Review of The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug
By David Larsen in Film
David Larsen finds Peter Jackson's second Hobbit film far more to his liking than the first. Shame about the dragon though.
Politician of the Year Awards
Subscriber contentBy Jane Clifton in Politics
Following an exhaustive study of the species Homo politicus, our esteemed judges are proud to announce the winners of their annual awards for MPs.
Nelson Mandela 1918 - 2013
By Helen Clark in Current Affairs
“It was like the sun came out” is how Nelson Mandela described hearing about the 1981 anti-apartheid protests in New Zealand. Former Prime Minister
The 100 best books of 2013
By Guy Somerset in Books
Books & Culture editor Guy Somerset and the Listener’s team of reviewers on the year’s reading highlights.
Current Affairs
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Jane Clifton: we’re just not that into you
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Paul Thomas: good, better, best?
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Eco-friendly Christmas trees, plus Health Briefs
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Culture
Rachel Kushner: telexes from the 20th century
Subscriber contentBy Guy Somerset
American Rachel Kushner is working on a contemporary novel, but only after writing about 1950s Cuba and, in this year’s The Flamethrowers, revolutionary
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Lorde on high
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Book review: Jeeves and the Wedding Bells: A Homage to PG Wodehouse, by Sebastian Faulks
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Hahn hits mark with composer encores
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Lifestyle
Lauraine Jacobs: perfect picnic fare
Subscriber contentWith the arrival of summer, a cook’s thoughts turn to picnics and portable food.
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Healthy resolutions, plus iEat with Annabel Langbein
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Michael Cooper: summer sipping
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Western Australia: time & tides
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Commentary
TV's best and worst of 2013
Subscriber contentBy The Listener
This was a year when we caught a glimpse of the country as it could be: diverse, tolerant, eloquent, humorous and brave – with the odd dickhead to liven
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Editorial: back to basics
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Letters: December 21, 2013
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David Mahon in Beijing: passive power
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Competitions
Caption competition 55
Try your hand at this week's caption competition.
Books
Book review: Peter McLeavey: The Life and Times of a New Zealand Art Dealer, by Jill Trevelyan
Subscriber contentJill Trevelyan’s biography charts the life and times of the doyen of New Zealand gallerists.
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Book review: Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing, by Anya von Bremzen
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Book review: The Valley of Amazement, by Amy Tan
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Book review: The Men Who United the States, by Simon Winchester
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TV & Entertainment
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Quick Bytes: including ten Christmas life hacks
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On Radio, December 21-27: including Gifts from Under the Christmas Tree
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On at the movies: December 21, 2013
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Film
Now showing: December 14, 2013
Subscriber contentBrief film reviews, including The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
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Sitar Wars, and 12 other films improved by adding a letter
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On at the movies: December 7, 2013
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On at the movies: November 30, 2013
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The Influentials
Influentials: Speeches that helped shape us
A look at some words of significance in New Zealand's history.
From Our Archive
George RR Martin interview
By David Larsen
The author of A Game of Thrones eschews the "Disneyland Middle Ages" to describe worlds of inequality and violence.
Archive
December 21, 2013
COVER STORY: Lorde on high