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Welcome to the New Zealand Society Scotland (NZSScot). We bring together Kiwis and friends of Aotearoa across Scotland.

Whether you’re a long term resident, a recent arrival, or just love NZ culture, hit follow to stay in the loop. We are a social network for New Zealander's and people with links to New Zealand in Scotland. Our membership is open to everyone with a connection to New Zealand.

25/09/2026

🎨 Spotted in Edinburgh: New Pacific Arts Exhibition Opening!

For anyone in the area, or interested in contemporary Pacific Art from Aotearoa New Zealand, there's a new exhibition opening soon at Scott Lawrie Gallery in Edinburgh worth checking out.

The Moana Alba project presents MOANA_5, bringing together four distinct artists: Serene Hodgman, Jimmy Ma'ia'i, Gary $ilipa, and Linda Va’aelua.

Their work explores themes of identity, migration, and memories of place. Thanks to support from Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Strategy, all four artists have travelled to Scotland for the exhibition.

From glowing lightboxes to new riffs on traditional weaving and tapa, MOANA_5 promises a contemporary celebration of the ties between two small nations at opposite ends of the globe - both shaped by landscape, migration, empire, and cultural identity.

Details for anyone who would like to visit:

📍 Opening: Thursday 1 October, 5–7pm
📅 Exhibition Dates: 1–24 October, 2026
🏢 Location: Scott Lawrie Gallery, 2 Chuckie Pend (lane behind Filmhouse), Edinburgh, EH3 8BG
📧 Contact / Info: [email protected]

Image: Linda Va’aelua, Siapo uliuli 1, 2026 (Detail)

04/09/2026

📢 Calling all poets and writers!

Entries are now open for the annual Robert Burns International Poetry Competition, celebrating the enduring global connections between Scotland and Aotearoa New Zealand (particularly Dunedin, Edinburgh’s twin sister city!)

Whether you’re based in Scotland, New Zealand, or anywhere around the globe, this is a fantastic opportunity to honor the Bard’s legacy, share your voice, and maybe win a cash prize!

Have a creative kid in your life? There’s also an under 18’s category to the competition called “Rap Like Robbie”!

The Robert Burns Poetry Competition is a collaboration between the City of Literature Dunedin, New Zealand and the Otago Scottish Heritage Council. Supporters include Ryman Healthcare, The Southern Heritage Trust, Dunedin-Edinburgh Sister City Society, the Combined Clans & Societies Group Otago, Steve Walker, Dene Mackenzie, and Linda Geddes.

👉 Full rules, prizes, and submission details:

https://otagoscottishheritagecouncil.org/robert-burns-international-poetry-competition/

01/09/2026

✅ Voting from overseas: Getting ready to vote in the 2026 New Zealand General Election

The 2026 New Zealand General Election will be held on Saturday 7 November.

To vote in the election from overseas, you need to be enrolled. If you're a New Zealand citizen, you need to have visited NZ within the last 3 years, and if you're a resident for electoral purposes, you need to have visited NZ within the last 12 months.

How to vote from overseas:

Voting from overseas opens on Wednesday 21 October. The best way to vote from overseas is to download your voting papers from vote.nz, complete them, then upload them. Depending on where you are located, you may also be able to vote at an overseas voting place. There'll be more information on vote.nz closer to the start of overseas voting.

Is your enrolment up to date?

To download your voting papers from overseas, you must be enrolled.

If you’re living overseas, your enrolment address should be the last place you lived in New Zealand for one month or more. This address determines which electorate you're entitled to vote in. You can choose to provide an overseas postal address so we can continue to send you electoral mail.

You can't enrol or update your details for this election after midnight, Sunday 25 October (NZ Time).

It's easy to check and update your details:

You can check and update your details online at vote.nz with your New Zealand driver licence, New Zealand passport, or RealMe verified identity.

If you don’t have one of those, there are other options. Visit vote.nz to find out more.

26/08/2026

🏉 ONE NIGHT ONLY: LOMU IN SCOTTISH CINEMAS

A quick heads up: the highly anticipated feature-length documentary LOMU is hitting UK cinema screens for a special one-night-only nationwide event on Monday, 7th September.

Directed by Gavin FitzGerald and Vea Mafile’o, this intimate film goes well beyond his iconic 1995 World Cup highlights. Featuring unprecedented access to Jonah’s family and personal archives, it explores his Tongan roots, his meteoric rise, and the quiet battles he fought off the pitch.

🎥Where to watch in Scotland (Monday 7 Sept):

🎟️Edinburgh: Odeon Edinburgh West
🎟️Glasgow: Odeon Glasgow Quay
🎟️Glasgow Area: Odeon Braehead
🎟️Fife: Odeon Dunfermline

Since it’s a single-evening event, seats are limited and tickets are already on sale through cinema websites.

Direct links to each cinema’s ticketing page can be found at the following link:
https://releasing.dogwoof.com/lomu

23/08/2026

📣 SUPPORT THE BLACK FERNS IN EDINBURGH (+ WIN ALL BLACKS TICKETS!)

A reminder for everyone that Black Ferns are heading to Edinburgh and will be taking on Scotland Women on Saturday 19th September at Hive Stadium (Murrayfield), with kick-off at 5:10pm.

To mark the occasion, Scottish Rugby is running a ticket competition for the Kiwi community in Scotland.

If you buy tickets to the Black Ferns match using the link below, you’ll automatically enter the draw to WIN 1 of 2 double passes (worth £240) to see the All Blacks at Scottish Gas Murrayfield this November!

Black Ferns Match Details:

🎟️ Tickets: Only £16.50

📍 Location: Hive Stadium, Murrayfield (easy walk or tram from central Edinburgh)

🇳🇿 Fan Zone: Tickets purchased via the link below are in the dedicated ‘Away Team Fan Zone’, so you’ll be seated right alongside fellow Kiwis!

Buy your Black Ferns tickets & enter the draw here:

https://www.eticketing.co.uk/scottishrugby/EDP/Event/Index/5674?spell=959a2496-ea1b-47e2-92a2-fe4737110781

And make sure to check out the T’s & C’s:

https://scottishrugby.org/wxv-global-ex-pat-offer-terms-and-conditions/

Let’s get behind the Ferns and enjoy an epic evening of footy!

21/08/2026

‼️GREAT NEWS FOR RUGBY FANS!

Our very own Black Ferns are coming to Edinburgh 🎉 and will be taking on Scotland Women on Saturday 19th September at Hive Stadium (Murrayfield), with kick-off at 5:10pm.

To mark the occasion, Scottish Rugby is running a ticket competition for the Kiwi community in Scotland.

If you buy tickets to the Black Ferns match using the link below, you’ll automatically enter the draw to WIN 1 of 2 double passes (worth £240) to see the All Blacks at Scottish Gas Murrayfield this November! Check out the poster in the comments here for more 👇

Black Ferns Match Details:

🎟️ Tickets: Only £16.50

📍 Location: Hive Stadium, Murrayfield (easy walk or tram from central Edinburgh)

🇳🇿 Fan Zone: Tickets purchased via the link below are in the dedicated ‘Away Team Fan Zone’, so you’ll be seated right alongside fellow Kiwis!

Buy your Black Ferns tickets & enter the draw here:

https://www.eticketing.co.uk/scottishrugby/EDP/Event/Index/5674?spell=959a2496-ea1b-47e2-92a2-fe4737110781

And make sure to check out the T’s & C’s:

https://scottishrugby.org/wxv-global-ex-pat-offer-terms-and-conditions/

Let’s get behind the Ferns and enjoy an epic evening of footy!

19/08/2026

📣 THIS SATURDAY IN PERTH: the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland’s 60th Anniversary Concert!

Kia ora kiwi whānau. Looking for a fantastic night out celebrating the best of Scottish culture? TMSA Scotland is celebrating its 60th Anniversary with an incredible Patrons Concert at Perth Concert Hall this Saturday.

We are hugely proud that our very own New Zealand Society Scotland Treasurer and Committee Member, Fiona Campbell, also serves as the Convener of the TMSA! Fiona works so hard behind the scenes for both our Kiwi community and Scotland's rich traditional heritage, and we couldn't be luckier to have her.

Since 1966, the TMSA has been at the heart of preserving and championing traditional music; helping launch the careers of folk greats like Karine Polwart and Siobhan Miller.

Here are the details for this star-studded celebration of traditional Scots and Gaelic music:

📅 When: Saturday 22nd August at 7:30 PM
📍 Where: Perth Concert Hall
🎟️ Tickets: Call 01738 621031 or book online at perththeatreandconcerthall.com (Concession & family options available)

The Line-up Features:

🎵Legendary TMSA patron Barbara Dickson (you may recall her singing 'I Know Him So Well' from the musical Chess (Written by Brjorn & Benny from ABBA) which peaked at No 9 in the NZ Charts in 1985!

🎵Hosts and curators Sheena Wellington and Margaret Bennett

🎵World-renowned fiddler Aly Bain

🎵Piper Finn MacPherson (featured in the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony)

🎵Fiddle player Alistair Hardie

🎵TMSA founder member Jimmy Hutchison, along with Jack Beck, Ian MacGregor, and incredible Scots singers including Geordie Murison, Natalie Chalmers, Scott Gardiner, and Eoin Taylor

🎵A brilliant trio of young musicians: accordionist Neil Sutcliffe, alongside BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2025 finalists Roo Geddes (fiddle) and Clelland Shand (accordion)

We hope you can grab a crew, get your tickets, and head along to Perth to enjoy an unforgettable evening of music and story! Let us know in the comments if you’re going!

18/08/2026

Who was this Māori university student in 1860s Scotland?

RNZ has published a fascinating investigation into this photograph of an unidentified Māori student at St Andrews University, taken in the 1860s.

Prior to publication, the New Zealand Society Scotland was contacted by the journalist to help assist with local historical context. We are always proud to contribute to research that highlights our shared heritage.

📧 Do you recognise the person in this photograph? Email: [email protected]

🌐 Discover the story here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-ao-maori/1041534/who-was-this-maori-university-student-in-1860s-scotland

📸 Photo credit: Image courtesy of University of St Andrews Libraries and Museums, ID ALB-1-65.

12/08/2026

Looking for a slice of home on the big screen, or keen to show your Scottish mates what true Aotearoa comedy looks like outside of the Fringe?

Taika Waititi’s classic ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ is currently showing at select independent picture houses across Scotland!

You can check the Scottish locations and showtimes here:

👉 https://www.vertigoreleasing.com/movie/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople?cinema=filmhouse-cinema-edinburgh&lat=55.953252&lon=-3.188267

Screenings like this feel especially meaningful as we look back on the extraordinary legacy of Sam Neill. As Uncle Hec, he gave us a masterclass in balancing a gruff exterior with deep warmth and pitch-perfect dry Kiwi humor. Sam will always be remembered as a true national treasure, beloved by Kiwis at home and around the world.

05/08/2026

AUGUST UPDATE - KIWIS AT THE EDINBURGH FRINGE 2026!

August is here and the Fringe takeover of Edinburgh has begun! If you want to fill your Fringe calendar with a taste of home and support our NZ artists, here is our latest consolidated guide to who is performing in 2026!

Have we missed anyone off the list? Tag them in the comments!

🎙️ COMEDY & SHOWCASES

Whether you’re after a sharp solo hour or a chaotic mixed lineup, our comedy scene is out in full force:

* Rose Matafeo – Work in Progress Morning Hour https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/rose-matafeo-work-in-progress-morning-hour

* Guy Williams – Rich people are stealing from you and blaming brown people and... https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/guy-williams-rich-people-are-stealing-from-you-and-blaming-brown-people-and-trans-people-and-some-people-believe-them-aaahhhhhh

* Chris Parker – Take A Good Hard Look At Me https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/chris-parker-take-a-good-hard-look-at-me

* Ray O'Leary – I Can See O'Leary Now The Ray Has Gone https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/ray-o-leary-i-can-see-o-leary-now-the-ray-has-gone

* David Correos – Noise Zealand https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/david-correos-noise-zealand

* Becky Umbers – Tell That Horse To Keep His Mouth Shut https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/becky-umbers-tell-that-horse-to-keep-his-mouth-shut-wip

* Sully O’Sullivan – A Complete Idiot's Guide to New Zealand & A Kiwi Idiot's Guide to Great Britain https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/a-complete-idiot-s-guide-to-new-zealand
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/a-kiwi-idiot-s-guide-to-great-britain

* Dan Boerman – 0% in My Savings and a Fox in My Kitchen & 1 in 2 Men Think They Could Land a Plane – Could You? https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/0-in-my-savings-and-a-fox-in-my-kitchen

* Julie Belliveau – Enlightened https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/julie-belliveau-enlightened

* Hoani Hotene – Hoani Hoani Hoani https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/hoani-hoani-hoani-must-be-funny-in-a-rich-man-s-world

* Danny Sewell – New Zealand Comedian, New Zealand Comedian, New Zealand Comedian https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/new-zealand-comedian-new-zealand-comedian-new-zealand-comedian

* Jack Ansett – Looks Like A Bit Of Me! https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/jack-ansett-looks-like-a-bit-of-me

* Tom Sainsbury – Lessons Not Learnt https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/tom-sainsbury-lessons-not-learnt

* Sarah Bradley – How to Write a Romcom https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/sarah-bradley-how-to-write-a-romcom

Lineup Shows & Group Acts:

* Kiwi Killers – FREE Standup Comedy showcase featuring top Kiwi talent! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kiwi-killers-standup-comedy-tickets-1994007757881?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

* Lord of the Zings: A Kiwi Comedy Showcase – Featuring Danny Sewell, Hoani Hotene, and Fin McLachlan. https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/lord-of-the-zings-a-kiwi-comedy-showcase

* 4 Antipodeans Walk Into a Bar – Rotating showcase of comics hosted by Sully O’Sullivan. https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/4-antipodeans-walk-into-a-bar

🎭 THEATRE, MUSIC & PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE

From bluegrass Shakespeare to non-verbal physical comedy and award-winning musical satire:

* Sitting (In Silence) – a tragi-comedy inspired by true events. https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/sitting-in-silence

* TO BE FRANK - an award-winning non-verbal Frankenstein clowning odyssey with a live punk electric guitar score! https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/to-be-frank

* The Barden Party – Macbeth: Blood and Bluegrass & Heracles: Of Men and Beasts https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/macbeth-blood-and-bluegrass

* Nick Tipa (Kāi Tahu) – Babyface (Solo play exploring pro wrestling & small-town Aotearoa) https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/babyface

* Cleo – New musical reclaiming the story of Cleopatra VII. https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/cleo

* The First 8 – True story musical about the first female pilots for the Air Transport Auxiliary. https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-first-8

* Alchemy Theatre – ALONE (Sci-fi thriller) https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/alone

* Hugo Grrrl – Hugo's Rainbow Show (Drag show for kids exploring the science of rainbows!) https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/hugo-s-rainbow-show

* Charles Whitehead – Piano Masterworks 2026 (Classical Romantic solo works) https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/piano-masterworks-2026

* Artsense Productions – HR The Musical https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/hr-the-musical

* Ratbags Theatre – How to Art https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/how-to-art

* Daniel Nodder – Only Bones https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/only-bones-daniel-nodder

🎟️ Tickets & Info: Listings are constantly updated, so head over to the official Edinburgh Festival Fringe website to lock in your tickets, check exact dates, and confirm venues: https://www.edfringe.com/

Who are you most excited to see this year? Let us know in the comments below, and let's support our Kiwi talent across the festival! 👇🇳🇿

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