STUDY TOPS 3000 RESPONSES TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF GAY BLOOD BAN, WORKS TO REACH RAINBOW MĀORI AND PASIFIKA COMMUNITIES

SPOTS The Sex and Prevention of Transmission Study – launched in April with aims to make blood donation fairer for gay, bisexual, takatāpui and other men who have sex with men (MSM), is nearing the end of its collection phase, due to conclude 30 June. To date, researchers have received over 3018 responses, bringing them closer to their goal of collecting 4000 responses from MSM across Aotearoa.

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Michelle Lafferty
MORE COMEDIANS AND MORE LAUGHS ADDED TO THE BEST FOODS COMEDY GALA

Easily the biggest and best night of comedy every year, the Best Foods Comedy Gala rounds up Aotearoa's highest calibre comedy talent, guaranteed to have audiences laughing for hours. Hosted by Rhys Mathewson, this will be the ultimate night out for a guaranteed good laugh, on Friday 9 September at The Civic in Auckland and Friday 30 September at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington.

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Michelle Lafferty
FRESH MOVEMENT’S MĀUI VOYAGES TO THE MAINSTAGE JUST IN TIME FOR MATARIKI

Pacific Dance Festival and Auckland Live are excited to announce that Fresh Movement’s acclaimed dance-theatre work MĀUI returns to the stage in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in celebration of Matariki. This epic journey through Polynesian myth and legend takes over the prestigious Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre at Aotea – Te Pokapū Aotea Centre for one night only on Thu 23 June, with tickets on sale from Thu 19 May, 9am.

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Michelle Lafferty
NEW ANNUAL PRIZE CELEBRATES COMEDY WILD CARDS AND PAYS HOMAGE TO THE TOPP TWINS

May 14, 2022: On the birthday of Dames Jools and Lynda Topp, The New Zealand Comedy Trust is stoked to announce the Topp Prize, a new annual honour consisting of a $15,000 award and a trophy, to be presented annually to a ‘wild card’ of the comedy scene in Aotearoa. The award pays homage to the irreverent spirit of the Topp Twins, who celebrate their 40th anniversary as entertainers this year. The inaugural recipient will be announced at an event this September.

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Michelle Lafferty
UP-SIZE YOUR DANCE COMBO: PACIFIC DANCE NEW ZEALAND ANNOUNCES DIGITALLY-FOCUSED FESTIVAL PROGRAMME FOR 2022

Pacific Dance New Zealand is excited to announce its festival line-up for 2022 featuring a combination of digital, virtual, and in-person shows and workshops. The programme is packed with options, giving audiences the freedom to pick-n-choose what they would like to see and do in 2022. The safety of audiences remains of utmost importance, as is ensuring that artists are maximising opportunities to perform and share their creative works while utilising immersive technologies during the pandemic.

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Michelle Lafferty
HEARTCORE KARAOKE – COMEDY FEST SPECIAL

Party the night away from the comfort of your living room at the cosiest concert ever, as comedy-pop royalty Two Hearts return with their lockdown hit streaming show, HeartCore Karaoke! Next Saturday 21 May, settle in for over an hour of absolute bangers and side splitting lols with comedians from this year’s Comedy Fest (that nearly was).

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Michelle Lafferty