John Rae, an award-winning composer and musician, recorded his first album at sixteen with saxophonist Tommy Smith and has since appeared on over 30 albums. He was the drummer for the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (2000-2003) and won a ‘Herald Angel’ at the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Since moving to New Zealand in 2007, Rae has been a prominent figure in Wellington’s jazz scene, notably as front man for The Troubles. After years of advocacy, his vision for a national jazz orchestra will be realised with the Aotearoa Jazz Orchestra's inaugural performance at the 2025 Wellington Jazz Festival.

Anapela Polataivao ONZM is a highly respected actor, director, writer, and has recently attracted media attention for her role in 2025’s hit film Tīnā. She is now directing NZ Opera’s The Monster in the Maze.

Workmates, the new film from writer/director team Sophie Henderson and Curtis Vowell, will have its World Premiere at the upcoming Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival.  Starring Henderson and Matt Whelan, this is a funny, heartfelt comedy romance about best friends, art, ambition, and messy feelings in messy theatres. It’s a love letter to theatre, friendship and the creative community. 

I braved a shaky internet connection for a Zoom chat with Sophie and Curtis to talk about theatre, love stories and how to work with your significant other without breaking something. 

ration the Queen’s veges is a new play directed and co-written by Tainui Tukiwaho (Black Ties) and Ngahiriwa Rauhina who also plays the lead role. It is inspired by Te Wehi Ratana’s experience spending 48 hours in Rimutaka Prison following the dramatic act of protest in December 2023 that led to the defacing of Te Papa’s Treaty of Waitangi exhibition. 

With the play opening at Circa Theatre in August, mere metres away from where it all began, I took the opportunity to catch up with Tainui about the project. 

Conceived by renowned Māori choreographer Moss Te Ururangi Patterson (Ngāti Tūwharetoa), Chief Executive and Artistic Director of The New Zealand Dance Company, Home, Land and Sea is a new ballet for six dancers from the Royal New Zealand Ballet and six from the New Zealand Dance Company.

On a sunny Friday, Moss and I took a pair of long blacks to the park and settled in to talk about his new show, collaboration and what makes Aotearoa dance unique.

Jo Randerson’s new book is a creative non-fiction exploration of the power of art and creativity to create change, which Bret McKenzie has described as a ‘must-read for anyone in the arts.’ As a career artist, writer, theatre-maker and comedian, Jo’s experience in this field, as well as their thoughtful, academic rigor, makes them the ideal person to explore this topic.

I went to Brooklyn’s Vogelmorn Community Centre where Jo’s Barbarian Productions have their base, to catch up with Jo over a cup of tea.

At the end of April we farewelled Tama Ale Samoa (Taranaki, Ngā Ruahine) who had been Tāwhiri's Pouārahi Māori and on our leadership team since 2021.

Tama Ale’s role was focused on the implementation of Tāwhiri’s Intercultural Policy across the organisation, supported by the wider team. During his time, he developed strong and trusted relationships between Tāwhiri and mana whenua and guided the organisation’s use of tikanga and te reo Māori. 

We acknowledge Tama Ale’s significant impact on Tāwhiri and wish him all the best in his role with Wellington City Council.

Before he left, Kate caught up with Tama Ale to ask a few questions about his time at Tāwhiri and find out what he's looking forward to.

Benson Wilson, winner of the 2016 Lexus Song Quest and most recently the Ryman Healthcare Dame Malvina Major Foundation Mina Foley Award , returns home to make his NZ Opera principal role debut as Schaunard in La bohème by Puccini. We caught up with Benson during a break from rehearsals to chat about his journey to opera, his homecoming and just what music means to him. 

Sameena Zehra is a comedian, storyteller, actor, writer, director and blues singer/songwriter. She has performed her solo shows all over the world, including Edinburgh Fringe, Nordic Fringes, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Brighton Fringe, Adelaide Fringe and New Zealand Fringe, where she was nominated for 'Best In Fringe' 2016, and won 'Outstanding Performer' in 2017. Before moving to New Zealand in 2019, Sameena lived and worked in the UK where she performed at the National Theatre and toured internationally with the Royal Shakespeare Company.


Her new show Homicidal Pacifist - Dust Off Your Guillotines will premiere in the 2025 New Zealand International Comedy Festival 21-25 May. Sameena invited me over for a cup of tea, a chat about her work and most importantly, to meet her beautiful, friendly new cat.