Historians agree that the shameful events of the 2014 New Zealand General Election started on Sunday, August 10, when Winston Peters, in his speech at the NZ First campaign launch, used the classic “two Wongs don’t make a white/right” gag.

Stunning and soulful singing catapulted her from church choir to chart success and then on to Hollywood. But when three members of her family were murdered, it took all she had to keep going. Jennifer Hudson talks to Tim Adams about surviving grief.

The worldwide domination of a building blocks game is a triumph for the power of human imagination. John Naughton looks at how Minecraft has bewitched 40 million of us.

The rest of the world is now sending us some of their best wines, which enables us to see what all the fuss is about. These are worth checking out.

It was a night full of surprises. First we were surprised to be taken out to Le Vietnamese Kitchen's back room, and find it warmer and buzzier than in the front.

I've never felt more helpless than while lying on a slab, pants around my ankles, with someone poking around in my twig and berries.

Our growing ability to access on-demand entertainment is all well and good, writes Greg Dixon, but what we really need is more time.

You can always tell. No matter what time of day (though around dinner-time is always a bit of a giveaway) you just know, the moment it starts ringing.

'Tis the season for hearty comfort food and wines to match. If you’re looking for cuddly, well-made and red wines that are a bit off beat … you’ve come to the right place.

Out in the suburbs it is difficult to suppress a yawn when it is announced a new Indian restaurant is to open.

This is a very strange book. It's about Neil Gaiman, so it can probably afford to be.

Gerard Woodward’s family gave him plenty of material to write about, but it took years to work out how, he tells Linda Herrick.

Sebastian Barry’s latest novel is a narrative of disintegration and self-destruction, written in the most lyrical of language.

What does it take to save a baby's life? Suzanne McFadden traces the incredible story of a baby's will to live.

The best thing about the Commonwealth Games is that they are exactly like the Olympics except we win heaps more medals.

Graphic images show the extremes of life worldwide. Paul Lewis reviews the World Press Photo exhibition.

It’s a pity there are so few American wines available here as many of them are drop-dead gorgeous. True, many are extraordinarily expensive but those that find their way here are usually of astonishing quality and value for money.

The council's new cobblestones will look cool when they're finished, but at the moment O'Connell St is a bit of a mess.

Cliff Curtis’ turn as a bipolar chess champ may be his greatest role yet. He talks to Russell Baillie about piling on weight, confronting his past, and being a family man.

New season, new colours. Take a foolhardy approach to this season’s bright fun things.

Cliff Curtis has been on our screens for more than 20 years, ranging from pivotal roles in New Zealand films like Once Were Warriors and Whale Rider to becoming a chameleonic character actor in Hollywood. Here's a visual look back at his career so far.