New Zealand Listener Issue 17, 2025

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 Assistant Art Director Shane Kelly Senior Designer Richard Kingsford Editorial contact listener@aremedia.co.nz Contributors this issue: Richard Betts, Lucy Black, Alexandra Bonham, Russell Brown, Sarah Catherall, Jane Clifton, Michael Cooper, Greg Dixon, Anthony Ellison, David Harvey, Michele Hewitson, Marcus Hobson, Paul Little, Veronika Meduna, Danyl McLauchlan, Paula Morris, Ann Packer, Nicky Pellegrino, Karl Puschmann, Graham Reid, Nicholas Reid, Jessica Rose, Cathrin Schaer, Chris Slane, Aaron Smale, Sarah Watt, Marc Wilson, Helena Wiśniewska Brow Chief Executive Officer Jane Huxley General Manager Stuart Dick Editorial Director Sarah Henry Head…

Planners are in the firing line. In our biggest city this year, council planners have discouraged a large commercial building in a heritage area, opposed the rezoning of rural land for urban development and pushed developers to make design improvements to new apartments, including providing bigger living spaces. Is this “insanity” – as Housing Minister Chris Bishop branded the rejection by independent planning commissioners of an 11-storey glass building on Karangahape Rd? Almost all planning consent applications are granted by councils. Where they are not, it’s usually because planners are trying to deliver what voters want, namely, attractive, non-sprawling cities that haven’t lost all their heritage and trees. Some people love heritage; others see it as an obstacle. There isn’t much left but a disproportionate amount is close to public…

Niki Bezzant’s article (“Dining in the dark”, April 19) raised my eyebrows. The government has firmly rejected a $15 million request from researchers wishing to mull over differences in eating patterns of the last 20 years because of the expense. Some would say the survey has merit, but it is insufficient in its scope because 20 years is far too short. A 50-year time frame is required to view the damage inflicted by wrong-headed emphasis on the thoroughly debunked 1970s food pyramid with carbohydrates over-hyped, and full-fat dairy demonised. But strong support for the survey from research groups and academics continues, including from Otago University and Auckland medical school. And strangely, also from the Food and Grocery Council (FGC). There’s even a suggestion that funding could be available from that…

For our Bright Lines competition, No 90, we asked you to write a limerick on the government’s newly announced defence spending. FINALISTS: Our soldiers can now join the fray Twelve billion will show them the way But bearing the brunt, The ones at the front Will be those without NCEA ‒ Bernard Harris, Palmerston North There’s not enough money to fight, So Judith is putting us right. She’ll dip in her purse, For what could be worse Than Trump and co calling us tight. ‒ Chris Bossley, Lower Hutt Those Chinese ships gave us a fright! We must beef up our military might. So the government has said A big spend-up’s ahead For too long we’ve said “She’ll be right!” ‒ Alison Hale, Christchurch The Chinese will come – to…

“Do you know how bad things have to be to scare off Australians?” – Talkshow host Stephen Colbert notes the largest drop in Australian tourists to the US since Covid-19 “There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others.” – From an address read on behalf of Pope Francis on the occasion of his final public appearance on Easter Sunday “You can’t share fully your opinion, because it’s not appreciated, apparently. Or people can’t handle the full truth.” – Belgian-Dutch racing driver Max Verstappen avoids making post-race comments at the risk of being penalised after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix “Dear Beetle owner. I don’t enjoy seeing your silly car with its silly eyelashes and pink sticking…

1. What is a synonym for invidious? ❑ Purplish ❑ Unchanging ❑ Critical ❑ Unenviable 2. Where would you normally find a milium? ❑ Mathematics ❑ Plants ❑ Human skin ❑ Astronomy 3. Which of these mammals does NOT have polyphyodonty, teeth that are continually replaced? ❑ Elephant ❑ Manatee ❑ Kangaroo ❑ Camel 4. Which chemical element has the symbol Hg? ❑ Gold ❑ Mercury ❑ Lead ❑ Tungsten 5. What was the name of Lucy Davis’s character in the UK version of The Office? ❑ Grace ❑ Willow ❑ Rose ❑ Dawn 6. What is the capital of Lebanon? ❑ Beirut ❑ Damascus ❑ Haifa ❑ Nicosia 7. David Cornwell is better known as who? ❑ John le Carré ❑ Capt WE Johns ❑ JK Rowling ❑ Mark…