Ocean Alley Return To Aotearoa This Summer Playing Auckland's Spark Arena
Tickets go on sale Tuesday 24 June at 12pm NZST via Ticketmaster.
This marks Ocean Alley's first New Zealand headline show since 2023, and the first chance for Kiwi fans to catch the beloved six-piece live on local soil as they unveil their boldest, most ambitious album yet.
Slated for global release on September 19, Love Balloon sees the band embracing a fresh sonic direction – joyful, playful and full of heart. Led by the recently released title track which offers a blissful glimpse into the band's creative direction on the upcoming album. Anchored by an irresistible groove and a shimmering Nile Rodgers-inspired guitar riff, the track threads an unexpected touch of disco flair along its pulsating bassline, marking playful new territory for Ocean Alley. It feels effortlessly spontaneous, echoing the carefree energy of previous singles 'Tangerine' and 'Left Of The Dealer'. Produced by legendary producer Nick DiDia (Bruce Springsteen, Powderfinger, Rage Against The Machine), the band embraced a stripped-back, more emotionally resonant approach across the 10 tracks of Love Balloon, taking listeners on a journey through life and love in all its complexity, underscored by moments of light, vulnerability and connection.
Joining Ocean Alley at Spark Arena are Byron Bay legends Skegss, delivering their sun-drenched, beer-soaked garage punk mayhem, and rising Sydney soul prince DON WEST, whose velvet vocals and undeniable swagger channel the golden era of Motown with a fresh, modern twist. Together, they complete a stacked lineup that's set to be the highlight of the summer tour calendar.
With over 1 billion streams to their name, twelve Gold or Platinum singles in New Zealand alone, and a reputation for magnetic live shows, Ocean Alley are one of Australia's most influential and successful musical exports. Their Spark Arena return comes hot on the heels of a massive international run throughout 2025, including festival appearances at Lollapalooza, Sziget and Austin City Limits, alongside shows at LA's Hollywood Palladium and Brooklyn Paramount in New York. The group will make their first trip to Latin America with shows in Mexico, Brasil and Chile, before taking on their largest headline show to date, anywhere in the world - at London's iconic 10,000 capacity Alexandra Palace in September.
This show marks a bold new chapter for Ocean Alley - a chance to see a band at the height of their powers, bringing their most vibrant and confident work to the biggest stages of their career.
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The Spinoff
17 hours ago
- The Spinoff
The Spinoff guide to life: How to perform a hongi
Our prime minister might not be able to get it right but don't fear, The Spinoff is here to help you master the art of our indigenous way of greeting. There is a handful of things that belong to New Zealand that our neighbours across the ditch love to lay claim to: Phar Lap, pavlova and Stan Walker to name a few. While we love to gloat at how much the Wallabies suck compared to the All Blacks, there were undoubtedly a few Australians scoffing at our prime minister completely butchering a hongi with his Australian counterpart over the weekend. God forbid they start to claim their supreme leader can perform a hongi better than ours. The moment came during a pōwhiri held by local iwi Ngāi Tahu in Queenstown, the unofficial tourism capital of New Zealand. Anthony Albanese effortlessly exchanged hongi with two members of the iwi, including Tipene O'Reagan, before approaching Luxon to do the same. However, when leaning in to press noses with our country's leader, Albanese found himself being offered a hug instead. The encounter saw the duo narrowly avoid kissing, before awkwardly embracing each other in a hug that can only be described as desperate. To help you avoid ending up looking clueless when someone next offers you the traditional greeting, we've drafted a definitive guide on how to hongi. What is a hongi and why do we do it? The act of pressing noses and exchanging breath is the traditional way Māori greet each other. It is symbolic of an exchange of mauri, or essence of life. The act goes back to Tāne, who fashioned Hineahuone, the first woman, from clay. Once he was done, Tāne preseed noses with Hineahuone and exclaimed the words: 'Tihei Māori ora'. Tāne gave the breath of life to Hineahuone, who then came to life and eventually begat the rest of humanity. Today, we hongi as a symbolic reminder of the story of Tāne and Hineahuone and acknowledgment of the mauri of the person we are greeting. When are hongi carried out? The most common place you'll see a hongi is during a pōwhiri or whakatau. Following the whaikōrero or speeches, both parties will usually come together for what is called the harirū, or handshakes and hongi. However, it is not uncommon to see hongi being performed as part of everyday life. Hongi can be performed at the supermarket, beach, or even in the workplace. Anywhere you might offer a handshake, a hongi could just as easily take place too. So, how do I carry out the perfect hongi? The first part of a hongi is actually a handshake. Who you are offering a hongi to will dictate how you perform that handshake, but there are some general rules to follow here. The first step is to look the person in the eyes, smile and greet them with a 'kia ora' or 'tēnā koe' – the latter usually being reserved for when you are meeting people for the first time, or greeting an elder,or respected member of the community. The next step is figuring out if you are greeting a man or a woman: If you are a man greeting a man, you will be giving them a hongi; If you are a man greeting a woman, be prepared for a kiss on the cheek (explained further below); If you are a woman, you can usually dictate whether you want to exchange a kiss on the cheek or a hongi. If you are a kid, go with whatever the other person offers. If you are a man greeting a kid, feel free to offer them a high-five, fist-bump, hongi, or kiss depending on how they're reacting to you – some children would rather not participate in a hongi or kiss and that's fine – there's nothing worse than trying to force a kid to give you a hongi and accidentally headbutting them. When it comes to the act of the hongi itself, here are some top tips. Firstly, if you're wearing a hat (or even a beanie), take it off. Next, give early indication of what you intend to do. If it's a hongi, grab the other person's hand, slowly lean in with your head and lips tucked in (to avoid any possibility of a worst-case scenario kiss on the lips), and close your eyes when you're close to the other person's nose. Press your nose against the other person's, pause for a moment (the longer the pause, the more significant the greeting), breathe in our out (or both), before pulling away and offering another 'kia ora', 'tēnā koe', or even a 'ngā mihi'. What about kisses on the cheek? I noticed it is common for men and women to do this instead of a hongi? As Karaitiana Taiuru writes, the practice of kissing females on the cheek is a modern phenomenon that has only gained popularity since colonisation took place. 'Ignoring the customary practice of a hongi creates a number of issues including the loss of tikanga and the real possibility of discriminating against people in our community,' Taiuru argues. Despite a renaissance of offering women hongi, kissing them on the cheek instead is still widespread practice. If you are a female, feel free to offer a hongi to the person with whom you are exchanging a greeting. It can be an awkward process, given most will assume the proper practice is to kiss you on the cheek, but you can front foot this by making your wishes clear from the start. 'Haere mai ki te hongi' or 'hōmai he hongi' are two ways you can easily let the other person know a hongi is your preference. Another simple way is to lean forward with your eyes closed. What if I can't tell if it's a man or a woman? Trust me, I know it can be awkward trying to figure out if that's an uncle with great cheek bones or an aunty with more facial hair than you. This is where copying the person in front of you can pay dividends, if you are fortunate enough to not be first in the line for the harirū (in which case you would likely not need to be reading this article). How was the encounter before you? Did they hongi or kiss on the cheek? Is that person now blushing because uncle thought they were an aunty? Paying attention to what the person before you did can save a world of pain when it comes to your turn (see: Chris Luxon and Albanese). If you're greeting someone who is takatāpui, let them lead the way, or opt for the safe, gender-neutral hongi. Does everyone hongi the same? No. Māori from the East Coast are known for the 'double pump', preferring to press noses twice. It is said each pump is for either breathing out or breathing in. Of course, it can sometimes be difficult to know if someone is from the East Coast, so if you feel someone pulling you in for a second pressing of noses, relax and go with it. What if I don't want to offer a hongi? Just like opting to receive a blessing at mass instead of the blood and body of Christ, make it clear from the beginning of the interaction. You can politely tell the other person you haven't been feeling well while waving them away, hold your arms out for a hug instead, or keep your arm on their shoulder to literally keep them at arms distance. While Luxon attempted to go for a hug from the beginning, his Australian counterpart clearly had a preference for a hongi. What caused this fumble was, ironically, a clear lack of leadership from the outset. If you do find yourself in an awkward place between a kiss, hongi and handshake, try your best to laugh about it and move on quickly. Remember, it's as awkward as you make it.
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Cassie Henderson's audition for The Voice Australia 2025 stuns all four judges
She made a great first impression on the show but Henderson is no stranger to Kiwi audiences, coming to local prominence in 2013 when she competed in X Factor New Zealand aged 14 and placing fifth. Asked about the role music plays in her life, Henderson told the panel: 'I love to entertain, I love to perform for people, but music is the thing that I do when I'm by myself and I feel safe and alone in my bedroom. 'I had a few setbacks and I kinda stopped singing for a long time and I kinda realised one day that there is nothing else that I want to do in this world and in my lifetime.' In the interaction, Henderson hinted it was her experience on X Factor that presented those setbacks. 'There was a point there where I had online commentary about my voice, and just about me, and I think I just took it to heart because I was quite young at the time. I was 14.' Henderson said getting to choose from all four of the show's mentors felt like a dream. 'I really can't believe I'm standing here making this decision.' Ultimately, Henderson elected to be the first contestant on this season coached by former Spice Girl Melanie C, who told Henderson: 'You are born to do this. You just own that stage and it is so natural to you.' Henderson took a hiatus from music after appearing on X Factor, but returned to pursue her passion full-time in 2023. She released a single, Seconds to Midnight, in August 2024 and it remained at number one on the RadioScope NZ Airplay Charts for 15 weeks. In June, she took home the award for Best Pop Artist at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards. Last year she told the Herald a move offshore was the next logical step. 'I think, as a musician, I'm too comfy here. I'm not getting pushed out of my comfort zone consistently enough,.' she said. 'It's a big, wide, crazy world, and I'm pretty keen to go explore it. And I can't wait to then come back to New Zealand, and be proud to come home.'
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Luxon, Albanese make the most of Q'town
Enjoying the scenery above Queenstown yesterday are (from left) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, his fiancee, Jodie Haydon, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his wife, Amanda. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's dance card was full to bursting in Queenstown over the weekend. Mr Albanese — who quipped he and his fiancee Jodie Haydon were "just a couple more Australians" visiting the resort on Saturday — spent about 24 hours in the Wakatipu, where he and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held their annual leaders' meeting, covered by a huge contingent of Australasian media. Mr Albanese was met at Queenstown Airport by a greeting party which included Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Glyn Lewers and Southland MP Joseph Mooney, before being whisked to Taramea, a private meeting house built by Queenstown entrepreneur Rod Drury — the leaders' meeting was the first event to be held there. The Australian contingent was welcomed with a pōwhiri by Ngāi Tahu, which Mr Albanese said was "very moving". Ngai Tahu representatives included Ta Tipene O'Regan and Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou upoko Edward Ellison, while New Zealand actor and producer Cliff Curtis was also present, as an invited guest of the iwi. Mr Albanese said it was his third trip to New Zealand as prime minister, but his first trip to Queenstown in the modern era. "The last time I was in Queenstown, I came with a backpack on last century — literally. "I came here as a traveller to this extraordinarily beautiful part of not just your nation, but the world. "If there is a better airport to land in, I have not been in it, and I've been in a few over the years." After closed-door talks, which traversed subjects such as trade and defence issues and opportunities, the war in Gaza and Australia's 501 deportation policy, the leaders told media underpinning all of it was the continued close relationship between Australia and New Zealand. Mr Albanese said the two countries were each other's biggest tourism market and the transtasman relationship was built on "deep understanding, genuine respect and true affection". "[It is] a relationship between peoples, not just a relationship between nations," Mr Albanese said. "In a time of global uncertainty, the certainty and strength of this bond has never been more important." Mr Luxon noted the pair knew each other before they entered politics and said their personal friendship was "emblematic of the mateship between our two great countries". "It's an iron-clad bond, uniquely defined by our respective histories and things that we celebrate about ourselves — practicality, humility and a good sense of humour, for one." He said the conversation during the leaders' meeting highlighted both men shared the same assessment of the problems but were also "firm about the agency we have to navigate a complex world". "The close bonds between Australia and New Zealand provide us both with a bedrock of certainty, of predictability and quite frankly the knowledge that we have one another's backs. "For New Zealand, Australia is our only formal ally and family like no other country." Following the leaders' meeting, the two prime ministers travelled to Stoneridge Estate, overlooking Lake Hayes, for the Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Forum Meeting. There, they met representatives from a host of heavy-hitting businesses on either side of the Tasman, including CyberCX, Beca, Ampol, Qantas, Genesis Energy and ASB Bank, after which the prime ministers and their partners enjoyed a private dinner, which the Otago Daily Times understands took place at Arrowtown's Ayrburn hospitality precinct. Yesterday morning, they again braved freezing temperatures to lay wreaths at the Arrowtown Cenotaph, on Soldiers Hill, accompanied by Mr Lewers and Arrowtown Returned and Services' Association president Rosemary Chalmers. Speaking to reporters in Arrowtown, Mr Albanese brushed off calls to impose sanctions on Israel for blocking humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, calling the demands a "slogan". He also repeated his government's call for Israel to abandon its plan to occupy the entirety of the Gaza Strip. "We called for an immediate ceasefire. We called for the release of hostages and we called for the unimpeded entry of aid into Gaza. We have a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding there. And the idea that it can just be continued is completely unacceptable." But he refused to answer a question about whether Australia would impose further sanctions on Israel as demanded by the Greens and other pro-Palestinian campaigners. "What we need to do here is to have very clear statements and actions by the Australian government that make a difference, rather than respond to a slogan on a protest." Finally the leaders and their partners enjoyed a scenic helicopter flight and mountain landing with Over The Top Helicopters, where they dug in to a transtasman-themed pavlova, among other things, decorated with kiwifruit, strawberries and Tim Tams, before Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon left New Zealand.
