Issue 205, September 26, 2023

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:

Wellington Silver Screeners: Halaifonua Finau

In this edition of Wellington Silver Screeners, Alessia Belsito-Riera chats with Wellingtonian Halaifonua Finau, writer and producer of Red, White and Brass.

The winding road so far

Australian soul blues band The Teskey Brothers are on their Winding Way to New Zealand with their expansive new studio album. We caught up with Sam Teskey ahead of the tour.

Leap fearlessly into the unknown

Anything can and will happen this New Zealand Improv Festival, a glorious nine days filled with 35 workshops, 25 shows, and infinite possibilities.

Off and away

The Show Me Shorts Film Festival is bringing Wellingtonians big adventures in small doses.

Rad festivities

Creeps Record Parlour is turning four! Or five! Who knows! The Newtown institution will celebrate whichever birthday it is with Rad Fest, featuring 13 “sick bands playing killer sets” across the suburb.

Walking backwards into the future

In celebration of their 25^th anniversary, Pātaka Art + Museum reflects on their past while turning their gaze towards the future.

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