THE NUKES SERVE UP VEGE PUNK: A NEW ANTHEM FOR KIDS ABOUT GREENS, ATTITUDE AND GARDEN TO TABLE

Aotearoa’s favourite ukulele trio The Nukes are back with a brand new kids song and it is loud, proud, and full of vegetables. The trio is made up of founding members Dave Parkerand Ben Collier, joined by Dave’s son Josh Parker who officially stepped into the band in 2023, bringing a fresh burst of energy to their much loved sound.

Vege Punk is a riotous, big hearted celebration of the idea that you can eat your vegetables and still have attitude. Written for the fifteenth anniversary of Garden to Table, the nationwide organisation teaching primary school children how to grow and cook fresh kai, the song captures their kaupapa in true Nukes style. It is catchy, humorous, and packed with spirit.

Written by Ben Collier, Vege Punk began with a simple idea: you can be kind to people but mean to vegetables. You are a veggie punk. It is playful on the surface but rooted in something meaningful. It champions confidence, curiosity, and joy in the garden and in the kitchen. Vegetables are cool. Vegetables are fuel. Vegetables are punk.

“We think the work Garden to Table undertakes in schools is outstanding. Helping tamariki feel confident in the garden and the kitchen gives them skills for life. We jumped at the chance to write a song that celebrates this mahi.” says Dave Parker, who is also a teacher.

Garden to Table CEO Ani Brunet says the song is the perfect fit for their fifteenth birthday. “Vege Punk captures everything we love about working with tamariki. It is fun, it is full of imagination and it celebrates the joy of growing, cooking and eating good food. The Nukes have created something that not only makes kids laugh but also helps them feel proud of the skills they are gaining through Garden to Table.”

Supported by NZ On Air, Vege Punk comes with a high energy music video directed byDave Thomson of Imaginary Creative. Think the Muppets meets classic kids television and you are close. The video turns the song into a full Vege Battle of the Bands where different vegetables audition to be crowned the punkiest group of all.

There are three stages in the world of the Vege Punk video. On the main stage The Nukes rock out as a human sized chilli, runner bean and a potato. Then on a tiny wheeled out stage vegetable hand-puppets compete for glory. Then in the lead break a stop motion pumpkin gives a solo audition before exploding in pure veggie chaos. A group of 'Garden to table' tamariki, all punked up, will run the show as stagehands, judges, crew and performers. In the grand finale which vegetable will win the day? 

Children from Garden to Table schools across Tāmaki Makaurau feature in the video, including young performers from Forrest Hill School who have taken on acting roles and help create the big final mosh pit scene.

Vege Punk is the latest release from The Nukes, now fifteen years into a career of musical mischief, invention and heart. They have released four albums, toured repeatedly across Aotearoa and Australia, and performed everywhere from WOMAD and Splore to town halls, classrooms, community festivals and the Bluff Oyster Festival. Their award winning children’s songs include Worms which won APRA Children’s Video of the Year in 2020.
 

Vege Punk will be officially launched on Sat 28 February at the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival. 

UPCOMING GIGS 2026 

 Ukulele Alchemy - Titirangi Theatre 
Friday 13 February 
7PM to 9:30 PM
Titirangi Theatre 
Tickets here

International Ukuele Concert with Tyrone and Lesley 
Saturday 14 February 
7:30 AM to 10:00 AM
Kumeu Art Centre
Behind the scenes watch here
Tickets here 

Ukulele Alchemy - Baycourt Tauranga
Sunday 15 February 
2:00 PM  4:30 PM
Baycourt
Tickets here 
 
Hamilton Garden Festival
Saturday 28 February
6:30 PM  7:45 PM
Mansfield Garden, Tennis Court
Tickets here