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Rugby: Crusaders bullish about semifinal
It's revenge time on multiple levels - and the Crusaders are relishing the prospect of Super 14 rugby's toughest challenge.
Between two cultures
Jacqueline Smith meets a new TV star who aims to put his own spin on the topics making headlines from a half-caste point of view.
Trelise unruffled as author mocks fashions of the rich
Charlotte Grimshaw's fourth novel The Night Book is set among Auckland's wealthy political elite and tells of women with more money than dress sense, decked out in "yards of ruffle and flounce and skirt and boot".
Australia: Paradise falls short of wow factor
A $1950-a-night luxury Australian is a mixed experience, writes Kathy Marks.
New-look 'Fair Go' ratings hit
It's juicy, but it's certainly not a lemon. TV One's new-look Fair Go is continuing to squeeze the best out of our consumer affairs gripes since relaunching this month.
Nail breakthrough
A salon-only nail polish service that has just launched globally seems bound to shake up the nail industry.
Bax's comeback in Italian Vogue
Kylie Bax returns to modelling in spectacular form - gracing the pages of Italian Vogue in her first major spread in years.
Soul-baring revelations with a smattering of humour
A near-full house of fans greeted Australian writer Thomas Keneally when he walked on stage at the ASB Centre yesterday morning for an hour of soul-baring revelations and a great deal of humour.
A literary approach to death
Lionel Shriver and Charlie Higson tackle the sensitive topic of death in very different ways.
Beauty: Fingers, toes, anything goes
Choosing a colour is just one of the ways to make your nails look their best.
Movie review: <i>The Habit of Art</i>
This imaginary 1972 meeting between poet W.H. Auden and composer Benjamin Britten is an absolute cracker.
Pataua North: Eco-retreat is natural flight of fancy
Tahi, once an old farm, is now a haven for endangered bird life, says Jim Eagles.
Naomi Watts to play Marilyn Monroe in new movie
Titled Blonde, the film will be based on the controversial book by the same name, which details the late actress's love affairs and encounters on the casting couch.
Review: <i>Halo: Reach</i> online beta
A runthrough of the Halo: Reach online beta suggests the biggest game of the year is coming along smoothly, save for a few niggles.
How Jake Gyllenhaal became a Hollywood Prince
"More women flirted with me," laughs Jake Gyllenhaal, "when I shaved my head as a marine in Jarhead than when I got big muscles and had long hair in Prince of Persia."
Rugby: Plenty riding on Blues-Chiefs derby
The Blues-Chiefs confrontation tomorrow at Eden Park will offer huge bragging rights to the victor.
The soup kitchen (+recipes)
Winter is just around the corner so it's time to start using seasonal vegetables to create comforting and tasty soups.
Horrifying a new generation
A Nightmare on Elm Street is the latest horror film to be remade. Rene Rodriguez looks at a few others.
Back row diary
Australian Fashion Week celebrated its 15th year last week - Viva reports from the back row.