Among the cuts on the table in Auckland Council's budget proposal is a slashing of funds for arts and culture - including the UNESCO City of Music programme.
This programme aims to strengthen the city's music ecosystem, but it was only just getting started when Covid put a spanner in the works, putting a halt to music events that the industry is still struggling to recover from.
Reporter Tom Taylor spoke with Auckland City of Music director Mark Roach about the impact of funding cuts for the sector, and the city at large.

'It will kill the soul of the city' - music leader on Auckland budget's proposed cuts

News & Politics

Featuring a political track from Dunedin doom-pop two piece Night Lunch, a new release from Baby Rose and BADBADNOTGOOD, and Melbourne-based Cyanide Thornton's self-titled 2018 EP.

Out Lately with Finn Johansson

He brought forth the eponymous Byronic hero, inspired musicians from Liszt to Leonard Cohen, and despite a roguish reputation, he is still regarded today as one of the great poets.

Two hundred year anniversary of poet Lord Byron's death

BBC World's Middle East correspondent Sebastian Usher joins Emile Donovan for the latest on the reported strike on the city of Isfahan.

Update on Isfahan air strike

RNZ News at 10pm, April 19

Nights' resident film critic Dan Slevin joins Emile Donovan to review some top picks for weekend viewing, including Origin (2023) in cinemas now, Constellation (2024) streaming on AppleTV+, and Eleanor Coppola's directing debut Paris Can Wait (2016) streaming for free on Māori+.

'It will kill the soul of the city' - music leader on Auckland budget's proposed cuts

Download our free app to listen on your phone