Issue 219, May 7, 2024

Regional News is a fortnightly events and entertainment, lifestyle and leisure publication. It is the last remaining free arts newspaper in Greater Wellington, enjoyed by approximately 90,000 readers.

Our eyes are on Wellington events. We cover all aspects of the arts and entertainment industry, from exhibitions and festivals to concerts, theatre, live comedy, and drag shows. We write articles, reviews, and feature stories, interviewing artists from the capital and beyond. As print media increasingly moves away from the arts, we are dedicated to giving creatives a platform to discuss and promote their work.

Articles this issue:

Cinema Italiano

For one night only on the 22^nd of May, Southern Cross Garden Bar Restaurant will transport cinephiles to the orange-hued land of la dolce vita at The Show Me Shorts Italian Short Film Night.

A silenced voice speaks

Uncover the silenced voices of the Indian women brought to Fiji under the indenture system in Lives of the Girmit Women, running at New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts from the 19^th to the 26^th of May.

Welly weirdos

Make to BATS (Theatre) like a vampire to a blood drive for Jemaine Clement and Jonny Brugh’s NZ International Comedy Festival show Goth 2 A Flame from the 21^st to the 25^th of May.

Pearl in a Whirl

This Featherston Booktown, author Catherine Robertson and illustrator Fifi Colston will join forces to chat about Pearl in a Whirl, the true story of one fluffy cat’s wild, windy week during Cyclone Gabrielle.

On words, comedy, and community

We caught up with stand-up comedian and MC Jerome Chandrahasen about all things comedy, including his upcoming NZ International Comedy Festival solo show On Words.

A horse the source of divorce

Those who love improv and need a regular fix should jump on Best On Tap’s Happy Hour, a monthly “truth-based” improvised theatrical experience taking place in Newtown on the fourth Thursday of each month.

Congratulations on your marvellous 200th edition with the inspired spread of 200 covers… I appreciate this newspaper very much. It seems like a miracle to have it delivered, connecting us with events and places all around us in this era of change. Obviously a labour of love.

– Lynsey, reader, Aro Valley
Regional News is a key part of the cultural infrastructure in the Wellington region: it is the ‘go-to’ publication for information about all upcoming arts and cultural events. Each publication highlights and showcases the rich diversity of culture on offer, from the large to the small.

– Kirsten Mason, general manager, Orchestra Wellington
Regional News plays a hugely valuable role in the Wellington and Aotearoa arts industry, as an integral media publication that gives Wellington key access to arts interviews, news, and information. There is very little media throughout the country, especially in Wellington, which covers arts news, and Regional News have always been hugely supportive of the arts community.

– Michelle Lafferty, director, Elephant Publicity
No other local publication devotes as significant amount of space to the arts as Regional News. Wellington is the cultural capital of New Zealand and this newspaper truly reflects that. It is a vital part of Wellington’s arts and journalistic ecology.

– Salesi Le’ota, publications and events coordinator, Playmarket
Thanks for all the work you're constantly doing for the arts community in Wellington – doesn't go unnoticed!

– Lydia Zanetti, Zanetti Productions
Thank you Maddi for all you, Frances, and Regional News do for me and the Wellington arts scene! Truly awesome.

– Colleen McColl, publicist
Let us congratulate you on a great publication. Nowhere else out there are the arts so widely and competently covered.

– Heather and Richard, readers from Point Howard
Regional News is a great asset for the arts in Wellington. They include an entire page of visual arts coverage in each issue (which I'm sure you'll know is rare for a newspaper).

– Simon Gennard, communications and publications manager, Enjoy Contemporary Art Space.
Congrats to Regional News for being singularly the best all round summary of what's going on in the region, by far.

– Andrew, president, Wellington Bluegrass Society
I received my first booking from this advert totalling $1400. A huge thank you!

– Robin, Red Tussock Motel
The what’s on pages are the first that I read whenever I receive your newspaper and influence my choice of entertainment each month.

– Margaret, committee member, festival singers
Regional News is becoming miles away the best organ for information about local events… You have served us – and the Hutt Valley community very well!

– Murray Presland, president, Chamber Music Hutt Valley
I’m sitting here with my coffee reading your latest terrific R News. Both my husband and I look forward to each edition. It is packed full of interesting, informative and educational articles not only local but national too.

– Anonymous resident, Karori