After 20 years of running Shakespeare in the Park, there isn't a lot that surprises the event founders - and Shoreside Theatre stalwarts Carol and Allan Dumbleton.

When Kate Tempest fills in her occupation on the Customs form at airports, she has plenty of options to choose from.

Young liberals have made a video of Israelis and Palestinians kissing each other in response to a book being banned.

One of Auckland's busiest theatres is closed indefinitely because it has been deemed an earthquake risk.

Eleanor Catton married her long-time partner Steven Toussaint today.

Wellington's reputation as the capital of cool gets a boost next month.

Edna O'Brien's new novel is about how we can still be seduced by evil people. Francesca Wade meets her.

Uwe Grodd's introductions to Auckland Choral's annual Messiah are becoming as much of a tradition as the musical performances that follow them.

Eli Orzessek visits Queensland's premier gallery and an enlightening - and often confronting - exhibition connecting the peoples of the Asia-Pacific region.

Author Kevin Barry's latest novel Beatlebone delves into the mind of John Lennon as he seeks the solitude of a tiny Irish island that he bought for 1700 pounds in 1968.

In 2016, the world marks the 400th year anniversary of the death of playwright William Shakespeare.

It sounds incredible now that it took so long, but it was well received and won the Best First Book award.

You'll thrill early on, when Wang's massive piano cadenza capitulates into one of the composer's most searing cris de coeur.

Although Paul Hartigan's art has roamed from pop-art painting and posters, to Polaroids and beyond, his neon work is the most familiar.

The 2016 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards inaugural longlist has been announced. There are 40 long-listed works; ten each from the four awards categories - illustrated non-fiction, general non-fiction, poetry and fiction.

Waiheke artist Emma Wright became a best-selling author after blogging about her art, her life and her battle with bulimia.