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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:

A bold step forward - 215 | Regional News

A bold step forward

UK folk-fusion duo Good Habits return to their Antipodean second home for a mega tour of their new album Quarter-Life.

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Rock, funk, and family - 215 | Regional News

Rock, funk, and family

We chat with Kora ahead of their headline set at Jim Beam Homegrown – Kiwi music’s biggest party – on Saturday the 16th of March.

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What’s not to love?  - 215 | Regional News

What’s not to love?

Hands up if you love horror! Hands up if you love comedy! Now wave those arms in the air and run like a monster’s chasing you to BATS for It Came From Beyond The Script.

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Art is real - 215 | Regional News

Art is real

Richard Lewer believes that it’s important all Kiwis learn about our complex history. Explore the Waikato Wars until the 12th of May at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata.

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Welcoming a new kaitiaki - 215 | Regional News

Welcoming a new kaitiaki

As the first woman dean of Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, Katie Lawrence is making it her mission to welcome Pōneke’s diverse and vibrant community with open arms.

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Slay the World - 215 | Regional News

Slay the World

Before she sashays away to London, drag star Kelly Fornia gives us one last serve at her epic drag concert Slay the World at Te Auaha on the 22nd and 23rd of March.

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Testimonials

  •   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