Culture 101

Uproar, a new movie inspired by the Springbok Tour of the 1980s comes with a star-studded cast - Julian Dennison, James Rolleston, Minnie Driver, Rhys Darby, and a scene-stealing role from Julian's mum, Mabelle Dennison. 

Best known as a vampire, and lately, a goth, actor and comedian Johnny Brugh has been leaving us well amused since his time as one half of comedy duo Sugar and Spice way back in the ‘90s. A regular screen scene-stealer, Brugh’s numerous film credits include Deacon in What We Do In The Shadows and god Rapu in Thor: Love and Thunder. Next year he’ll appear in the Australian version of hit TV comedy...

Touring to five regional centres across the North Island from 6 to 25 October Upu sees performances by seven leading actors of almost 40 texts by Māori and Pacific Island writers. Among the writers is acclaimed artist Briar Grace-Smith (Ngā Puhi and Ngāti Hau). Best known as a playwright and screenwriter, Grace-Smith wrote, starred in and co-directed hit feature film Cousins, and also recently dir...

A new, sumptuous Auckland University Press book Gordon Walters reveals the diversity of the painter’s exploration of form beyond the koru, and the remarkable diversity of influences that synthesised in his work. 

After a career spanning almost six decades, Alanis Obomsawin is still busy working on her 56th and 57th film aged 91. 

Every week on Culture 101 we check the pulse of a different area of Aotearoa. This week it's Waikato.

Most trends on social media, have their moment in the spotlight, then the next one comes along. But some trends catch on and stick around. One of those is ‘Girl Dinner’.

Just released, Henrietta Bollinger’s debut essay collection, Articulations published by Tender Press speaks to their experiences as queer, disabled and as a twin..

Liberty - Herekoretanga by artist Wendy Hannah is a camellia chandelier made from 31 thousand 872 recycled plastic bottles - each one representing the number of signatures on the petitions presented to Parliament in the 1890s. 

Every week on Culture 101 we invite a guest to share their love of culture and shout out to other artists. This week it’s - Tami Neilson - a beloved musical artist who has brought vividly alive the culture surrounding country, rock and roll and soul music. 

Described by Sam Brooks in The Spinoff as the largest catwalk show in the world, an art exhibition blown up to epic proportions, and the closest New Zealand gets to Broadway, the spectacular World of Wearable Arts opened on Friday in Pōneke.

We’re joined on Culture 101 by three poets and artists from Pōneke and Kāpiti Coast who are part of a collective known as the Meow Gurrls. 

Every week on Culture 101 we check the pulse of a different area of Aotearoa. This week it’s between the Tararua ranges and the Pacific: the Wairarapa.   

In a 2023 election campaign special, panel series ‘Carcass’ brings you  lively banter on where culture and politics did and didn’t meet on the hustings.

Rising Tamaki Makaurau music producer EDY’s debut single ‘Help Myself’ reflects on working and striving in a hustle culture.

Following seasons in Australia and Poneke at Circa, Celebrated Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith’s Switzerland has landed in Tamaki Makaurau with the Auckland Theatre Company. 

After 35 years working in public galleries and as an art historian, for Christina Barton’s last show as director of Wellington’s Adam Art Gallery, tidying up has become part of the art.

A PR manager passionate about helping get Indie artist cut-through, the UK’s Debbie Ball has developed an expertise in how best to work with digital media to make new fans for music online. Now also a digital humanities lecturer at King's College London and the University of Westminster, its led to an interest in the role of AI in music creation 

Could the tapping, beating and bashing of drums be your path towards better mental health?

Simon Morris is confronted with several movies that come with a pre-booked audience, you'd think - a popular ethnic comedy, one for anyone who's been to theatre school, and another hit French comedy thriller.

At the last census 714 people were living in Karamea, but resident Jessie Creedmore has counted 54 artists, and 21 different nationalities. People span from dairy farmers to artisan producers and alternative lifestylers.

Steamed Hams shows artists using humour and popular digital storytelling devices to explore how our worldview is being filtered through everything from TikTok to AI art. 

For 2022 LEGO master NZ winner Jake Roos, Lego life continues. 

Deborah Wai Kapohe is both a singing teacher and one of Aotearoa’s most respected sopranos. So who better to teach Culture 101 to sing opera?  

All Black prop George Bower was ruled out of the Rugby World Cup due to a knee injury, but ended up in France with the team in a cultural role.