Several generations of families share their stories and ephemera in an exhibition that looks at how New Zealand Chinese grabbed opportunities and contributed to the Aotearoa of today.Gum Sarn: Evolving Notions of the Sweet Earth has just opened in Auckland at the Depot Artspace in Devonport.

Leesa Lambert is the Co-owner and Manager of Carlton's The Little Bookroom, rated as one of the city's top indie bookshops.

On National Poetry Day, August 25th, Carl Stead ends his busy and eventful two-year stint as the country's Poet Laureate. The tireless 84 year old has a new limited-edition book of poetry launched by The National Library. He's also just finished another novel, and taken up blogging.

Lynn Freeman spoke to cast-member Toni Potter, and asked what changing the setting to modern-day brings to the script and its characters. This production of A Streetcar Named Desire opens at Auckland's Silo Theatre on August 24.

Once a year, every year, the largest Arts Festival in the world in Edinburgh, Scotland welcomes the world. Among the thousands of performances on offer at the 70th Edinburgh Fringe Festival are dozens of shows put on by Kiwis.

God's Own Country has gathered further prizes and accolades, and also inevitable comparisons with Hollywood's groundbreaking movie Brokeback Mountain.

More than half a century after this country's deadliest road accident, a young Auckland theatre company is exploring what happened during and after the Brynderwyn bus crash of 1963. Fifteen people died in the accident and the company says the hurt lingers even now. Over the next couple of months, Te Waka Huia will tour the production, loosely following the route of the original bus trip from Waitangi to Helensville.

Elisabeth Moss has appeared in two of the most successful TV series of the past 15 years –​ West Wing and Mad Men. This year, she adds The Handmaid's Tale and the new series of Top of the Lake to the list.

There's a reason Romeo and Juliet is one of the ultimate love stories - the young star-crossed lovers' story is the stuff of stage, screen, music and of course literature. The Royal New Zealand Ballet company is about to reveal a new interpretation, one its choreographer Francesco Ventriglia promises will draw deeply emotional performances from his dancers. Lynn Freeman also speaks to Romeo - Joseph Skelton and to Juliet, Madeleine Graham. The national tour starts in Wellington on Wednesday.

References to Colin McCahon's paintings and the Rocky Horror Picture Show can be seen in an exhibition of work by a visiting Sydney artist - Nell - who is a bundle of contradictions. She is a Buddhist who's also an AC/DC fangirl, and one equally comfortable using crucifix and emoji images in her work.