Aratoiotepoti

13/10/2026

Kia ora koutou, e te kāhui auaha!
Music: what it is? How is it? Why is it?

If there were no music, what would the world be like?

If I was an instrument, what would my favourite song be?

Would it be you? Would it be me?

Would it be... Ōtepoti Hou, back for another week of gig-tacular mayhem.

Mihi nui rawa atu ki kā whare puoro, the wonderful music venues that atlas-like support the music scene here in Ōtepoti. Venues like:

🐶 🐶 🐶 .folk.club 🐶 🐶 🐶 🐶 🐶 🐶 🐶 Bayfield High School 🐶 Marama Hall 🐶 Trident House 🐶 Waitati Hall 🐶 Port Chalmers Pioneer Hall

Ko te kupu Māori o te rā - kurī - dog

08/10/2026

Kia ora koutou

On this day in 1945, American engineer Percy Spencer patented the microwave oven after noticing that a magnetron melted candy in his pocket.

Microwaves emit a low hum due to the alternating current frequency of the electrical grid.
In Aotearoa, with its 50Hz grid, this hum corresponds to a G or G-Sharp note.

Roy Orbison’s famous comeback hit 'You Got it' has G♯4 as its peak note, along with many of his other hits, like 'Crying' and 'Running Scared.'

Like The Big O and microwaves, every physical thing has a natural resonance and frequency. What’s that sound? The spectre of Roy Orbison performing at the Dunedin Town Hall on 3 February 1965? Likely. But also, Ōtepoti Hou! Fresh local live music happening all around you.

Shout out to these venues hosting this week:
⚡ ⚡ The Glenroy Auditorium ⚡ ⚡ ⚡ Hanover Hall ⚡ ⚡ Marama Hall ⚡ ⚡ .nz ⚡ Dunedin Town Hall ⚡ South Dunedin Community Hall ⚡ .folk.club

🎤 Did you have something coming up? Let us know
🔉 Did we miss your show out, or mess up your listing? Add it to the comments.

🌑 Maramataka:
Thursday 8 Oct - Ōrongonui
Friday 9 Oct - Ōmutu
Saturday 10 Oct - Mutuwhenua
Sunday 11 Oct – Whiro: New Moon

🎨 – Mame kill screen gif from the internet, ruru pics.

01/10/2026

30/09/2026

Tēnā rā tātou e te hapori auaha!
Back at it again with another week of gig-tacular antics.
This week Ōtepoti is bursting at the seams with marvelous musical mischief.
So sit down, make a list, and then get out there and soak up what's on offer!

A wonderful array of music venues holding it down for us as usual:

🪄 🪄 🪄 .folk.club 🪄 🪄 🪄 🪄 🪄 🪄 🪄 🪄 🪄 🪄 Broad Bay Community Hall 🪄 Marama Hall 🪄 Richardson Building 🪄 Ravensbourne Hall

If you have any gigs or musical events coming up, flick us a DM or jump in the comments to let us know!

Ko te kupu Māori o te rā: rakiraki - Mallard duck

30/09/2026

On the most recent episode of Ara Toi on Air, we talk to Vanessa Beck, part of the operations team for the 2026 New Zealand Young Writers Fest, about this year’s Festival and the incredibly stacked programme of events happening between Friday 2 and Sunday 4 October.

🖊️All events are free or pay what you want, but you should take the time to register for things and scope the programme at https://youngwritersfest.nz/

📻 Ara Toi on Air goes live every second Thursday at midday on and is lovingly replayed over the airwaves the day after at 5pm. You can also access past shows via most major podcast platforms or dig back through via the oar fm website.

28/09/2026

E mihi ana ki kā rōpū kaipuoro o Ōtepoti!
A big few days ahead for music-lovers and music-makers.

Behind The Music is a two-day inter-disciplinary event, involving academics, activists and practitioners, which will explore live music in Aotearoa New Zealand. Drawing from the rich music history of Ōtepoti Dunedin and its vibrant current music scene, this event will bring together understandings of live and recorded music from a social, cultural, political and historical perspective.

Behind The Music is co-hosted by Media, Film, and Communication; Sociology, Gender Studies, and Criminology; and School of Performing Arts
For the full programme and to register, head to www.tekorokorootetui.com/behind-the-music

📷 Fraser Thompson / dunedinsound.com

22/09/2026

Tēnā rā tātou!
We are back with another week of banging tunes and music events around the city. There's even a range of workshops and panel talks this week - something for music lovers of many kinds!

Shoutout to Ōtepoti's amazing venue operators, organisers and volunteers who create spaces for sonic shenanigans to take place. Places like:

📢 📢 ​ 📢 ​ 📢 ​ 📢 ​.folk.club 📢 ​ 📢 ​ 📢 ​ 📢 ​ 📢 ​ 📢 ​ 📢 ​Marama Hall 📢 ​Allen Hall Theatre 📢 ​Clocktower Building 📢 ​Staff Club 📢 ​School of Performing Arts 📢 ​Main Common Room 📢 ​Hanover Hall

If you have any gigs or musical events coming up, flick us a DM or jump in the comments to let us know!

Ko te kupu Māori o te rā: whakaataata - mirror

21/09/2026

The Otago Embroiderers' Guild's exhibition 'So You Think You know Embroidery?' is in the Community Gallery this week! There is a variety of traditional and modern embroidery on display 🪡

If you're interested in embroidery, or would like to join the guild, the upcoming Spring Fling is a great opportunity to try some beginner friendly projects!

So You Think You know Embroidery?
🗓️ Until Saturday 26 September
🕙 10am - 4pm
📍 Ōtepoti Dunedin Community Gallery, 26 Princes Street

Spring Fling
🗓️ Saturday 10 October
🕙 10am onwards
📍 Leith Bowling Club, 2 Duke Street, Woodhaugh, Dunedin
🪙 $5 entry, some classes may have additional material/kit fees. Morning tea is provided, bring your own lunch

17/09/2026

Kia ora koutou
The ruru (Ninox novaeseelandia) is an incredible manu, renowned for it’s haunting call, 270 degree head swivelling ability, offset ears and silent flight.
There’s a whole lot happening this weekend, so make like a morepork and swoop in on a venue near you.

What’s that sound? A rhythmic, echoing two-part call ringing out from the ngāhere?
Likely, but also, Ōtepoti Hou! Local live music happening all around you.

🖤 Massive love to all the spaces hosting this week.
✏️ Did we miss you out? Add your show to the comments.
📢 Do you have something coming up? Send us a message.

🎨 ruru gif mashed on top of Hooper’s Inlet / Hereweka