The Listening Library

Great New Zealand books to listen to whenever you want them.

Produced by Duncan Smith

Cover image with olive green and cream tones featuring the text 'The Listening Library' in bold white serif font, and 'Audiobook Collection' in smaller text above. Stylized vertical book spines line the right side of the image.

RNZ exclusive

This podcast is only available on the RNZ website and apps, ad‑free and uninterrupted.

Harbouring (Part 1) by Jenny Pattrick

My Father's Island (Part 1) by Adam Dudding

Season 12 / Episode 1
After the death of his brilliant, eccentric father, Adam Dudding went in search of the stories and secrets of a man who had been a loving parent and husband, but was also a tormented, controlling and at times cruel man.
My Father's Island book by Adam Dudding

My Father's Island (Part 2) by Adam Dudding

Season 12 / Episode 2
The Dudding family shift to Christchurch where Robin has secured the position as editor at Caxton Press and of Landfall magazine.

My Father's Island (Part 3) by Adam Dudding

Season 12 / Episode 3
Adam starts digging into his father's childhood looking for clues about who and what shaped him.

My Father's Island (Part 4) by Adam Dudding

Season 12 / Episode 4
We hear about how Robin Dudding first meets Lois and about his first foray into publishing.

My Father's Island (Part 5) by Adam Dudding

Season 12 / Episode 5
A number of NZ's best known writers were published and nurtured by Robin Dudding early in their careers.

My Father's Island (Part 6) by Adam Dudding

Season 12 / Episode 6
Robin's talents as a publisher are put to test when he faces the challenge of both editing Landfall and running Caxton Press.

My Father's Island (Part 7) by Adam Dudding

Season 12 / Episode 7
The Dudding family says goodbye to Christchurch and makes its way back to an Auckland that has undergone massive changes.

My Father's Island (Part 8) by Adam Dudding

Season 12 / Episode 8
Life for the long haired boy living behind the impenetrable bamboo hedge, in the house with the cruddy shower and crumby kitchen under the all seeing eye of his father.

My Father's Island (Part 9) by Adam Dudding

Season 12 / Episode 9
There are serious consequences for Lois, the children and for friends as Robin Dudding is consumed by severe depression.

My Father's Island (Part 10) by Adam Dudding

Season 12 / Episode 10
A glimpse into a more loveable side of the often curmudgeonly editor as time finally begins to catch up with Robin Dudding.

Other podcasts
like this one

More podcasts with similar themes or ideas that you might enjoy.

  • Sketch-style white line drawing of New Zealand’s Beehive parliamentary building on a dark background, with the words ‘Politics NZ’ in white text above.

    Politics NZ

    Stay in the know. All of RNZ's politics podcasts in one place.

  • Podcast title 'Here Now' in front of a colourful background with overlaid shapes. A map of New Zealand is also overlaid over the coloured shapes.

    Here Now

    What do 27% of NZers all have in common? They were born overseas.

  • An abstract heart constructed from shapes similar to rural fields seen in aerial photography sits behind the text 'Country Life'.

    Country Life

    Head out to the farms & back roads to hear the stories of rural New Zealand.

  • A grey and blue hypnotising illustration on the background with a large title saying "Mediawatch" and words "weekly since 2001" above the title.

    Mediawatch

    A critical look at the New Zealand media.

  • A stylised photograph of a paua shell mimicking the image of 'earth' with the podcast title 'our changing world' on top.

    Our Changing World

    Stories of NZ science and nature from out in the field and inside the labs.

  • Test reads "The detail" where the dot on the "I" is highlighted.

    The Detail

    Award-winning

    The big news explained, by the country's best journalists and experts.

  • Cover image in deep blue and periwinkle tones featuring the text 'Short Story Stack' in bold white serif font, with 'Audiobook Collection' in smaller text above. Stylized vertical book spines line the right side of the image.

    Short Story Stack

    A stack of short stories by independent and published writers from all over NZ.

  • Cover image in teal and seafoam green tones featuring the text 'The Playhouse' in bold black serif font, with 'Audio Collection' in smaller uppercase text above. Stylized vertical book spines in varying green hues line the right edge of the image.

    The Play House

    Listen here for RNZ's collection of plays, dramas and comedies

  • Hand-drawn doodles on a light background. The title is written in a blue, playful font in the center. Around the title are various doodles, including children, a house, a kiwi bird, and an elderly couple. There is also a red heart, a blue car, and stars scattered around the cover.

    It Takes A Village

    Practical, expert advice on how to tackle the challenges of modern parenting.

  • An illustrated motif representing people from the Pacific gathered around a sun.

    Tagata o te Moana

    Wrapping up the big Pacific news, issues, information & music each week.

  • An illustrated motif representing people from the Pacific gathered around a sun sits behind a photographic portrait of Susana Suisuiki.

    Pacific Waves

    Delving deeper into the major Pacific stories each week

  • Podcast Title 'The House' set in a bold font on an outside wall, with a image of the parliament house seen through a window

    The House

    Legislation, issues and insights from Parliament.