On the back of particularly bad music review, by Simon Sweetman, James Griffin asks the question: why do some people hate the ukulele so much?

Bette Midler talks frankly to Bryony Gordon about sex, self-respect and survival.

INTERACTIVE: Our annual guide to the best books to give and receive this Christmas. Guess which ones made the list.

In the shopping malls of this proud little consumer nation, the Christmas decorations have been up since October.

For decades Suzanne McFadden has dyed her hair to keep away the grey. But enough is enough. Here, she describes the fear — and the relief — of finally showing her age.

Standards are kept high at Andiamo, a constant that ensures regulars stay faithful.

In 2008 Auckland’s most famous record store almost closed its doors, its owners broke and broken. But six years on the story couldn’t be more different.

In an extract from a new book of photographs by Andris Apse, which pays tribute to the South Island, former All Black captain Anton Oliver tells how the Central Otago landscape reduced him to tears.

Get ready for high-octane glamour this season.

Each year American novelist Richard Ford heads to Ireland to shoot woodcock. Robert McCrum joins him on the Irish coast.

There is no pain like watching your first-born leave home, but eventually every mum has to learn to let go, says Allison Pearson.

Bad taste is good taste when it comes to dressing ladylike separates with a kick.