Lisa Fa’alafi and Leah Shelton, the co-creators Dangerous Goods (part of Auckland Live Cabaret Festival), discuss the fire, fury and feminism at the heart of their work. When Dangerous Goods storms into The Civic this July, audiences can expect fire, aerials, burlesque, drag, powerhouse vocals and a very clear warning: this is not cabaret that politely asks to be included. […]
Le Gateau Chocolat returns to Tāmaki Makaurau this July for Auckland Live Cabaret Festival with Musicals Mayhem, but behind the glamour, Oliver Hall discovers an artist reshaping expectations around identity, visibility and hope in troubling times. When Le Gateau Chocolat walks onto a stage, audiences often think they know what they are getting. They see a […]
For one night only, the powerful sound of exceptional young vocal artists performing waiata reo Māori with Auckland’s professional orchestra will fill the Auckland Town Hall for Matariki: Waiata Anthems In Concert. This landmark concert on Thursday 9 July brings the Waiata Anthems’ kaupapa together with the Auckland Phil into one of the city’s most iconic live music spaces. This concert places te reo Māori centre stage this Matariki, transforming some of Aotearoa’s […]
Partners in life and choreography, Kapieri Samisoni and Antonio Matagi talk to Oliver Hall about coming out, creative differences, and bringing their first shared work, Kamata(a)ga, to the Pacific Dance Festival. How and when did the two of you first meet, and what were your first impressions of each other? K: We first met in 2018 during […]
Dr Mataroria Lyndon answers your health-related questions In a world where all of us are carrying stress from cost-of-living pressure, burnout, and existing in a world that can feel pretty hostile, how do you know when it’s time to reach out for mental health support instead of just pushing through? A lot of us have […]
A bill that would legally define the words “woman” and “man” across New Zealand legislation is now before Parliament, with the public given until 2 July 2026 to make a submission. The Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill, introduced by New Zealand First MP Jenny Marcroft, passed its first reading on 20 May […]
YOUR EX meets the queer creative team behind SUGAR When SUGAR played Brisbane, writer Ro Bright says the politics of the show shifted in real time. “Every country we take SUGAR to, the politics around sex work, sugar culture, and the trans community is different,” Bright tells YOUR EX. “We encounter laws that take away our rights […]
In 2026, Aotearoa New Zealand marks a big milestone: 40 years since the passage of the Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986. This landmark legislation decriminalised consensual sexual activity between men aged 16 and over, bringing an end to decades of legal persecution and stigma. The 40th anniversary is a moment of celebration as well as […]