Art on display on a green wall.

Art & Culture

Music, arts and culture lovers, we've rounded up some of the best local arts and culture experts to show you the favourite hidden gems of their cities. From grungy live music venues to public art interactions, check out what they love about Aotearoa New Zealand. And discover what’s your Never Have I Ever…

What's your Art & Culture Never Have I Ever?

  • Riwai Grace

    Tour Guide I Āmiki Tours

    CHC
    Riwai Grace standing inside Inati restaurant.

    Riwai Grace's Christchurch

    Art & Culture

    Never let your inner child out on the slides, swings and trampolines of the Margaret Mahy playground? Firefighter and tour guide Riwai Grace likes to combine this evening event with a treat from Christchurch’s iconic Rollickin’ Gelato.

    Discover Riwai’s Christchurch.

    Staff working inside the Pink Lady bar.

    Rooftop bar above Muse Art Hotel

    A chef working in the kitchen at Inati.

    Share some kai at Inati

    The touch stone at the Earthquake Memorial.

    Touch the pounamu at Oi Manawa

    Booth seating at Hali.

    Seafood experience at Hali

    Brunch on a table at Foundation Cafe.

    Brunch and books at Tūranga

    A statue standing in Victoria Square.

    Coming together at Market Square

    People browsing books inside Scorpio.

    Take your time in Scorpio Books

    The Christchurch Boat Sheds.

    Sit on the giant mōkihi

    A woman working inside Fudge Cottage.

    Your name on fudge at the Arts Centre

    The Margaret Mahy playground.

    Play like a kid

  • Gerry Paul

    CubaDupa Director

    WLG
    Gerry Paul on Cuba Street.

    Gerry Paul's Wellington

    Art & Culture

    Never joined the wild fun at CubaDupa? Festival director Gerry Paul has been part of Cuba Street culture since he was an eight-year-old busker. After playing 500 festivals around the world, he reckons there’s nothing quite like CubaDupa.

    Discover Gerry’s Wellington.

    A street festival at CubaDupa

    Bring out your wild side at CubaDupa

    The beach at Kapiti Island.

    Visit the kākā at Kāpiti Island

    The entrance to Miss Fortune's.

    Joy Division and Pineapple Lumps at Miss Fortunes Café

    The exterior of the Leeds Street Bakery.

    Polenta loaf from Leeds Street Bakery

    The bar inside Laundry.

    Banging house at Laundry Bar

    Inside Suite Gallery in Wellington.

    Sweet sounds at {Suite} Gallery

    A man pouring beer.

    Beer Capital Brewery trail

    A busy Harbourside Market.

    Get a Greek fix at Harbourside Market

    An exhibition at McLeavey Gallery.

    Creative distraction at McLeavey Gallery

    Inside Rogue and Vagabond bar.

    Live Music on Cuba Street

  • Estère

    Musician

    WLG
    Estere standing in the bush.

    Estère's Wellington

    Art & Culture

    Never delved into the fringe music scene at Pyramid Club? This is one of the live music venues that Wellington-based musician Estère frequents. Her live venue list covers everything from jazz, soul and RnB to local rock.

    Discover Estère’s Wellington.

    The live music corner at Meow.

    Live music from jazz to experimental

    Inside Loretta restaurant.

    Vegan mushroom pizza at Loretta

    Inside Counter Culture where people are playing board games.

    Game on at Counter Culture

    Three people walking on a track with the ocean as a backdrop.

    Train to Paekākāriki

    Two paths at Otari Wilton Bush.

    Stroll through dappled light in Otari Wilton Bush

    The inside of the Enjoy Gallery in Wellington.

    Find inspiration at Enjoy

    Breaker Bay in Wellington.

    Walk to the archway at Breaker Bay

    A sculpture on top of the City Gallery.

    Attend a few City Gallery events

    Lyall Bay in Wellington.

    Try surfing at Lyall Bay

    The old army barracks.

    Explore the old army barracks

  • Sara Munro

    Fashion designer

    DUN
    Sara Munro smiling to camera.

    Sara Munro's Dunedin

    Art & Culture

    Never hit the boutiques of fashion-forward Dunedin? Company of Strangers creative director Sara Munro says to get to know Dunedin, you need to see how Dunedin dresses and explore the natural beauty and underground culture.

    Discover Sara’s Dunedin.

    Woman shopping inside Company of Strangers.

    Shop George Street boutiques

    The interior view of Gallery De Novo.

    Friday gallery crawl

    Aerial view of St Clair hot salt water pool.

    Take a dip in St Clair

    Interior of Pavement Skate Shop.

    Find limited edition boards at Pavement

    A close up of a plate of food at Moiety.

    Enjoy a divine Moiety degustation

    Shop on Carroll interior view.

    Kill a day vintage shopping

    View of Victory Beach.

    Experience magic at Victory Beach

    Two woman looking at Waterfall at Ross Creek.

    Get lost in the green at Ross Creek

    A chicken dish on a plate at Buster Greens.

    Find balance at Buster Greens

    Staff working behind at the bar at Woof!

    Indulge in cheese balls at Woof!

  • Samuel Flynn Scott

    Musician

    WLG
    Samuel Flynn Scott reclining on a bench seat.

    Samuel Flynn-Scott's Wellington

    Art & Culture

    Never zorbed into the bins at Slowboat Records? Samuel Flynn Scott of the Phoenix Foundation describes this as “meditation for music nerds”. Samuel also writes about food and is obsessed with anything delicious.

    Discover Samuel's Wellington.

    Records and posters on display inside Slow Boat Records in Wellington.

    Join the grumpy banter at Slow Boat Records

    Lyall Bay

    Other-people’s-dog Walking at Lyall Bay

    People dining inside 1154 in Wellington.

    Pretentious wine trail

    A gallery exhibition inside The Dowse.

    Art at The Dowse Art Museum

    A fish being filleted at Mason.

    Eat the menu at Mason

    Vegetables on a plate at Highwater Eatery.

    Vegetables from The Highwater

    Inside the Rita restaurant.

    Celebrating ingredients at Rita

    Stacked shelves inside OnTrays Scheckters Deli Wellington.

    Glorious reubens from Scheckter’s Deli

    The Phoenix Foundation at the Rock pools.

    Clambering the rock pools

    A big ship.

    Explore the Museum of Wellington City and Sea

    The Brooklyn Gun Emplacements in Wellington

    Great views from the Gun Emplacements

  • Nadia Reid

    Musician

    DUN
    Nadia Reid looking to camera.

    Nadia Reid's Dunedin

    Art & Culture

    Never met a friendly eel? Musician Nadia Reid finds inspiration and exercise soaking up nature at Orokonui Ecosanctuary. Nadia’s Dunedin is full of nature - and great food and coffee.

    Discover Nadia’s Dunedin.

    Two takahe birds.

    A visit to Orokonui Ecosanctuary

    A barista behind the coffee machine at Side-On.

    Cauliflower halloumi at Side-On

    The inside of Mazagran cafe.

    A flat white from Mazagran on Moray Place

    A close up of an ice cream.

    An ice cream from Patti’s & Cream

    The inside of the Careys Bay Hotel restaurant.

    A pint and a seafood platter at Careys Bay

    A horse in the Deborah Bay area.

    A hill ride at Hare Hill Horse Trekking

    People dining inside Woof.

    A cocktail and cheese ball at Woof! Bar

    The entrance to Moana Pool.

    A morning swim at Moana Pool

    The top of Mount Cargill.

    A walk to the top of Mount Cargill

    Close up of bagels on a table.

    Sunday bagels from Beam Me Up

  • Miriama Grace Smith

    Artist

    WLG
    A photo of Miriama Grace Smith in front of a lift.

    Miriama Grace Smith's Wellington

    Art & Culture

    Never seen artist Xoë Hall’s huge depiction of David Bowie in the carpark near Fortune Favours brewery? Xoë’s friend, artist Miriama Grace Smith, thinks this beer and street art combo is a perfect Wellington experience.

    Discover Miriama's Wellington.

    A David Bowie mural.

    Street art & beers at Fortune Favours

    The exterior of Karaka Café.

    Support Māori musicians at Karaka Café

    A view of a sunset from Mt Victoria Town Belt.

    Walk the Town Belt

    The exterior of Viva Mexico.

    Feijoa cocktails at Viva Mexico

    A man looking at art inside Enjoy Gallery.

    Emerging art at Enjoy Gallery

    The exterior of the Toi Poneke Arts Centre building.

    Artist studios at Toi Pōneke

    Liquor bottles behind the bar at Moon.

    Live music at Moon

    The inside of the art gallery at Hunters and Collectors.

    Hunters & Collectors hidden gallery

    The exterior of Bats Theatre.

    See a show at Bats Theatre

    A man pouring beer.

    New brews at Garage Project Tap Room

  • Leafa Wilson

    Multimedia performance artist

    HAM
    Leafa Wilson in front of the Waikato Museum.

    Leafa Wilson's Hamilton

    Art & Culture

    Never thought of a carved waka as an ancestor you should visit regularly to pay respects? New Zealand-born Samoan artist Leafa Wilson does. She’s the visual arts curator at Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga and she’s got a unique insight into its collections and to her city.

    Discover Leafa's Hamilton.

    The waka inside Waikato Museum.

    Visit Tainui’s Waka

    Chinese Scholars’ Garden in Hamilton Gardens.

    Stroll through the jasmine

    Customers and stallholders chatting.

    Absorb some culture at Frankton Market

    The entrance to Koko Cafe.

    Cheese scones from Koko Café

    Fish and chips on the grass.

    Fush & Chups in the gardens

    Extreme close up of Tongue of the Dog in Hamilton.

    Tongue of the Dog

    The inside of the Duck Island store.

    The OG Duck Island Ice Cream

    The Waikato River.

    Celebrate Te Awa - Waikato River

    Lovegrove Lane in Hamilton.

    Meet cool creatives in Lovegrove Lane

    Inside the Waikato Museum.

    Tour the collections at Waikato Museum

  • Kophie Hulsbosch

    Artist & designer

    CHC
    Kophie Hulsbosch lounging on a couch.

    Kophie Hulsbosch's Christchurch

    Art & Culture

    Never had a good look around the explosion of incredible street art in Christchurch? Artist and designer Kophie Hulsbosch recommends the Watch This Space guided tour. Her Ōtautahi is rich with urban art, conscious fashion and vegan food.

    Discover Kophie’s Christchurch.

    A painted woman on a wall in Christchurch.

    Tour the local street art

    Vintage clothes on a rack.

    Shop sustainably

    A staff member standing behind the bar at Pedro's Cafe.

    Art and eats at Pedro’s Café

    Close up of the KFT burger from Grater Goods.

    KFT burger from Grater Goods

    Plants and plant pots for sale at Green Lane Market.

    Shop the Green Lane Market

    Two people browsing art at Fiksate.

    Explore the Urban Art scene at Fiksate

    The Godley Head mural by Wongi.

    Godley Head graffiti walk

    Vegan temeph in a bain marie.

    Explore the Vegan Night Mākete

    Two women looking at a dress at the Nifty Markets.

    Shop for vintage at Nifty Market

    Close up of a burger.

    Cosy up at Portershed

  • Toby Morris

    Artist

    AKL
    Toby Morris sitting at a table.

    Toby Morris's Auckland

    Art & Culture

    Never hunted out the three sculptures around Potter’s Park? Spinoff cartoonist Toby Morris likes to eat dumplings in this park and make up stories about how the three artworks relate. Toby loves Auckland’s mix of cultures.

    Discover Toby’s Auckland.

    The boy walking sculpture at Potter's Park.

    Art in Potter’s Park

    People browsing the Flying Out shop.

    Musician-spotting at Flying Out

    Red light inside The Wine Cellar and Whammy Bar.

    Live music at St Kevin’s Arcade

    Fish and chips..

    Sunset with fish n chips at Pt Chev Beach

    A staff member working behind the counter.

    Custard tart from La Voie Française

    The wild west coast of Bethells Beach.

    Te Henga/Bethell’s Beach

    The entrance to Cazador.

    Cazador takeaways

    Outdoor seating at Morningside Precinct.

    Eating up in the Morningside precinct

    The exterior of Toi Tū building.

    Meet the arts community at Toi Tū

    Close up of comics.

    Wrestle with comic artists at Arkham City Comics

  • Janine and Charles Williams

    Urban Street Artists

    AKL
    Janine and Charles standing in front of their artwork.

    Janine and Charles Williams's Auckland

    Art & Culture

    Never experienced the sights, sounds and smells of the multicultural Papatoetoe Night Markets? Street artists Janine & Charles Williams are South Auckland locals. Janine’s insider tip is the $45 gel nails.

    Discover Janine & Charles Auckland.

    A market stall at Papatoetoe Night Market.

    Noise and culture at Papatoetoe Night Markets

    Inside a room at Auckland Art Gallery.

    Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art

    A man holding a sneaker at Nike in Britomart.

    Britomart sneaker drop

    Offices inside the Grid in Auckland.

    Mana whenua artworks in Wynyard Quarter

    A wooden playhouse at Totara Park.

    Go bush in Tōtara Park

    Joggers running.

    Sunset over the Waitematā

    People climbing Mangere Mountain.

    Walk the volcanic cone at Mangere Bridge

    Two plates of food on a table.

    Spicy hapuka at Canton Café

    A wait staff holding crabs.

    Instagrammable food at the The Crab Shack

    People lining up to be served.

    Keto yum at Otara Kai Village

Wellington