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

Crown jewel

Meri Kirihimete

Quips & Quotes

Focusing on solutions

WINNING CAPTION

Funny You Should Ask • The QI elves are a team of writers and comedians who find the answers to impossible questions, doing the research for the long-running QI TV series, podcasts and the spin-off books. For the next few months we’ll be running some of their finest findings: the weird, wonderful, witty and wise, from their latest book, Funny You Should Ask.

Flagging exceptionalism

Starting from scratch

Kiwi favourites • McDonald’s uses fresh milk and cream from New Zealand cows grazing on grass for its iconic soft-serve Sundaes.

What Covid taught us about investing • Covid has taught investors valuable lessons. The virus has been with us for nearly a year and investors who held their nerve have benefited, says Harbour Asset Management’s Chris Di Leva.

Picking winners • We can either open the border to more people to harvest summer crops or pay over the odds at the greengrocer for scarce fruit and veges.

IN A FIX • The throwaway society was great while it lasted, but a growing number of people are waking up to its unsustainability and setting about fixing it.

HOW TO CUT THE WASTE

With these hands • An iPad might seem beyond a mere mortal’s repair powers, but Jeremy Corbett aced it.

The stuff of life • The urge to fix things often has little to do with their utility, value or sustainability.

Shoe in • Lisa Myers is very happy as a woman in a man’s shoe-repair world, helped by her love of good footwear.

The BEST & THE WURST • When liberal democracies such as the UK and US are floundering, maybe it’s time for traffic-light-loving Germany to step up.

Germans on the streets • Obedience is the usual way, but naysayers are rearing their heads.

HILLARY’S WITNESS • Daring journalist James – later Jan – Morris was the perfect observer for the historic ascent of Everest and a trailblazer in more ways than one.

THE ‘G’ WORD • The Race Relations Commissioner is calling out the Government for inaction on racism and poverty.

YEAR OF LIVING FAMOUSLY • 2020 was supposed to be Benee’s big year of touring, but the Kiwi singer-songwriter still managed to achieve some remarkable overseas success while staying home.

BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER • In a year when artists had to adapt, remarkable music was made.

THE BETHS OF TIMES • Three Tuis and the rare treat of playing to live crowds bring local compensation to the Beths’ lost overseas touring year.

Holiday eats • When the days are hot and long, meals should be easy, colourful and delicious.

GIVEAWAYS

Best buys of the year • The leading bargain wines for 2021 emerge after a tasting of 2500 contenders.

DIVERSIONS

Wordsworth

15 Quick Questions

FIT FOR A KING

FESTIVE FARE

TELEVISION • The Best of the Week

TV SPORT • The big match-ups over Christmas.

TV Films by

Holiday treats

… and in case you missed it …

TV programmes & Radio programmes

APO’s glad tidings • The orchestra’s annus horribilis ends in Christmas comfort and joy.

Don’t mention the pandemic