More than technical prowess, the photographs that were short-listed in each category share an original perspective—a insight into the fabric of our country and society that tells us something new ...

Back when most of Central Otago was a superlake, back when the climate was almost tropical, back when three-metre-long crocodilians lazed in the shallows and giant parrots stalked the bush—well, a lot ...

In the opening chapter of his first, remarkable book, Wellington lawyer and journalist Asher Emanuel shows us the gap he is writing into. “No account of statistics or arms-length analysis of policy ...

Plantations of exotic timber trees, especially pines, are looked on with disdain by many as alien monocultures, an unpleasant accommodation necessary to protect precious indigenous forests from the ...

How did I ever get caught in a trap like this? No way up and certainly no way to climb back down. A wall of vertical granite fell away beneath my feet and gravity, so deftly defied until now, returned ...

There was no avoiding war when I was at primary school. Every morning, we entered the playground through ornate memorial gates, on either side of which were brass plaques bearing the names of old boys ...

A cave beneath Mt Albert, was found to have become a dumping ground for rubbish. One hundred kilometres below Auckland, a vast reservoir of magma seethes, still testing the crust that keeps it captive ...

New Zealand’s largest earthquake in European times struck the centre of the country almost 150 years ago. Although the later Murchison and Napier earthquakes claimed more lives, neither created the ...

In 1834, the Englishman William Swainson was at the height of his scientific career. Aged 45, loaded with honours from the scientific academies and institutions of Paris, Quebec, South Africa, ...

The 1855 celebrations marking the 15th anniversary of the young Wellington settlement had gone off splendidly under dazzling skies—the only shortcoming being a want of wind for events on the water.

Decades ago, red admiral butterflies all but abandoned Auckland city. Now, united by two retirees and a tolerance for ...

Ta-da: a jaunty bird taking a walk, looking like he’s about to belt out a Pingu honk. Decades later, McCahon paints a ...