New Zealand's Latest Breaking News, Business, Sport, Weather, Entertainment, Politics

Latest FromDionne Christian

Kate McGill joins her own mother Ginette McDonald in the play Joan. Photo/Michael Smith

ENTERTAINMENT

Theatre review: Joan

15 Feb, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Theatre tribute to a fierce and feisty mother will leave you smiling through tears.

Dancers from China and New Zealand star in Hemispheres, a cross-cultural collaboration.

ENTERTAINMENT

Dancers explore common ground

13 Feb, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Cultural exchange between China and New Zealand leads to dynamic new dance tour.

A Superoo room at the Ovolo, Wolloomooloo, in Sydney. Photo / Supplied

TRAVEL

Room Check: The Ovolo, Woolloomooloo

11 Feb, 2019 7:00am
3 minutes to read

Dionne Christian checks into the Ovolo, Woolloomooloo, Sydney.

Author Graeme Simsion says his Rosie books are as much about family and forgiveness as anything. Photo/Rebecca Rocks

ENTERTAINMENT

Three Cheers for Rosie book project

9 Feb, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

Graeme Simsion's The Rosie Project was a surprise international hit; book 3 is better.

Art lover Rodney Bowen who is downsizing his art collection and has made some items available for auction at Depot Artspace's Pre-Loved Re-Loved exhibition and sale. Photo / Dean Purcell

ENTERTAINMENT

What do you do with unwanted art? One gallery has a solution

9 Feb, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

The decluttering "Kondo fever" has spread to the New Zealand art world.

Actor Adrian Hooke at Pop-up Globe's Ellerslie base, where he'll mark his 300th performance with the company. Photo/ Christian Tjandrawinata

ENTERTAINMENT

What a piece of work actor's next role will be

6 Feb, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

It might be madness, but there's method in young NZ actor's prep for major role.

The exterior of a house in the Mansfield Gardens becomes a canvas for a production exploring the line between fantasy and reality.

ENTERTAINMENT

Is there a Sasquatch on the loose in Hamilton?

2 Feb, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

Is there a Sasquatch in Hamilton Gardens? Performers aim to track it down.

ENTERTAINMENT

Trailblazing show opens Auckland Pride Festival

30 Jan, 2019 5:00am
5 minutes to read

How far has gay liberation really come? Pride Festival begins with a provocative play.

Kozo Kaos joins the international performers at Auckland's annunal international buskers festival. NZH 26Jan19 - NZH 26Jan19 -

ENTERTAINMENT

Kiwi's life on the cutting edge of knife juggling

26 Jan, 2019 5:00am
5 minutes to read

Devonport's knife juggler Kozo Kaos is slicing through to super stardom

Alexa Wilson curates our first experimental dance week. Photo/Bea Rodrigues

ENTERTAINMENT

Dance week experiments with new ways to move

25 Jan, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Auckland's summer of festivals is joined by a new one celebrating experimental dance.

The Sarjeant Gallery was saved and is ideally placed to be part of a lower North Island art trail. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Why its worth spending millions on arts in the provinces

19 Jan, 2019 5:00am
10 minutes to read

Are Whanganui and Whāngārei about to show NZ how art can transform regional centres?

Former All Blacks captain David Kirk is now a champion of culture. Photo / Photosport

ENTERTAINMENT

Rugby great now a champion of the arts

19 Jan, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Former All Black Captain David Kirk is now a champion of the arts.

Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. Photo / Getty Images

TRAVEL

Sydney: Fine art days

18 Jan, 2019 12:00pm
5 minutes to read

Art lovers are well served by two Sydney exhibitions, writes Dionne Christian.

Madiba the Musical celebrates the life of visionary South African leader Nelson Mandela with a mix of musical styles, dance and story-telling techniques. Photo / Supplied

ENTERTAINMENT

Musical celebrates the life of Nelson Mandela

16 Jan, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Madiba the Musical reminds us why looking back is sometimes needed to go forward.

Actor Stephen Butterworth as Richard III in Pop-up Globe's production of Shakespeare's play.

ENTERTAINMENT

Can you prove your blood runs blue?

6 Jan, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Pop-up Globe has a special offer for Kiwis with links to the notorious English king.

New Zealand-born Graeme Isaako stars in the upcoming musical Aladdin, which plays in Auckland until March. Photo/Brett Phibbs

ENTERTAINMENT

Disney musical star takes his mum on journey of his life

30 Dec, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

He's gone from child performer to Disney musical star - all thanks to mum.

Paul Slade Smith as Willy Wonka. Photo / Brian Geach

TRAVEL

Chockbuster hit tipped as dark delight

24 Dec, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

The Candy Man - aka Willy Wonka - is about to bring his sweet touch to Sydney.

Paula Morris is a novelist and short story writer and the 2018 Katherine Mansfield Fellow. Photo/Michael Craig.

ENTERTAINMENT

Meet the 2018 Katherine Mansfield Fellow

12 Dec, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Christmas comes early for the recipients of prestigious arts and book awards.

Britomart's Christmas art work, by Charlotte Graham, stays away from traditional seasonal decoration. Photo/ Joe Hockley

ENTERTAINMENT

Putting the 'art' into Britomart

9 Dec, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Huge Christmas artwork unveiled at Britomart but no reindeer, snow or Santa to be seen.

Sang-Sool Shim and Keum Sun Lee are the winners of this year's Portage Ceramics Award. Photo / Courtesy of Te Uru

ENTERTAINMENT

Korean ceramicists win major NZ award

3 Dec, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Korean artists Sang-Sool Shim and Keum Sun Lee never gave up on winning pottery prize.

Knitter Alice Gumbley with a nativity scene she knitted. Photo / Chris Steel

ENTERTAINMENT

Uplifting ride on nonexistent mule

3 Dec, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Just how did the Donkey ended up in the Christmas story?

The Jordan Luck Band will perform at Music in Parks.

ENTERTAINMENT

When music hits parks, things can go very right - and a bit wrong

1 Dec, 2018 12:00pm
9 minutes to read

What's it like playing in a park on a hot sunny day? We asked performers how they cope.

Author Deborah Challinor wants more stories told of New Zealand's past.

ENTERTAINMENT

NZ author Deborah Challinor on why we need to tell it like it was - or might have been

1 Dec, 2018 5:00am
7 minutes to read

Top NZ author Deborah Challinor: it's insulting not to engage with our own history.

RNZB dance educator Bea Lee-Smith, takes room 13 year 5/6 students of Manurewa Central School, through some moves before the whole school attend the RNZ Ballet's The Nutcracker. Photo/Michael Craig

ENTERTAINMENT

Class act as ballet trip has entire school dancing for joy

1 Dec, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

School's out: South Auckland school delivers five-figure (ballet) lesson in learning.

Darryl Chin and his interactive clothing, on display during the Elam Artists Graduate Show, while Dr Peter Shand takes a tour in the VR gallery Chin helped create. Photo / Dean Purcell

ENTERTAINMENT

More to interactive garments than meets the eye

25 Nov, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Investing in the future - exhibition showing next generation of NZ artists on this weekend

Mike Tyus has had to overcome more obstacles than most to perform with Cirque du Soleil. Photo/Aaron Felske

ENTERTAINMENT

First they broke his legs, then they told his parents to send him to dance classes

24 Nov, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

A childhood illness nearly crippled Mike Tyus; now he stars in Cirque du Soleil's Kooza.

Lloyd Scott, John Landreth and Sepe Mua'au star in the NZ play Movers. Photo/Roc + Photography

ENTERTAINMENT

Comedy finds screen legend shifting gear

14 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

New play brings back to the stage the NZ star of one of our most iconic TV commercials.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gives her keynote address to the Labour Party conference in the Dunedin Town Hall earlier this month.

ENTERTAINMENT

Wherefore art thou, Jacinda? Ardern inspires new play

11 Nov, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

PM Jacinda Ardern joins the list of world leaders who are inspiring writers and artists.

Pop-up Globe actors (from left) Stephen Butterworth, Ripeka Templeton, Jess Loudon, Dave Fane and Natasha Daniel show off the period costumes designed for this year's plays. Photo/Will Bailey

ENTERTAINMENT

Shakespeare stories told in lavish Pop-up Globe costumes

10 Nov, 2018 5:00am
5 minutes to read

Spinning it - the first glimpse of the sumptuous costumes for this year's Pop-up Globe.

Thomas Schumacher, president & producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, has seen its favourite stories transformed into blockbuster theatre. Photo/Andrew Tauber

ENTERTAINMENT

How Disney made fairy tales go major

10 Nov, 2018 5:00am
6 minutes to read

The inside story on how Disney took fairy tales from the screen to the stage.

Adapted from Deborah Harkness' book, the romantic thriller 'A Discovery of Witches' stars Matthew Goode and Teresa Palmer.

ENTERTAINMENT

The charmed life of author Deborah Harkness

6 Nov, 2018 5:00am
6 minutes to read

History professor Deborah Harkness works her magic again with new book and TV series.

Tim Melville with a soon-to-be-auctioned artwork. Photo / Doug Sherring

ENTERTAINMENT

Art goes under the hammer to support world first Māori gallery

4 Nov, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Significant art goes under the hammer to raise funds for world's first Māori art gallery.

Bernie Harfleet and Donna Turtle Sarten used 540 wooden pallets to illustrate the journey to refuge. The work appears at the NZ Sculpture OnShore fundraiser for Women's Refuge. Photo/Jason Oxenham

ENTERTAINMENT

Art explores difficult journey

2 Nov, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Why Don't You Just Leave? The art challenging us to see why women don't leave violent men.

Kids will enjoy the Wellington Writers Walk on the capital's waterfront.

TRAVEL

Wellington: Lit lovers, walk write this way

30 Oct, 2018 2:00pm
3 minutes to read

Dionne Christian finds there's no need to be lost for words in the capital.

Damien Hirst Looking for Sharks, by Cool Shit.

TRAVEL

Sydney: Kiwis making waves

27 Oct, 2018 3:00pm
5 minutes to read

Three NZ artists are taking part in Sculpture by the Sea, writes Dionne Christian.

The Guerrilla Collection is a future-focused arts festival asking Aucklanders what they want the region to be like in 30 years time.

ENTERTAINMENT

Pacific artists marshal forces for a new look at tomorrow's Auckland

27 Oct, 2018 5:00am
5 minutes to read

How do we want Auckland to be in 30 years? This time, it's artists not planners asking.

Topp Country: A Culinary Journey Through New Zealand with The Topp Twins

LIFESTYLE

Their kitchen rules: Topp Twins on new cafe and book journey

27 Oct, 2018 5:00am
5 minutes to read

They're Topp entertainers, now the country's favourite twins are about to rule the kitchen

Comfrey Sanders and Chris Parker star as teen tearaways and best friends Nick and Rachel in Shortland Street the Musical. Photo/ Jason Oxenham.

ENTERTAINMENT

Shortland Street gets musical makeover

27 Oct, 2018 5:00am
5 minutes to read

What was it about Shortland Street the Musical that made comedian Chris Park want to cry?

Benjamin Henson, who will direct Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead.

ENTERTAINMENT

Auckland Theatre Company's dramatic year

27 Oct, 2018 5:00am
5 minutes to read

Auckland Theatre Company releases 2019 programme, promising the next year will be epic.

Long-serving general manager of Auckland Theatre Company Lester McGrath will join the Royal NZ Ballet in 2019.

ENTERTAINMENT

Arts leader en pointe for move to ballet

25 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

The arts leader with the Midas touch exits stage left to head Royal NZ Ballet.

Much-loved Australian actor Anne Tenney has joined the cast of Pop-up Globe.

ENTERTAINMENT

Why star of The Castle is heading to Auckland

20 Oct, 2018 5:00am
5 minutes to read

In Pop-up Globe Anne Tenney makes a dramatic break from the roles that made her famous

Jay Laga'aia in Peter Pan Goes Wrong. Photo / supplied

ENTERTAINMENT

Why Jay Laga'aia is all at sea

20 Oct, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

He appeared in Star Wars but is this the most dangerous role Jay Laga'aia has ever played?

ENTERTAINMENT

Why are these NZ actors so angry they're taking a sledge hammer to the stage?

19 Oct, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

There's power in anger, say NZ actors taking pure unbridled rage onto the stage

Kieran Foster (centre) stars in City of 100 Lovers, the first resident theatre show at Auckland's SkyCity.

ENTERTAINMENT

'City of 100 Lovers' woos visitors, locals

14 Oct, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Auckland set for Vegas-style theatre as blockbuster show opens at SkyCity.

Artist Dane Mitchell in his Auckland studio. Photo / Doug Sherring

ENTERTAINMENT

The art of making the unseen visible

12 Oct, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Dane Mitchell, NZ's artist at the 2019 Venice Biennale, conjures images out of air.

For Re:trace, Emily Mafile'o concentrated on taking photos of the people who call South Auckland home today.

ENTERTAINMENT

Retracing the journey of a neighbourhood

10 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Looking back to the future - photographers capture changing Auckland neighbourhoods.

ENTERTAINMENT

Lifetimes in literature recognised in PM's annual awards

8 Oct, 2018 5:00pm
4 minutes to read

PM's Awards for Literary Achievement winners pioneers of new frontiers in local writing.

Artist Anna Crichton says the work she made in Varanasi, India was a direct response to issues she saw around her. Photo / Michael Craig

ENTERTAINMENT

Art meets street for beggar's banquet

8 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Art and food create an "edible mandala" for Auckland Artweek.

Ngā Rangatahi Toa performers rehearse their Manawa Ora production. Photo / Nick Reed

ENTERTAINMENT

Superstar's 'amazing gesture' for Kiwi youth

7 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Auckland youth charity welcomes donation from Australian superstar Tim Minchin.

Lakiloko Keakea, stands in front of her largest ever fafetu. Photo/Greg Bowker

ENTERTAINMENT

Traditional Tuvaluan craft weaves links with island life

5 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

West Auckland grandmother and master artist Lailoko Keakea gets Ponsonby gallery show.

WAR sTOrY by Natasha English and Tatyanna Meharry, of Christchurch. Winners of the Supreme WOW award and of the Aotearoa section. Photo / Stephen A'Court

ENTERTAINMENT

Sisters make history at WOW

29 Sep, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Winner's garment demonstrated an exceptional example of powerful storytelling.

Adam Reynolds and Chaz Harris, of Promised Land, are calling for children's media to include more LGBTQ+ characters.

ENTERTAINMENT

Hollywood can save young lives by including more LGBTQ+ characters

29 Sep, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

NZ based publishers: "Here's how Hollywood can save young lives."

Sean Lynch in Watching Paint Dry, the show which involves exactly as its name suggests.

ENTERTAINMENT

An action-packed night watching paint dry

24 Sep, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Could Watching Paint Dry be New Zealand's next big theatre export?

Meghan Markle will be in NZ alone before a joint trip with Prince Harry. Photo / KGC-107/STAR MAX/IPx

ENTERTAINMENT

Oceania's royal visit gets boost

22 Sep, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Royal visit ensures all eyes will be on New Zealand and Pacific art at Oceania exhibition.

Art students picked works from Auckland University's collection for the Say so exhibition. They include (from left) Alice Karetai, Kirsten Raynor and Finn McCahon Jones. Photo/Jason Oxenham

ENTERTAINMENT

Suffrage art exhibitions 'a visual celebration of voices'

19 Sep, 2018 5:00am
5 minutes to read

Art exhibition raise visual voices to address gender inequality.

Dame Suzie Moncrieff pictured with one of the 4877 WOW creations that have been seen in the annual design competition.

ENTERTAINMENT

Dame Suzie Moncrieff reflects on 30 years of wearable arts

19 Sep, 2018 5:00am
9 minutes to read

When Dame Suzie Moncrieff started WOW 30 years ago, she invented a whole new art form.

Robert Webster has devoted most of his life to studying influenza viruses.

NEW ZEALAND

Flu pandemic 'matter of when, not if'

17 Sep, 2018 5:00am
10 minutes to read

NZ scientist Robert Webster may have saved the world from a killer flu.

Author Karen McMillan and Blong-the-cat who's now starring in her new series of children's books. Photo / Michael Craig

ENTERTAINMENT

Happily ever after ending for inspiring cat

16 Sep, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

A holiday in Vanuatu ended well for an inspiring cat now starring in Kiwi kids' books.

NZ Secondary School Choir performing in Wellington. Photo / Mark Tantrum

ENTERTAINMENT

Singing the praises of choirs

16 Sep, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Dilworth School boys sing the praises of a unique NZ choir they say changed their lives.

FOR CANVAS Kate Walker (standing, centre) and James Wilkinson (seated beside her) were both strong supporters of dress reform for women. Photo / Auckland Libraries

LIFESTYLE

How NZ's pioneering feminists fought for freedom

15 Sep, 2018 12:35pm
9 minutes to read

Dionne Christian looks at how Kiwi women busted the patriarchy in Victorian NZ.

Simon London and Anna Jullienne star in Rendered, but their love story isn't the romance it seems.

ENTERTAINMENT

New play questions what is our place in a war-torn world?

15 Sep, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

As it premieres in Auckland, thriller play Rendered considers our place in the world.

Maggie Gresson, from the Artists Alliance, with her flow chart showing all the different sectors of the economy that profit from art. Photo / Dean Purcell

ENTERTAINMENT

Artists Alliance faces closure

15 Sep, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Funding crisis set to force closure of NZ's support for visual artists.