August 2025

What’s Hot New Zealand is proudly produced by the destination-nz.com team at SOMO Creative, leaders in New Zealand travel, leisure and lifestyle publications. We’re a small company with a big reputation, both in New Zealand and around the world – destination-nz.com has had the stamp of approval from the travel gurus at Lonely Planet. Our […]

Legendary Kiwi band Pluto have had a mixed run of luck over the last few years. Reunited and back on a roll in 2019, the band suffered a cruel twist when the pandemic scuppered their tour plans. Now, Pluto have a new single out, “Maybe Twice”, and are back on the road. We talk to […]

It’s not eye of newt and toe of frog but some very magical ingredients go into Elsewhere Gin’s range. Forager-in-chief Mark Rose gathers the water, geology and botanicals of an area and captures their essence in a bottle. Early on a calm morning, Mark and Zoë Rose of Elsewhere Gin, with their children Luca and […]

Christchurch’s contribution to the Royal New Zealand Ballet story takes centre stage in the company’s 2024 programme with a production of Swan Lake that honours the legacy of the city’s own ballet star, Russell Kerr. Russell returned to New Zealand in 1957 from establishing a dance career in Europe and teamed up with Danish dancer […]

2022 is a year of expansion at Devál Boutique. What’s Hot New Zealand gets acquainted with the iconic Wānaka store and finds out what’s coming next. Visiting Devál Boutique is like walking into a sleek Paris boutique. Racks of chic European apparel for the trying on, bubbles in hand. This is shopping with taste. Founder […]

The South Island is bursting with adventure activities to give you that heart-pounding rush of excitement. It’s the birthplace of jet boating and commercial bungy jumping; a 15 million-hectare adventure playground with more outdoor action than any adrenaline junkie could cram in one lifetime. The South Island does a great line in jaw-dropping scenery on […]

A who’s who of international and national acts are on the lineups for this summer’s round of festivals. Something for everyone to get their groove on, from The Chemical Brothers and State of Mind to The Human League and Nik Kershaw; Ocean Alley, Benee and Dolphin Friendly to L.A.B and Blindspott; and Sean Paul, UB40 […]

US-style low-and-slow, Argentinian asado, South Africa’s braai – all variations on the theme of meat cooked over a fire. As we head into the barbecue season, we talk to two top fire chefs about the allure of the flame. Cooking over fire is as old as humanity. Even older – palaeontologists have shown that pre-humans […]

Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival starts its 18-day run of theatre, music, dance, cabaret and more in early March. We asked curators Shona McCullagh and Ataahua Papa for their top picks from the 200 acts on offer. Diptych – This show by award-winning theatre company Peeping Tom from Belgium is the ultimate […]

He’s a trouper – trans-Atlantic music superstar Graham Nash will turn 82 a month before his New Zealand tour in March, 2024. What’s Hot New Zealand spoke to him at home in New York during his only five-day break since kicking off a tour in January, 2023. The schedule has been gruelling – 100 shows […]

Tim Finn is taking the songs of Split Enz, Crowded House and his solo material back on the road. What’s Hot New Zealand talks to him ahead of his main-centre tour, The Lives and Times of Tim Finn, in September. You’ve got a huge catalogue of songs to choose from – how was it coming […]