Category: Premium

Jun 25
Football And Thirst: The 2026 World Cup’s Hottest Players

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already given fans plenty to talk about, from dramatic upsets and breakout stars to unforgettable goals. But for many viewers, the action on the pitch is not the only thing grabbing attention. With 48 national teams competing across the United States, Canada and Mexico, this year’s tournament has introduced […]

Jun 24
OUT & ABOUT: Eagle Bar Brings The Friday Night Buzz To K’ Road

Eagle Bar was buzzing on Friday, 19 June, as K’ Road’s beloved LGBTQ+ local welcomed the community for another fabulous night out. From familiar faces and fresh connections to late-night laughs, colour and plenty of queer joy, the evening had all the warmth and energy that has made Eagle Bar one of Auckland’s favourite Rainbow […]

Jun 19
Exclusive Interview: Joe Bird on Queer Aussie Horror, Leviticus

From Talk to Me to Leviticus, the rising Australian actor steps from breakout horror success into queer genre cinema’s next frontier There is a special kind of excitement that comes with watching a young performer find the role that proves exactly what they are capable of. For Australian actor Joe Bird, that moment began with […]

Jun 17
Why Kickball Will Be the Rainbow Games’ Most Joyful New Sport

Kickball may still be unfamiliar to many New Zealanders, but for Emerald City Kickball’s Marcus Gadd, that is part of the excitement. As Rainbow Games Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland 2026 approaches, the Australian team is preparing to make its mark on Kiwi players and spectators, bringing with it a mix of softball-style rules, beginner-friendly play and […]

Jun 17
Visibility, Courage and Community: June’s Queer History 

Gareth Watkins highlights June dates that helped shape Aotearoa’s Rainbow rights journey  30 June 1962  Under the headline “Banning of Book”, The Press newspaper reported that James Courage’s novel A Way of Love had effectively been banned by the Customs Department due to its homosexual themes. The novel, first published in London in 1959, had been freely available in New […]

Jun 12
Dangerous Goods: “Are We The Dangerous Ones?” 

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.  […]

Jun 11
Le Gateau Chocolat: “The heart of all of this is love and hope” 

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 […]

Jun 10
Reo Māori Takes Centre Stage with Auckland Philharmonia This Matariki 

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 […]