Joan's picks: Return to Blood and The Everything War

Return to Blood by Michael Bennett: sequel to Better the Blood from a couple of years ago, featuring Hana Westerman who in the first book was a detective in Auckland, but she’s moved now to a small town looking for a fresh start. A skeleton is found in the sand dunes near her house – the bones of a…

Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge writer on Venice trialling entry fees to crack down on over-tourism

Tourists may think twice before visiting Venice, with a new entrance fee set to be put in place. The tax will be levied on tourists who come to the Italian city for just a day. BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton says this move has been met with scepticism from residents and critics alike. LIS…

The Sunday Panel: Is healthcare where we should be making cuts?

This week on The Sunday Panel, Front Page host Chelsea Daniels and producer and commentator Irene Gardiner joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more! Is health the best area to be making cuts in? Is there a difference between making cuts, and making cuts to bring …

Erin O'Hara: naturopath and wellness expert on the impact of 'free-from' diets

There's a lot of hype around 'free-from' diets - but will they do people more harm than good? There's been an uptick in people avoiding certain ingredients for dietary reasons, including gluten, dairy, eggs, and soy. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara unpacks this trend - and examines the…

Alice Snedden: Comedian, actress, writer and Billy T nominee ahead of the NZ International Comedy Festival

The New Zealand International Comedy Festival begins this week - and one Kiwi comic is set to make a return to the stage. Actress, writer and Billy T nominee Alice Snedden has been making waves overseas, having written and directed international hit series Starstruck with Rose Matafeo. She says i…

Mike Van de Elzen: Chorizo paella with green chili and coriander

Chorizo paella with green chili and coriander: Cook time: 45 minutes Prep time: 5 minutes Serves: 6 2 tbsp sunflower oil 1 white onion, peeled and diced 3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed 2 chorizo sausage, sliced 1/2 tsp smoked paprika 1/2 cup red wine 1 1/2 cups long grain rice 3 cup…

Michelle Dickinson: nanotechnologist reveals captcha tests could get harder as AI gets smarter

I am not a robot. It’s a common box that you have to tick on many websites as you log in - which apparently proves that you are a human, and not a robot. Many people however, seem to be more robot than human as they struggle to get the correct answers - which in some cases could mean the differen…

Steve Newall: Flicks.co.nz editor on the new action rom-com The Fall Guy

Comedy, action and romance come together in The Fall Guy - now playing in theatres. Starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, the film explores the world of stunts and movie-making it between romantic drama and brewing conspiracies. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall examines whether or not this film …

Marian Keyes: Irish author on her new book 'My Favourite Mistake'

Irish author Marian Keyes is back with her 16th book - My Favourite Mistake. She's already sold 35 million books over the course of her career, and even has a Netflix adaptation in the pipeline. Keyes says she felt inspired to write about relationships, friendships romances and community during a…

Kate Gainsford: NZ Secondary Principals' Council chair on the Government's cellphone ban coming into force

Kiwi kids will return to school tomorrow - but the cellphones won't be part of the experience. The Government's ban on phones in schools kicks in from term two, meaning students won't be able to use them during the day, including lunch time and breaks. NZ Secondary Principals' Council chair Kate …