AGP Executive Report

Live Music: Olivia Dean’s sold-out Auckland show this weekend has moved to the reopened Western Springs Bowl, making it the venue’s first major concert. A$AP Rocky will return to Spark Arena on December 12, his first New Zealand show in eight years. Festivals: Christchurch’s Electric Avenue has sold out for 2027 and added 4,000 tickets for local residents. Arts & Screen: New Zealand’s Mārama is the country’s official Oscar submission. The Wellington Theatre Awards will be held on December 6, while a new production inspired by The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is heading to New Zealand. Arts Funding: Te Pāti Māori has announced a Toi Māori Authority and artist income programme; meanwhile, artists are disputing Creative New Zealand’s account of its guidance on protest participation. Rugby: The All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup with a 50–19 win over Australia at Eden Park.

Live Music: Christchurch’s sold-out Electric Avenue will release 4,000 extra tickets, reserved for residents of Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri. A$AP Rocky is also returning to Auckland, with his first New Zealand show in eight years set for Spark Arena. Māori Arts: Te Pāti Māori has proposed an independent Toi Māori Authority and a paid programme supporting 1,000 Māori artists at a time. Theatre: The Wellington Theatre Awards will celebrate their 35th year on 6 December, with a new generation of local creatives leading the ceremony. Local Talent: Auckland bands can compete for more than $11,000 in prizes, including recording and music-video support, in Ding Dong Lounge’s annual contest. On Stage: The TEN Tenors will tour New Zealand in February and March 2027 for their 30th-anniversary show. Screen: California-set series East of Eden is being filmed in New Zealand, bringing another international production to local shores.

Auckland Screen: Meenakshi Seshadri returned to the big screen for an Auckland screening of Damini, launching a new Indian Cinema Showcase at the Diwali Festival. Coming to New Zealand: Filipino romance Always Yours, Never Mine has passed ₱100 million at the box office and is set for international screenings, including in New Zealand. Disney+ will stream an all-star Dolly Parton tribute for local viewers from 22 October. Live Arts: Pianist Sir Stephen Hough joins the NZSO in Wellington and Auckland in November, performing Saint-Saëns’ “Egyptian” Piano Concerto. Visual Arts: Ayesha Green is set to open her first exhibition in Waitaha Canterbury, while Nigerian-born artist Ruth Ige is showing her first institutional exhibition at Auckland’s Te Uru.

Big-screen upgrade: Hoyts is bringing its first IMAX with Laser screen to New Zealand, at Auckland’s Sylvia Park, ahead of Dune: Part Three in December. Live entertainment: WWE returns to Auckland in December for its first New Zealand shows in 10 years, while an award-winning Kiwi composer is bringing the Benjamin Button stage production home. Music: Protoje and Chronixx’s “Who Knows” has gone platinum in New Zealand, a decade after its release; Lily Allen has also announced an Australia and New Zealand tour. Arts around Aotearoa: Tōrua’s free street-dancing project is bringing performance into public spaces, and Nigerian-born artist Ruth Ige is showing her first institutional exhibition at Auckland’s Te Uru. Wellington’s City Gallery has also reopened after a $12.3 million upgrade.

Art & Design: New Zealand Cricket’s limited-edition Kotahitanga jersey blends Māori patterns with Indian motifs to mark a century of sporting ties with India, with artists Ben Thomason, Shiv Narandas and Jai Pancha behind the design. Auckland Arts: Nigerian-born artist Ruth Ige’s first institutional show at Te Uru draws on pigments and materials rooted in everyday African life and traditions. Rugby: Two-time World Cup-winning Black Fern Cheryl Waaka has died aged 56. A trailblazing coach and advocate for bowel cancer awareness, she leaves a lasting legacy in Northland and women’s rugby. Domestic Rugby: Canterbury claimed the Farah Palmer Cup with a 50–24 final win over Auckland, completing an unbeaten season. Bledisloe Cup: The All Blacks beat Australia 50–19 at Eden Park, retaining the Cup for a 24th straight year.

Bledisloe Cup: The All Blacks retained the trophy with a 50–19 win over Australia at Eden Park, extending their hold to 24 years. Football Ferns: Their Panama series was cancelled after powerful earthquakes struck the region; the team is safe and returning to New Zealand. Film: Mārama has been selected as New Zealand’s official submission for the 2027 Oscars’ international feature race. Arts & Culture: Whanganui’s Festival of Design is putting the city’s creative credentials on show, with everything from Lego builds to light displays.

Rugby: The All Blacks swept Australia 50–19 at Eden Park, retaining the Bledisloe Cup for a 24th straight year and extending their unbeaten home run to 54 Tests. Film: Māori drama Mārama is New Zealand’s official submission for the international feature Oscar. Visual Arts: Wellington City Gallery has reopened with a major Cornelia Parker exhibition, restoring a prominent arts venue to the city. Auckland Culture: More than 40,000 people attended the Moon Festival, where kapa haka, Chinese performances, lanterns and local food celebrated the city’s cultural mix. Music: New Zealand band Awning has signed with US label Winspear and released new single “Little Green Book.”

New Zealand Film: Māori gothic horror Mārama has been selected as Aotearoa’s official submission for the 99th Academy Awards’ International Feature Film category. Director Taratoa Stappard says the film reclaims colonial history through a Māori lens. Theatre: Auckland Theatre Company’s Cabaret earns a glowing review, with Matu Ngaropo’s Emcee and the show’s vivid ensemble singled out. Design: Whanganui’s first Festival of Design Aotearoa brings more than 50 events to the region from October 16–25, including exhibitions, workshops and light shows. Arts and Culture: Fijian communities across Aotearoa are keeping language and traditions alive through family, crafts, song and cultural events. Local Style: Queenstown’s Josh Yates has opened what he believes may be New Zealand’s first men’s vintage clothing shop, promoting reuse and slow fashion. Music: Wellington singer-songwriter Louis Baker and Kāpiti Coast artist Steph Casey have both released new singles.

Visual Arts: Wellington’s City Gallery has reopened after a two-year, $12.3 million renovation, with an international Cornelia Parker exhibition exploring “beauty in destruction”. Kiwi Music: SIX60 brought its “Don’t Forget Your Roots” tour to London’s Royal Albert Hall, becoming only the third New Zealand band to play the venue. At home, Louis Baker has released new single “Trouble”, while Kapiti Coast singer-songwriter Steph Casey shares “10,000 Hail Marys”. Coming to Aotearoa: Peaches has announced a 2027 Australia and New Zealand tour, and Irish folk group The Mary Wallopers will make their New Zealand debut.

Visual Arts: Wellington’s City Gallery reopens Saturday after a $12.3 million refurbishment, with a major exhibition of British artist Cornelia Parker’s work, including sculptures made from an exploded shed and flattened silverware. Immersive Experiences: More than 11,500 people explored Darklight at New Plymouth’s TSB Showplace over the school holidays, the venue’s biggest audience since reopening. Live Music: Peaches has announced an Auckland show at the Powerstation on January 9, 2027, on her first Australia and New Zealand tour since 2023. Louis Baker also returns to Tauranga’s Mount after five years. Rugby: Damian McKenzie will start at No. 10 for the All Blacks against Australia at Eden Park on Saturday, after Richie Mo’unga tore a calf muscle at training. Sports & Identity: New Zealand Rugby has taken the NRL’s incoming Papua New Guinea Chiefs franchise to the High Court, seeking to stop it using the Chiefs name in New Zealand.

Chiefs Name Fight: New Zealand Rugby has taken the PNG Chiefs naming dispute to the High Court, seeking to stop the NRL expansion team using “Chiefs” in New Zealand and arguing it could confuse fans and weaken the Super Rugby club’s brand. Bledisloe Countdown: Scott Barrett returns and Beauden Barrett starts at fullback as an injury-hit All Blacks side prepares to face Australia at Eden Park. Damian McKenzie shifts to first five-eighth, while rookie Isaac Henry and winger Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii feature for the Wallabies. Manga for Kiwi Fans: Crunchyroll Manga has launched in New Zealand, bringing more than 250 English-language titles to its app and website, including The Apothecary Diaries and Bocchi the Rock!. Aotearoa Live: Tash Sultana has added New Zealand shows after strong demand, while Irish band The Mary Wallopers have announced their first Aotearoa performance for 2027. Gallery Spotlight: Auckland Art Gallery’s Picasso exhibition brings 80 works to the city, offering a major draw for local art lovers. Pasifika Screen Warning: New Zealand’s Pacific screen sector says funding losses could mean fewer Pasifika stories reaching audiences.

Music: Aotearoa alt-rock band Awning has signed with US label Winspear and shared new single “Little Green Book.” Spotify’s expanded Music Quiz is also rolling out to Premium users in New Zealand, with questions covering more than 2,000 artists. Live Shows: Tash Sultana has added Auckland and Wellington dates after strong demand, while Laneway Festival 2027 pre-sale tickets are now in focus. Visual Arts: Auckland Art Gallery’s Picasso exhibition brings 80 works to the city. Books and Theatre: New Zealand author Catherine Chidgey is in the spotlight with The Descent of Catherine Chidgey, and A Christmas Carol returns to The Civic this December. Screen: Sarah Jessica Parker has spoken about family, anxiety and her new New Zealand project.

Live Music: Strong demand has prompted Tash Sultana to add Auckland and Wellington shows, while Aotearoa band Awning has signed with US label Winspear and released new single “Little Green Book.” Stage: New Zealand children’s musical Hana the Glowworm drew extraordinary demand after its world premiere, and A Christmas Carol returns to Auckland’s Civic this December. Visual Arts: Auckland Art Gallery is bringing 80 Picasso works to the city. Classical: The NZSO’s Auckland Town Hall concert of Strauss and Brahms has drawn a positive review.

AI & Culture: A new opinion piece argues “Artificial” is terrifying partly because it mirrors older fears about movies and media shaping minds. Politics & Cost of Living: In RNZ’s Morning Report, National’s Nicola Willis and Labour’s Barbara Edmonds clash over how to ease household pressure, with debate focus on price gouging, health access and transport costs. Election Stakes (NZ First): NZ First’s released party list could put two southern MPs in Parliament, with Mark Patterson holding 4 and Michael Laws at 6. Local Tragedy: Police are treating the death of Chantelle McLaughlin-Middlemiss on Waiheke Island as suspicious after welfare checks and a second emergency call within an hour. Film & Theatre: Auckland Live brings Shake & Stir’s A Christmas Carol to The Civic in December. Music: Auckland alt-rock band Awning drop new single “Little Green Book,” and Tash Sultana adds extra 2027 shows in Auckland, Wellington and Australia. Sport (NZ links): Bhuvneshwar Kumar returns to India’s T20I squad for the New Zealand tour after four years. Fitness & Community: CityFitness plans up to $100m expansion, including women-only gyms, with new clubs across NZ.

Rugby Shock: All Blacks flyhalf Ruben Love is ruled out for the rest of 2026 after an ankle ligament injury requiring surgery, forcing a major No 10 reshuffle ahead of the Bledisloe Cup and end-of-year tests. Cricket Watch: India’s Harshit Rana may be in line for New Zealand after starting rehab in Bengaluru following a hamstring injury, as selectors prepare squads for the all-format tour. NZ Politics & TV: RNZ’s recap of the TVNZ leaders’ debate puts the spotlight on cost-of-living clashes and preferred PM numbers, with Opportunity tipped as the kingmaker in latest polling. Anime Streaming: Crunchyroll confirms Dragon Ball Super: Beerus will stream from October 11, with an enhanced edition from Toei. Film/Docs: Dogwoof lands international rights at MIPCOM for TIFF Docs opener Rapinoe and Pakistan Oscar hopeful Hanging By a Wire. Entertainment Business: Former Sky/Fox exec Jason Simms launches London scripted firm Fusebox Entertainment, with NZ among its consultancy partnerships. Sports League News: Kiwis name a star-studded Rugby League World Cup squad, including Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai after eligibility switches.

Auckland–India 100 Years of Unity Through Sport: Tāmaki Makaurau is rolling out a spring programme linking New Zealand and India through cricket, football, bowls, hockey and esports, with BLACKCAPS, All Whites and more set to host India across October/November. Fitness expansion: CityFitness says it plans up to $100m in growth, adding as many as 50 gyms by 2031/32 and creating about 1,000 jobs, with new sites flagged for Auckland, Pāpāmoa, Wellington and Pukekohe plus upgrades nationwide. Arts & culture: NUQ’s Media Majlis Museum opens “All That Is Unseen” (Marshmallow Laser Feat) at Northwestern University in Qatar, while Ōrewa’s Centrestage has a hit with the new children’s musical Hana the Glowworm, already prompting extra performances. Local music spotlight: Theia wins major honours at the University of Auckland Blues Awards, and The Elovaters announce their first-ever Auckland headline show for January. Health policy: National promises to boost Pharmac’s medicines budget by $604m, partly funded by cutting foreign aid outside the Pacific, alongside expanded cancer screening. Community sport support: A new Hawke’s Bay initiative using free “fitness pods” is expanding into Camberley and Flaxmere to tackle cost and transport barriers. Entertainment industry: Hollywood actor Cliff Curtis is charged after an Auckland waterfront crash, adding to the week’s NZ screen-industry headlines.