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

The New Ships (Part 1) by Kate Duignan

Season 15 / Episode 1
Peter Collie is adrift in the wake of his wife’s death. His attempts to understand the turn his life has taken lead him back to the past but an unexpected revelation forces Peter to navigate anew his roles as a husband, father and son. Part 1 - Peter Collie has returned to his job in the law firm in Wellington after months of dealing with his wife, Moira's illness and one month after her funeral. Aaron, his son, is to leave for London.
Supplementary image for episode: The New Ships (Part 1) by Kate Duignan

The New Ships (Part 2) by Kate Duignan

Season 15 / Episode 2
Aaron cancels a last meeting with Peter before flying out. Peter discovers Aaron's credit card statement as well as another intriguing letter.

Find out more

The New Ships (Part 3) by Kate Duignan

Season 15 / Episode 3
Peter farewells Aaron at the airport. Moira's mother, Claudia is there and suggests Peter take an overseas guided tour. Peter is not enthusiastic and returns to work.

The New Ships (Part 4) by Kate Duignan

Season 15 / Episode 4
Peter takes an estate agent to Castlepoint to look at selling the bach. It is a week since Aaron left and Peter has lost track of him so he enlists the help of a friend in London to track Aaron down.

The New Ships (Part 5) by Kate Duignan

Season 15 / Episode 5
Peter visits Aaron's girlfriend, Arkenese, to see if she knows anything about Aaron's whereabouts. There's a problem with the Castlepoint bach and, as well, Peter's boss is not happy.

The New Ships (Part 6) by Kate Duignan

Season 15 / Episode 6
With gentle pressure being applied at work Peter is in desperate need of a break-through in his search for Aaron.

The New Ships (Part 7) by Kate Duignan

Season 15 / Episode 7
The question of Aaron's paternity may have been resolved but his whereabouts is much less clear to Peter.

The New Ships (Part 8) by Kate Duignan

Season 15 / Episode 8
Peter has reluctantly sold the Castlepoint bach but is consumed with doubts about when, or if, he will see his son again.

The New Ships (Part 9) by Kate Duignan

Season 15 / Episode 9
Peter’s quest to contact his son Aaron in Pakistan is stymied by a longstanding dispute amongst the Gupta family.

The New Ships (Part 10) by Kate Duignan

Season 15 / Episode 10
Peter connects with a young man, Matthew, a political activist he knows through his voluntary legal-aid work who reminds him of his head strong son Aaron.

The New Ships (Part 11) by Kate Duignan

Season 15 / Episode 11
Peter had a momentary call with his son Aaron in Pakistan which serves to remind him of the great distance between them, meanwhile an imposing warship anchors in Wellington harbour.

The New Ships (Part 12) by Kate Duignan

Season 15 / Episode 12
With the drama on the harbour behind him Peter is left thoughtful but what hangs over him more than anything else is the need to find his son, Aaron.

Other podcasts
like this one

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

  • The words "Black Sheep" are displayed in a vintage font above a black sheep with a creepy red eye.

    Black Sheep

    The shady, controversial & sometimes downright villainous characters of NZ.

  • Image of a smiling woman with her hands raised in the air in a "praising" style. The words "The Lodge" appear above her hands. Her eyes are covered with a teared page rip across her face and across the image below. There are mountains in the distance behind her. The image is in a purple wash.

    The Lodge

    Award-winning

    In a world obsessed with wellness, would you trust a cult to make you better?

  • 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.