Television Critic: The Last of Us and The Chosen
Pat Britteden is a long-standing broadcaster with a popular daily news podcast called BHM (Big hairy Men) and Dunedin local, he joins us on TV reviewer duties. Today he's looking at The Last of Us season2 and The Chosen, an online series depicting the life of Christ.
The Last of Us season 2.
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RNZ News
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Cricket: Robert Anderson, member of historic NZ team, dies aged 76
Robert Anderson (centre) celebrates a dismissal along with Geoff Howarth (left) and Mark Burgess (right) during the 1978 test against England. Photo: Supplied: NZ Cricket Top order batter Robert Anderson - a member of the New Zealand side to achieve an historic first test win over England in 1978 - has died aged 76. Born in 1948, Anderson was a tall, strong man known by his team-mates and opponents alike as "Jumbo," and hailed from a cricketing family. His father Mac Anderson opened the batting with Walter Hadlee in New Zealand's test against Australia at the Basin Reserve in 1946, while his son Tim later played as a leg-spinner for Central Districts. His own career began with Canterbury in 1967-68, and he went on to represent three other New Zealand provinces: Northern Districts (1969-70), Otago (1971/72-1976/77), and Central Districts (1977/78-1981/82). Anderson's international career began with a tour of England in 1973, though he did not play a test. His test debut came in Lahore in 1976 during New Zealand's tour of Pakistan, a match that highlighted his grit. Scoring 92 in the second innings, his highest test score, Anderson forged a 183-run fifth-wicket partnership with Mark Burgess (111) in just 155 minutes, a New Zealand record at the time. With New Zealand following on 260 runs behind, their stand rescued the side from 62 for four, though Pakistan clinched a four-wicket victory. The match was notable for other debutants: Peter Petherick took a hat-trick, Warren Lees stepped in as wicketkeeper following Ken Wadsworth's death and and Javed Miandad announced himself to the world with an innings of 163. Anderson's finest hour came during the 1977-78 season, his most prolific, when he scored 849 runs at 38.59 (across all competitions). That summer, he played all three tests against England and was part of New Zealand's landmark 72-run victory at the Basin Reserve, the first time New Zealand had defeated England in a test. Though his contributions with the bat (28 and 26) were modest, they were vital in a low-scoring match - his 26 being the top score across both the New Zealand and England second innings. Retained for the 1978 tour of England, Anderson played nine tests in total, with his 92 in Lahore remaining his best. -RNZ
RNZ News
3 hours ago
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Chris Bishop frustrated by 'politicised' Stan Walker Aotearoa Music Awards performance
Paul Goldsmith (left) and Chris Bishop at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards in Auckland, on 29 May, 2025. Photo: Supplied/ Stijl - James Ensing-Trussell Senior government Minister Chris Bishop says he was frustrated by the politicisation of Stan Walker's performance at the Aotearoa Music Awards, when he said "what a load of crap" . During Stan Walker's performance of Māori Ki te Ao, performers took to the stage with flags displaying Toitū Te Tiriti, a movement borne out of opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill and other government legislation. Bishop, who was in attendance, was seen criticising the performance, and has since said he should have kept the comments to himself. On Tuesday, Bishop told reporters his comments were not directed specifically at Walker. "I was frustrated and annoyed by the sort of overt politicking around it," he said. "It's not about Stan Walker, I actually quite like Stan Walker, actually quite liked his performance. It was just the sort of politicisation of it that frustrated me," he said. Bishop singled out the Toitū Te Tiriti "banners and paraphernalia" as the source of his frustration, not the performance itself. He said he would not be apologising to Walker. "It's not clear what I'd be apologising for." Stan Walker performing at the Aotearoa Music Awards 2025. Photo: Emma Cooper His comments led to backlash from other performers , including Don McGlashan, who was seen on video confronting Bishop. The minister said the irony was he was a "huge" Don McGlashan fan. "I love the Mutton Birds. But Don McGlashan is a noteworthy non-supporter of the National Party. People might remember the 2008 election, in which he expressed some frustration at 'Anchor Me', which is a great Mutton Birds tune, being used by TVNZ on the election night coverage," Bishop said. "His political views are quite well-known, but look it is what it is, he's entitled to his views in the same way I'm entitled to mine." Arts, culture and heritage minister Paul Goldsmith, who was also at the event, brushed off whether the performance was controversial. "There's always controversy at music awards. It goes without saying," he said. Māori Crown relations minister Tama Potaka said he disagreed with Bishop's comments, but they were for Bishop to respond to. "I absolutely love Stan Walker and his commitment to te reo, and the mahi that he does particularly in his engagement with Ratana, the hāhi. I don't agree with minister Bishop's comments, however those are a matter for him to comment on," Potaka said. Labour's Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said Bishop, as a music fan, should know that music had always been political. "He should know music better than anyone. Look around the world, people have been doing that for years. Whether it's Bob Marley, Bono, whatever, it's been happening, it's not like something new. He should talk to his Shihad heroes, cos the lead singer there's got pretty good politics too." Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi The Prime Minister told Morning Report he was comfortable with Bishop's response , and had spoken to him over the weekend. "I just got his side of the story about what he said and it was exactly as reported. He corrected it well before I got to him... he just acknowledged he should have kept his thoughts to himself," Christopher Luxon said. "The bottom line is your listeners aren't losing a lot of sleep over what a politician sharing his opinion on some music was about." Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Bishop's behaviour was disappointing, but it was for the Prime Minister to bring his ministers in line. "You've got to remember when you're a government minister that you're on public display all of the time." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
3 hours ago
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The Māori-Samoan art director championing diversity
Leon Bristow Photo: Studio One — Toi Tū "What we put on stage and screen matters." This mantra forms the core of an online talent directory founded by Māori-Samoan (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine) art director Leon Bristow. Bristow's idea for BEINGS came while living in Spain, as he observed controversies in the creative industry over representation. "There have been so many - Scarlett Johanson withdraws from roles after transgender backlash; Eddie Redmayne says starring in 'The Danish Girl' was a mistake; Taika Waititi's 'Time Bandits' under fire for lack of representation in cast." Examples of industry setbacks, Photo: Leon Bristow He questioned the lag in representation in creative fields like advertising and recalled moments of frustration when working on sets, where he witnessed it first-hand. "There have been comments that I don't always agree with (as an art director), because it is about profiling - racially profiling, stereotyping, pigeonholing. "One time, we were casting for a queer couple, and we had people's thumbnails on the screen… some colleagues suggested we cast a person, because she 'looks queer'. "I put my hand up and said, have we actually asked if they are queer? In these situations, you are taking opportunities away, income away, from these actual communities if we are giving it to a straight couple - and they don't know how to potray that identity authentically. So my next question was: shouldn't we ask that?" Bristow's personal experiences and identity have shaped his commitment to authentic representation. "People can find it complicated. You have to raise your hand, backtrack through the process. Sometimes the intentions aren't bad but the questions aren't being asked. "I have certainly grown a shorter tolerance for this. I have learnt, as one of the few Māori/Pasifika in the industry, that I have a responsibility to my community to give back. "Starting this project up really supports that, and provides a new platform in this space." Bristow's directory received funding from Creative New Zealand. BEINGS represents Aotearoa's People of Colour (POC), rainbow, and disabled talent in the advertising industry, "disrupting the existent status quo" and using voices that Bristow said have been historically sidelined, or misrepresented, in casting calls for advertisements. talent, part of the photography exhibition. Photo: Frances Carter, BEINGS photographer "What we are doing is creating a kaupapa that centres BIPOC, rainbow, and disabled voices in a way that allows them to not just exist, but thrive - from casting, to collaboration, to exhibition," Bristow said. "Our work is about creating futures where diversity isn't just an add-on, but a given." At an Auckland Pride Festival Studio One - Toi Tū exhibition, BEINGS showcased some of the talent in its directory. Executive director for Auckland Pride, Hāmiora Bailey (Ngāti Porou Ki Harataunga, Ngāti Huarere), said the photography exhibition is a vital intervention in Aotearoa's media landscape. BEINGS talent Photo: Frances Carter, BEINGS photographer BEINGS talent Photo: Frances Carter, BEINGS photographer "At a time when systemic exclusion still defines many of New Zealand's screen, television, and theatre sectors, BEINGS challenges prevailing stereotypes and opens space for more genuine storytelling," he said. Bailey added that disparities in representation remain stark. A 2016 NZ On Air diversity report showed women made up 55 per cent of funded television producers, with 33 per cent directors, and 11 per cent had directed drama. Asian producers represented only one per cent, despite making up 11.8 percent of the population. Māori producers reached 23 percent in 2021, exceeding their population share, and Pacific producers were at 7.6 percent. Initiatives like the New Zealand Film Commission and Māoriland Film Festival have supported this shift. BEINGS founder Leon Bristow, alongside Fibre Fale co-founders Julia Arnott-Neenee and Eteroa Lafaele Photo: Studio One — Toi Tū
