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Dark drama in the shadows
Big, bleak, beautiful Central Otago is the star of Top of the Lake, the new Jane Campion-driven television series, which began here on UKTV last night.

Classical review: Collaboration produces exquisite results
There was more than one tale to be told in NZTrio's Convergence concert on Sunday, particularly by the featured New Zealand composers.

Auckland arts festival: War Requiem
Substantial classical music has been meagre in this Auckland Arts Festival.

Concert review: Kelly finale flawless treat
Few of the 1000-plus who packed the house for the final show of Paul Kelly's main-centre tour would have been familiar with his latest album, Spring and Fall.

Classical review: Aria and waiata mix irresistible
It was difficult to resist the world of Whaka-Aria Mai: Opera in Te Reo.

TV Preview: Top of the Lake
Prepare to do some serious thinking during Jane Campion's series, writes Nick Grant.

Biblical tale inspiration for dance masterpiece
Choreographers Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Damien Jalet take the biblical story of the Tower of Babel with its smiting of the human race into painful divisions of nationality and language.

Paul Casserly: Coro St Ken's meltdown a 'good get'
TV blogger Paul Casserly looks at the 'good gets' of recent current affairs, from Coro Street's Ken to one of the architects of the Iraq war.

Concert review: Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Neil Young refused to play a greatest hits set, but his concert was crazy and confounding, exciting and exhausting, writes Russell Baillie.

Concert review: Steve Miller Band and Santana, Vector Arena
With the 60s generation of rock fans now at Gold Card age, this concert perhaps flagged what we might expect in the future: Steve Miller with his excellent band - which included the great Spector-era soul singer Sonny Charles - started just after 7pm.

Colin Hogg: Maori TV hits current affairs sweet spot
There is a middle ground in current affairs on television. It's called Native Affairs and it runs for an hour from 8.30 on Monday nights on Maori TV.

Stirred by coffee-house sounds
It may have been a little early for English high tea, but the cabaret-style seating in the concert chamber aimed to recreate the spirit of an 18th century German coffee-house.

Concert review: Rodriguez
At 70, his eye sight is failing, and he looked fragile as he was escorted on and off the stage by his roadie and members of his recently assembled all-Kiwi band.

Womad fires up despite rain
Although no one doubted the need for rain ... did it have to come on the final day of Womad? And two days after a drought had been declared?

Taut study of dysfunction
The festival offering from playwright Mitch Tawhi Thomas is a taut study of family dysfunction that finds plenty of life and laughter in the explosive quarrelling of estranged brothers.

TV Preview: The New Normal
The New Normal caused controversy before it even aired. Sarah Lang finds out why

Birds take flight in new direction
Album No4 is a huge change for Aussie indie band, hears Paula Yeoman.