She’s for all the girl power things, water buffalos are her personal heroes, and her music career’s taking off at speed. What's Hot New Zealand jams with Sarena Close, AKA Mousey about her upcoming album, touring, and the year ahead.

How have you been since we last spoke to you in 2019? It’s obviously been unsettled madness from a global perspective but from a Mousey perspective we are doing great! I managed to write a whole album, we have recorded it and pretty much finished it. I’m so proud of what we have achieved.

So you’ve got more new music in the works? Yes absolutely. Stay tuned for more new tracks. My excitement is kicking in and I can’t wait for you to hear what we have made over the last year.

Your new single ‘The Bench’ has a fiery vein of girl power running through it. Is that a message that’s particularly important to you? Yes! I am all for women, women supporting women, creating opportunities for women, all the things. I’m here and I have the energy for it!

Do you think your music style has changed since Lemon Law? It’s a natural progression. I haven’t switched lanes, I’ve just developed.

What do you like most about performing live? I love hanging out with the band, we usually go out for dinner, we get to spend lots of time together on tour and it’s almost always the best time.

What have been some of your most memorable performances? Honestly, the last time we went to Blenheim to play at The Plant. It was such a special show. My favourite show of the last tour that I did with Zoe Mi was the Christchurch show at Little Andromeda, such an amazing venue.

Who’s your personal hero? Again, I can’t pick just one! I’ll just say Elizabeth Moss, Lorde, Kourtney K, St. Vincent, Chris Parker, every dog and water buffalo everywhere.

What tracks do you have on your high rotation list at the moment? ‘Running Up That Hill’ by Kate Bush and ‘Dedicated To The One I Love’ by The Mamas & the Papas.

Who would be your dream collaboration? Joanna Newsom.

Do you have a daily ritual? I try to go to the dog park every day. My puppy Meelo loves it so much and I’ll do anything to make him smile.

What’s inspiring your creativity right now? Psychological horror movies and visual art.

What’s on the cards for 2022? A slot at Nostalgia Festival in February. An album release! And then hopefully a nationwide tour.

mouseymusic.com

Reusable water balloons and iconic huia feather earrings made from recycled plastic – Anthea Madill is bringing wicked planet-friendly products to the New Zealand market. She breaks down some of her products and processes for What's Hot New Zealand.

Your EcoSplat reusable water balloons are an awesome solution for sustainable summer fun – what went into designing them? My colleague and I started manufacturing reusable water balloons with her previous business, The Rubbish Whisperer. It took a lot of prototyping to find the design and material that worked best. We wanted to ensure that the sustainable alternative is as much fun, if not more fun, than disposable water balloons. EcoSplat has been three years in the making and we have now perfected them so they can be stocked in toy and gift stores around the country. It’s very exciting to be bringing a sustainable toy to Kiwi families this summer.

What does mindful shopping mean to you? To me, mindful shopping is being aware of the potential implications of our purchases and asking lots of questions. Where is it made? Who made it? Do I really need it? Is there a more sustainable option? It is almost impossible to only purchase ethical and sustainable products, but by asking these questions we can show our support to companies that are doing their best to provide good options.

Clever Green is all about arming people with the knowledge and skills to live more planet-friendly lives. What’s one of the biggest messages you hope to communicate? My angle is to empower people to make changes. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel like it’s too much, or too hard. But in reality, if everyone starts thinking about things they can do to reduce their impact on the planet, we can each make changes for a better world. I am very aware of the challenges and pressure that people put on themselves, so I try to encourage people to just do what they can, where they can. It isn’t up to one individual to do it all perfectly.

What goes into making Remix Plastic’s beautiful earrings? With Remix Plastic, I use recycled plastic pieces to engage people in conversations about sustainability. They are such a great tangible vehicle for this because they not only provide a way for shoppers to support local and sustainable businesses, but they can then use their earrings to talk to those around them about environmental issues. I have set up a small-scale plastic recycling system in which I shred up the 3D printer waste from Tūranga library’s maker space, melt it into sheets, then laser-cut the sheets. I have focused on Kiwiana designs because they are a great way to tell local conservation stories.

Do you get recycled plastic from other sources? As well as the waste from Tūranga Library’s 3D printing workshops for school and community groups, I also have products made from ice cream container lids, which are not accepted in the council recycling system. I get these from Creative Junk, a community resource centre.

What part does tech have to play in the future of sustainability? There are so many ways that tech can be used for sustainability. In my work, I see technology bridging the gap for local and scaled manufacturing. Laser cutting provides a semi-automated process, allowing me to make larger quantities of recycled products than I could if I had to cut them all by hand.

How did your background in zoology and marine biology influence your current business? I think the biggest aspect from my education is thinking critically. I see my work now as science communication; taking the marine pollution research and climate science and filtering that into useful information for people. I have always had quite an obsession with animals, specifically in the marine environment. By studying and working in conservation I have gained respect for the environment and an understanding of the bigger picture.

Any sustainable brands or products you’re loving at the moment? This is going to sound like a very adult answer, but I am thoroughly appreciating my Bento Ninja stainless steel sock hanger. It is also perfect for hanging reusable water balloons to dry after a water fight! The other product that I am living and breathing at the moment is of course EcoSplat reusable water balloons.

What’s your No. 1 sustainable life hack? My general advice is try different things. If you try a shampoo bar and don’t like it, try a different brand. There is no right way to reduce your impact, you have to find what works for you. My specific advice is switch to reusables wherever you can. It will massively reduce your impact and you get to choose nice things that suit you, like your favourite colour reusable cup.

clevergreen.co.nz
remixplastic.com
ecosplat.co.nz

Clap Clap Riot have been rocking the Kiwi music scene for more than ten years, and their new album is looking to be hotter than ever. What's Hot New Zealand got the lowdown from guitarist Dave Rowlands.

Can you tell us about your new single ‘It’s Alright’? The single was tracked live at The Lab Studio in Auckland with Tom Healy. It looks at the way we often try and avoid our problems by running away. It’s then about the realisation that we are better to come back to where we all started, and face these problems head-on.

Your songs are characterised by a prominent rhythm – why is that? That comes down to our wonderful drummer and friend Alex Freer. Alex always has a great feel and sense for serving the song. He never overplays and knows exactly where to go all out and where to sit back. That in combination with Tristan’s bass grooves and Steve’s hard-hitting right-hand rhythm is probably where the heart of the rhythm comes from.

You’ve been on the Kiwi music scene for about a decade now – what have you learned? That the scene is ever-changing. The format of music and the way bands make a living, promote their music and reach their audiences has shifted dramatically in that short time frame. The joy of a live show has always remained, which is the one fantastic stable feature of music.

What’s changed in your music? We've grown naturally as we've continued. We've learnt a huge deal about songwriting from the quantity of material we've written and the various producers we've worked with. Our influences have diversified as we've gone on and we've felt more free to explore sounds and tones we may never have touched on when we first started.

What’s been your favourite town to play? Every town has its own lovely unique characteristics when you play a show there, so it's hard to pick a favourite. Christchurch is always such an epic show for us as it's where we started and where most of our family still reside. It always explodes when we hit the stage.

Who are your musical heroes? I've always loved John Lennon, The Beatles and The Kinks. To be honest, many of our friends in music hold that same respect from me. We have some incredibly talented friends that make amazing music who we've watched work so hard and grow, like Jono and Liz from The Beths; Mark Perkins [Merk]; Amelia from Fazerdaze; and Cass, Alex and Crystal from A.C. Freazy.

Any up-and-comers on the Aotearoa music scene you’re loving right now? If you haven't listened to Merk's latest album then you're a sucker. There's a Tuesday and Belladonna are great too.

FB/clapclapriot

Heather Straka is tickled by the irony of being isolated in Auckland and unable to attend her own Isolation Hotel exhibition in Christchurch. She gets on the phone with What's Hot New Zealand to talk art, life and staring at chickens.

Tell us about the Isolation Hotel photo series. This is the second series in a storyline. The first was ‘fire’, Dissected Parlour, and I wanted the second series to be the concept of ‘air’. It’s a 1930s-style dishevelled hotel. It’s the same characters from the previous series, looking as if they’ve just stepped off that set and have been sort of inhabiting the hotel and using it as a place of sanctuary. In the time of Covid, hotels have taken on new roles. You know, as well as a place you go on holiday, they are isolation facilities, or accommodation for people in need of housing.

What story are you telling? There is an implied plot to the series, but because I’ve worked with some of these models since 2012 I’ve also incorporated some of their own stories, and they’ve inspired me. Lennon, who was the incredibly flamboyant figure on the bearskin rug in the 2012 Bloodlust series has now transitioned into the beautiful Genevieve. As part of her story, I’ve named the work in Zimbabwean Shona language, Mambokadzi Tsvarakadenga, which means Queen The Beautiful One.

What’s behind the set construction? Basically, the set was constructed in a warehouse in Henderson. It involved a drive to Whangaroa to convince art director Alistair Kay to join in. It’s a big set and needed someone with architectural knowledge to make it happen. It’s been designed to be pulled apart and put in a container. I have a background in film and sculpture, so I know what’s needed for a project like this: you just get a team of experts in to help. It was quite a big thing. I really wanted to get that sense of isolation in the shots, so I needed the wide camera angle.

What is your exhibition at Canterbury Museum about? The Isolation Hotel set is going to be reassembled as it was, for people to interact with in the museum. I’ve always been interested in the idea of a diorama. People can go in and, instead of being isolated, be visible. They can do their own take of themselves in the set, take a selfie or a video. We’re all in this together, in this pandemic. We’re used to seeing TV and film, but we don’t often get to see the set. People will enjoy having a play in it. I can’t go down there, but I would like to encourage different groups to even do readings and things in the space. I’m just working on a video component at the moment, a moving still or something similar. SCAPE Public Art offered the art to Canterbury Museum. The photos will be in the gallery space.

Did anything unexpected happen during the shoot? We were in between shots, doing makeup. We got an overcooked chicken and put it on the floor and a young boy, the child of one of the models, he just walked onto the set and stood there and looked at the chicken. I was like “Oh my God, what an amazing shot.” He wasn’t self-aware at all.

How has isolation treated you? My life is pretty isolated anyway because I have a studio at home and I live by myself. But I find Covid to be an uncreative space, it brings you down with Zoom meetings. I’m a bit old fashioned. I like to meet people and discuss ideas. I got lucky with the timing, with most of the shooting for this exhibition happening in June.

If you could photograph or paint anyone, who would it be? Of course, Tilda Swinton. Averill, one of my models, looks a bit like her.

If you weren’t an artist, what would you want to be? Probably a production designer in film, which is almost the same thing.

How do you relax? Walking my dogs. I’ve got six of them. I’ve got a lifestyle block and there’s plenty of room for them.

What’s next for you in 2022? I’m back to painting again. I’ve got a show in Christchurch. I just think it’s really important to move around a bit in different media, otherwise you get a bit stale, you know?

Isolation Hotel
Canterbury Museum
Fri 26 Nov – Sun 20 March
canterburymuseum.com

She’s got new singles on the airwaves and a new album on the shelves. Ladyhawke is back and she’s talking to What's Hot New Zealand about writing, recording, jamming and her upcoming gigs.

We’re looking forward to your new album, Time Flies. Can you tell us a bit about the music? It was written between LA and New Zealand, and is an upbeat record with heavy nostalgia vibes.

Your singles ‘Guilty Love’ and ‘Mixed Emotions’ paint a different kind of love story. Is that a running theme in the album? Yeah, I like to think the album covers the full spectrum of human relationships and emotions, from being in love, to being infatuated, being mad, and being just straight up confused!

You’re very open about your mental health journey – how has that played a part in Time Flies? I’ve always found that whatever I’m going though in my personal life at the time of writing a record, tends to come out in the record itself. It’s helpful for me, and I feel like it kinda releases something inside when I’m able to put it into music form.

There are a lot of collaborations on this album – how did that work logistically with the whole pandemic situation? I actually started writing the record pre-pandemic, in Los Angeles 2019. So the tracks I did with producer Tommy English I was mostly able to write with him in person. Even the track I did with BROODS, it was in person, Tommy, Georgia and myself in a room together in LA. The collaboration with Josh Fountain came about after realising I wasn’t going to be able to get back to LA to finish the record. He’s an Auckland based producer who’s worked with Benee for the last couple of years. We hit it off the minute we met so I was luckily able to finish the record with him right here in New Zealand. Then when it came time to finishing and producing the songs I did with Tommy, we managed to do it over Zoom and screen sharing.

Tell us about your songwriting process. I love coming up with all the music first. Jamming out an idea and really getting excited about the music before tackling the melody and lyrics. That’s always been the way I’ve worked since way back.

You’ve performed around the world – what was your favourite gig? Hands down has to be playing the John Peel stage at Glastonbury in 2009. I’ve had a lot of incredible shows since then, but that by far will be the one I will always remember.

What has been the most surreal moment in your career? The first time I was presented with a gold record, literally blew my mind!

Who’s your personal hero? I have heaps, and the favoured one changes daily! Right now it’s the Black Ferns sevens team.

You’re trapped on a desert island, what three things do you have? Queen Anne Dark Chocolate Raspberry Marshmallow Fish, antibiotics, my guitar.

What are you listening to at the moment? Designer, Aldous Harding.

What’s the best advice your mum ever gave you? Be kind.

How do you prepare for a gig? No eating! I can’t eat before a show. Listen to music backstage, drink peppermint tea, and hang with my band. Simple.

What can we expect to see and hear at your April show? A lot of songs from across all my records. Heaps off my first record including one I’ve never played live before. Full band! Sweet lighting, I hope, and nervous banter from me.

What are your plans for spring and summer? I would love to do a road trip in a campervan around New Zealand with my family. Also hoping there might be some festivals and shows on the cards.

Fri 8, Sat 9 & Fri 22 April
Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland
ladyhawkemusic.com

The Court Theatre’s 2022 season has got something for theatre lovers, culture vultures, belly-laughers and audiences of all descriptions. With an incredible bill of exciting, varied shows, we don’t think you’ll need much convincing to make 2022 your year of theatre.

Christchurch’s home of top-quality local and international theatre has got a seriously stacked programme on the cards this year. We’re talking homegrown comedy, popular parodies, bestselling thrillers and empowering musicals. The flagship summer musical, Little Shop of Horrors, tells the story of hapless florist Seymour and his bloodthirsty singing plant. The production runs until January 15 and promises to be larger than life and twice as much fun.

An absolute icon follows from February 19 with Flagons and Foxtrots, a nostalgic Kiwi comedy set in 1960s Ohoka.

Literature lovers and thriller addicts will want to make time in their schedules from April to June. Austen fans will be tickled pink with Penny Ashton’s Sense and Sensibility, on from April 9 to May 7, a quirky and witty adaptation of the classic novel, brilliantly performed by just six talented women. Bestselling page-turner The Girl on the Train is making its way to the stage from May 21, telling the nail-biting story of recently divorced Rachel’s fascination with a couple she observes from her train window. It all seems harmless enough… until the woman, Megan, goes missing.

Winter brings the laughs with Potted Potter beginning on July 2, an international parody sensation that crams all seven Harry Potter books – plus a real-life game of Quidditch – into 70 hilarious minutes. Next to Normal is an award-winning rock musical kicking off in August, in which the audience is given intimate looks into the lives of a seemingly normal suburban family.

Acclaimed comedy music show The Māori Sidesteps takes the stage in September, bringing with them soulful harmonies, song parodies and satirical skits, all performed with their signature mischief and hilarious spin. The kids will be all about Frozen Jr. in October, a magical adventure with Elsa and Anna including all your favourite songs, as well as a few unique surprises.

The year will round off in spectacular style with Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, the compelling and captivating story of Carole King’s music career in 1960s New York, featuring many of her biggest hits, including ‘I Feel the Earth Move’, ‘You’ve Got a Friend’, and ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’.

Get in now to start planning your calendar with some incredible entertainment from local and national artists. Tickets for all shows can be booked on The Court Theatre’s website as they become available. Check the website for details on season subscriptions as well – you’ll be guaranteed the best seats in the house!

courttheatre.org.nz

Barbara George is captain at the helm of The Court Theatre in Christchurch, steering this great theatrical ship through three years’ worth of incredible shows and towards a new home in the central city. What's Hot New Zealand went backstage with Barbara to find out what goes into running a professional theatre in Ōtautahi.

To start with, what led to your position as Chief Executive at The Court Theatre? When this position was advertised my family and I were looking to move to Christchurch so it was good timing. I was finishing my five-year contract as CE of the Western Institute of Technology in Taranaki, and returning to the arts looked compelling. Through the usual process I found myself appointed to this great role, and have now been here for three years.

What has the journey been like since then? You’ve hit some big milestones. My role at The Court has encompassed all aspects of running a significant arts company in Aotearoa, as well as being part of the team that will build out new home in the city. The three years has flown by. The time has been marked with opportunities and challenges, and I can’t remember a time when it was business as usual.

What are the challenges of running a big professional theatre operation in Ōtautahi? The challenges in a role like this are the same for any sizeable business – keeping us focused on our mission and our stakeholders. And it helps to have a vision of a new Court Theatre in the city – something that we can all look forward to and work towards, while we are busy doing our exceptionally fun day jobs.

You must be excited at the prospect of bringing The Court Theatre back to the central city. I have to say that was the most significant part of moving to Christchurch and this role. I have loved every minute of being part of the team getting our new theatre approved, designed, and soon to be built. Being in the city, next to Tūranga and in the Performing Arts Precinct is where we belong.

When will the new theatre be open? The new Court Theatre will open mid-2024.

What will The Court bring to the area? Our reason for moving back to the city is to help energise and invigorate the heart of this great community where we live and work. We will bring fantastic productions, great hospitality, education programmes and a place to meet. We can’t wait to see the place buzzing with activity.

What’s going to be different in the new building? The new building will have wooden floors and big windows. Two dedicated theatres, and two rehearsal spaces, an education studio, and our workshop, props, costume and administration all under one roof.

And what’s going to stay the same? There will be parking right next door and we are taking the pizza oven! But what will really be the same are the fantastic, high-quality productions, and our unique brand of bringing theatre to the lives of our audiences.

Read more: Creating theatre in the heart of Christchurch

Can you give us any hot-off-the-press info on cool features of the new theatre? Windows, passive airflow, recycled wooden floors, and every space needing to serve more than one purpose.

Can I use the new theatre to show my edgy handwritten play, or is it just for the pros? The Court is a professional theatre company. At the moment we aren’t set up to develop new grassroots work – but never say never! Keep working on that script.

What is the APPLAUSE campaign all about? APPLAUSE is the name of the campaign to help us raise capital for our new home. Not only do we applaud our donors, we applaud our audiences for staying with us for 50 years – through the blood, sweat and tears, the joy and the laughter.

Do you have a favourite Court production? My favourite Court production tends to be the one I’m talking about at the moment – so that’s Little Shop of Horrors. I can say that the incredible talent, on and off the stage, will blow you away. Just don’t feed the plants!

What’s one thing people probably don’t know about you? One thing people probably don’t know about me is that I identify as Ngāti Rāhiri o Te Atiawa – a proud Taranaki whakapapa. You’ve got to see past the red hair and grey eyes – blame that on my Polish/Welsh maternal side.

Is there a particular book or author that has inspired you in your life or career? In my professional life it would be Jim Collins’ Good to Great.

What is the best piece of advice that you’ve received? Don’t sweat the small stuff!

courttheatre.org.nz

A 21st Century home for New Zealand’s largest producing theatre company.

The Court Theatre is officially moving back to Chistchurch's central city. Come 2024, you’ll be able to head to a shiny new theatre in the Performing Arts Precinct to eat, drink, socialise, and see mind-blowingly great professionally produced musicals and plays in the centre of Ōtautahi.

Designed by London’s leading theatre specialist architects Haworth Tompkins and New Zealand’s own Athfield Architects, the new Court Theatre will be unrivalled in New Zealand and be a drawcard for national and international audiences. The concept is a sustainable building, saving energy and carbon expenditure through clever ecological design.

The theatre will be the cornerstone of the Performing Arts Precinct on the corner of Colombo and Gloucester streets. It’ll bring even more buzz to the growing central city, liven up the nights with regular performances and massive shows, grow the city and country's performing arts scene with education and outreach programmes, and employ a generation of Christchurch creatives, actors, comedians and musicians.

It’s going to be a pretty big deal – a main 360-seat theatre, with an auxiliary supporting family theatre seating another 120 to 150 people. It’s also going to be flexible, with different studios in the building to be used for performance, practice, and other creative endeavours. There will also be an outreach space which The Court will use for its education and wellbeing programmes.

Take your opportunity to support professional theatre in Ōtautahi. Cityscape publisher SOMO Creative is proud to be working with The Court Theatre on the APPLAUSE campaign to raise money for the brand-spanking-new home of performing arts in central Christchurch. The Court is building its new home, and you can be part of it – contribute to this incredible piece of our community, then give yourself a round of APPLAUSE.

Talking money

The new Court Theatre will cost some $40 million to build. The Court Theatre team are now well on their way to raising their contribution of $10m, and they’re asking donors and sponsors to get it across the line. Big or small, all funds go towards creating high-quality theatre in Christchurch. Talk to the APPLAUSE team about how you could get involved.

The important stuff

Food? The famous Court pizza oven is coming to the new building! Drink? Yes, there will be a bar and heaps of space to hobnob before the show. Car parks? Word on the street is Christchurch City Council has a parking building planned for right next door.

courttheatre.org.nz/applause

Render images courtesy of Athfield Architects Limited (NZ) and Haworth Tompkins (London, UK).

The Royal New Zealand Ballet production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which was unfortunately cancelled in all locations but Wellington due to Covid restrictions, will now be pirouetting into your home for a strictly limited on-screen season.

Ballet fans all over New Zealand and the world will have the exclusive opportunity to delight in fairies, lovers, mischief and men with donkey heads in this production of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. Fresh off a sold-out, socially distanced season in Wellington, this specially filmed broadcast will ring in Christmas with a touch of magic.

“Filmed over consecutive performances to capture a true experience of the live performance, including close-ups which take viewers into the heart of the action and brilliance onstage, this wonderful production brings as much joy to the dancers as it does to its delighted audiences. It is a special, sparkly pre-Christmas treat,” says RNZB Artistic Director Patricia Barker.

RNZB's recent production of The Firebird was also partially cancelled and subsequently streamed into homes around the world. RNZB Executive Director Lester McGrath says the online version of The Firebird was, “purchased by over 4,000 dance lovers in over 20 countries, reviewed by international reviewers, and viewed by people in places across Aotearoa we can’t normally reach by touring. Broadcast makes ballet more accessible to people everywhere and takes the RNZB to ballet lovers overseas."

The RNZB’s A Midsummer Night's Dream broadcast is available via Tikstream (Minimum NZ$15. Suggested: NZ$20, with additional donations welcome). The access code can only be used on one device and is live from 9.00am Friday, 3 December NZDT to 11.59pm Sunday, 12 December NZDT.

Due to the looming Christmas period, the broadcast of A Midsummer Night's Dream will not be extended, so don't miss out!

A Midsummer Night's Dream
Live in Your Living Room
Fri 3 - Sun 12 Dec
tikstream.com

The Royal New Zealand Ballet's 2022 season will open with Venus Rising - a spectacular programme of three female-choreographed ballets that was originally cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19.

The radiant and much-anticipated programme is making its way to Aotearoa stages from Thursday February 24, opening in Wellington's OPera House as part of Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts. The programme captures the spirit of Venus, the brightest of stars, a sacred goddess of love, and beauty and victory over adversity.

The three extraordinary works choreographed by three formidable women include Aurum by Alice Topp, The Autumn Ball by Sarah Foster-Sproull and Waterbaby Bagatelles by Twyla Tharp. RNZB Artistic Director Patricia Barker describes the programme as "a generous, glorious celebration of ballet and the joy of pure dance created by some of the finest choreographers working on the international stage today."

Meditative and moving, Alice Topp’s award-winning Aurum is inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi, the practice of mending cracks in precious ceramics with gold, creating a new whole which celebrates the beauty of the broken. Alice Topp is Resident Choreographer at the Australian Ballet, and she began her career dancing with the RNZB, which holds a special place in her heart.

The Autumn Ball, created by one of New Zealand’s brightest choreographic stars Sarah Foster-Sproull, dances through the circle of life with tenderness, grace and floor-filling fun. The driving rhythms of Eden Mulholland’s commissioned score will have the audience wishing that they could join in the dance.

Twyla Tharp is one of the world’s greatest living choreographers. In Waterbaby Bagatelles, created in 1994 and never before seen in Aotearoa, 27 dancers leap and spin across the stage in an ever-changing ocean of light; the music flowing seamlessly as groups of dancers sparkle and glow.

Venus Rising
Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland
Thu 24 Feb - Sat 12 Mar
rnzb.co.nz

She’s putting out her first new album in five years, Coming in From the Dark, featuring some awesome collaborations and some raw feelings. Singer-songwriter Hollie Smith strums out a few details on career highlights, The Mussell Inn, and not sacrificing small animals.

How has your sound evolved since Water or Gold? So much has changed and happened in these five years but also only feels like five minutes ago that Water or Gold was out and that nothing has changed all at once. I guess 2020 will do that! I don’t know how to be objective around the way my ‘sound’ has evolved. I evidently outdid myself on procrastination, however.

What aspects of your personality do you think come out in the music? I got taught a lesson very young about feeling a song opposed to simply singing it. I generally have to be very connected to what I perform and write. I’m pretty raw when I write and perform so what ya see is what you get. My incredible sense of humour often gets slightly lost though.

Tell us about your songwriting process. Generally quiet vibes in a quiet space and just mucking around on guitar or piano, finding a series of chords with me humming over the top until something clicks. A very technical process. Then I spend days agonising over lyrics.

What was it like self-producing this album? I kind of feel like my stuff just produces itself really. My band [Darren Mathiassen on drums, Daniel Hayles on the keys, and Johnny Lawrence on bass] are geniuses and have got to a point where they mind-read my incredibly inarticulate direction. The involvement of the NZSO changed the direction but also helped shape where the overall tone was going.

What are you looking forward to most about touring again? I am bursting to perform again! Throughout Covid and producing the record I’ve barely played live. Also we were expecting to release earlier than now so I had put off playing live to make sure the tour was in demand, so now put all that together. I’m looking forward to everything including lack of sleep, bad accommodation, cramped tour vans and bad food.

What’s your favourite place to visit on tour around Aotearoa? Honestly you can do a show at the same venue, same time, same types of people with the same set up and a Saturday night could be 100% different to the night before. So it really depends. I generally enjoy 95% of the shows I do.

Do you have any pre-show rituals? If I’m with the band we make sure we are all together, have a few laughs and a good warm up. Have a karakia just prior to going on stage to connect and have a moment. Nothing weird. We don’t like sacrifice small animals or anything.

What have been some highlights and challenges of collaborating with other artists on Coming In From The Dark? This whole album was a challenge in regards to jigsaw puzzling it together. I used most of the studios and engineers in the North Island, I think! The NZSO were obviously amazing to watch – I got about halfway through the day when I realised that was actually going to be on my record, got a bit lost in the moment. All my guests were super gracious and generous to come on board. Sol3 Mio are amazing humans and hilarious, Raiza Biza is incredibly talented and totally made that track, and Teeks well, it’s Teeks! Gorgeous.

What’s been your favourite venue to perform at? Too-hard-basket question! The energy and people really make a venue. In saying that, I do always love The Mussel Inn, Onekaka. It’s always an experience, there’s really not anywhere like it in the world. It only sits about 80 people or something so it’s like playing in someone’s lounge room. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend. And they have their amazing Mussel Inn beers.

What’s been the most surreal moment of your career so far? Where do I start? The Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada was a pretty epic moment. An amazing outdoor festival where we played to 50,000 people. That one was pretty wild.

What artist have you got on high rotation at the moment? Hiatus Kaiyote’s new album is amazing. Mara TK, a bunch of gospel stuff, Moses Sumney, Reb Fountain. This could take a while.

holliesmith.co.nz

In Aotearoa, we have access to amazing wrecks, reefs and underwater caves to explore – some of the best diving experiences in the world including international drawcard the Poor Knights Islands.

Learn to dive in New Zealand

There are dive schools all over the country offering PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) courses and certifications. The first course you’ll need to do is a PADI Open Water Dive Course. These courses start off gently with training in a pool before moving to the sea or a lake with an instructor. At the end, you’ll get a card that allows you to fill your dive tanks at any fish and dive store around the world, and you’ll get the skills to begin your diving adventures. Where can you find these courses? Ask the experts at your local dive shop – if they don’t offer PADI certification, they’ll know someone who does.

Dive the Poor Knights Islands

These islands off the coast of Tutukaka in Northland are rated among the top diving spots in the world. The variety of sea life and things to see in a relatively small area is stunning. Near the surface you’ll find huge schools of fish, protected by the Poor Knights Marine Reserve, and just a little deeper there are gardens of sea plants and the famous ‘meditation wall’ – named because of how fascinated divers tend to stare for long periods of time at its intricate patchwork of colourful life. Experienced deep-sea divers can see the black coral and rich red, spiky and venomous Diadema palmeri sea urchins. The natural arches and caves of the islands are home to all kinds of sea life, and lucky summer divers may see stacks of stingrays massing for annual breeding. Dive! Tutukaka offers Poor Knights Islands tours for beginners and experienced divers.

Reef and wreck diving around New Zealand

You’ll find stunning reefs to dive at the Mercury Islands near the Coromandel Peninsula and Goat Island just north of Auckland. If it’s shipwrecks you’re after, there are some beauties to choose from. The Rainbow Warrior, the famous Greenpeace ship bombed by French divers in 1985, is now located near Paihia in the Bay of Islands, and the wreck of the HMNZS Canterbury is also nearby. The enormous and fully intact wreck of the Russian liner Mikhail Lermontov lies on the seafloor of Marlborough Sound. You’ll also find a plethora of smaller wrecks around the country, including at Aramoana near Dunedin and in Milford Sound.

Diving for food – kai moana in Aotearoa

Collecting food from the sea is an important part of coastal New Zealand culture. There are strict regulations in place to protect our sea life and marine environment, so check what you are allowed to take before heading out to harvest the ocean’s bounty. Spear fishing is a popular sport, and keen free divers will be on the lookout for the mighty yellowtail kingfish, as well as other great eating fish – some of which can’t be caught on a line. Crayfish, or kōura, are a delicacy and can be found around the country. The most famous spot for crayfish diving is Kaikōura in the South Island, but other popular spots include rocky reefs and kelp forests around The Coromandel, the Bay of Islands, the Marlborough Sounds, Fiordland, and Banks Peninsula in Canterbury. Other popular seafood you can collect while diving include pāua (abalone), scallops, and kina (sea urchins).

Kiwi artists are uniting to get back to the stage this summer, and they need all of our help to do it. So let's band together and get vaccinated so we can all enjoy a summer full of festivals.

With the current Delta outbreak threatening our much-loved traditional summer of music, entertainment and festivals, some of the biggest names in Aotearoa music have added their voices to the chorus urging New Zealanders to get their vaccines. The government has announced the upcoming rollout of vaccination certificates in November, and it is likely that being fully vaccinated will be mandatory to attend large-scale events. We can protect our entertainment sector and the Kiwi musicians we love to see live – we just need to get vaccinated.

“Crowded House were truly blessed to play shows in Aotearoa NZ in March. Live concerts bring joy and freedom that lift the spirits of audience and artists alike. This summer NZ will be open again for concerts but you will need to be vaccinated against Covid. Come on everyone, we’ve had the vaccine, it's safe and it's keeping the ones we love safe.”
– Neil Finn, Crowded House.

“If you want to go to shows please get vaccinated! You’re not just protecting yourselves but others who may be vulnerable! This vaccine has been proven to reduce hospitalisations and deaths. I feel like I need to stand on this to protect my family, friends, band, my crew & my supporters, to keep all of them safe. Without the vaccine there wont be any shows! I’ve had mine! Get urs if u are able to pls.”
– BENEE

“It’ll be seven years since Supergroove last played by the time Electric Avenue rolls around this February. We’re hoping everyone gets vaxxed so we can party together with Lorde and the rest of an almighty line up in Ōtautahi! Ngā Mihi Aotearoa.”
– Supergroove

"Me kaha taatou ki te patu i a Korona ki te rongoaa aaraimate. Kia okaina ia o taatou, ka ora ai te ao puuoro.” 
“We should all contribute to fight Covid19 by being vaccinated. Through this, our music industry will flourish again.”
– Theia

"We can reunite with #vaxforlive. My favourite part of music making is playing live but we gotta do it safely, and if you haven’t already heard, us artists won’t be able to do our work and you won’t be able to enjoy live music, festivals or the arts without getting vaccinated.  I want to be part of incredible live shows where you, my friends - audiences and artists, venues and crew - are all as safe and protected as possible. We can reunite with #vaxforlive. I know what it’s like to feel hesitant about vaccines but for me getting vaccinated against Covid means that I am doing my best to protect my friends, whanau and myself.  If you haven’t already been vaccinated please do it now. If you’re scared or hesitant it’s OK - book a consultation with your GP and they can advise you.  We’re all in this together - I can’t wait to play for you really soon".
– Reb Fountain

“For me getting the vaccine is all about protection - protecting the people who I love who cannot get vaccinated because they’re immunocompromised. Or because they’re ineligible, like my daughter who’s just about to turn 4. And after almost two years of not being able to tour internationally the vaccine gives me the best protection to be able to do the job that I love. I cannot wait to be on stage playing music again here in Aotearoa, and the best way for us to get to that summer of gigs and dancing is to be vaccinated. For our whanau, for our communities, and for ourselves.”
– Ladyhawke

"Sadly, our tour was cut short by the covid lockdown, keen to get it finished & start making plans for the future. Get your vax folks so we can all get back to gigging and groovin.”
– Mako Road

“Looking forward to playing live in Aotearoa soon, love to see you there."
– SIX60

Vax together, stay together. Let's get back to live Aotearoa!

The South Island Wine & Food Festival is back in Christchurch this December, with a lineup of Kiwi artists that will be as much of a treat as the food.

Along with 40 of the South Island's top wineries and some of the region's biggest names in food, the entertainment for the day will be headed up by old-school Kiwi music legends The Feelers, along with acclaimed and up-and-coming artists such as Kaylee Bell, PRINS, Anna Coddington and Jack Page.

Having gone from street busking to pioneers of the Kiwi music industry, The Feelers will perform gems from their massive catalogue of music, and all the classic hits you know and love.

Kaylee Bell is an award-winning country-pop artist from Waimate with over 30 million streams to her name, making her currently the most streamed female country artist for Australasia in 2021, while singer-songwriter PRINS has also amassed hundreds of thousands of streams with her unique brand of quirky electro-pop.

Anna Coddington is one of New Zealand's most acclaimed singer-songwriters, known for her enchanting live performances and beautiful, versatile vocals. Jack Page is a burgeoning Christchurch star, having appeared on the scene in early 2020 and touring Aotearoa with sold-out shows over winter. With new music on the horizon and a string of summer shows coming up, he is definitely going to be one to watch.

South Island Wine & Food Festival
Hagley Park, Christchurch
Saturday 4 December
winefestival.co.nz

Ravenscar House Museum, Christchurch's stylish new home for a wonderful collection that celebrates New Zealand art and artists, opens to the public on Monday 8 November.

Christchurchians soon be able to view an incredible art collection curated over years by Christchurch's Wakefield family. Ravenscar House Museum will site opposite Canterbury Museum on Rolleston Drive in the central city.

Designed by Patterson Associates, Ravenscar House Museum is the vision of Christchurch philanthropists Susan and the late Jim Wakefield who have gifted this new visitor attraction to the people of Christchurch and Canterbury through their Ravenscar Trust.

The House Museum at 52 Rolleston Avenue displays the Wakefield’s art collection (the Ravenscar Trust Collection) of paintings, decorative arts, furniture and antiquities. Works include paintings by Frances Hodgkins, Colin McCahon, Ralph Hotere and a wide range of other beloved New Zealand artists.

The Wakefields began collecting art in the late 1980s. Their collection was displayed in a lavishly-decorated and furnished home that they built on Whitewash Head in the coastal Christchurch suburb of Scarborough.

The couple planned to eventually gift that house and the collection to the people of Christchurch, but in 2011 the Canterbury earthquakes damaged their Scarborough home beyond repair and the land was red-zoned.

The Wakefields eventually settled on a new site for the rebuilt house. This was gifted to the Museum for the project by the Christchurch City Council in 2015, following public consultation.

The House Museum comprises a foyer and four main rooms reminiscent of the principal rooms at the Scarborough House – the dining room, bedroom, living room and library – arranged around a central courtyard. A glazed gallery overlooks a sculpture terrace and the garden which has been designed by Auckland landscape architect, Suzanne Turley.

The precast concrete panels that make up the exterior walls are faced with crushed earthquake rubble – a mix of volcanic stone donated by the neighbouring Christchurch Arts Centre, brick from a demolished Christchurch house and Italian granite from the courtyard of the Scarborough house. The panels were made by Ashburton company Bradford Precast.

Steve Wakefield, Chair of the Ravenscar Trust, says “We are delighted to be opening the doors to Ravenscar House for the people of Canterbury after 8 years of planning, design and construction. My parents’ vision was that this place would not just be a gallery or a home for the artworks, but a building that was itself a work of art and that it would be admired for its design, and that was provocative and inspirational.

“Our team has truly delivered a stunning result and our family is very happy that we will soon be welcoming the public to Ravenscar House Museum to enjoy the best of New Zealand art and architecture.”

ravenscarhouse.com