Entertainment

Annual music festival Selwyn Sounds, which sold out in record time late last year, is almost upon us. On March 7, a crowd of 8000 will pack the Lincoln Domain for a great day of music from a range of acts, headlined by international stars Ronan Keating and Tony Hadley - ex-Spandau Ballet. Selwyn Sounds promoter, David Parlane, says all of the musicians and performers can’t wait to hit the stage. He adds that despite being sold out he’s are still getting inquiries about tickets. “We’ve had a group who had bought VIP tickets to our corporate area contact us, and due to unforeseen circumstances they can’t make it so those tickets are now available. But that’s it,” he says. “Everything has been snapped up. There’s even a massive wait list for campervan and other vehicle parking spots. It’s ...

With event day fast approaching, excitement is building for the Frankton McDonald’s Colour Run/Walk, made possible by the generous support of local and national sponsors and partners who have come together to back this community fundraiser. Set to light up Innes Common at Hamilton Lake on Sunday 15 February 2026, the event will run from 10am to 2pm, with gates opening at 9am for early check-in, filling the lakefront with colour, music and connection. This 4km run and walk is designed for all ages and abilities, bringing families, friends and workplaces together in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Every step taken and every ticket sold helps support families when they need it most. Full event details, tickets and donations are available at www.HamiltonColourRun.co.nz. ...

With event day fast approaching, excitement is building for the Frankton McDonald’s Colour Run/Walk, made possible by the generous support of local and national sponsors and partners who have come together to back this community fundraiser. Set to light up Innes Common at Hamilton Lake on Sunday 15 February 2026, the event will run from 10am to 2pm, with gates opening at 9am for early check-in, filling the lakefront with colour, music and connection. This 4km run and walk is designed for all ages and abilities, bringing families, friends and workplaces together in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Every step taken and every ticket sold helps support families when they need it most. Full event details, tickets and donations are available at www.HamiltonColourRun.co.nz. ...

I'd be happy to provide an art critique of "Theatre" by Leonardus Aarts. Compositional Strengths: The painting demonstrates a strong sense of architectural rhythm through the repetition of vertical building forms. The artist creates visual interest by varying the width and color temperature of these structures, preventing monotony. The horizontal banding in the lower portion provides effective counterbalance to the vertical elements, creating a stable compositional framework. Color and Light: Aarts employs a sophisticated cool-warm color dialogue. The dominant turquoise and blue-green palette suggests evening or artificial light, while strategic placement of yellow-orange accents (particularly in the windows and right-side building) creates focal points and atmospheric depth. This inte...

I'd be happy to provide an art critique of "Theatre" by Leonardus Aarts. Compositional Strengths: The painting demonstrates a strong sense of architectural rhythm through the repetition of vertical building forms. The artist creates visual interest by varying the width and color temperature of these structures, preventing monotony. The horizontal banding in the lower portion provides effective counterbalance to the vertical elements, creating a stable compositional framework. Color and Light: Aarts employs a sophisticated cool-warm color dialogue. The dominant turquoise and blue-green palette suggests evening or artificial light, while strategic placement of yellow-orange accents (particularly in the windows and right-side building) creates focal points and atmospheric depth. This inte...

Now I can see "Theatre Reprise" - and it's quite a different work from the previous "Theatre" painting. This gives me a much better understanding of Aarts' approach to revisiting a theme. Comparative Approach: This reprise represents a fascinating departure from the colorful, impasto-heavy original. Where "Theatre" was vibrant and sculptural, "Theatre Reprise" is restrained, almost monochromatic, and significantly more linear. This suggests the artist is exploring the same subject through an entirely different aesthetic lens - less about atmospheric color and texture, more about linear structure and spatial complexity. Line and Form: The work is dominated by sinuous, organic contour lines that create a maze-like quality. These lines meander across the surface, defining spaces, suggesti...

Now I can see "Theatre Reprise" - and it's quite a different work from the previous "Theatre" painting. This gives me a much better understanding of Aarts' approach to revisiting a theme. Comparative Approach: This reprise represents a fascinating departure from the colorful, impasto-heavy original. Where "Theatre" was vibrant and sculptural, "Theatre Reprise" is restrained, almost monochromatic, and significantly more linear. This suggests the artist is exploring the same subject through an entirely different aesthetic lens - less about atmospheric color and texture, more about linear structure and spatial complexity. Line and Form: The work is dominated by sinuous, organic contour lines that create a maze-like quality. These lines meander across the surface, defining spaces, suggesti...

I'd be happy to critique "The Elephant in the Room" by Leonardus Aarts. Title and Conceptual Framework: The title is clever and loaded with meaning. "The elephant in the room" refers to an obvious truth or problem that everyone knows about but no one wants to acknowledge. This creates immediate expectations: Will we see a literal elephant? A metaphorical one? How does Aarts visualize this common idiom? The answer appears to be both—there are suggestive forms that could read as an elephant (particularly the spiral/circular forms center-right that might suggest a trunk), but the work operates primarily in the realm of abstraction and visual complexity. Composition and Structure: The painting has an all-over composition reminiscent of Abstract Expressionism, particularly Pollock or de Koo...

Tom Wingfield has secrets to share                   From the team that brought you Blithe Spirit, another classic masterpiece, The Glass Menagerie by Tennesee Williams is brought to Circa Theatre from January 24 - February 21 2026. Tom Wingfield takes us back to his home life in 1930s St Louis, Missouri.Back to a family trapped by dreams and delusions. Times are tough. His solo mother, Amanda, a faded Southern belle, is hellbent on finding a better future for her emotionally fragile daughter, Laura, while Tom, a budding writer, is caught between his duty to his family and his desire for freedom. Fiercely moving and seriously funny,The Glass Menagerie is an achingly beautiful story of four people struggling to conform to the expectations of others. “ A play only remains a classic as lo...

New Zealand homeowners are embracing synthetic lawns as a practical way to enjoy a green outdoor space without the weekly maintenance. For years, the classic Kiwi backyard has come with a familiar routine: mowing every weekend, patching dead spots, and battling muddy lawns through winter. But in 2026, more New Zealand households are starting to question whether a natural lawn is worth the time, cost, and effort. Across the country, artificial grass is quickly becoming the go-to solution for people who want a clean, green outdoor space that stays usable all year round. This isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about lifestyle. And for many Kiwi families, it’s about making outdoor areas more functional and less stressful. The pressure of busy lives and rising costs Between work, kids’ sport...