New Zealand Listener

New Zealand Listener is the country’s most respected general interest magazine, bringing you a wide variety of news, stories, columns, reviews, plus TV listings, every week.

New Zealand Listener

Depth of feeling • Abbreviated versions of music and stories are an insult to both composers and audiences, writes Ian Ferguson.

The year that was

Quips & Quotes

15 Quick Questions

Age of entitlement • As the annual round of backslapping – and backbiting – for new year knights and dames approaches, PAUL LITTLE looks at our honours system and whether it merits a polish up.

You wouldn’t read about it • Let someone else ‘celebrate excellence’, we’ll be over here saluting the dipsticks and dropkicks of the year. BEVAN RAPSON unveils our list of the country’s most dubious achievements of 2025.

Old Dagg, new flick • The daughter of the late John Clarke has followed her memoir of her father with a documentary about the man who became a comedy icon in two countries.

Racing a deadline • A transition plan for the end to greyhound racing in New Zealand has yet to emerge, raising fears for the future of the dogs.

‘Adorable Big Fruit Loop’ • Auckland author and Listener contributor Nicky Pellegrino on her rescue greyhound, Harry.

A spinning world • Watching icebergs can not only send imaginations off on tangents, it once set in motion a whole new science.

Up onto the roof and down again • Each summer, we commission nine of Aotearoa’s finest writers to tell us a short tale. This year’s theme is distraction. Here are the first three.

The wives of Tamanuitera

Driven to distraction

Best of the big screen • Listener film reviewers Sarah Watt and Russell Baillie name their top 10 of the year, with a guide to where you can find them.

Truth be told • Three local docos are among the best films of the year.

Best on telly • From sweeping epics to domestic nightmares, the year in television didn’t lack for big ideas or ways to rattle viewer expectations. Here, Russell Baillie and Russell Brown offer their picks for the top 10 dramas, along with the best in local comedy and documentaries.

Best local laughs

Doing it our way • Despite the cloud hanging over local TV, meaningful NZ programmes were there for the viewing in 2025.

Saturday/Rāhoroi December 27

Sunday/Rātapu December 28

Monday/Rāhina December 29

Tuesday/Rātū December 30

Wednesday/Rāapa December 31

Thursday/Rāpare January 1

Friday/Rāmere January 2

Saturday/Rāhoroi January 3

Sunday/Rātapu January

Monday/Rāhina January 5

Tuesday/Rātū January 6

Wednesday/Rāapa January 7

Thursday/Rāpare January 8

Friday/Rāmere January 9

Radio December 27-January

Tutu Good

Hatches and despatches