Culture 101
Episodes
A fresh start for the RNZ Ballet with artistic director Ty King-Wall
16 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This weekend in Wellington the Scottish Ballet and Royal New Zealand Ballet share the same stage with a range of short works. The Scottish Ballet go o...
Social media project reveals dating lives of Gen Z
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new social media project d8talk sees a group of young Gen Z New Zealanders taking part in a frank and honest conversation dating. Over the next few ...
Mike Leigh on new film "Hard Truths"
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After nearly 30 years, British writer and director Mike Leigh has reunited with actor Marianne Jean-Baptiste for his new drama and comedy film Hard Tr...
Fast Favourites with Barnie Duncan
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian, actor and theatre maker Barnie Duncan, is now in preparation mode ahead of this year's NZ International Comedy Festival.
Arts News for 9 March 2025
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Arts News for 9 March 2025.
Bringing precolonial history alive in the landscape
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bringing precolonial history alive in the landscape with storytelling and your mobile phone When you travel around New Zealand our heritage since colo...
Between the coloniser and the colonised: Anglo-Indian culture
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Between the coloniser and the colonised: Anglo-Indian culture made visible A small Indian minority community with a fascinating history, Anglo-Indians...
Regional Wrap: Glenorchy with Leslie Van Gelder
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About 45 minutes from Queenstown, on the northern shores of Lake Wakatipu and a gateway to hiking trails is Glenorchy. Surrounded by mountain ranges a...
Turning Te Papa activism into a stage show
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ration the Queen's Veges: Turning Te Papa activism into a stage show In 2023, a group spray painted over the English Treaty of Waitangi Exhibition at ...
Scarves, ferry timetables & old boot fragments on Banks Peninsula
08 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On Banks Peninsula in Canterbury fingers of lava have created a landscape of many deep bays and rugged hills. This is the distinctive setting of our n...
Creating the Tony award-winning Tudor musical Six
08 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Six is 80 minutes of high-energy, girl power pop songs and a rewriting of 500 years of history. Or herstory rather. The show title refers to the six w...
Turning the Aotearoa screen industry green
02 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever considered how green that TV show or movie you're watching is? Non-profit organisation, Greenlit is now working alongside Aotearoa produ...
Pacific Pride Christchurch hero and dancer Vui Suli Tuitaupe
02 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This weekend marks the beginning of Pride Christchurch, with events across the month. In a week's time Poneke Wellington joins in the festivities. As ...
Regional Wrap: culture and heritage in Hokianga village Kohukohu
02 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kohukohu, a village on the Hokianga Harbour was according to Te Tai Tokerau tradition so named by legendary Polynesian explorer Kupe. Angry at food fr...
Arts and culture participation for 12-year-olds shows better wellbeing and relationships
02 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new report by AUT's Te Ipukarea Research Institute shows 12-year-olds who participate in arts and culture through extra-curricular and free-time act...
Aotearoa arts collective FAFSWAG at Melbourne's Asia Topa
01 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Aotearoa Queer indigenous arts collective FAFSWAG is in Melbourne showcasing their latest work at the Asia Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts. The t...
Dancing with fire knives: the growth of Siva Afi in Aotearoa
01 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Next weekend is one of Aoteaora New Zealand's cornerstone summer festivals - Auckland's Pasifika, celebrated across eight Island stages at Western Spr...
Fast Favourites with broadcaster Lloyd Burr
01 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From political reporter, Europe correspondent for Newshub, to hosting a morning and drive show, broadcaster Lloyd Burr has done it all. In what has be...
A dramatic picture of climate change impacted Sumner Christchurch 2030
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this: it's 2030, in the seaside suburb of Sumner in Otautahi Christchurch. That's only five years' time, but the sea is already to quote novel...
Asia Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts returns
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts has kicked off in Melbourne returning after a five-year hiatus. For the next three weeks, the city will ...
Regional Wrap: Matakana with food writer Lauraine Jacobs
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Each week, Culture 101 puts the spotlight on a different part of Aotearoa for our Regional Week. This week, we're heading north of Auckland Tamaki Mak...
Bringing to light the culture stories of Fijian-Indians
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nadia Freeman's show The Girmit takes us back to the time between 1879 and 1916 when more than 60,000 people were transferred from India to Fiji by th...
Why do we like to be frightened so? Art and the Horror Movie with Curator of Screams
22 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David Cronenberg's 1979 body horror The Brood teases in its trailer that it's "a film so terrifying that it will devastate you totally". What possesse...
Show Do Cafe - Brazilian artist and dancer Stela Dara
22 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Hamilton Arts Festival has kicked off for another year. Music, theatre, dance, comedy and artistic experiences fill the Hamilton Gardens with more...
Pasifika women leading: Anapela Polata'ivao
22 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tina, the debut feature film of Miki Magasiva is a love letter to both Samoan culture and how choral music, across cultures, can assist people in chan...
Living better, closer and more affordably together: Space Craft Architects
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can we live better, closer and more affordably together? New Zealand young architecture studio Space Craft are one of the winners of a recent comp...
Tackling the Tāmaki Makaurau performing arts scene: Tātaki's Daniel Clarke
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tackling the Tamaki Makaurau performing arts scene and keeping it alive is part of Daniel Clarke's new role as Director of Performing Arts at Tātaki ...
Regional Wrap: Ashburton
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The large town of Ashburton is to be found on the Canterbury Plains, halfway between Christchurch and Timaru. It is home to the increasingly celebrate...
Two Hands tattoo studio celebrates two decades with exhibition & convention
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A familiar fixture in Ponsonby in Tāmaki Makaurau, Two Hands tattoo studio is celebrating 20 years. Tattoo artist Stefan Sinclair founded the studio ...
How Queer really are the plays of Shakespeare? A punk pirate musical answers the question
15 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Two characters both named Antonio in two different Shakespeare plays - the Merchant of Venice and Twelfth Night - are often considered to be gay. Anto...
Bringing the organs to Silo Park
15 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new multi-sensory sound performance is debuting at Silo Park in Tāmaki Makaurau. Artist and composer Flo Wilson is drawing inspriations from contem...
Fast Favourites with Auckland Pride's Hamiora Bailey
15 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's Pride Month in Tamaki Makaurau where the LGBTQIA+ community comes together to celebrate diversity and resilience throughout February. The month-l...
Carving for Queen and Iwi: fourth-generation carver Renata te Wiata
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Young Maori artists are currently being called to enter portraits of their tupuna, their ancestors in any media for the Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Aw...
Regional Wrap: Napier gears up for famous Art Deco Festival
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Each week, Culture 101 puts the spotlight on a different part of Aotearoa for our regional wrap. This week, it's one of the food and wine capitals of ...
The release of much anticipated world-changing game Civilisation VII with director Ed Beach and producer Dennis Shirk
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
First released in 1991 and sparking a whole new genre of empire-building games, computer game Civilization has tens of millions of players, among them...
Is Barbequing a sport? Or even an art? Champion grillers Damon and Lu Holter
08 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Husband and wife duo Damon and Lu Holter from Wisconsin are champion grillers in the world of American BBQ and competitive 'foodsport'. They've compet...
Stunning sculptures showcasing at Auckland Botanic Gardens
08 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over the summer, thousands have been flocking to the Auckland Botanic Gardens in south Tamaki Makaurau for Sculpture in the Gardens. Back after a 3-ye...
Te Papa's Courtney Johnston on Vivienne Westwood, podcasts and Stevie Wonder
08 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Courtney Johnston has been the chief executive of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa now for five years, joining Maori co-leader Arapata Haki...
Game changer or game over? The impact of AI on the architecture industry
02 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Industries around the world are grappling with what AI means and how it could be empowering, challenging and potentially threatening.
Regional Wrap: 'A big lump of country unknown' - Masterton to Waipukurau on Route 52
02 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Culture and heritage aren't just the preserve of cities and towns.
NZ dancer and choreographer named one to watch in prestigious US Dance Magazine
01 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand dancer, choreographer and filmmaker Loughlan Prior has been named one of '25 to Watch' in 2025 in the prestigious US publication Dance Mag...
Reviving Hollywood, Oscars and LA Fires impact on industry: Hollywood wrap with Kate Rodger
01 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
President Donald Trump is back and so is Hollywood. He's appointed three ambassadors; Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone to revive the indu...
Fast Favourites with Kiwi actor Luciane Buchanan
01 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kiwi actor Luciane Buchanan has become a familiar face to millions as one of the stars in the Netflix series The Night Agent.
Arts News for December 22, 2024
22 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The latest arts news from around the motu.
From Bowie to Big Thief: The extraordinary life of Tucker Zimmerman
22 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
83-year-old poet and songwriter Tucker Zimmerman has had something of a cultural Forrest Gump of a career, and 2024 has found him gaining new-found fa...
From creating waterfalls to giant suns: acclaimed artist Olafur Eliasson
22 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Culture 101 speaks to the artist from Berlin about his first solo show in New Zealand and is innovative approach to art.
Regional Wrap: Bethlehem, Aotearoa with expressionist artist Nicola Welten
22 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our Regional Wrap takes us to somewhere named after the Christmas city itself.
Anora: The movie of the year finally arrives
22 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Since winning the coveted Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Anora has spent the past six months taking the movie world by storm. It finally arr...
2024’s Kiwi King of the Twist: Crime thriller writer JP Pomare on murder in Cambridge
21 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a 2024 thriller concerned with race, podcast-making and the criminal justice system high on a fair few 2024 best-of lists. 17 Years Later is M...
The year that was with acclaimed writer and columnist Charlotte Grimshaw
21 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
She joins Culture 101 to talk about her time in the South of France for the 2024 Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship, her new novel and her highligh...
Painter Karl Maughan’s 2024 favourites and his Pōhutukawa fringed paintings of summer
21 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Pōhutukawa - our Christmas tree - once bountifully fringed the West Coast north of Taranaki, and the East Coast north of Tairāwhiti Gisborne. W...
Arts News for December 15, 2024
15 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Renowned Māori actor and filmmaker Cliff Curtis has been honoured with the prestigious International Federation of Film Producers Associations Award ...
The Moth has flown: the life of musical adventurer Dean Roberts
15 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dean Roberts, aka The Moth, was an experimental composer and multi-instrumentalist who lived in Auckland, New York, Bologna and Berlin. A student of t...
From Google Street View and Second Life to 4chan: the profound impact of the internet on culture
15 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A survey of recent film work by Jon Rafman Oh, the humanity! opens at Whangārei Art Museum on December 20. It is, the gallery say “a harrowing ...
Regional Wrap: On the Raglan Wharf with Tony Sly
15 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For the regional wrap we head to Raglan Wharf to speak with Tony Sly of Tony Sly Pottery where the scenic views inspire his work. Among his Ragla...
A new gallery for Karangahape Road: art dealer Charles Ninow
15 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tāmaki Makaurau's eclectic Karangahape Road is known as a creative hub for alternative arts and events, unique hospitality and independent retailers....
The architecture of the Sámi: the Northern European indigenous people best known as reindeer herders
14 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joar Nango is one of only a few practicing Sámi architects in the world. He has travelled to Aotearoa New Zealand to present, with collaborators, th...
Fast Favourites: Social entrepreneur Izzy Fenwick
14 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Izzy joins Culture 101 to share her Fast Favourite choices, and why she is passionate about continuing the legacy of her father.
Acushla-Tara Kupe: recording global hit drama podcasts from NZ
08 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
RNZ’s Simon Morris was listening to one of the most popular series in the UK - Sherlock & Co - when he recognised the voice of Dr Watson’s girlfri...
Our uneasy place in the animal kingdom with Jane Dodd
08 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
White footed ants made from freshwater pearls, a scorpion's sting carved out of ebony, and an orangutan and a gibbon in yew wood and hollywood, respec...
Regional Wrap: Toi Māori and puppetry with Oriwa Morgan Ward in Putāruru
08 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Oriwa Morgan Ward joins Culture 101 to share her passion for promoting of Māori art and Te Reo Māori through creative activity.
The multi-talented Cadence Chung: Retracing the Footsteps of Early Chinese Immigrants
08 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If there’s an aspect of the arts Cadence Chung isn’t involved in, you sense it won’t be long before she tackles it. Encounter is a narrative-le...
Producer Jason Taylor: empowering new storytellers in an unconventional journey into film
07 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Te Tai Tokerau screen producer joins Culture 101 to talk about his SPADA Screen Industry Award and why he is passionate about empowering a new g...
Peter Dasent: The star-studded Underwatermelon Man and Other Unreasonable Rhymes
07 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a roll call of turn-of-the-century Kiwi greats: John Clarke, Neil and Tim Finn, Bic and Boh Runga, Jenny Morris, Chris Knox, The Topp Twins, Ch...
A remarkable place to make films: actor and filmmaker Chelsie Preston Crayford
07 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
2024 has been quite the year for screen actor and filmmaker Chelsie Preston Crayford. A week ago she finished filming her first feature film Caterpil...
Arts News
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Events from the NZ arts world over the past week.
Toi Te Mana: the landmark book reframing Maori art
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A 600-page new book that took 12 years to create is set to reframe the history of Maori art. Toi Te Mana (Auckland University Press) brings together w...
Dunedin artist Kari Morseth is weaving harakeke history back into the city's daily life.
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dunedin artist Kari Morseth is weaving harakeke history back into the city's daily life. The Rope/Walk community art project is centred around the So...
Regional Wrap: Famed corrugated iron sculptor Jeff Thomson in Helensville
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff Thomson, one of Aotearoa’s senior professional sculptors, is best known for doing absolutely everything that’s possible with corrugated iron....
Pacific Fashion Fusion Show continues while national show pauses: founder Nora Swann
30 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Pacific Fashion Fusion Show is preparing to run its annual catwalk through downtown Auckland's freshly designated Komititanga. Komititanga is the...
The suppression of witches and plant based beliefs
30 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The front of artist Ann Shelton's award-winning new book worm, root, wort.. & bane bears an image of a small silvered glass flask held in the Pitt Riv...
Arts news
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A roundup of the arts scene.
The young generation beating new life into tapa cloth
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ngatu, siapo, aute, masi, tapa… just some of the names from across the Pacific for barkcloth which reflect the rich variety of bark used and working...
2024 Portage Ceramic Awards’ Premier Winner has a 'hard to pin down' quality
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Portage Ceramic Awards have long honoured the dynamic world of contemporary ceramics within Aotearoa New Zealand. The 2024 Premier Award winner a...
Regional Wrap: Tairāwhiti artist Margaret Hansen portrays her aunts' lives of faith
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Regional Wrap we go to Gisborne where exhibition Wimples, crosses, and lepers Women of Influence has just opened at Tairāwhiti Museum. ...
“We hope to offer hope” Bringing aspirational architecture to church - Award winner St Hilda’s
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Churches big and small throughout Aotearoa New Zealand are vital spaces of culture and community but there are increasing challenges with heritage res...
Protest photographer records Hīkoi mō te Tiriti with his historic lens
23 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For almost six decades photographer John Miller has been a protest photographer in Aotearoa New Zealand. From his first photographs of an anti-Vietna...
Fast Favourites: Dame Robin White brings home the culture of Japan
23 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In April 2024, one of our most treasured artists Dame Robin White travelled from her home in Masterton to Aomori north of Honshu in Japan, to be an ar...
The Musical Outlier: Diverse sounds from the electronic underground
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The sheer diversity and invention of electronic music today in Aotearoa is evident in a list of sounds at the upcoming electronic sonic arts festival ...
What does the arts make of the government’s draft arts strategy? Dr James Wenley and Dolina Wehipeihana
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This month Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage released a draft for consultation of Amplify: A Creative and Cultural Strategy for New Zea...
Minister Paul Goldsmith on the government’s new arts and culture strategy
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has released Amplify: A Creative and Cultural Strategy for New Zealand. It’s a draft open for public consulta...
Regional Wrap: Te Arawatanga with Raimona Inia in Rotorua
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Raimona Inia’s focus with partner Nikora Mihinui has long been the perpetuation of their culture, with a strong focus on storytelling. A new series ...
Myths and Maidens: Documentary unpacks the stereotype of the Pasifika woman
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re all familiar with the image of the Pacific woman on postcards and in tourism marketing; warm and welcoming, light-skinned, with a slim build a...
Making lace from muka: Rowan Panther in Te Tai Tokerau
16 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the far north, in Doubtless Bay, Te Tai Tokerau, Rowan Panther makes lace with fine strands of muka from the Harakeke flax bushes on her property. ...
A Doll’s House Part 2: Iconic feminist Nora Helmer returns home
16 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It was the door slam heard around the world, shocking audiences. Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 play A Doll’s House caused outrage with the central character...
Fast Favourites with Tom Sainsbury
16 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Actor, writer, comedian, director and social media star Tom Sainsbury is back with his friends and they’re Camping.
Nō Konei - From here: Greg Donson on the collection and support of Aotearoa artists
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As a curator at the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua since 2007, Greg Donson has been there for artists over a period of significant change for the g...
Inspiring the youth of Whanganui: Māori educator Waiora Bailey Moore
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling the pull towards home, Waiora Bailey-Moore (Tupoho and Puketapu) returned home to Whanganui from Wellington two years ago.
Michelle Excell: Bringing world class innovation and technology to Whanganui
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tech entrepreneur and founder of consulting company The Antipodean, Michelle Excell now proudly and happily calls Whanganui home.
From McSweeney the gallery cat to Michael Laws: Martin Edmond’s biography of a gallery
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The commissioned Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery: A Whanganui biography by Edmond, published by Massey University Press, is a lively history. It rev...
Building community on the riverbank: Geoff Hipango at Te Ao Hou Marae
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Geoff Hipango is the chairperson of Te Ao Hou and grew up here. Under his leadership the marae is gaining a reputation for innovation in thinking of t...
Arts news: Whanganui reggae group NLC win best roots album at the Waiata music awards
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Whanganui reggae fusion group NLC were winners earlier this year of best roots album at the Waiata music awards. Quincy Jones dies at the age of 9...
The revitalisation of Drews Ave and urban contemporary spaces
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The central arts and historic precinct of Drews Avenue in Whanganui has been rejuvenated in recent years. In 2020, the council received funding from W...
Cecelia Kumeroa: Bringing the art, design and stories of iwi to the city
09 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Artist and designer Cecelia Kumeroa (Te Ātihaunui-a-Pārāngi) has been the Iwi Arts lead for the cultural design component of the new Te Whare o Reh...
Fast Favourites with musician and underground elevator operator Anthonie Tonnon
09 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Much loved musician and Whanganui resident Anthonie Tonnon joins Culture 101’s Whanganui show as our Fast Favourites guest.
'Never give up': Realising the dream of Sarjeant Gallery as a House of Inspiration
09 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Culture 101 is in Whanganui for the opening weekend of Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, speaking to innovators, and creative movers and shakers in t...
Arts News: Quasi on the move, live performance contributes $17.3 bil and a Yorkshire Pud halloween costume
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Arts News: Quasi on the move, live performance contributes $17.3 billion and a Yorkshire Pud halloween costume
The many artistic lives of musician David Long
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Collaboration with artists across many disciplines and styles has long marked out the work of Pōneke Wellington musician David Long. David Long is...
Fearless Playwright, Producer and Laureate Victor Rodger thanks his mum
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When asked by the Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi to describe the highlight of soon becoming a 2024 arts laureate, and winner of the Toi Kō Iriiri Queer ...
Regional Wrap in the Gumboot Capital
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the ‘Gumboot Capital of the World’, and proudly lives up to that reputation.