The Love Loft Open Day

For the past ten years, every Monday morning has been reserved for a telephone conversation between Painter Jennie De Groot and Glassmaker Di Tocker. From their respective Waikato Studios, the two chat about everything from studio practices and the realities of running an arts business to exhibitions seen, opportunities considered, setbacks, successes and the constant challenge of maintaining momentum in what can be a surprisingly solitary profession.
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Those conversations have become a pivotal part of their practice - a chance to share works in progress, test ideas, celebrate breakthroughs, and occasionally untangle creative knots.
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Whilst Jennie and Di work in very different mediums, they share an affect for colour, an interest in a nuanced narrative and a shared curiosity about the world around them. Rather than telling the same story, the exhibition offers a glimpse into two distinct creative voices that have quietly influenced and encouraged one another over many years."

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Hamilton, get ready to party with BJÖRN AGAIN!
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The only ABBA-endorsed tribute show hits the stage for one spectacular night that is bound to be a Super Trouper celebration of ABBA’s timeless discography.
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This internationally acclaimed show brings the glitter, the glam, and all the greatest hits with dazzling energy, spot-on vocals, and outrageous costumes. It’s a full-blown ABBA revival where audiences of all ages can sing, dance, and party like it’s 1979.
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Expect all the classics —SOS, Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! —plus ballads like The Winner Takes It All, Fernando, and Knowing Me, Knowing You, performed with incredible musicianship, a cheeky sense of humour, and that signature Björn Again magic.
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With performances in over 120 countries, including The Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium, the Sydney Opera House, and Glastonbury Festival, BJÖRN AGAIN is a global sensation.

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Fletch, Vaughan and Hayley, three of New Zealand’s most beloved broadcasters, are hitting the road in 2026 with their all-new live tour: The Genuine Friends Tour.

After years of filling Aotearoa’s mornings with laughter, the iconic radio trio are stepping onto the stage for a brand-new interactive show packed with fan-favourite segments and a few cheeky surprises.

From “Fact of the Day” to “Bet I Can Guess Your Mum’s Name”, audiences can expect the same hilarious energy, unfiltered storytelling, and quick-fire chemistry that have made them household names.

Join cutie Fletch (who insists audiobooks do count as reading), part-time farmer and full-time nerd Vaughan, and your relatable, smut-loving hornbag Hayley, as they hit the road for The Genuine Friends Tour “as they are wont to do.”

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Arctic North meets Pacific South in a programme of heart-stirring Finnish works with conductor Pietari Inkinen and NZSO Concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppänen.
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Programme

Sibelius Pohjola’s Daughter

Magnus Lindberg Violin Concerto No. 2 (NZ Premiere)

Sibelius Lemminkäinen Suite
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Aotearoa New Zealand’s dramatic landscapes chime in kind with a country half a world away: Finland. In this concert, Arctic North meets Pacific South in a programme of heart-stirring Finnish works that resonate with audiences here.|
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Pietari Inkinen leads the Aotearoa New Zealand premiere of Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg’s Second Violin Concerto, with NZSO Concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppänen as soloist. This duo of Finnish talent are the perfect team to evoke the work’s “massive, expansive ... panoramic vista ... of dark clouds over forests and lakes, of repressed passions and baleful desires” (Financial Times).
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We pair this contemporary Finnish masterpiece with a past master. Sibelius’ Pohjola’s Daughter and Lemminkäinen Suite were both inspired by the ancient epic the Kalevala. The latter describes the mythological adventures of the wizard Väinämöinen, the hero Lemminkäinen and their entanglement with the primordial forces of nature, death and magic.

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