NewsBank (Mix, The)

If we pay attention and employ a little empathy, we can still rescue hope, Prof Kevin Clements tells Tom McKinlay.

Games industry veteran Jess Reiner-Reed of Insomniac Games has worked with PlayStation Studios for more than 15 years, working on huge franchises like Marvel’s Spider-Man and God of War. With Jess in New Zealand shortly ahead of Insomniac’s upcoming release (September 15) of Marvel’s Wolverine — on which she has been working as senior project director — The Weekend Mix’s Ben Allan asked her a few

A new film examines New Zealand’s radical economic reforms from the perspective of the man who stood against them, Tom McKinlay reports.

At Moeraki, the wharenui Uenuku ties whānau to the history of their tūpuna, stretching back to Hawaiki, Tom McKinlay and Luke Chapman learn.

The work of understanding James Cook’s role in our history is under full sail again, as historian Tony Ballantyne publishes a new book. He tells Paul Gorman of the vast territory it charts.

Our Dad would rise in the winter dark, call out

The Odyssey (M) ★★★★

Facelifts have become so normalised, shifting from extreme body horror to self care, that a whole sub-industry has formed around their inevitability, Eva Wiseman writes.

Growing up in Mexico, Monday was bean day. A big pot simmering gently on the stove, filling the house with a comforting smell that marked the beginning of the week. It’s a tradition I maintain, usually dried pinto or black beans from the cupboard. They’re my favourites to cook with. Many people are a little scared of cooking dried beans from scratch. The idea of soaking them overnight before then

Dogs of the World

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY

Serves 8.

For decades the Dunedin Film Society has championed our right to see the best of film, Alister McDonald tells Tom McKinlay.

From very early on, Ben Kingsley’s talent found kind supporters, which is so important, he tells Glenn Whipp.

These crab fritters and pumpkin pastries are the life and soul of any party, writes Nigel Slater.

Growing up, his idea of Robin Hood wasn’t a fox. So, Michael Sarnoski went his own way, he tells Mark Olsen.

Sudan is the world’s forgotten crisis. That needs to change, now, World Vision Sudan national director Simon Mane says

Bunchy’s Big Score have recorded an album’s worth of seriously good choruses, but fans shouldn’t be concerned, they tell Tom McKinlay.

The son of a famous actor and a famous director, Joe Anders tells Lily Isaacs that he won’t let it define him.

Pop icon Debbie Harry has a new film role and Blondie album but will never stop thinking about what’s next, she tells Megan Nolan.

Four young Dunedin bands are drawing on the city’s rock ’n’ roll heritage to create new possibilities, Tom McKinlay writes.

Returning to Cannes, Pedro Almodóvar steels himself to weather the inevitable acclaim, Glenn Whipp writes.

Because TVNZ camera operator Ross Wilson has seen it all, so have we, Paul Gorman writes.

The layers of archaeological evidence at Moeraki lie together with the layered histories told and retold by mana whenua, Gerard O’Regan tells Tom McKinlay and Luke Chapman.

The remarkable story of a German ship’s desperate flight from Dunedin in the early days of World War 2, has now been revealed.

Internationally acclaimed as the greatest living exponent of flamenco guitar, Paco Pena will perform in Dunedin this weekend. He tells Rebecca Fox about the Spanish tradition that has shaped his life.

The stories of Kātiki Point and the names associated with it are being given new life, TomMcKinlay and Luke Chapman learn.

Journalist and poet Richard Langston had loved Dunedin band The Clean for decades and knew there should be a book. But having realised it would be him writing it, he had to work out how, he tells Matthew Littlewood. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation about the product of his labours, The Clean: In The Dreamlife You Need A Rubber Soul.

When I tell colleagues I am involved in a research project at Shangri-La, they think I am teasing.

Recently, I was brought for identification a jar of live black house ants that had built up to large numbers inside a private car. Of Australian origin, the black house ant is frequently intercepted in cars imported from Japan.