Culture 101

What happens when you simply pay artists to do their work

29 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Weaving the People is a new documentary available on RNZ Video, following ten Waikato artists who spent a year embedded in their communities as part o...

Jennifer Ward-Lealand

29 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Auckland Theatre Company's Helen Clark in Six Outfits opens in just over a week. Written by Fiona Samuel, the play follows Helen Clark's journey from ...

Austin Bell photographs over 2,500 basketball courts

29 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New York-based photographer Austin Bell specialises in aerial landscapes, and his project Shooting Hoops has taken him to over 4,500 outdoor basketbal...

Film maker Florian Habicht captures 24 hours of Aotearoa

28 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Florian Habicht is one of New Zealand's leading documentary filmmakers, best known for finding ordinary people and drawing out extraordinary stories. ...

Auckland Arts Festival Young Critics Panel

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Auckland Arts Festival's Young Critics Programme pairs rangatahi with festival shows, asking them to file reviews within 24 hours. Two participant...

Saana Kelley, the Emmy-winning foley artist with three million followers

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you don't notice Saana Kelley's work, she's done her job well. Almost three decades into her career, the foley artist has earned an Emmy for Shogun...

Holly Shervey on Crackhead, her deeply personal show already picked up by HBO Max

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Crackhead is a bold new local drama created, written by and starring Holly Shervey, drawn from her own experience in psychiatric care.

Gabi Lardies from the Shanghai Biennale with the first Kiwis to exhibit there

21 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time, four New Zealand artists are exhibiting at the Shanghai Biennale, China's longest-running art biennale and one of the most influen...

Actor to auctioneer: Daniel Pengelly’s second act

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Daniel Pengelly spent more than twenty years in theatre as a performer, director, and former artistic director of both The Court Theatre and Centrepoi...

Psychologist and painter Rachael Mayne

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After 15 years as a psychologist, Rachael Mayne decided it was time to take a break and pursue her painting full time. What started out as an escape a...

The man behind the biggest animated films of the last century

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For the past 30 years, Kyle Balda has been involved and behind some of the most successful animated films of the century. Serving as supervising anima...

Thirty-Six questions that lead to love inspires theatre show

14 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Thirty-Six is a new play inspired by the viral New York Times article about the 36 questions designed to lead to love. It suggests that intimacy can b...

Inside Helios: artist Luke Jeram

08 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Internationally renowned UK artist Luke Jeram is known for large scale installations including the global Play Me, I'm Yours piano project. His latest...

Rocky Horror world record holder Kristian Lavercombe

08 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kristian Lavercombe holds the world record for the most performances in The Rocky Horror Show and is now touring New Zealand as The Narrator.

Country Calendar celebrates its 60th

08 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand's longest running television programme turns 60. Since its first broadcast in 1966, Country Calendar has chronicled rural life across Aote...

Pleasure, power and politics: WET at Te Pou Theatre

07 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

WET is a bold new play about pleasure, power and politics, on stage at Te Pou Theatre in West Auckland as part of the Auckland Arts Festival. The stor...

Fast Favourites: Brodie Kane

07 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist, broadcaster and entrepreneur Brodie Kane joins Culture 101 for Fast Favourites. Originally from Waikuku Beach north of Christchurch and no...

Tenor: My Name is Pati director Rebecca Tansley

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new documentary charts the rise of tenor Pene Pati, from South Auckland to some of the world's leading opera stages. 

The Red Phone Project creators at Aotearoa New Zealand Festival Of The Arts

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

At The Performance Arcade on Wellington's waterfront, The Red Phone Project pairs strangers in neighbouring telephone boxes for guided conversations u...

The Big Screen with Boris Jancic

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Boris Jancic joins us to unpack Baz Luhrmann's latest Elvis documentary, revisiting the life and cultural legacy of Elvis Presley through archival mat...

Australian Comedian Joel Creasey on his friendship with Joan Rivers

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Australian comedian Joel Creasey is heading to Christchurch for the Court Theatre's Rainbow Festival. His international break came in New York, suppor...

Immersive theatre Werewolf at Circa Theatre ahead of North Island tour

28 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As part of the Aotearoa Festival of the Arts, Werewolf transforms Circa Theatre into a makeshift safe house overseen by three wardens. The audience be...

Fast Favourites: Award winning actress Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne

28 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Thirty years after its premiere, Hone Kouka's Waiora Te Ukaipo returns for the Wellington and Auckland arts festivals. Set in 1965 and inspired by Kou...

Sirāt film director Oliver Laxe on defying Oscar odds

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Acclaimed filmmaker Oliver Laxe joins Culture 101 to discuss his latest feature, Sirat.

Ramon Te Wake headlines Auckland Pride closing party

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ramon Te Wake speaks to Culture 101 about returning to the Pride stage to headline the Out of the Gutter street party, closing the 2026 Auckland Prid...

Comedian Jack Whitehall’s reverse nepotism and cult classic remake

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The 1989 cult film The 'Burbs, directed by Joe Dante and starring Tom Hanks, now has a new streaming era successor. Released by Peacock and available ...

Te Papa curator Lissa Mitchell on Slow Burn: Women and Photography exhibition

21 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Curator of Historical Photography Lissa Mitchell speaks to Culture 101 about Slow Burn: Women and Photography Slow Burn, an exhibition showcasing mo...

The Big Screen: Kate Rodger’s take on GOAT, Crime 101 and Train Dreams

21 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Film critic Kate Rodger joins Culture 101 to review Crime 101, GOAT, and Train Dreams.

Fast Favourites: Auckland Philharmonia Principal Percussionist Eric Renick

21 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Principal percussionist Eric Renick, who will perform in the production, speaks to Culture 101 about bringing Béla Bartók's opera Bluebeard's Cast...

Island Life: Living on Rakiura Stewart Island inspires local exhibition 

15 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Rakiura, Stewart Island is home to a microcosm of artists who find inspiration from this remote location. Summers are often spent hosting tourists and...

Mark Hadlow's Grumpy Old Man in Lycra goes on national tour

15 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With 150 theatre productions under his belt, actor Mark Hadlow has a very long CV. International audiences may recognise him from King Kong, The Hob...

Bringing the cobbles to the Capital: Beloved soap opera gets a comedy reboot

15 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

First airing in 1960, Coronation Street is the world's longest running soap opera. At its peak it was attracting 20 million viewers during weeknights ...

Morris & James pottery to be immortalised in a limited edition book

14 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After almost 50 years in business, iconic Matakana pottery company Morris and James closed its doors last year. But now the legacy of the ceramics stu...

Fast Favourites: Psychiatrist and author Dr Hinemoa Elder

14 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Our Fast Favourites guest this week can be described as many things, author, speaker, listener, mum, mentor and advocate. And before that, a kids TV p...

Freedom in finding fame later for Louise Bourgeois

08 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The French-American artist, Louise Bourgeois found fame later in life with her reputation and market value soaring after her death.

Kiwi and international performers flocking to Wellington Fringe Festival

08 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Fringe Festival is back in Wellington - starting this month from the 13th of February until the 7th of March.

Major rebuild forges ahead at Auckland's historical St James

08 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Major rebuild forges ahead at Auckland's historical St James theatre.

The Big Screen: Dan Slevin

08 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Big Screen: Dan Slevin.

Poetry Takeover: Spoken word resurges amongst young people

08 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Poetry has taken off in the past decade, with a resurgence, especially amongst young people. Written poetry, poetry performance like - slams or poetry...

Cora-Allan on reviving Niuean barkcloth after 100 years

07 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When artist Cora-Allan was asked to create the burial garments for her Niuean grandparents - it was a request that would change the course of her life...

Fast Favourites: Alison Quigan on her latest role as a snail

07 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most people will know Alison Quigan for her long-term role as receptionist Yvonne Jeffries on Shortland Street. But that's just one slice of the pie. ...

Artist Karma Barnes first Kiwi to exhibit at Beijing International Biennale in six years

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Karma Barnes talks with us about CO-Lapses, her atmospheric installation of suspended vessels that slowly release coloured sands to form shifting land...

Irish storytelling nights now a global sensation

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Seanchoíche (that's shan-a-key-ha, if you're wondering), is a global series of storytelling nights that Ciaran founded to celebrate real people and r...

The Big Screen: Kate Rodger on Hamnet, Marty Supreme

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

One of Aotearoa's most trusted film voices, Kate shares what she's loving right now at the movies and why it's worth seeing it on the big screen.

Celebrated chef and author Yotam Ottolenghi on comfort food, home cooking and the Kiwi bakery

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Known for helping introduce Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours to everyday home cooking, Yotam Ottolenghi popularised ingredients like sumac an...

Acclaimed Kiwi illustrator Ruby Jones launches first solo exhibition

31 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Illustrator Ruby Jones chats about the work that first drew international attention to her. After the Christchurch mosque attacks, she created an illu...

Fast Favourites: Kiwi legend Lucy Lawless

31 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Lucy Lawless, one of Aotearoa's most iconic actors, takes part in Fast Favourites. Known for Xena: Warrior Princess, Pike River, and My Life is Murder...

Kiwi chef Anthony Hoy Fong

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anthony Hoy Fong has carved out a hugely successful career, cooking for US presidents, Oprah and has worked with NBA legend Shaquille O'Neill to desig...

Playwright Anders Falstie-Jensen wins Bruce Mason Award

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This year's Bruce Mason Playwrighting Award has been awarded to Anders Falstie-Jensen. In 2015, Centrepoint won the Adam Award for Best New Zealand Pl...

Best Films of 2025 with Kate Rodger

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the lead up to Christmas we've been looking back at the best books and television of the year. This week - it's time to look at the best films - wi...

Theft, fraud and forgery: Art and crime

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Penelope Jackson speaks to Culture 101 about the fascination with art and crime and why writing about it can be complicated and difficult.

Not Only Fred Dagg: Lorin Clarke on her father's legacy

20 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When we think of the late comedian, writer, satirist, and performer John Clarke - aka Fred Dagg, words like legend and icon often come to mind. But fo...

Fast Favourites with comedian Michele A'Court

20 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Stand-up comedian, writer and MC, Michele A'Court - is one of Aotearoa's most recognisable faces. She joins us for our final Culture 101 of the year ...

Peata Larkin leading charge to save music and community centre

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tamaki Makaurau contemporary artist, Peata Larkin is known for her work which often explores the intersection of pattern, spirituality and Maori ident...

Best Television of 2025 with Karl Puschmann

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TV reviewer Karl Puschmann shares his top TV picks for the year.

Panto Season in full swing at Circa with director Simon Leary

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

He speaks to Culture 101 about whether panto in Aotearoa is different to rest of the world and their approach to casting and staging for this producti...

Legendary James Cameron on Avatar Fire and Ash

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Legendary James Cameron on Avatar Fire and Ash.

Battle to become Ultimate Elvis Artist: Taurean Kenny Mill

13 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Come January, the top Elvis impersonators from Australasia will descend on New South Wales to battle for the title of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artis...

Exhibition spotlights pioneering New Zealand photographer Steve Rumsey

13 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

RNZ's Angie Skerrett has been finding out about the photographer who wasn't afraid to see things differently through the lens.

Fast Favourites with Professor and author Deidre Brown

13 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The academic, teacher, mentor, art historian, and multi-award-winning author joins Perlina Lau share some of her cultural favourites.

Best Books of 2025 with Time Out Bookstore's Jenna Todd

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Best Books of 2025 with Time Out Bookstore's Jenna Todd.

Sea shanties and singalongs

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Perlina Lau talks to the creator of a new musical, based on a beloved children's book written by the late Margaret Mahy.

Regional Wrap: Ashburton botanical art exhibition

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dunedin-based Artist Jane Marshall Fitzgerald was born in Ashburton  and she joins Culture 101.

"Bloody hell" Quintessential Kiwi farmer

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bloke of the Apocalypse is a new animated Kiwi series which has hit YouTube. Creator Charlie Faulks speaks to Culture 101.

Arts News

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Arts news. .

"Genuine and stable": Proving your love to strangers

06 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Genuine and Stable is Uhyoung Choi's debut as a playwright and is based on his experiences as a former immigration lawyer. 

Contemporary Ana Iti wins $100,000 New York residency

06 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The sculptor, video artist, and writer has been chosen as this year's Harriet Friedlander Fellow and joins Culture 101.

Fast Favourites: Sophie Henderson

06 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Silo Theatre's Artistic Director joins Culture 101 for Fast Favourites and to preview the programme for the 2026 season.

The extraordinary life of botanical artist Fanny Osborne.

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Writer and curator Kate Waterhouse has spent the past several years looking into the life of Aotea Great Barrier botanical artist Fanny Osborne. Kate ...

Screen Writer and Producer Matthew Metcalfe

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Will a recent change to the screen rebate make a difference to our struggling screen sector? NZ producer and screen writer Matthew Metcalfe tells Cult...

Regional Wrap: Spotlight on Aotea Great Barrier

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Potter Sarah Harrison joins Culture 101 from Aotea Great Barrier to talk about life on the island and the creative community that lives there. Sarah'...

Lifting the veil on a new glossy magazine all about weddings

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Publishing has been struggling in this age of on-line content, but a trio of Auckland women have taken the plunge and launched a new glossy magazine c...

Arts news for 30 November 2025

29 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Arts news for 30 November 2025

Philanthropist Greg Moyle

29 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Art collector Greg Moyle has promised 20 artworks worth around $5m to the Auckland City Art Gallery. It is one the most significant bequests in the g...

Fast Favourites with Lara Fischel-Chisholm.

29 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Dynamotion dance troupe are back with a new show for the Christmas season. Featuring big dance numbers and lip-syncing to narration, the format of...

"Posture of our generation" Milarky sculpture

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Scultpure on the Shore in Tamaki Makaurau winds up this weekend. The biennial exhibition has been showcasing more than 120 artworks by both establishe...

Paying homage to the "big tree" of Cornwall Park

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Artist Josh Lancaster doesn't want you to look too closely at his paintings. Instead, he hopes his work will transport people to moments in their live...

Hanly House: Campaign to create artists' oasis residency

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The race is on to preserve the home of two of New Zealand's most beloved artists. For 30 years the Mt Eden home of Pat and Gil Hanly has been a creati...

Regional Wrap: Sarjeant Gallery wins major architecture prize

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This time last year we took Culture 101 on the road to the new, revamped Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery in Whanganui. To those unfamiliar with this...

Oscar-winning prosthetic artist on transforming "The Rock"

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

He's won two Oscars, worked with Hollywood A-lister actors and directors but if he's done his job well, then his work is invisible. Make-up and prosth...

Local jeweller Zoe and Morgan celebrate twenty years

22 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Local jewellers Zoe and Morgan are celebrating two decades of their family business. The two siblings along with their sister Ruth had all ventured do...

Fast Favourites: Best actress winner Antonia Prebble

22 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

She's one of the country's most beloved actors and on Friday night, took home the Best Actress in a Series Award for the second time for her role in t...

Could this be this country’s finest map?

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There is much joy to be had poring over a great map. And this particular map may be the finest in New Zealand to pore over of them all. It's a map of ...

Rose of Tralee Keely O’Grady dances her way to Christmas

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Christchurch's Keely O'Grady and Mitchell O'Hara join Culture 101 to discuss the Irish dance show A Celtic Christmas.

Niels Meyer-Westfield on painting NZ bird feathers

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nature artist, Niels Meyer-Westfeld joins Culture 101 to talk about his new book Feathers of Aotearoa: an illustrated journal.

Regional Wrap: Te Whare Taonga o Kawhia - Kawhia Museum

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Regional Wrap: Te Whare Taonga o Kāwhia - Kāwhia Museum.

In a first NZ artist Yvonne Todd turns to AI

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of New Zealand's leading photographers and artists, Yvonne Todd has announced she is now only working in AI. We believe as a professional in Aotea...

Poet Tusiata Avia on "the most challenging book I've written"

15 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A year ago, on Culture 101 we played a recording of Tusiata Avia reading a commissioned poem for the 2024 Arts Foundation's Laureate Awards. It was en...

From Nude Tuesday to Educators: Jackie Van Beek

15 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jackie van Beek joins us on Culture 101 to talk about season four of Educators and share some her cultural favourites.

From painting to performance: the remarkable story of Vietnamese artist Tran Luong

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Just opened at New Plymouth's Govett Brewster Gallery is a major survey exhibition of one of Vietnam's leading - but at home most controversial - arti...

Winner of Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement, poet Dinah Hawken

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On Thursday evening, poet Dinah Hawken was one of three recipients of a Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement. The others were, for fiction,...

Regional Wrap: Maungaturoto

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Local artist David Gunson joins us to talk about the arts scene there and the town's new art gallery.

A history of acting in Aotearoa

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Authors David O'Donnell and Hilary Halba join Culture 101 to discuss their new book.

Explosive work of one of the most significant artists of the 21st century to come to NZ

08 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi have announced that they will return to Te Ngākau Civic Square next October 2026 with a major new exhibition fro...

Artist Dinah Priestley on her 'colourful adventurous life’

08 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A just released book, An Eccentric History in Batik shares the story of the art and love of Dinah Priestley and Tony Burton.

Lulu Sun: Our leading tennis player on the rise

08 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Born in beautiful Te Anau, since age 5 tennis star today Lulu Sun has lived around the world. Formerly representing Switzerland, since 2024 she has ag...

Arts News for 2 November 2025

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Arts News for 2 November 2025.

All art is politics: acclaimed Australian artist Mike Parr's controversial performance

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

All art is politics: Acclaimed Australian artist Mike Parr's controversial performance.

Regional Wrap: working with kelp in the Waitaki

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Regional Wrap: working with kelp in the Waitaki.

The Dry House: Alison Bruce in her most challenging role yet

01 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Award-winning actor Alison Bruce is one of the country’s most versatile and experienced stage and screen actors.