Growing Up in New Zealand study director Susan Morton is tracking the development of almost 7000 children born seven years ago in the Upper North Island.

The 34-year-old son of a Samoan church minister has done TV, film and stand-up comedy but says theatre is his first love.

Stephen McKee is one of New Zealand's top horse trainers. With father Trevor, he trained Sunline, the world's highest-earning racemare of her time.

Sharon O'Neill had 80s hits on both sides of the Tasman with Words, Maybe and Maxine and returns to perform at Auckland Zoo this Saturday night.

We don't go out and do consumer panels. We just make what we think is best within that and hope shoppers agree.

Andy Dowding has been producing the Vodafone NZ Music Awards with his Kiwi partner Justine McKay since their lives in New York were overturned by the events of 9/11.

Warren Maxwell, of Trinity Roots and Fat Freddy's Drop fame, helped develop Massey University's new Bachelor of Commercial Music degree and talks about music as a viable career option.

Sarah Stuart interviews journalist Lisa Owen.

12 Questions asks the good, the great and the interesting to ponder the big things in life - faith, hope, failure, love and money. Here are the best quotes from the year on sex.

12 Questions asks 12 people about life – faith, hope, family, love and money. Here are the best quotes from the past year on success and failure.

1. When did you first see Jaws?

1. Why does Australia produce such good cartoonists?

Geeling Ching grew up above her father's greengrocery in Mt Roskill and was modelling in Sydney when David Bowie chose her for a music video.

1. That's a very shiny Harley- Davidson: do you spend all your spare time polishing it?

Sara Clemens is one of Silicon Valley’s few female senior execs, a strategist who has worked with Xbox, LinkedIn and is now chief strategy officer at Pandora internet radio.

1. What are you frightened of?

1.How would you describe your childhood?

Paul Brown wanted to be an architect but I wasn't artistic enough. I've rebelled against that (King's College stereotype) a bit. I'm a maverick I suppose.

Norman Ng is 82 and arrived in NZ as Japan invaded China. 75 years later he's a successful businessman who owns the skinniest building on K'Road.

1. Were you always conscious of creating a life for yourself after athletics?

1. Your parents worked in the rag trade - were you always only ever going to be a fashion designer?

Presenter and reporter Samantha Hayes grew up in the tiny town of Milton hunting, fishing and dyeing her hair red. The South African-born avowed vegetarian joined TV3 at the age of 22 and next week hosts her first political debate.

Malcolm Black was lead singer of Netherworld Dancing Toys before becoming an entertainment lawyer and signing Brooke Fraser, Che Fu, Dimmer and Stellar for Sony Music. He is director of music for Les Mills International and manages Neil Finn.

My Dad was religious but I spent all my time avoiding church. He would give me a penny to take to our Presbyterian church in Wanganui but I would put it on the train.

Working at the hospice reminds you of what life is about - being with the people you love and who love you the most.

City Missioner Diane Robertson is a schoolteacher turned therapist and charity chief whose abusive childhood once made Christmas Day a nightmare. She and her staff and volunteers will make Christmas dinner for 2,500 people next week.

She was New Zealand's first Poet Laureate and now Michele Leggott has won the PM's award for literature, which she'll receive in Wellington tonight.

Lucy Marr is half of Auckland's most fashionable hair salon empire and has started her own organic skincare line, Sans.