New Zealand Listener Issue 01, 2026

New Zealand Listener Te Kaiwhakarongo Aotearoa Editor Kirsty Cameron Chief Subeditor Geoff Cumming Managing Editor Ruth Brown Art Director Derek Ward Books Editor Mark Broatch Entertainment & Arts Editor Russell Baillie Digital Editor Dionne Christian Content Producer Louise Barnes Subeditors Richard Betts, Bevan Rapson Senior Designer Richard Kingsford Editorial contact listener@aremedia.co.nz Contributors this issue: Nat Baker, Kurt Bennett, Darren Bevan, Russell Brown, Greg Bruce, Peter Butler, Michael Cooper, Greg Dixon, Andrea Graves, Michele Hewitson, Kim Hill, Andrew Kerr, Fiona Kidman, Bernard Lagan, Anthony Lapwood, Danyl McLauchlan, Emma Martin, Ruth Nichol, Tony Nyberg, Nicky Pellegrino, Graham Reid, Anna Rogers, Nicola Saker, Alex Scott, Cheryl Pearl Sucher, Tim Upperton, Sarah Watt, Marc Wilson Chief Executive Officer Jane Huxley General Manager Stuart Dick Editorial Director Sarah Henry Head of Digital Melissa Walsh Senior…

An ecosanctuary established by HealthPost Nature Trust at Cape Farewell in 2017 has served as a testing ground to protect and regenerate native species. Now, work is under way to extend a predator-free fence across the base of Farewell Spit to shield its wildlife from feral pigs, cats, rats, mustelids and other threats. A PledgeMe campaign is asking New Zealanders for the last $100,000 to meet the $600,000 budget to finish the fence by mid-2026. Broadcaster Kim Hill, a trust patron, and trust chair Peter Butler explain how what was once dismissed as a mad idea came to be. Kim Hill: We bought a bach at the top of Golden Bay about 25 years ago. One day, Peter came to visit and I was using one of those ball-throwers for…

Kudos to Dame Anne Salmond for her courage and tenacity (Letters, December 20). Enough! As the world watches the diminishing power of a pathetic old man who appears to be in rapidly deteriorating physical and cognitive health, I believe we’ve reached tipping point. Our politicians who have aligned with the Maga cult will soon begin to distance themselves. Yes, social media will still dominate as a far-right ecosystem, but Trump and all his associated memes and themes could well have had their day. Act leader David Seymour, NZ First’s Shane Jones and others may find they’re riding the wrong horse. Changing mid-stream could be hazardous. Patricia Fenton (Whangārei) DUCKING FOR COVER The Upfront column by Jeffrey Paparoa Holman (December 20), was thought-provoking in its discussion of the poor handling of…

Bright Lines is taking a break this week, owing to the double issue of December 20. Finalists and the winner for the challenge below will be announced in the issue of January 17, 2026. We’d like to thank everyone who sent in entries throughout 2025, and also those who suggested tweaks to our current line-up of Bright Lines quests. Look out for challenges with a twist in the coming year. As a reminder, the next Bright Lines challenge is the Haiku Competition. Please write a haiku about summer holiday travel, using 17 syllables set out in three lines of five, seven and five. Don’t forget to include your address with entries. TO ENTER: Send your entry to brightlinescompetition@aremedia.co.nz with “Bright Lines No 125” in the subject line. Entries must be…

“I went shopping at Aldi’s today and a five-pack of Maggi noodles was AU$1.69. A whole uncooked chicken was $4.99. Eggs were $4.” “If you’re really unhappy with it, for god’s sake go make a Marmite sandwich and put an apple in a bag just like you and I had.” “Turns out you can have it all. So long as you’re prepared to be a c--- to the women who birth your kids, school your offspring and wipe the arse of your elderly parents while you stand on their shoulders to earn your six-figure, taxpayer-funded pay packet.” “I see @catherinechidgey is desperate for attention again and doesn’t care who she drags through the mud. Sad, really. I expected better of the @nzlistenermag though.” “I will not be setting a precedent…

1. Where is the Hermitage museum? ❑ Paris ❑ Amsterdam ❑ Houston ❑ St Petersburg 2. Which of these is NOT part of the realm of New Zealand? ❑ Cook Islands ❑ Niue ❑ Vanuatu ❑ Ross Dependency 3. Who was born Issur Danielovitch? ❑ Humphrey Bogart ❑ Gary Cooper ❑ Errol Flynn ❑ Kirk Douglas 4. In which film is there the support organisation Single Parents Alone Together? ❑ Mrs Doubtfire ❑ About a Boy ❑ Jerry Maguire ❑ One Fine Day 5. What’s the correct spelling? ❑ Taboggan ❑ Toboggan ❑ Tobbogan ❑ Taboggon 6. What is the currency of the Philippines? ❑ Peso ❑ Dollar ❑ Ringgit ❑ Rupiah 7. Which is the oldest of these words? ❑ Ticket ❑ Coupon ❑ Label ❑ Logo 8. Which…