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Regional News is a fortnightly events and entertainment, lifestyle and leisure publication. Our eyes are on Wellington events. As the last remaining free arts newspaper in the region, we are dedicated to giving creatives a platform to discuss and promote their work. To boot, we run a series of exciting and informative lifestyle features encompassing health, travel, education, home ideas, and so much more. Pick Regional News up from over 100 locations or read it here for what’s on, where to go, and what to do in wonderful Welly.

Articles this issue:

BYO fire extinguisher - 268 | Regional News

BYO fire extinguisher

Expect to wear out your dancing shoes when indie-rock outfit Clap Clap Riot plays Meow on the 22nd of May on their first Aotearoa tour since 2019.

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Fibre-Optic Colonnade Carwash - 268 | Regional News

Fibre-Optic Colonnade Carwash

Fibre-Optic Colonnade Carwash is a kinetic, light-based sculpture installed down the narrow corridor that runs beside Shed 21 on Wellington’s waterfront. Created by Eddie Clemens, the sculpture washes commuters in moving patterns of light and colour.

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Stilettoed skirmish - 268 | Regional News

Stilettoed skirmish

Sequins, sparkles, and staggering stilettos clash in the ultimate search for stardom – the Mx Capital Drag 2026 Finale – at Ivy Bar & Cabaret on the 31st of May.

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Elemental matter - 268 | Regional News

Elemental matter

Michelle Tahuaroa Dawson paints the isolated landscapes along the southwest coast of Te Waipounamu and collects hinewaiapu (igneous rock orbs) into sculptural assemblages in her exhibition Hinewaiapu – Deep South Rock at Pātaka Art + Museum.

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The stories they tell - 268 | Regional News

The stories they tell

Bri Leone-Rhea Lawrence and Geo Aroha Thompson-Skipworth consider colonial displacement, relational restoration and the strength of Māori communities to rebuild and protect in their joint show Tāmata at Meanwhile Gallery.

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Go towards truth - 268 | Regional News

Go towards truth

Tawhi Thomas (Ngāti Maniapoto) has just won Best Play by a Māori Playwright at Playmarket’s 2026 Adam NZ Play Awards. We got down to the nitty-gritty about his play Haere and more.

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Testimonials

  •   Thanks so much for the story on our 9 by 5 exhibition, got a lot of comments… Support for grassroots artists is sometimes hard to come by, so your work and that of Regional News is precious to us.  

    – Ian Logan’s Island Bay Art Gallery

  •   Hi Alessia, thanks so much for writing such a great piece. Having you guys at Regional News helping to promote our gigs is pretty special for us performers. There’s not much point slaving away trying to produce beautiful music if there's no one there to listen to it!
     

    – Kemp English, concert organist

  •   Thank you for the wonderful publicity in Regional News. We did a small survey of people attending our first concert and it is great to hear that they had read about it in Regional News. It is a great source of information and long may it last!!  

    – Christine Healy, committee member, Friends of Pātaka Art + Museum

  •   The show was a success and your support really helps amplify our vibrant queer performance scene here in Pōneke ❤  

    – Selina Simone, local drag artist and producer

  •   I enjoy reading A Word from Maddi. I read it after reading through the whole of Regional News and thinking what a great publication it is with some really excellent writers. And a brilliant way to check out what’s on in Wellington, especially in the arts. It amazes me how much there is going on. Thank you for doing such a great job – the amount of thought and effort that obviously goes in comes through in a quality publication.  

    – Katie Chalmers, reader and founding member of Wellington choir Nota Bene

  •   Greetings, I write as someone appreciative of the scope and content within Regional News – plus as someone living in Waikanae to flag my appreciation of your delivery of your paper.  

    – Margaret, a Kapiti reader

  •   You guys do a great job of promoting all the interesting things going on. We’ve been to a number of gigs and other events we wouldn't have heard about except for through Regional News, and have also noted several things to do in different regions when on holiday. As a band, we really appreciated your support and it led to a great gig  

    – Murray Costello, reader and musician, Simple Animal

  •   Gosh you're such a wonderful writer Madelaine, really lovely way to set the tone. This review is such gold if we want to try this format out again and the cast are stoked.  

    – Dianne Pulham, local improvisor and director, Geesebumps

  •   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