Culture 101

A new documentary charts the rise of tenor Pene Pati, from South Auckland to some of the world's leading opera stages.  Read more Audio

At The Performance Arcade on Wellington's waterfront, The Red Phone Project pairs strangers in neighbouring telephone boxes for guided conversations using scripts written by playwrights including… Read more Audio

Boris Jancic joins us to unpack Baz Luhrmann's latest Elvis documentary, revisiting the life and cultural legacy of Elvis Presley through archival material and newly assembled footage. Read more Audio

Australian comedian Joel Creasey is heading to Christchurch for the Court Theatre's Rainbow Festival. Read more Audio

As part of the Aotearoa Festival of the Arts, Werewolf transforms Circa Theatre into a makeshift safe house overseen by three wardens. Read more Audio

Thirty years after its premiere, Hone Kouka's Waiora Te Ukaipo returns for the Wellington and Auckland arts festivals. Read more Audio

Acclaimed filmmaker Oliver Laxe joins Culture 101 to discuss his latest feature, Sirat. Read more Audio

Ramon Te Wake speaks to Culture 101 about returning to the Pride stage to headline the Out of the Gutter street party, closing the 2026 Auckland Pride Festival Read more Audio

The 1989 cult film The 'Burbs, directed by Joe Dante and starring Tom Hanks, now has a new streaming era successor.  Read more Audio

Curator of Historical Photography Lissa Mitchell speaks to Culture 101 about Slow Burn: Women and Photography Slow Burn, an exhibition showcasing more than five decades of photography by women and non… Read more Audio

Film critic Kate Rodger joins Culture 101 to review Crime 101, GOAT, and Train Dreams. Read more Audio

Principal percussionist Eric Renick, who will perform in the production, speaks to Culture 101 about bringing Béla Bartók's opera Bluebeard's Castle to contemporary audiences. Read more Audio