Culture 101

Scultpure on the Shore in Tamaki Makaurau winds up this weekend. The biennial exhibition has been showcasing more than 120 artworks by both established and emerging artists. Located at the clifftop park of Operetu Fort Takapuna in Devonport, the three-dimensional pieces come with sweeping views of the Hauraki Gulf. From multi-metre high sculptures, colourful works to light and sound installations - it's now in its 29th year. Works at the exhibition are for sale and proceeds from the event go to Women's Refuge New Zealand - supporting women and children fleeing domestic violence. One of the artists exhibiting is Taranaki-based artist Milarky whose sculpture "Lost in Phone" captures the "posture of his generation". He speaks to Culture 101 about his recurring spacesuit protagonist and setting up his New Plymouth studio and gallery.

Artist Josh Lancaster doesn't want you to look too closely at his paintings. Instead, he hopes his work will transport people to moments in their lives and evoke their memories. Josh is now based in Hawke's Bay but grew up in Auckland - with much of his childhood spent rambling and exploring the lush greenery and the giant trees of Cornwall Park. His new solo exhibition A Tree Story: Portraits of Cornwall Park at Turua Gallery in St Heliers in Auckland pays homage to the well-known and beloved space which has become a place of comfort and nostalgia for him. Known for his clear lines and distinctive landscapes, his work often captures a slice of Kiwiana paradise. His paintings now in homes around the world including Hong Kong, Dubai and London - and before painting he had a successful decade-long career in advertising. Josh Lancaster speaks to Culture 101.

The race is on to preserve the home of two of New Zealand's most beloved artists. For 30 years the Mt Eden home of Pat and Gil Hanly has been a creative hub and base for artists all over Aotearoa. With its extensive tropical garden, the Walters Road home and of course the Pat and Gil themselves, have inspired so many. Pat Hanly was a prolific contemporary artist while his wife Gil is best known for documenting some of New Zealand's most memorable events - 1981 Springbok tour, the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, the protest at Bastion Point, and the 1984 land hikoi. While Pat died in 2004, Gil lived in the house until a year ago when dementia meant she could no longer live independently. The Walters Road region is planned for long term intensification, with up to 12 story apartment blocks all within walking distance to the Kingsland Train Station. The Hanly family want to ensure the property remains a creative oasis and they want it to become an artists' residency and studio along with a museum and education and research space. Diane Blomfield has decades of experience in the arts, including running the McCahon House Museum in Titirangi.

This time last year we took Culture 101 on the road to the new, revamped Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery in Whanganui. To those unfamiliar with this Whanganui landmark, the gallery was founded in 1912 by Henry Sarjeant who left a huge sum of money - the equivalent of over $70 million in today's terms - to establish the space "as a means of inspiration for ourselves and those who come after us". After extensive renovations to restore, upgrade, earthquake strengthen and add an extension to the 106-year-old building, the gallery reopened this time last year. Now hot off the press - the gallery's extension has just WON the coveted Supreme Heritage Architectural award. So, we thought it was an excellent time to check in with Gallery Director Andrew Clifford - for our regional wrap.

He's won two Oscars, worked with Hollywood A-lister actors and directors but if he's done his job well, then his work is invisible. Make-up and prosthetic artists, Kazu Hiro, has been described as "everyone's first choice in Hollywood". As a teenager in Japan, Kazu contacted Hollywood make-up artist Dick Smith striking up a pen pal mentorship and eventually moved to LA to pursue his own career in the industry. On the side he creates larger-than-life sculptures of well-known people's heads. Hiro says he was an introvert and as a child, developed a fascination for people's faces and expressions. His latest project has been transforming Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock into MMA pioneer Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine. Kazu Hiro speaks to Culture 101 about the magic of make-up, quitting Hollywood and getting the call from Gary Oldman to become Winston Churchill.

Local jewellers Zoe and Morgan are celebrating two decades of their family business. The two siblings along with their sister Ruth had all ventured down different creative paths before coming together to establish their brand; launching at Paris Fashion Week and opening their first shop in London. They've since extended to Aotearoa travel the world collecting, creating, and honing their craft. But growing up with their Argentinian father Douglas, who was a gold and silversmith, it was perhaps inevitable they'd become jewellers themselves. To mark 20 years, they've launched a new collection Twenty; a capsule of archival pieces. Zoe Williams and Morgan Sibbald speak to Culture 101 about reflecting on two decades in the industry, the key to a successful family business and maintaining their values.

She's one of the country's most beloved actors and on Friday night, took home the Best Actress in a Series Award for the second time for her role in the comedy Double Parked S2. Antonia Prebble has been working professionally since she was a teenager and is probably best known for her roles in Outrageous Fortune and the prequel Westside. Antonia has appeared on screen both here and in Australia along with theatre work with both ATC and The Court Theatre. She joins Culture 101 for Fast Favourites.

There is much joy to be had poring over a great map. And this particular map may be the finest in New Zealand to pore over of them all. It's a map of Wellington city first made in 1891 by surveyor Thomas Ward. Obsessive in its detail, it's thought to be unique as a record of a New Zealand city for its time, and provides the visual structure for a very handsome new book, Mr Ward's Map by Elizabeth Cox, published by Massey University Press.

Christchurch's Keely O'Grady and Mitchell O'Hara join Culture 101 to discuss the Irish dance show A Celtic Christmas.

Nature artist, Niels Meyer-Westfeld joins Culture 101 to talk about his new book Feathers of Aotearoa: an illustrated journal.

Regional Wrap: Te Whare Taonga o Kāwhia - Kāwhia Museum.

One of New Zealand's leading photographers and artists, Yvonne Todd has announced she is now only working in AI. We believe as a professional in Aotearoa, she may be among the first.

A year ago, on Culture 101 we played a recording of Tusiata Avia reading a commissioned poem for the 2024 Arts Foundation's Laureate Awards. It was entitled 'I'm writing you a poem about art'. In it, Avia wrote, "I hope writing poetry doesn't get me into trouble…. again."

Jackie van Beek joins us on Culture 101 to talk about season four of Educators and share some her cultural favourites.

Just opened at New Plymouth's Govett Brewster Gallery is a major survey exhibition of one of Vietnam's leading - but at home most controversial - artists, Tran Luong . Entitled T m Tã - Soaked in the Long Rain, this large exhibition debuted in Dubai and will travel on to Perth.

On Thursday evening, poet Dinah Hawken was one of three recipients of a Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement. The others were, for fiction, Barbara Else and non fiction, Ross Calman. The awards have been made annually since 2003. They are managed by Creative New Zealand and decided by its governing Arts Council following public nominations and recommendations from an external panel. Dinah Hawken will publish her 11th book of poetry in 2026, Peace and Quiet. Her debut collection, It Has No Sound and is Blue won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize for Best First Time Published Poet back in 1987. Across those 48 years she has been published by Te Herenga Waka Press. In 2007 Dinah received the Lauris Edmond Award for Distinguished Contribution to Poetry. As a poet Dinah Hawken has a remarkable ability to situate herself and us in nature and history. To connect us to these bigger things, while - gently yet pointedly - make us ask questions of ourselves. Dinah joined Culture 101 in the Poneke Wellington studio on Friday, and we started with her reading a poem she read at the awards ceremony.

Local artist David Gunson joins us to talk about the arts scene there and the town's new art gallery.

Authors David O'Donnell and Hilary Halba join Culture 101 to discuss their new book.

City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi have announced that they will return to Te Ngākau Civic Square next October 2026 with a major new exhibition from, who they describe, as "one of the most significant artists of the 21st century": Cornelia Parker.

A just released book, An Eccentric History in Batik shares the story of the art and love of Dinah Priestley and Tony Burton.