales and losses for the biennial Auckland Arts Festival. Yet, as Alan Perrott finds, its director David Malacari is upbeat for 2011.

Nicki Greenberg loves Shakespeare, she "gets" Shakespeare, and she has done something wondrous with him, a thing I have never seen done before.

Move over Bridget, it's the blokes' turn.

David Hill reviews two new Australian novels depicting two very different sides of modern life.

Judge not a book by its title.

It is a tricky little bugger of a book this one. Distant, confusing and perhaps a little cliched in parts, it is also compelling, subtle and maybe even brilliant.

Israeli David Grossman tells Helen Brown how writing helps him cope with grief.