British Council New Zealand

05/10/2026

As Country Director and Head of Arts for British Council New Zealand and the Pacific I’m delighted to introduce our new team, Heather Galbraith as Programme Manager, Arts, and Laura Irish to the new role of Programme Coordinator, Arts. Heather and Laura both bring extensive expertise across different art forms.

Heather has worked in the arts and cultural sectors for 35 years as an arts manager, curator, writer and educator. Born and raised in Auckland, she trained at the University of Auckland’s Elam School of Fine Arts and at Goldsmiths, University of London. Her career has included senior curatorial and management roles at City Gallery Wellington, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the College of Creative Arts Toi Rauwhārangi at Massey University.

Laura has worked across the arts and cultural sectors for more than 25 years as an arts manager, theatre director, producer, educator and performer. A dual citizen of the USA and New Zealand, she holds a Master of Arts Management from Auckland University of Technology. Laura is the founder and Artistic Director of the award-winning theatre company The Barden Party and former Director of the Nelson Fringe Festival.

I’m thrilled to have Heather and Laura forming our new augmented team and excited about what their complementary perspectives will bring to our work across Aotearoa New Zealand, the Pacific and the UK.

Natasha Beckman

30/09/2026

23/09/2026

14/09/2026

In the season 3 finale of , we share a special episode: Redefining Prosperity: placing culture and public value at the heart of growth. Host Christine Wilson speaks with Mariana Mazzucato, Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London. Together, they discuss why we need a new way of thinking about economic growth, one that places creativity, culture and the common good at the heart of prosperity.

We also hear from Ojoma Ochai, Managing Director and CEO of CC Hub Group. She shares how Nigeria's creative economy has become a powerful source of opportunity, identity and global influence, and why creativity and digital transformation are increasingly inseparable.

The episode explores:
✨ how culture should be seen as essential public infrastructure
✨ how culture can drive both social and economic innovation, strengthening communities (not just the top 1% earners)
✨ the role of governments in shaping innovation
✨ how new measures of success could help build more sustainable, inclusive economies.

👉 Tune in to the latest episode of the award-winning

www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/our-world-connected-podcast/culture-heart-of-growth?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=comms-all-all-ea-regional-our-world-connected-podcast

02/09/2026

Can I Live? is screening in Ōtautahi Christchurch as part of WORD Christchurch Festival 2026.

Written and performed by Fehinti Balogun with British theatre company Complicité, it blends spoken word, rap, theatre and animation to trace how learning about the climate emergency has shaped his path as a young Black British man and member of the Global Majority.

After the screening, Fehinti joins via video link for a kōrero with Tāme Iti (Ngāi Tūhoe), Dr MahMah Timoteo (Tohoa Tetini) and Paora Tapsell (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Raukawa), the kind of honest, cross-cultural conversation we're proud to help bring to Aotearoa.

Across the Pacific, the countries doing the least to cause climate change are so often hit the hardest. This is why we support work like Can I Live?, which tackles this immense global challenge head on.

Fehinti spoke to RNZ's Mihingirangi Forbes about the show and why the fights for climate justice, indigenous justice and racial justice are one and the same: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2019048705/fehinti-balogun-the-climate-crisis-is-a-class-crisis

Via link in bio on Instagram.

Sunday 6 September, 6–8pm, The Piano, 156 Armagh St. Pay what you wish.
Tickets: https://nz.patronbase.com/_WORDChristchurch/Productions/2657/Performances

Supported by British Council New Zealand and the Pacific.

Natasha Beckman

25/08/2026

Going Global Music Summit 2026 kicks off this week, and we're pleased to be supporting Andy Jones from FOCUS Wales as part of the programme.
Andy Jones has worked in the music industry for over 20 years, as an artist, label managing director, manager and promoter. He's a co-founder and Head of Music at FOCUS Wales, one of the UK's most vital international showcase festivals.
He joins two sessions at this year's summit: one on the UK and European music landscape, and one exploring the ties between Cymraeg and te reo Māori in music export potential.
Ahead of the summit, our own Natasha Beckman joined Andy for a conversation on The Wigwam Interviews, talking about cultural music exchange between Māori and Welsh, and how language, identity and grassroots music are connecting communities in Wales and Aotearoa.
Have a listen: The Wigwam Interviews – https://ow.ly/wckU50ZF1ut
Looking forward to Going Global Music Summit 2026.
Natasha Beckman

The Wigwam Interviews · Episode

14/08/2026

What does international connection do for a curator's practice? For Ane Tonga (Curator, Pacific Art, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki), joining the Glasgow International x British Council International Delegates Programme opened up new ways of thinking about her role and that of Pacific art on the world stage, as well as enabling her to engage with international peers and share from her own practice.
In our Q&A, Ane reflects on the relationships she built, the moments that stayed with her, the unique ties with Scotland, and how the experience has pushed her thinking forward as one of Aotearoa’s leading curators specialising in Pacific art.
Read her reflections in full 🔗 https://www.britishcouncil.org.nz/programmes/arts-creative/ane-tonga-reflects-glasgow
📷 Barbadian-Scottish artist Alberta Whittle with Ane Tonga in Glasgow.
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
British Council Scotland
Arts – British Council
Natasha Beckman

Ane Tonga on the connections she made, the moments that stayed with her, and how the visit has shaped her thinking.

07/08/2026

⏳ The deadline is approaching fast!

Applications for our Connections Through Culture grants close on 12 August. We’ve seen these grants kickstart incredible artistic partnerships between artists and cultural organisations in the UK and countries around the world – yours could be next!

💷 Grants of £5,000 to £15,000 available.
🔗 Apply now: https://arts.britishcouncil.org/connections-through-culture



Image: Holding the Door Open BICT FEST, Thailand. Credit Photo by Nattarika Chareonsuk.

07/08/2026

For the first time in its history the Commonwealth Foundation has created the position of a Poet Laureate: Selina Tusitala Marsh, former New Zealand Poet Laureate and proud Pasifika writer, appointed to the role last year.

Selina was recently in Scotland as part of the cultural programme around the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, supported by British Council New Zealand & the Pacific and British Council Scotland. It's the kind of exchange that strengthens the creative ties between the UK and NZ, opening doors for artists and ideas to travel both ways.

While there, she took part in a curated series of talks and performances with the Scottish Poetry Library. She also sat down with Peter Mackay, the Scottish Makar (Scotland's national poet), for a wide-ranging conversation, starting with a reading of her poem Tusitala and the story behind her middle name. Her hand-carved tokotoko stick (orator’s staff), a constant companion at public events, also makes an appearance.

A joy for anyone who loves poetry. Give it a listen 👇
https://ow.ly/NVTc50ZxkNb

British Council Scotland
Scottish Poetry Library
Selina Tusitala Marsh

05/08/2026

Earlier this year, British Council New Zealand and the Pacific was delighted to support Josh Silver at the Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki 2026 (AWF26), where he joined a fascinating conversation exploring authorship, ambition and the ethics of storytelling, alongside American novelist R. F. Kuang.

AWF26 broke all ticket records, making it the biggest event ever in the Festival’s 27-year history and Josh was the highest selling author.

Missed the session live? You can watch it now on the Auckland Writers Festival website: https://ow.ly/fsVb50ZwoyR

Photo by Frazer MacDiarmid.
Natasha Beckman