Shows
The sweetest treat
In its 70th anniversary year, the RNZB will raise the curtain on its acclaimed production of Hansel & Gretel at St James Theatre this October.
A ship full of fairy dust
The Pantoloons will bring a ship full of evil pirates, tantrummy fairies, lost kids, and one very hungry crocodile to kids across Greater Wellington these school holidays. Eyes up for our high-flying hero, Peter Pan!
Golden threads of friendship
Load up on the perfect porridge – not too hot, not too cold, just right – and head to KidzStuff Theatre for Children’s production of Goldilocks these school holidays!
Watch your neck
The most murderous barber of Fleet Street is setting up shop in Ōtaki this August and September.
This night is sparkling
Swifties, are you …Ready For It? The upcoming Taylor Swift Book Club: A Queer Comedy Cabaret will leave you wonderstruck, blushing all the way home.
So fetch
Throw it back to the beginning of the millennium and get crunk to all of the hot hits of the eras with a Y2K drag show that’s, like, so totally awesome sauce.
Raucous caucus
At Circa Theatre right now, actors are bringing over 20 New Zealand politicians to party on a stage resembling a grownup playground. That’s right: Public Service Announcements is back, baby.
Bonkers, right?
Indian Ink Theatre Company brings their biggest, most ambitious, bonkeriest idea for a play to Wellington.
Fang-tastic
Night has settled and the moon is high, the vampire drag stars are out and ready to bleed you dry… with their tantalising, scrumptious, absolutely batty performances!
Retro renegades and maniacal maidens
Gentleman, mobsters, creeps, and crooks – you are hereby summoned to The Fringe Bar on the 8th of July for a femme fatale tribute to a plethora of powerhouse villains and vigilantes in Birds of Prey.
Laughs on tap
The two-hour comedy staple Saturday Laughs is landing in the heart of Porirua at the Abandoned Brewery Taproom for the first time ever, with MC Nick Rado and headliner Lesa MacLeod-Whiting.
A whole lotta sole
One of the world’s favourite and most-acclaimed musicals is stomping into Wellington this June and July. Don’t let Kinky Boots walk by unnoticed.
Naked and afraid
Sacha Copland makes a complete analysis of her body and the human condition as she takes into account her assets and liabilities, laying everything bare in The Emperor’s New Clothes.
Celebrate good times
Iconic Kiwi trio the BeatGirls are throwing a big 25th birthday bash this month – and you’re invited!
Hip-hop whakapapa
A detective story set in Aotearoa’s capital that follows the mystery of a series of arsons also celebrates New Zealand’s hip-hop culture this Kia Mau Festival.
Sequins on a shoestring
Can you do fabulous on a budget? Sequins on a shoestring? Diamonds at a discount? On the 3rd of June, the Great DIY BurlesKiwi will prove that yes, you can.
Down and birdy
Pōneke’s drag kings are looking to spread their wings and ruffle some tailfeathers in Peacocking – Thee Opulent Drag King Show at Ivy Bar and Cabaret.
What dreams may come
What does La Soupco mean? We don’t know, and neither does playwright and performer Abby Howells. What we do know is that you mustn’t miss this epic WWII romance written by an 11-year-old Abby.
A pirate’s life for me
Hoist the mainsail and scuttle the jib, Wellington Comic Opera is sailing through Wellington, Raumati, and Hutt Valley with their production of Pirates!
Fiercely fruitalicious
If you’re an ASMR-lover or just ASMR-curious, Amy Atkins is about to create it live on stage. Catch the Wellington premiere of RAW! ASMR at BATS Theatre from the 26th to the 29th of April.
Behind the sequins
Go behind the sequined curtain with RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under star Anita Wigl’it as she makes her Circa Theatre debut in Funny Gurl! this April.
Hell is for the comedians
Knock, knock. Who’s there? Well, hell of course! Welcome to our fiery abode, where 15 comedians are commanded to deliver three-minutes of fresh content for our entertainment. Muahahaha.
Heartbreak and healing
World-renowned poet Rupi Kaur will take the Opera House stage on the 23rd of March for an all-new spoken word poetry experience.
Broadway! Bellies! Bums!
Celia Macdonald is bringing A Fat Girl’s Cry, a curvaceous celebration of body positive diversity, to BATS Theatre this month.
Cheek, charm, chaos
Moonroe’s Happy Hour puts Kath & Kim, Country Calendar, and old-world Hollywood film stars through a blender of burlesque, circus, and cabaret this NZ Fringe Festival.
Water world
Footnote New Zealand Dance has partnered with Canada’s MascallDance to create a movement-based narrative exploring water’s role in our lives and in a world threatened by a climate crisis.
Practice, polish, and package
The first annual Drag Performer of the Year competition is coming in smokin’ hot. Death drops, stilettos, hourglass silhouettes, and more – this event showcases the best of the best of Pōneke’s drag scene.
How wonderful
This New Zealand Fringe Festival, Lady Hermione and her loyal butler Roberts fall head-first into the decadence of the roaring 20s in the cracking ‘drawing room’ comedy Wonderful.
A Schoenberg strudel
Convinced that today he will die, composer Arnold Schoenberg takes to his bed and reminisces on his life, losses, and loves in Circa Theatre’s newest production In Bed with Schoenberg.
Making her way to pride
In her tell-all stand-up comedy hour Lesbihonest, Canadian artist Laura Piccinin recounts a lifetime of coming out stories this New Zealand Fringe Festival.
The question of our time
Summer Shakespeare returns in February with an eco-ethical production of The Tempest, directed by Megan Evans.
Get your sparkle on
Billy Idol and SpongeBob SquarePants, bedazzled cowboys and chair-throwing antics… It’s all happening in Caburlesque: Rock & Rhinestones this February.
Love in the time of comedy
Comedy duo Patch and Fitz present two Valentine’s Day-themed shows at Hashigo Zake in preparation for their upcoming comedy taping.
Can fun save the world?
Fly to the future with The Birdmann and Egg in Birdhouse at Circa Theatre this summer.
We’re all doomed
UK comedy juggernaut Daniel Howell is bringing his brand-new live show We’re All Doomed to the Michael Fowler Centre on the 26th of January.
Terribly Funny
We talked to Jimmy Carr about his prolific career in comedy and what Wellingtonians can expect when he brings his new show Terribly Funny to our shores in January.
Milking the joke
The latest iteration of MILK arrives with a festive twist: A Milkmas Carol. Don’t miss this bonkers improvised Christmas extravaganza.
Edge-of-your-seat circus
The bizarre, the brilliant, and the hilarious will collide on stage as New Zealand’s surreal sketch circus trio, Laser Kiwi, brings their beloved variety show IDIOM to Te Auaha.
Guy Williams is moving his car
Kiwi comedian Guy Williams needs to move his car from Nelson to Auckland this month. What worse reason to book a national comedy tour?
A painting of a book unfolds
Red Leap Theatre is bringing Janet Frame’s landmark novel Owls Do Cry to the Circa Theatre stage from the 3rd to the 13th of November.
Old friends and sticky floors
The Wellington Comedy Club makes its return to San Fran, presenting some of New Zealand’s favourite comics including Billy T Award-winner Ben Hurley.
The spontaneity of stand-up
Catch award-winning comedian, actor, writer, and presenter Pax Assadi on the first nationwide tour of his new stand-up show Handsome Boy.
A sort of soft carnage
New Zealand actor and comedian Brynley Stent is bringing her sold-out, critically acclaimed solo sketch comedy show Soft Carnage to Wellington from the 11th to the 15th of October.
A comedy charcuterie board
Hayley Sproull describes the Best Foods Comedy Gala as a comedy charcuterie board. “If you don't like the pickles, don’t worry there’s plenty of salami. I like to think of myself as the quince paste.”
Busy on Wednesday?
Comedian Ryan McGhee is launching his brand-new weekly comedy show, The Comedy Attic, the first professional midweek comedy gig in the capital.
Guess who’s back
Award-winning Kiwi comedian Cori Gonzalez-Macuer is returning to San Fran for one night this August, the iconic venue where his celebrated 20-year career began.
The making of one’s self
From wild and earnest documentary to intimate live show, Man Lessons follows Adam Rohe’s life and gender transition in a multimedia experience at BATS Theatre this August.
Forcing people to laugh since ages ago
Multi-award-winning writer, MC, and comedian Nick Rado is looking forward to drinking his co-stars’ beers backstage in the next instalment of the popular Saturday Laughs series.
And the olive keeps rising
Fresh from their turn on TVNZ’s 60 Seconds, sketch-circus trio Laser Kiwi will celebrate the humble olive at Te Auaha from the 30th of June until the 2nd of July.
Sainsbury’s sassy satires
Wellington Paranormal and Snack Masters NZ star Tom Sainsbury will deliver his hilarious Snapchat parodies of New Zilunders to The Opera House and Te Raukura ki Kāpiti this May and June.
A blessing in the skies
Everyone’s favourite aunty from Bulls, one Ms Pamela Hancock, will start spreadin’ the news about the city that never sleeps in Pam’s Big Apple this Eat Drink Play festival.
Shameless comedy
Comedy fans are in for a treat when Samantha Hannah and Daniel John Smith take over Fringe Bar for another Friday Laughs. The two award-winning comedians will be joined by local talent as they look to treat audiences to a Friday night they will never forget.
A sparkly Easter fever dream
How do Easter and drag go together? Bunny Holiday reckons they kind of don’t, which is kind of great. Catch a diamante-studded line-up of drag talent in the Bunny and Her Honeys Easter Show.
A dance of wild abandonment
Award-winning contemporary performance company House of Sand brings Undoing, a visual spectacular of limbs, passion, and theatricality, to BATS Theatre this April.
With Dan Brader, nobody is safe!
Seasoned comedy veteran Dan Brader is known for his morally questionable storytelling and wild and hilarious personal stories. Expect this Kiwi-born comedian to have a go at you during his upcoming show at Moon Bar.
Secrets run in the family
Charlotte Brontë wrote one of the world’s greatest love stories, Jane Eyre. But how could an unmarried woman living in a secluded parsonage spin such a tale? On at BATS Theatre this month, Miss Brontë asks all this and more.
If a fruit bowl had a Mardi Gras
RAW! ASMR will see creator Amy Atkins perform comedic live ASMR with a focus on fresh food and eating this New Zealand Fringe Festival.
Pull up a chair
Eric is definitely not part of a pyramid scheme but he does need to sell you some chairs this New Zealand Fringe Festival.
A golden hour of crispy comedy
Jack Caldwell, Thomas Chapman, and Jaye Xu (who describe themselves as a nerd, a jerk, and a genuinely nice person) will perform Shoestrings at The Cavern Club on the 4th of February.
CHOP SHOP takes a side-step from stand-up
Meet The Birdmann and Egg, internationally infamous comic legends whose latest offering, CHOP SHOP, opens at The Fringe Bar on the 12th of December.
Green is the new black
In 1985, the world wakes to the discovery of the ozone hole over Antarctica… Lynda Chanwai-Earle’s eco-powered black comedy HOLE will have its world premiere at Circa Theatre this month.
Our secret wants and desires
Tessa Redman brings a redeveloped I’m Not Going to Lie to You to BATS Theatre, delving into female performativity, lust, and uncontrollable desire.
A whole lot of amazingness
Echolalia, a TAHI: New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance clown-theatre-dance show, puts social norms under the spotlight as a young woman on the autistic spectrum prepares for a much-needed job interview.
New troupe in town
Brand-new improv company Tiny Dog identifies with tiny dogs because they are very fashion forward and are only allowed to ride public transport if carried inside a bag, amongst other reasons.
Comedy meets cabaret meets drag
Drag queens Miss Manage, Miss Demeanour, and Miss Givings will sashay their way through a catalogue of hits at Te Auaha this July in the comedy-cabaret concert Les Femmes.
Chopper’s had enough
After a long wait, Heath Franklin’s Chopper will finally bring The Silencer, his latest stand-up show, to Wellington on the 10th of July.
Stripping nakedness to the bone
Hannah Tasker-Poland’s multidisciplinary performance work-cum-cabaret The Most Naked explores cultural mores around nudity, strip tease, and the flashing of skin.
A legend returns
Jimmy Barnes is coming back! The legendary solo artist and Cold Chisel lead vocalist comes to our shores with his new album Flesh and Blood and his eight-piece band, made up mostly of his family.
The best pies in London?
WITCH Music Theatre is bringing a dark, dank, and delicious production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street to Te Auaha from the 30th of June to the 4th of July.
A new twist on an old classic
For their first production of 2021, Wellington Footlights Society will explore the classic American 1950s musical Guys and Dolls from a modern perspective.
A charming celebration of simple pleasures
Elling, the quirky Scandinavian comedy by Simon Bent, based on the novel by Ingvar Ambjørnsen, is coming to Circa Theatre from the 26th of June to the 24th of July.
New Zealand Today: Live!
Volunteer journalist and comedian Guy Williams is touring with an infamous New Zealand icon this month. But Karen from Stokes Valley is not who she seems…
Fabulous on a budget
Now entering its seventh year, the Great DIY BurlesKiwi challenges competitors from all over the country to bring an award-winning burlesque performance to the stage for under $100.
Keep calm and carrion
Indian Ink brings the real-life mystery of India’s vanishing vultures to Te Auaha this month in Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream, a brand-new play about the impermanence of life, love… and ice cream.
Tim Batt disarms us with laughs
The veteran stand-up and The Worst Idea of All Time co-host returns to the NZ International Comedy Festival with his latest hour, Classy Warfare.
Don’t ask Ray O’Leary about his dogs
We asked stand-up comedian Ray O’Leary possibly the worst question ever before his NZ International Comedy show Ray Against the Machine makes it to the stage.
Interviews with our leaders onstage at BATS
Transmission is drawn from verbatim interviews Stuart McKenzie and Miranda Harcourt conducted with epidemiologist Michael Baker, Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the thick of COVID-19.
Chris Parker talks about himself
Comedian Chris Parker will host the next Wellington Comedy Club show. “It’s all going to be centred around me”, he says of his set. “I’m such a narcissist. So expect it to be loud, gay, and camp!”
Wellington Opera debuts
The new Wellington-based opera company looks to make its mark with Don Giovanni, playing at The Opera House from the 17th to the 24th of April.
Non-binary is the new black
James Hilary Penwarden is back in Wellington with a hot new identity and a brand-new solo Fringe show, Them Fatale.
All-woman collective of 11 artists create Wisdom of Waters
Dance between worlds with Wisdom of Waters this New Zealand Fringe Festival, a movement meditation on what weaves women together.
The Menagerie goes out with a bang
After seven years and 54 shows, Wellington’s beloved variety show will have its final hoorah at the Opera House.
The ultimate noughties party
Hey now! This 2020s-themed drag show is what dreams are made of.
Urzila Carlson tours brand-new show All the Rage
Comedian Urzila Carlson can’t remember a time when we as a people were ever this angry. Never mind the meditation and yoga… we’re mindful and mad, fit and furious!
Magic aplenty in Cinderella – The Pantomime
Playing Dame Fairy Godmother Rosie Bubble, Gavin Rutherford chats about this year’s joyful panto.
PlayShop brings Christmas cheek and charm to BATS
Meet the Turducken fa-la-la-la family with improv troupe PlayShop this silly season.
Melanie Bracewell hosts a rowdy night of comedy
Comedian Melanie Bracewell is pumped to be taking the stage for Saturday Laughs at the Garrison, “the hottest ticket in Featherston”.
Raybon Kan and Raybon will touch this in latest show
Raybon Kan first dipped his toes into stand-up in the 90s and has remained at the forefront of the New Zealand comedy scene ever since.
Full steam ahead for railway show
Kiwi musician Anthonie Tonnon will take audiences on a journey through New Zealand’s on-again off-again love affair with its passenger railway system in Rail Land.
Tim Burton films go from screen to stage in Halloween drag show
From Sweeney Todd to A Corpse Bride, this show will deliver all the iconic moments from Tim Burton’s celebrated canon this Halloween season.
Sisters share six decades of stories
Sarah and Catherine Delahunty will bring six decades of sisterhood to the BATS Theatre stage this October.
Music
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.
The songs you know in your bones
We interviewed legendary Kiwi musician Tim Finn of Split Enz and Crowded House fame about his tour The Lives and Times of Tim Finn, coming to the Michael Fowler Centre this September.
Sorry, I’m a Libra
Pōneke-based artist Danica Bryant and her out-of-this-world band will celebrate her new single Libra with The Astrology Tour, landing at Wellington’s very own space-themed bar, Moon, this September.
Today’s hits yesterday
Sensational pop-jazz collective Postmodern Jukebox brings their Life In The Past Lane Tour to Wellington.
Floral fixation
Independent Arrowtown singer-songwriter Sofia Machray has just released Language of Flowers, an EP as unpredictable, delicate, and bold as a rose that grew from a crack in the concrete.
A decade of embracism
Wild, wondrous Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist Kirin J Callinan launches his new album in New Zealand on the If I Could Sing: A decade of EMBRACISM and beyond tour.
The birds and the bush
Alt-country folk artist Jenny Mitchell is about to tour Aotearoa in support of Forest & Bird. The Bush & The Birds Tour is an extension of a song from her latest album that pays tribute to her late grandfather.
Americana in Aotearoa
Just featured on Netflix’s Sweet Tooth, bluegrass supergroup You, Me, Everybody will jam old faves and new material at San Fran this July.
Hopeful angst
Sean James Donnelly, better known to indie and electronica fans by his now-iconic initials SJD, released his ninth album Sweetheart in 2022 and is set to take it on its “first proper little tour”.
Riding on Park Rd
Tāmaki Makaurau indie-rockers Park Rd will play their first Wellington headline gig for 2023 to celebrate their new single Ride.
The fruits of a purple patch
Songwriter and raconteur Andrew London will debut his new show Songs I Wrote When I Was Cross at Kapiti Playhouse in Paraparaumu on the 27th of May.
A new beat for Boy & Bear
Award-winning, genre-tripping Australian band Boy & Bear are on their way to New Zealand with their fifth studio album. We caught up with David Hosking and David Symes ahead of the Wellington gigs at San Fran.
Starfish, meet rock
Rockers Velvet Star, named after the starfish Petricia vernicina, will perform alongside Mokomoko and the Shwayliens and Search for Yeti at Moon on Sunday the 30th of April.
Bangers and mosh
Kiwi rock band Dead Favours just released the long-awaited Riffing & Yelling Part 2. Celebrate with a custom beer in time for their Meow gig at the end of April.
The bleak and the beautiful
Wellington songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Vera Ellen will unveil her latest album Ideal Home Noise at San Fran on the 15th of April.
And Out of the Void Came Love
A broken wrist, a pandemic, a baby… It’s been a strange seven years for pianist and singer-songwriter Finn Andrews, and he’s got a new double LP to show for it. The Veils have just released and will soon tour …And Out of the Void Came Love.
Love, light, vibes
London-based soul collective 10:32 will bring their new single Coffee Shop Girl to Wellington in the shape of a big groove party filled with big love, big light, and big vibes.
Vibe out with BEACHWARE
Auckland indie-rock band BEACHWARE tours the motu with their debut album It’s Only Time.
Recreating magic
After four long years since their last NZ tour, The Frank Burkitt Band brings their latest album Silvereye, filled with pensive folk ballads, back to where it all began: Wellington.
Catch Camp Cope
Australian alt-rock trio Camp Cope are coming to Wellington with their latest album Running with the Hurricane, an empowering embrace of new sonic and lyrical ground.
Recollect with Cowboy Junkies
For the first time in 20 years, and after COVID derailed their last scheduled tour, Canadian alt-country pioneers Cowboy Junkies will return to New Zealand this summer.
Lawrence Arabia on dancing to dissonance
Christchurch singer-songwriter and composer Lawrence Arabia brings a new track and old favourites to San Fran this summer.
Continually choosing hope
The Weather Machine will perform Applecore, an album about choosing hope in the face of grief, for their Welly fans off the back of a US tour.
Loud chaos meets subtle storytelling
Two wāhine-led bands, Ingrid and the Ministers and Goodnight My Darling, will hit the road this spring for a double headliner with a twist.
Sounds great!
Pōneke’s Cuba Street Precinct will host the first edition of Great Sounds Great, a one-day multi-venue music festival by the local Eyegum Music Collective.
Rockstars rock out
StarJam will celebrate 20 years – and a year’s worth of hard work and fun – in their End of Year Wellington Concert this December.
Put your game face on
Kiwi alt-rock band Villainy will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the album that launched their career, Mode. Set. Clear., with their Wellington fans at San Fran this November.
Rum and skulduggery
The Wellington Sea Shanty Society (WSSS) is back from exile with a new swag bag of secrets from the sea in the shape of their new EP Sea Shanties of the 70’s, 80’s & Today.
Bright mornings for Don McGlashan
Don McGlashan, one of New Zealand’s best-known and highly regarded songwriters, is on tour with his new number one album Bright November Morning.
A vehicle for connection
After five long years, Canadian soul-Americana artist Frazey Ford is heading to New Zealand to celebrate the release of her third solo album, the critically acclaimed U kin B the Sun.
Step back, see it all with The Beths
The Beths release their third album Expert In A Dying Field, a collision of power-pop and skuzz housing 12 guitar-laden jewels.
Jenny Mitchell on the ups and downs of life
Jenny Mitchell’s new album Tug of War documents the award-winning singer-songwriter’s mission to be more grateful for all the ups and downs of life.
Escape into another world
United by a deep passion for chamber music and musical connection, Ghost Trio are excited to play St Andrew’s on The Terrace during the venue’s popular Lunchtime Concert Series.
Wallace on breaking down walls
Future soul artist Wallace has just released her debut album And Other Colours, which she says has been there for some of the biggest moments of her life.
The return of Ziggy Stardust
Some of New Zealand’s greatest rock musicians are coming together to perform David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in the album’s 50th year.
Dark pop for the midnight soul
Rising star Harper Finn will play a special show at Meow on the 11th of August to celebrate the release of his debut EP Newcomer.
Cuba gets classical
It’s time to experience classical music with a twist thanks to Classical on Cuba, a vibrant weekend festival that includes 100 shows, over 40 music groups, and 19 Cuba Street venues.
Deluxe done DIY
High-energy pop band Hans Pucket heads to San Fran to gear up for their new record, which has more technicolour production involved – a deluxe high-budget sound done DIY.
Bring your loud game
Prolific Kiwi musician Greg Johnson heads back to Meow with his band to play an edgy set filled with rocky numbers, tracks from his latest album Tilt Your Interior, and staples from a career spanning more than 30 years.
Bistecca alla Fiorentina – T-Bone y’all
T-Bone is “excited, elated, and extremely happy” for the upcoming release of their debut album Good ‘N Greasy, which they’ll serve rare and juicy to San Fran audiences on the 30th of June.
Is it your birthday?
Vera Ellen made her Flying Nun debut with It’s Your Birthday in October last year. Now, the Wellington and Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter is finally touring it.
Deceptive simplicity
Described as “a saxophonist and composer of rare excellence and mettle”, Lucien Johnson is currently touring the country with his talented jazz quartet. Audiences can expect to hear and see music that’s both terrific and out of the ordinary.
The stars have aligned
Kiwi music legends The Black Seeds are about to embark on their first national tour in five years in support of their first album since 2017, Love & Fire.
Five people having a jam
Fresh from a huge Aussie tour postponed not once, not twice, but five times, L.A.B is back in New Zealand to play TSB Arena on the first national Matariki public holiday.
Another layer of growth for Wiri Donna
Wellington-based Indie riff rock artist Wiri Donna is feeling a lot of excitement and a little bit of relief about the release of her debut EP Being Alone.
The world behind the work
Alt-indie musician Anthonie Tonnon is finally heading out on the Leave Love Out of this Tour with his latest album and full band in tow.
An intimate evening of stories and laughter
Ōtautahi-based singer-songwriter Lee Martin has just unveiled her new album Gypsy Soul, which she’ll perform at Meow on the 1st of May.
Peaceful and wild all at once
Country music star Jackie Bristow brings her fifth album Outsider to Petone this April.
The art and the people who make it
Local music series Pōneke Classical Sessions is back! Designed to make classical music accessible for wider audiences, the diverse programme will take place at Bedlam & Squalor on Cuba Street.
Jaz Paterson tours debut EP
Rising alt-indie-pop artist Jaz Paterson is set to perform Ache, which tracks the highs and lows of her early twenties, at Valhalla on the 31st of March.
Mentor and student become peers
Pianist Ingrid Schoenfeld and accordionist Jonathan Berkahn, a musical duo that began as mentor and student, will perform together at St Andrews on the Terrace.
Kendall Elise finds strength in vulnerability
Musician Kendall Elise is heading out on tour with her latest album Let The Night In, playing Moon in Newtown on the 11th of March.
Ainslie Allen tours new album Betty
“I feel it is time to share my own stories and sing my own songs”, country music singer Ainslie Allen says about her new album Betty, named after her nan.
Bassist pushes the boundaries
Bassist and composer Umar Zakaria will draw on the “powerful and engaging” rhythms of Malay music at his upcoming Wellington gig.
Lawrence Arabia Does Chant Darling
Alt-indie artist Lawrence Arabia tours his sophomore album Chant Darling, which is having its long-awaited vinyl release after a full eighth-of-a-century on the market.
An intimate evening with Jacquie
Join vocalist Jacquie Fee and organist Christopher Yeabsley at Ivy Bar and Cabaret for a night of smooth jazz and sharp laughs.
Join the Skramily
Soak in the good-time vibes, catchy melodies, and hectic rhythms of Wellington pop group Skram at San Fran this January.
Attention all bass-lovers
Presented by Church of Bass NZ, The Day Before Next Year is Wellington’s biggest multizone New Year’s Eve rave.
Mel Parsons carries on
After COVID delays, award-winning singer-songwriter Mel Parsons is finally setting out on her Carry On Single Release Tour.
Big feels from big feelers
Songwriters Finn Johansson and Emily Fairlight will share the stage at two/fiftyseven on Willis Street on the 4th of December for an evening of white-hot emotion.
How Jake Baxendale prepares to improvise
Pōneke saxophonist Jake Baxendale will champion improvisation in Striking Moments, coming to the Lovebite stage on the 11th of November.
New EP speaks of hope
Writer, musician, and photographer MaryJane Thomson’s forthcoming EP This Is How The Deaf Speak blends piano with spoken word to explore undiscovered frontiers and hope for a brighter day.
Expression painting the sky
Kiwi singer-songwriter Michael Llewellyn wrote his debut album Oh My Darling following a breakup and a neck injury. He’ll share the stories with us at Meow on the 30th of October.
A happy-sad combo album
The Phoenix Foundation’s Luke Buda has just released his first solo album in 12 years. He hopes you don’t cry too much at how awesome it is.
Forget your problems with Tidal Rave
Tidal Rave toured their new sophomore album for just one weekend before lockdown struck. Now, they’re back in Pōneke to play Albumette and help you shake off your worries for a while.
Moonlight Madness with Lou’ana
Lou’ana will present a cosmic cocktail of sweet and soulful at Meow on the 21st of August when she performs her 2020 album Moonlight Madness.
Yulia and Edith
Award-winning contralto Yulia steps back into the spotlight to honour French chanteuse Edith Piaf.
Grawlixes on their new album Love You to Death
Existential folk-pop band Grawlixes’ sophomore album feels like homesickness for a home that cannot be returned to and has the texture of magnolia petals after the rain.
Psychedelic improvisation
Local jazz trio The Stinging Nettles, which features musicians from Phoenix Foundation and Orchestra of Spheres, will play Lovebite on the 22nd of July.
Old songs, new memories
Mirroring the first tour she undertook solo in 2011, Hollie Fullbrook – aka Tiny Ruins – will perform her debut album Some Were Meant for Sea at San Fran in honour of its 10th anniversary.
Kiwi music legends celebrate a classic
Shihad’s Jon Toogood, Phoenix Foundation’s Luke Buda, Laughton Kora, and more will come together to perform Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
Four EPs of life through the seasons
Multi-instrumental indie-folk artist and looping genius Graeme James is back in New Zealand with his new EP collection, which explores the emotional landscapes of autumn, winter, spring, and summer.
Go behind closed doors with KITA
Wellington psychedelic trio KITA’s debut album will magnify their experience of lockdown at San Fran this June.
Miles Calder snaps out of autopilot
Miles Calder is in the midst of a nationwide tour of his debut solo album Autopilot Life, written in the lead-up to the end of a long-term relationship.
The Pink Floyd Experience shine on
The Pink Floyd Experience will celebrate two of the band’s most revered albums, Animals and The Wall, when they play TSB Arena on the 29th of May.
Nadia Reid at a theatre near you
Off the back of her highly successful 2020 album Out of My Province, Nadia Reid and her band will play The Opera House as part of a seven-date nationwide theatre tour.
Bassist brings New York to Wellington
The Ollie Bomann Quartet will capture the spirit and freedom of New York’s jazz scene when they play Lovebite on the 29th of April.
The Chills are on fire
Dunedin cult rock band The Chills are back with their seventh studio album Scatterbrain. Catch them live in Kāpiti and Wellington this May.
The Veils to make a big ungodly racket
Veils frontman Finn Andrews chats to Regional News about getting the indie alt-rock band together to play The Opera House in their first New Zealand tour since 2017.
The Silver Beatlez bring back Beatlemania
Wellington-based tribute band The Silver Beatlez will perform a massive set of hits and deep cuts in Paraparaumu this month.
Wellington Sea Shanty Society to hark to the heave-ho
Set your sails for a salty singalong with the Wellington Sea Shanty Society and storyteller extraordinaire Louis Tait.
Lake South and Birdfeeder on course for a brilliant collision
DIY pop artist Lake South and south seas psych-pop trio Birdfeeder will perform a double header at St Peter’s Hall in Paekākāriki this March.
Leaving the news for the stage
After spending decades as a successful reporter for TVNZ, Ian Sinclair has left that life behind to pursue his passion for flamenco guitar.
Recklessly eclectic grooves from Krispy & The Pooch
Krispy & The Pooch have escaped the brutal Berlin winter to come back to New Zealand, where they’ll play their new EP Drop the Needle at Meow on the 18th of March.
SOL3 MIO to wow Wellington
Amitai Pati of the acclaimed operatic-pop trio SOL3 MIO talks touring and the year that has been.
Gerry Paul on writing music for kids
Gerry Paul and the Elephant Tree Band will play a wacky, wonderful family concert this New Zealand Fringe Festival.
A collaboration years in the making
After three years of anticipation, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra principal cello Andrew Joyce will join Camerata as the soloist for Joseph Haydn’s challenging Concerto No. 2 in D Major.
Elemeno P on massive NZ tour
Frontman Dave Gibson, who lived in NYC in the thick of COVID-19, says the best part of 2020 was the end of it – jumping on a plane back to New Zealand to tour with Elemeno P.
Barry Saunders and Delaney Davidson’s blood deal gets thicker
When Barry Saunders and Delaney Davidson first met, in a church, they joked about making a deal in blood. Speaking to me in the midst of another national tour, it’s clear the deal still stands.
Villainy to rock Wellington
Rock band Villainy shake up the status quo with their new EP Beggar.
New opera company set to soar
Wellington Opera will officially launch in April 2021 with Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
Something good will come our way
New Zealand music icon Bic Runga will perform six special concerts across the North Island this spring.
Reb Fountain to tour new album
Award-winning singer-songwriter Reb Fountain released her new self-titled album while New Zealand was in the thick of COVID-19.
JessB releases confident collection of high-class hip-hop
Auckland-based rapper JessB will launch her new mixtape 3 Nights in Amsterdam across Aotearoa this October. Recorded with local producers in the capital of the Netherlands, she calls the six-track work “a very high-energy project.”
Movies
Off and away
The Show Me Shorts Film Festival is bringing Wellingtonians big adventures in small doses.
A world both near and far
Enjoy Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s iconic anime Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind on the big screen. This film is not only visually arresting but also an urgent and topical commentary on humanity.
Cutting-edge storytelling
Aotearoa’s premier documentary film festival, Doc Edge Festival, brings into focus the hard-hitting questions, the compelling stories, and a whole bunch of fascinating perspectives from across the globe.
See what Tonga can do
A new Kiwi film is coming to theatres on March 23rd. Based on a true story, rugby superfan Maka hopes to attend the Tonga versus France match in Wellington but misses out on ticket sales. What ensues is a hilarious and uplifting story of Tongan ingenuity.
A game of cat and mouse
Releasing nationwide on the 10th of November, David Farrier finds himself in a tension-filled game of cat and mouse with a mysterious stranger in his new documentary Mister Organ.
My best film yet
Costa Botes’ gentle, yet eye-opening new documentary delves into the life of an offbeat cow whisperer as he tends to a herd in his own idiosyncratic way.
Show Me Shorts!
The popular Show Me Shorts Film Festival is back, screening over 90 of the very best short films made by filmmakers in Aotearoa and across the world.
You have just 48 hours…
The Vista Foundation 48Hours Wellington City Finals is an exciting showcase of the crème de la crème of films made during this popular guerrilla filmmaking competition.
The canine connection
The Top Dog Film Festival celebrates dogs through a carefully curated collection of heart-warming stories about our furry friends as they take on challenges from around the world.
Nordic cinema
In what will be a fun and thought-provoking evening romp with a range of interesting stories and themes, Show Me Shorts is presenting a collection of short films from top Norwegian filmmakers in collaboration with Minimalen Short Film Festival in Trondheim, Norway.
The art of documentary filmmaking
The Doc Edge Festival has long been a world-class documentary event that shares the stories of the world with New Zealanders. Now in 2022, the festival is further pushing the boundaries while continuing to showcase the art of documentary filmmaking.
Winter starts now!
Warren Miller’s 72nd feature film makes its way to Wellington during its snow film tour. Packed with winter adventures in some amazing places, this exciting documentary is a must see for any winter or film fan.
The lives of European teens
Show Me Shorts will present a series of European short films catered toward Kiwi teenagers in the hope they will be able to enjoy, connect, and better understand the lives of teens on the other side of the globe.
Aotearoa’s first ever Scandi film festival
Three Wellington cinemas are set to showcase a variety of Scandinavian films during the inaugural Volvo Scandi Film Festival. The festival’s carefully curated programme includes award-winning international festival favourites from an exciting filmmaking region.
Aotearoa at the movies: In My Father’s Den
Our series exploring iconic Kiwi films continues as we speak to producer Trevor Haysom about Brad McGann’s 2004 drama In My Father’s Den.
Aotearoa at the movies: Vigil
Writer-director Vincent Ward looks back at his debut feature Vigil, the first New Zealand film selected to compete at the Cannes Film Festival.
Kiwi sci-fi classics return at Space Place
Space Place’s beloved Sci-Fi Sundays are back with a Kiwi-centric month of movies projected onto their spectacular planetarium dome.
Aotearoa at the movies: Broken English
Writer-director Gregor Nicholas reflects on Broken English, his unique Croatian and Māori-led 1996 drama.
New film dissects infamous 2007 police raids
Arriving on the 3rd of February, Muru stars Cliff Curtis as a conflicted officer on the frontline of the controversial raids on Rūātoki.
Aotearoa at the movies: Snakeskin
Writer-director Gillian Ashurst tells us about the real experiences that inspired her psychedelic road-trip movie Snakeskin.
Aotearoa at the movies: Came a Hot Friday
Our series exploring iconic Kiwi films continues as we speak to writer-director Ian Mune about his 1985 comedy Came a Hot Friday.
50 years in Wellington
Launching on the 4th of November, the 2021 Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wellington festival.
When panic attacks
Writer-director Michelle Savill explores anxiety in her Wellington-set debut feature Millie Lies Low.
Aotearoa at the movies: Sleeping Dogs
We trace the history of iconic films in New Zealand’s cinematic canon, starting with Roger Donaldson’s 1977 action-thriller Sleeping Dogs.
Shorts from every corner
75 of the best short films from around the globe will screen during the 2021 Show Me Shorts Film Festival this October, including 14 making their world premiere.
Young filmmakers find their footing
Six short films by emerging Kiwi filmmakers have premiered online as part of the fifth Someday Stories series.
No one is safe in latest Kiwi thriller
A feature adaptation of Owen Marshall’s “brutal and poetic” short story, Coming Home in the Dark made waves when it debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and is about to open back home.
Kiwi film highlights those on the outskirts
The Justice of Bunny King, starring Essie Davis (The Babadook) and Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit), will be in cinemas from the 29th of July.
Documentary exposes broken system
Birth Time, a documentary revealing the developed world’s broken maternity system, will be screened on the 1st of July followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.
Vive le cinéma
21 new and classic films will be screened at Wellington cinemas for the French Film Festival Aotearoa, running from the 10th to the 23rd of June.
Visit space and sea with Doc Edge
Doc Edge, New Zealand’s Academy Awards-qualifying documentary festival, is going hybrid, with films set to appear in cinemas and online.
Film captures Isey Cross’ journey to 100
Director Florian Habicht will attend a Q&A screening of his new documentary James & Isey ahead of its general release on the 6th of May.
Celebrating Indigenous cinema
The Māoriland Film Festival highlights Indigenous storytellers from around the globe in Ōtaki from the 24th to the 28th of March.
Wāhine Māori voices on the big screen
Cousins, a film adaption of the acclaimed novel by Patricia Grace, will open in cinemas across Aotearoa on the 4th of March.
Monthly film nights highlight Japanese cinema
The Embassy of Japan continues their popular Film Nights with two free screenings of 2015’s Miss Hokusai on the 26th and 28th of January.
Icon of New Zealand cinema passes
Bill Gosden ONZM, former director of the New Zealand International Film Festival, dies at 66.
Kiwi comedy tackles motherhood on the big screen
To grow a baby, one must first grow up. But that’s no fun, right? So believes Zoe, played by Rose Matafeo in the latest Kiwi comedy Baby Done.
One terrifying film festival
10 films will see their New Zealand cinema premieres at this year’s Terror-Fi Film Festival.
A Halloween classic in a spooky setting
F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent classic Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horrors will send shivers down your spine when night falls on the 31st of October.
New short film encourages connection
What would happen if a hopeful eight-year-old encountered someone who had let go of hope altogether? Screenwriter and director Hannah Marshall addresses this very question in Frankie Jean & The Morning Star, a short film premiering at the Show Me Shorts Film Festival.
Art
Walking backwards into the future
In celebration of their 25th anniversary, Pātaka Art + Museum reflects on their past while turning their gaze towards the future.
Down the rabbit hole
An exhibition that examines the relationship between contemporary art and internet culture, Steamed Hams at Dowse Art Museum is a full-course meal.
Movement of life
With a rich, textural style and decades of experience, painter John Badcock captures the fleeting beauty of life in his en plein air artworks.
Buzzing for Barbie
The wonderful, whimsical world of Barbie (and Ken) has descended on Wellington Museum. Discover Barbie’s dreamland and get to know Patsy Carlisle, one of New Zealand’s biggest collectors.
A unique language
Renowned Māori artist Darcy Nicholas was blown away when he happened upon the work of emerging Māori artist Pēkere Fruean. Explore their collaborative exhibition at Pātaka Art + Museum.
The human spirit shines through
The Parkin Drawing Prize, on at the Academy Galleries until the 3rd of September, showcases New Zealand excellence and innovation in drawing in all its forms, processes, materials, and ideas.
Facing the pandemic
In an allegory of isolation, loss, and friendship during the COVID-19 lockdown, artist Euan Macleod presents the hundreds of portraits he created of fellow artist and friend Geoff Dixon.
Saving art from the skip
Artstart Foundation’s mission is to save student artwork from the skip and celebrate young artists. Come see the artwork on display at their first-ever Wellington exhibition.
Raw meets roar
Former gang leader turned artist Simon Kerr presents a sketchbook of his past life and experiences in a raw and visceral exhibition.
What is a legacy?
A group of five filmmakers, both national and international, explore the meaning of legacy at Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi.
A magic perspective
Artist Carol Anne Bauer was always drawn to the natural world, magic, symbolism, cultural mythologies, and science. Explore her world at her retrospective exhibition Have the Most Fun You Can Before They Make You Stop.
Me, Myself and Monet
Tāmaki Makaurau artist Helen Keen uses the ancient material of encaustic wax to create timeless paintings inspired by Monet’s Water Lilies.
I live here
Pablos Art Studio artists in conjunction with Enjoy Gallery present sensitive and heartfelt perspectives on Te Whanganui-a-Tara’s housing situation.
A necessary struggle
Artist Tom Sladden likes to have a bit of fun when approaching his work, doesn’t want to take himself too seriously, and doesn’t want you to either. Check out his exhibition Light Air at Bowen Galleries, he’d love to hear what you think!
Age-old binaries
Sam Clague takes a journey back in time in order to document, study, analyse, and draw attention to the oppressive social and economic practices of our capitalist history.
At the crossroads
Reuben Paterson has been creating a beautiful world of glitter, colour, and intersectionality for over 25 years. Now, he is holding his largest exhibition ever at City Gallery Wellington.
Timeless transience
Former acrobat and circus performer Eric Desiles’ newest exhibition of sculptures continues his exploration of the human body, its form, and the fleeting moments of its movement.
In two worlds
Page Galleries presents Max Gimblett’s exhibition Across the River, which explores his experience navigating both the physical and psychological distance between New Zealand and the USA.
Life anew
Job Klijn’s newest exhibition, Mother said there would be days like this, features moodscapes and brooding skies made on recycled materials at Exhibitions Gallery.
Wormhole pottery
Antireality Perversion Void, a bizarre and confronting exhibition that draws on themes of science fiction, mythology, and the nature of reality, is on now at City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi.
Myth, magic, and makeup
Megan Dunn explores everything to do with mermaids in her exhibition The Mermaid Chronicles, on at Te Pātaka Toi Adam Art Gallery.
Documenting an ever-changing city
Gone Not Forgotten by Mike Aamodt and Transient Spaces by Simon Jay, exhibitions running simultaneously at Mitchell Studios, both present images that explore our ever-changing capital city.
A feast for art-lovers
New Zealand’s national watercolour exhibition and the Wellington Potters’ Association’s major exhibition combine to present over 300 artworks by renowned Kiwi artists.
A new dimension
Local award-winning artist and designer Tim Christie talks about his unique creative style as he prepares to exhibit at Wellesley College’s major exhibition ARTBOURNE 2022.
Disconnecting worlds
Screaming Waterfall is a new exhibition that brings together artists whose practices are informed by the fraught and complex transformation of landscape.
Landscapes of bone, rock, and earth
Of dual Mexican and Pākehā descent, artist Eleanor Díaz Ritson carves and moulds human figures into their landscapes in her dark and moody paintings.
Artworks of national significance
Gathered Voices: Highlights of the Fletcher Trust Collection displays 18 beautiful figure-based works from one of the most prestigious private art collections in Aotearoa.
Feathers in Frame
Feathers in Frame displays over 50 photos taken of birds in their natural habitats by experienced Kiwi photographer Bruce Jenkins.
Let the light in
Displaying 12 bright works depicting her relationship with the sun, Ruby Wilkinson combines her talents and passions in her new exhibition Sun Room.
Medicine for the soul
Showing at Exhibitions Gallery, Mervin Singham’s new exhibition features 14 brilliantly colourful paintings that investigate humanity and our connection with each other and the environment.
The power of pāua
Dazzling and contemplative, Pāua: A Contemporary Jewellery Story includes over 70 works that examine and explore Aotearoa’s unique relationship with pāua.
More than meets the eye
Jack Trolove’s newest exhibition, Thresholding, will show his large paintings with the gallery lights turned off, offering the visitors a whole new experience.
Remembering Avenal McKinnon
The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata pays tribute to their former director, the late Avenal McKinnon, with a wonderful display from her personal portrait collection.
Unguarded moments
Showing now at Envy6011, Total Control displays photographs taken by Adrienne Martyn, a Wellington-based artist whose works are held in major public collections throughout Aotearoa.
Permanent Green
Local artist Alicja Gear captures moments where light dances across the landscape with her expressive oil paintings. The combination of the large gestural marks and bold use of the colour green leads audiences on an insightful journey through Aotearoa’s native bush.
A defiant roar against despair
A celebration of nature and magic, with swirls of fine line inkwork and washes of shimmering gold, Pepper Raccoon’s first solo exhibition explores what happens when the natural world evolves beyond what we imagine.
The ancient artform of tapestry
New Zealand artist Patricia Armour explores her interpretations of Greek mythology through the ancient artform of tapestry. This series of work is based loosely on the origin story of the Pleiades constellation.
Ko wai a Māpihi? This is not Water?
Artists Cae Te Wheoro Heke and Nick Denton have created a vibrant and fascinating exhibition that sheds light on an ancient Wellington stream, one that has been both hidden and forgotten by many over time.
The truth is out there
The Truth Is Out There is an exciting exhibition that should be explored by anyone interested in UFOs, alien abductions, and other unexplained phenomena as some big questions will be asked by the artists who created this intriguing journey through outer space.
Meaningless possessions
Kate Beatty’s newest exhibition is one that forces audiences to question what is really important. Her beautiful paintings reflect the importance people put on items that are glamorous and expensive, instead of focusing on what is truly valuable.
The forces that shape our environment
Award-winning visual artist Jacqui Colley has teamed up with four other artists to create an exhibition that investigates and questions matters that affect all of us in Aotearoa and around the world.
Lisa Reihana makes a splash
Surveys of internationally acclaimed multi-disciplinary artist Lisa Reihana are currently taking place across Wellington, including Nomads of the Sea, an exhibition at Pātaka Art + Museum.
Artist celebrates Wellington buildings
Welsh import Stacey Fraser-Allen demonstrates her love for the buildings of Wellington in a new watercolour exhibition coming to Thistle Hall.
The king of quirk’s latest work
Paul Vincent’s new series of paintings was inspired by American blues legend Mose Allison.
Beautiful failures
Running at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata until the 13th of March, Unfinished Portraits proves we can learn from abandoned artworks.
Mischievous Indigenous art
Mischief Makers, on now at Pātaka Art + Museum, showcases Māori and Moana artists who use humour to make a point.
Beautiful contradictions
Renowned Otago farmer Eden Hore spent years collecting couture gowns, which are displayed alongside stunning photographs in this new exhibition at The Dowse Art Museum.
A pivotal period for New Zealand
Face Time: Portraits from the 1980s, opening soon at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery, reflects on the historical, social, economic, and political shifts we saw throughout the 80s.
Secret paintings revealed
A highly anticipated exhibition by revolutionary Swedish artist Hilma af Klint will open soon at City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi.
Figures of the night
Four artists with a similarly grungy aesthetic dissect club culture and pop culture in Nightcore, opening on the 12th of November at Envy6011.
Artist stares down trauma
Sculptor and author Catherine Daniels exorcises her childhood trauma in The Secret Keeper, on now at the Exhibitions Gallery of Fine Art.
Take time to kōrero
A new digital exhibition featuring many of our most lauded artists encourages Kiwis to talk about mental health.
Min Kim and her friends
Christchurch-based artist and gallery owner Min Kim presents a new exhibition of watercolours and oil paintings at the Alfred Memelink Artspace Gallery.
The many faces of Wellington
For his first solo exhibition, Clark Roworth has created a deck of 54 giant playing cards depicting people from all corners of Wellington.
Omitted artists
Autonomous Bodies, a new exhibition running at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, showcases women, non-white, and LGBTQIA+ artists.
One last ride
As more provincial tracks close, two photographers shine a spotlight on the horse racing community and its venues.
Local Surrealist gets in on the action
As Te Papa hosts its international Surrealism exhibition, The Kiwi Art House Gallery is drawing attention to our very own Wellington Surrealist.
The beauty of Japanese dolls
An exhibition of 67 unique Japanese dolls – ningyō – is on now at the Massey University College of Creative Arts campus.
Emerging Māori artists shine
An exhibition will showcase the finalists for this year’s Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata until the 15th of August.
Long-awaited Surrealist exhibition opens
Surrealist Art, the largest Surrealist exhibition ever shown in New Zealand, includes masterpieces by Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, and more.
A different kind of family portrait
In an exhibition opening soon at The Dowse Art Museum, Claudia Kogachi sheds light on her relationship with her mother through the frame of competitive sports.
Aotearoa through a Japanese lens
Porirua-based artist Alistair McDonald imagines how Andō Hiroshige, a great master of ukiyo-e, might interpret New Zealand in his latest exhibition.
What it means to be good
Artist Ayesha Green deciphers what it means to be a ‘good citizen’ from a wāhine Māori perspective in her latest exhibition.
The to and fro of technology and climate change
Photographer Clayton Morgan highlights the positive and negative impacts technology has on the climate in TerraObscura, on now at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre.
Indigenous Arctic artists share their concerns
Indigenous artists from the circumpolar world visualise the threats facing their people in a new exhibition running at Pātaka Art + Museum.
The rise of graffiti in Aotearoa
The Most Dedicated: An Aotearoa Graffiti Story, an exhibition opening soon at The Dowse Art Museum, explores the impact of street art collective TMD for the first time at any major public gallery.
The destruction of our wetlands
Lisa Clunie and Thorsten Hoppe illustrate what our communities have lost following decades of exploitation of our wetlands in their new Photospace Gallery exhibition.
Father and daughter connect in new exhibition
Photographer Sara McIntyre and her late father Peter McIntyre pay tribute to Kākahi, a beloved rural King Country town, in a joint exhibition opening soon at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata.
Pacific artist connects cultures
On now at Pātaka Art + Museum, Yuki Kihara explores her multicultural heritage in an exhibition of garments inspired by the Sāmoan siapo and the Japanese kimono.
The misrepresentation of Māori men
Photographer Chevron Hassett addresses the harmful ways in which Māori men are represented in Aotearoa.
Artist and animator join forces
Animator Simon Ward brings the psychedelic illustrations of Jess Johnson to life in Terminus, an immersive VR experience on now at The Dowse Art Museum.
Street art: The Mover
For the final entry in our long-running Street Art Series, we chat to artists Gabriel Heimler and Anna Proc about their iconic Wellington mural.
Street art: Sworn enermies: Felines vs. Canines
We chat to street artist Andrew J. Steel about one of his many iconic Wellington murals.
Painter depicts the power of protest
Lisa Chandler’s The Diving Line, an exhibition inspired by protests around the world, will open at Expressions Whirinaki on the 19th of December.
Eroding coastline captured on canvas
Artist Neil Frazer depicts the ever-changing Tongapōrutu coastline in his latest exhibition.
Street art: Mind the Balance
We chat to artist Elise Grangier about her Newtown mural, a collaborative project with James Mitchell.
Exhibition asks us to embrace discomfort
Optimism and its afterlives, a new joint exhibition running at Enjoy Contemporary Art Space until the 5th of December, asks us to bask in the disarray of key transitional moments.
Artist pleas for change
For John Walsh, the artist behind Uawa Tolaga Bay, this one’s personal.
Street art: Porirua 50th Anniversary
We chat to street artists Chloē Reweti and Ruth ‘Gorse’ Robertson-Taylor about their Cobham Court mural.
Street art: A Tribute to Rita Angus
We chat to street artist Askew One about his Willis Street mural.
A landmark art series returns
The Death and Resurrection of Luigi Spinelli was a landmark series for Piera McArthur ONZM. The 15 paintings, which she began in 1980, tell the Italian legend of a man killed by a bull and the sorrow and enlightenment that followed for his widow.
Street art: Tane Te Ohanga – The Bird Sanctuary
We chat to street artist Poi ‘TECHS’ Ngawati about his iconic mural in Tawa.
Events
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.
Descent to the Dungeon of Dankness
Hither to Garage Project Wild Workshop, weary adventurer, for an evening of celebration and specially crafted beer designed to accompany a one-shot roleplaying adventure called Descent to the Dungeon of Dankness.
A beautiful blend
On the Saturday of Mental Health Awareness Week, Get Comfy 2023 presents a charity fundraising festival complete with bands, performances, speakers, stalls, activities, and mental health resources.
Witty wanderings
Embark on witty wonderings with some of Pōneke’s silver-tongued storytellers at This Could Be A Podcast: Stories Tall and True.
Expect the unexpected
Come support Wellington’s freshest comedians as they compete in the Wellington RAW Comedy Quest Final for the title of Wellington champion and a spot in the national finals in Auckland.
Footy fever
The world’s biggest women’s sporting event is coming to the capital – celebrate football with the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™.
The life of a legend
Everyone is invited to the public memorial in reverence and remembrance of the trailblazer, mover, and shaker Georgina Beyer.
Fantastical, mystical, transformative
Lōemis (pronounced lew-mis) celebrates the winter solstice with a vibrant array of shows, foodie events, art installations, fiery ceremonies, and more this June.
Get inked and empowered
Inked and Empowered is a tattoo flash day, art market, and variety show where all artists, performers, crew members, and vendors identify as female, nonbinary, trans, or gender queer. It’s a fun day out and fundraiser for a vital cause.
Experience the incredible
Brace yourself, Wellington: the Armageddon Expo is back and better than ever! New Zealand’s most exciting science fiction and fantasy fair will invade Sky Stadium on the 22nd and 23rd of April.
Mr, Mrs, or Mx Right
Looking for that special someone? A new queer speed dating and drag show combo is coming to Wellington, courtesy of local drag icons Homer Neurotic and Selina Simone.
Enough talk, let’s skate
Combining skating, art, and music, BOWLZILLA is an epic five-day event and the biggest gathering of skaters in New Zealand this year.
For the love of beer
Funk on the Water is the city’s first dedicated sour beer festival! Locals can expect plenty of delicious brews and food along with live music and entertainment.
A taste of arts and culture
The Festival of India invites you to enjoy traditional performances, music, and food during a fun weekend of arts and culture in Kapiti.
Draw your sword!
The Trans-Tasman Buhurt Cup is an epic medieval combat event that will see Australia and New Zealand’s national sides go head-to-head in full sets of armour with blunt weapons and shields.
Wellington’s new team
Tokomanawa Queens are joining the proud list of sports clubs who represent the capital, all while bringing some world-class basketball to crowds around Aotearoa.
Basketball wizardry comes to Welly
The Harlem Globetrotters journey to Wellington’s TSB Bank Arena with their gravity-defying, impossible shot-making shows that leave audiences in awe.
Jokes, drinks, and bites
Cocktails & Comedy is your chance to see award-winning Kiwi comedians perform live by the fireplace at The White Swan during Greytown’s Festival of Christmas.
A celebrated history
St James Theatre has stood proudly on Courtenay Place for 110 years. Finally set to re-open, let’s take a look back at the long and celebrated history of this iconic venue.
Bring on the next 100 years
After being closed for more than three years, Wellington is finally able to celebrate the official opening of St James Theatre.
An expectation to win
As the leader of the most successful professional basketball franchise in Aotearoa, Wellington Saints captain Kenneth Tuffin is helping his side play to their full potential.
Festivals are back Wellington!
With no more limits on both indoor and outdoor capacities, Wellington’s first major festival, Eat Drink Play, is shaping up to be a massive three-week event full of shows, music, dance, good food, and more.
Fun, generous, and meaningful
Golf for a Cause is a local tournament making a difference for hundreds of families around New Zealand. Created by a young golfer, it is all about raising as much money for the Cancer Society as possible.
Sporting significance
New Zealand hosting the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup is a significant moment for women’s sport in Aotearoa. Even if the White Ferns do not manage to lift the cup when all is said and done, the overwhelming benefits of hosting this competition will be seen for years to come.
Terror around every corner
Expect the unexpected this Friday the 13th with Race Through Hell, a haunted house extravaganza from Nightmares Containment.
The vinyl revival continues
Various Wellington record stores will celebrate Record Store Day in June and July with exclusive releases, instore performances, and specials.
Classic cars take over Porirua
If you’ve got a need for speed, Petrolheads at Porirua is the day out you need.
Rainbow films take Space Place
The observatory’s popular Sci-Fi Sundays series will run with an LGBTQIA+ theme throughout March.
Eight culinary traditions of Chinese cuisine
Ahead of the Chinese New Year Festival on the 13th and 14th of February, Regional News looks into eight traditional Chinese cuisines.
The finest in jazz
Over 100 gigs will take place throughout the city’s streets, cafés, bars, and music venues.
Personalities
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.
A queer pirate punk Shakespearean musical
What if all the Antonios that Shakespeare wrote were in fact the same person? Ania Upstill’s original queer pirate punk Shakespearean musical Antonio! asks that very question.
Wellington Silver Screeners: Tin Whistle Collective
In our new Wellington Silver Screeners series, Alessia Belsito-Riera shines a spotlight on the movers and shakers working in the film capital of New Zealand.
Pathos, punchlines, and one purple puppet
After puppeteering a colossal career in stand-up comedy, Randy Feltface is bringing his latest show Feltopia to Wellington.
Into the light – ki te marama
Urban Art Foundation creative director Andrew Hagen has had a long and successful career in music, film, and now the arts! He tells us about Urban Art Foundation’s newest venture with Parliament TV, bringing art to screens across Aotearoa.
Celebrating 200 issues
We can’t quite believe it, but this is our 200th issue! We’re so thrilled to be marking this milestone and wanted to take this opportunity to share more about how we got here.
A whale of a tale
16-year-old Kapiti Coast local Arlo Kelly has been announced as one of the youngest-ever finalists in the 2023 New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults for his debut novel Echo.
Of monsters and men
A new creature feature called The Tank has joined the ranks of New Zealand’s filmmaking legacy. We caught up with writer, director, and producer Scott Walker to hear what he had to say about making a horror film in the middle of the pandemic completely.
Emerging theatre companies of Wellington – PopRox
Next up in our emerging theatre companies of Wellington series, we meet PopRox.
A perfectly pitched page-turner
Lauren Keenan (Te Āti Awa ki Taranaki) is a writer, reader, and doer of new things who has just won the 2023 NZ Booklovers Award for Best Junior Fiction Book for Amorangi and Millie’s Trip Through Time.
190, flirty, and thriving
Ahead of his NZ International Comedy Festival appearance, we interviewed 190-year-old vampire Deacon about what he does in the shadows.
10 out of 10cc
We caught up with 10CC frontman Graham Gouldman ahead of the Ultimate Greatest Hits Tour in Wellington, where the UK legends will play I’m Not In Love, Dreadlock Holiday, and more.
Emerging theatre companies of Wellington – Squash Co Arts Collective
Next up in our new emerging theatre companies of Wellington series, we meet Squash Co Arts Collective.
Meet Lynley Dodd and Friends
We had the pleasure of interviewing Dame Lynley Dodd, known the world over for her beloved series Hairy Maclary and Friends, about her illustrious career and upcoming appearance at Featherston Booktown.
Stand-up and self-love
Award-winning comedian and actor Kura Forrester talks about dogs, hearing aids, dating, and more in her new show Here If You Need this NZ International Comedy Festival.
Emerging theatre companies of Wellington – Knot Theatre
Next up in our new emerging theatre companies of Wellington series, we meet Knot Theatre.
The maker of dreams
Glitter, queerness, and whakapapa combine in a beautiful “world-bending” practice to make up renowned Kiwi artist Reuben Paterson’s largest exhibition to date.
Every athlete is an artist
In 2020 Wellingtonian Zakea Page won the Winter Youth Olympic Games medal design competition and did a live painting performance at the opening ceremony. This year he is part of the judges panel, while his film about his experience is winning awards in the international festival circuit.
Emerging theatre companies of Wellington – Horse with No Name
Next up in our new emerging theatre companies of Wellington series, we meet Horse with No Name.
Marking a massive milestone
The Rodger Fox Big Band celebrates their 50th anniversary this year with The Big Drum Off Concert Tour. We caught up with trombone legend and bandleader Rodger Fox about the last 50 years and what’s up next.
Emerging theatre companies of Wellington – Heartbreakers
First up in our new emerging theatre companies of Wellington series, we meet Heartbreakers.
Finding and forging his voice
We caught up with highly acclaimed and accomplished writer Chris Tse, the New Zealand Poet Laureate for 2022-2024.
From Wellington to Berlin
We chat with Matthew Di Leva, who has autism and ADHD and has been selected to represent New Zealand in athletics at the 2023 Berlin Special Olympics.
Swim for the stars
Olympic swimmer and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lewis Clareburt chats about his swimming career, achievements, and his role inspiring the next generation in the third instalment of our Wellington sportspeople series.
Smoke and shadows, tours and trickery
Trick of the Light celebrates their 10th birthday this November. We caught up with playwright Ralph McCubbin Howell, the co-founder of the theatre company, to look back on the last decade and look forward to the next.
Mixologists of Wellington: Jameskingi Campbell – Le Café Plum
In our new Mixologists of Wellington series, we visit popular local establishments to find out about the craft of cocktails and the people who make them.
Urzila Carlson gets personal
One of Australia and New Zealand’s biggest comedy names, Urzila Carlson is bringing her latest comedy show It’s Personal to Wellington this November.
Where stories are told
Sarah Bolland is the co-director of The Cuba Press in Wellington. We caught up to chat about the ins and outs of running an independent publishing house as part of a small team of just three.
I’m going to be an All Black
Retired All Black wing Cory Jane talks about his rugby career, highlights, and achievements, as well as his coaching role at the Hurricanes in the second instalment of our Wellington sportspeople series.
Comedy and community
Lesa MacLeod-Whiting is a comedian, improviser, mum, and semi-professional-amateur-dance-enthusiast who co-runs Shut Up & Dance by day and slays on the stand-up stage by night.
Chefs of Wellington: Nathan Auld
Alessia Belsito-Riera chats to Nathan Auld, the head chef of Burmese restaurant Mabel’s on Tory Street.
I’m just Stevie
We caught up with well-known Wellington performer Stevie Hancox-Monk to talk about fundraising for top surgery, the waitlist for which is up to 20 years long, and what role the arts have played in their journey so far.
Bringing Broadway to Wellington
Sandy Brewer founded Capital Theatre Trust to plug the gap in the local scene for large-scale musical theatre produced by and for Wellington. The first spectacular production is Les Misérables.
Rising to the challenge
Wellington Phoenix and All Whites midfielder Clayton Lewis talks about his football career, highlights, achievements, future, and more in the first instalment of our new Wellington sportspeople series.
25 years of standout storytelling and stand-up
Rhys Darby, one of New Zealand’s most successful comedy exports, tours New Zealand for the first time in five years with a retrospective show that celebrates an exceptional quarter-century in the industry.
Chefs of Wellington: Gabriele Cagnetta
Alessia Belsito-Riera chats to Gabriele Cagnetta, the head chef of Mediterranean Foods Trattoria & Deli in Newtown.
Chefs of Wellington: Hasan Alwarhani and Flora Quintana
Alessia Belsito-Riera chats to head chefs Hasan Alwarhani and Flora Quintana of Syrian restaurant Damascus, located in the Vogelmorn Bowling Club in Brooklyn.
Ana Sciascia is Porirua proud
New director of Pātaka Art + Museum in Porirua, Ana Sciascia, opens up about her love for the local region and her exciting new position.
James Roque keeps knocking
James Roque – aka the Filipino stepson of New Zealand comedy – returns to our stages with Badong, a brand-new hour of laughs about growing up and finding joy in adulthood.
Chefs of Wellington: Joel Teka
Alessia Belsito-Riera chats to Joel Teka, the head chef of Ethiopian restaurant Mother of Coffee on Left Bank.
Sparking joy with laughter
Dai Henwood has starred in Three’s 7 Days for 13 years. The much-loved TV personality is about to bunk up with seven Kiwi comedians to tour 7 Days Live around the country, hitting Wellington this June.
The arts are what bind us
Regional News caught up with former Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Patsy Reddy, who has been appointed a trustee of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) Foundation.
Storytelling with food
Lucy Corry is a writer, editor, mother, cook, and published author whose cookbook, Homecooked: Seasonal Recipes for Everyday, has just won the NZ Booklovers Award for Best Lifestyle Book 2022.
Chefs of Wellington: Lucas Tock
Alessia Belsito-Riera chats to 1154 Pastaria’s head chef Lucas Tock.
The peak of Jo Morgan’s passion
Jo Morgan has ridden a motorbike through 110 countries and summited 22 of New Zealand’s 3000-metre-plus mountain peaks. On number 23, Mount Hicks in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, she survived an avalanche.
Chefs of Wellington: Kristan Mulcahy – Chow
In our Chefs of Wellington series, we talk to the chefs behind some of our favourite local restaurants. Alessia Belsito-Riera chats to Chow’s head chef Kristan Mulcahy.
Getting to the heart of a culture
Judith Geare MNZM has been at the Goethe-Institut for 38 years and is currently the Leiterin der Sprachabteilung (head of the German Language Department). We caught up with the lover of languages about her passion for teaching and her time at Goethe, which will come to a close when she retires at the end of March.
Chefs of Wellington: Minh Le
We talk to the chefs behind some of Wellington’s favourite local restaurants, starting with Apache owner and head chef Minh Le.
Taking the bull by the horns
Actor Matt Chamberlain, who has played more than 50 onscreen characters and starred in close to 30 stage shows, talks to Regional News about his new play Timber…! at Circa Theatre.
Vanessa Stacey’s big vision for Fringe
We sat down with multimedia artist Vanessa Stacey to chat about her appointment as director of the 2022 New Zealand Fringe Festival.
Behind the Water Tiger with T-Wei
Leah Maclean chats with artist T-Wei, who developed the Wellington Lunar New Year Water Tiger artwork, about his inspiration and creative process.
Street performers: Trent H Baumann and Sachie Mikawa, aka The Birdmann and Egg
We caught up with The Birdmann and Egg, who met 10 years ago in a fateful carpark and have since collectively performed in over 20 countries.
Gabby Anderson on the gift of comedy
Local comedian, improvisor, and teacher Gabby Anderson has been nominated for the prestigious Billy T Award.
Street performers: Jarrod ‘Woody’ Wood
Do you know there is a magic tree that plays flute around the streets of Wellington? Ever wondered why? We met the man behind the tree, Jarrod ‘Woody’ Wood, to find out.
Shane Kidby is Walking With Wings
Shane Kidby has started an epic mission: traversing Aotearoa’s 15,000-kilometre coastline to raise funds for cystic fibrosis and mental health.
Emma Louise’s journey of movement
10 years ago, Emma Louise went to her first pole dance class. What began as a bit of a laugh turned not only into her passion, but a profession too.
Street performers: Imogen Stone and Zane and Degge Jarvie
We caught up with street performers Imogen Stone and Zane and Degge Jarvie, whose outdoor show Biggest Little Circus has seen them tour Aotearoa and even 13,000 kilometres through Canada.
Music is how Hollie Smith breathes
Soul singer-songwriter Hollie Smith has three number one solo albums to her name and returns to cement her mark on New Zealand’s music landscape with her fourth, Coming In From The Dark.
40 years of Flying Nun
We speak to Flying Nun Records founder Roger Shepherd about the label’s past, present, and future.
Street performers: Matthias Goed
We catch up with Matthias Goed, who grew up in the circus with an elephant in the backyard and specialises in Rola-Bola – which he can balance on while juggling knives or fire!
Street performers: Fraser Hooper
We chat to award-winning clown Fraser Hooper about his decades-long successful career and famous boxing act.
Bringing Māoriness to the world
Pre-lockdown, we sat down with actor, producer, director, and musician Jamie McCaskill to chat about his extensive stage and screen career over a cuppa.
Literally living her dreams
From leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses to travelling the world, Jillian Webster has found the life she was always searching for. The second book in her climate fiction trilogy, The Burn of a Thousand Suns, came out earlier this month.
Thomasin McKenzie’s big year
We chat to the Jojo Rabbit star about her latest flick The Justice of Bunny King, collaborating with Taika Waititi and Edgar Wright, and her tendency towards darker characters.
Street performers: Mr Fungus
We chat to iconic performer Mr Fungus, the goofy guy with glasses who’s been making an impression on Wellington since his career began in 1984.
Music for people
New Zealand indie-pop superstar BENEE will hit all corners of Aotearoa this August, playing hits like Supalonely and Glitter alongside new tracks at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on the 8th.
A cornucopia of songs and stories
With nearly 400 songs to his name, Kiwi singer-songwriter Greg Johnson has been touring for over three decades and has a heck of a lot of stories to tell. Catch him and his new album, Tilt Your Interior, at Meow this July.
Tim Minchin brings BACK back
We got the chance to chat to internationally renowned entertainer Tim Minchin ahead of his encore return of BACK, a concert tour spanning all four corners of his phenomenal career and eclectic repertoire.
Jacob Rajan on puppetry and pathos
With Indian Ink’s latest work Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream on now, Regional News caught up with the theatre company’s co-founder, prolific actor and playwright Jacob Rajan, about the journey so far.
Libby Hunsdale won’t take no for an answer
Libby Hunsdale is a dancer, an Attitude Award winner, and now a leading lady. With the release of Poppy on the 27th of May, she will become the first lead actor playing a young woman with Down syndrome in a New Zealand feature.
Street performers: Kozo Kaos
We chat to street performer Kozo Kaos (Kozo Komatsubara), a juggler, magician, and circus stunt performer.
Ben Elton catches up with change again
Ben Elton, co-writer of The Young Ones and Blackadder, is officially in New Zealand. Regional News got to chat to the British comedian, playwright, director, author, and (reluctant) actor not once but twice ahead of his stand-up show in Wellington.
Joy Cowley’s second childhood
One of New Zealand’s most successful and prolific children’s authors, Joy Cowley talks to Regional News about her remarkable life and work ahead of the Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival.
Street performers: Patrick Adderley
We chat to street performer Patrick Adderley, aka Circus Patrick, who can juggle, skate, and fit his body through a tennis racket… while riding a unicycle.
Girl put your lashes on
When business analyst and Made Marion Craft owner Maryanne Cathro puts her lashes on, she transforms into comic chanteuse Constance Craving.
The two stellar careers of Boh Runga
Jewellery designer and stellar* frontwoman Boh Runga talks to Regional News ahead of the band’s performance at the new Wellington music festival Peachy Keen.
Dave Batten headlines very special birthday gig
The Humorous Arts Trust has invested thousands in a new portable ramp that has made the comedy scene more accessible for Dave Batten, who describes himself as more of a sit-down than a stand-up comedian.
300 plays and counting
Murray Lynch ONZM chats to Regional News about nearly 50 years in the theatre industry.
YelloHalo to donate 100% of profits to frontline ambulance officers
YelloHalo CEO Graeme Blake talks about the first social enterprise broadband company in New Zealand.
Anthony Field on 30 years of The Wiggles
The Wiggles are coming to Wellington! We looked back on 30 years of the world’s most popular children’s entertainment group with Anthony ahead of the We’re All Fruit Salad Tour.
Jonathan Mosen wins the Impact Award
Serial volunteer, mentor, and advocate in the disability community Jonathan Mosen MNZM has won the Impact Award at the 2020 Attitude Awards.
Murray Cammick talks music, photography, and his industry-defining magazine
From launching Rip It Up magazine and Wildside Records to his street photography, Murray Cammick ONZM created spaces for Kiwi musicians to thrive.
Giselle Clarkson on illustrating the new Egg & Spoon cookbook
Wellington-based illustrator Giselle Clarkson is known New Zealand over – sometimes as “the biscuit girl”, she laughs.
Pax Assadi talks comedy, COVID, and challenging the status quo
Pax Assadi has been bringing audiences joy since he set out into the world of stand-up in 2012.
Actor, dancer, drummer celebrated at Te Putanga Toi Arts Access Awards
Duncan Armstrong says he is “proud and grateful” to have won this year’s Arts Access PAK’n SAVE Artistic Achievement Award.
Burlesque dancer seeks surgery for rare syndrome
Jayne, also known as Courtney L’amour, describes burlesque as “a sparkly, fabulous artform all about body positivity, creativity, and confidence.” In June 2018, Jayne’s world changed when she felt an intense pain in the side of her ribs during a workout.