Upcoming events.
Secret Art Powers with Jo Randerson
WORD Christchurch
Saturday 5 September, 2026
6:30pmpm — 7:30pm
Little Andromeda
What secret powers do artists use daily? How might they help us navigate these complex, changing times? Join celebrated writer and artist Jo Randerson for this special, interactive, visionary event where they will reveal how to apply and infuse Secret Art Powers into your daily life and encourage radical social change in our communities today.
Expect a laugh-out-loud time with one of our greatest creative minds.
Read The Post's book review here.
Listen to RNZ's Culture 101 on Jo's secret art powers here.
Secret Art Powers: Achieving Change Through Creative Thinking
Auckland Writers Festival
Sunday 17 May, 2026
4pm — 5pm
The Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre
Does your career need a pivot? Talk to a dancer ... Are resources scarce? Ask painters how they make something from nothing ...
In this dynamic theatrical lecture, celebrated artist Jo Randerson (whom Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie called “one of New Zealand’s greatest creative minds”) explores the secret powers artists use daily and shares six creative mindsets that can help us navigate our complex and changing times.
Joyful, generous, affirming, nourishing and timely, it’s the perfect way to harness all the creativity you’ve experienced at the Festival, and think about how to employ lessons from artists to create positive, lasting change in your life or work.
Zines NZ: From Punk to Present
Auckland Writers Festival
Sunday 17 May, 2026
1pm — 2pm
The Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre
Lo-fi, hand-built, fiercely independent and often with a healthy dose of humour and anarchy, zines are a fascinating form of publishing.
The history of them in Aotearoa New Zealand is equally so.
Zine expert (and the creator of the country’s longest-running zine, Incredibly Hot Sex with Hideous People) Bryce Galloway joins Jo Randerson to dive into the characters, movements and zines that comprise the form’s compelling story in this part of the world.
From the first punk-rock music zine in 1980, to the boom of zinefests in the early 21st century, Galloway will show some landmark examples and discuss why this handmade form has endured through generational, societal and technological shifts.
Down the Rabbithole
Auckland Writers Festival
Friday 15 May, 2026
9pm — 10pm
The Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre
“Going down the rabbit hole” usually means you’ve reached weird corners of the internet, or lost several hours to the whims of YouTube’s algorithm.
The perk of being a writer? You get to claim this as an integral part of the creative process.
Whether we buy that or not, don’t miss Festival writers lining up to share an unexpected topic – however niche, quirky or downright odd – that led them down the proverbial rabbit hole, and ended up being significant to their work.
Hosted by Jo Randerson and featuring SA Cosby, Tracy Farr, Daniel Hahn and Josie Shapiro.
Speed is Emotional
Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts
11 — 28 March, 2026
Tues — Sat 7pm | Sun 4pm
Circa Theatre
ADHD is so hot right now!
In this “funny as hell” theatre show, Jo Randerson ONZM unpacks their diagnosis, neurodivergent parenting, sad songs, men taking their time, and more.
Randerson has a brain that never stops and a fountain of restless energy fuelling their fiercely artistic voice. Who knew that this fountain was fed by something they had diagnosed in their 40s alongside their son: ADHD.
In Speed is Emotional, Randerson bares their soul, sharing the exhilaration, exhaustion, joy, and absurdity of living and parenting with neurodivergence.
Catch its Wellington premiere — this is more than a performance, it’s a revelation.
Speed is Emotional
Kirikiriroa Tour
21 — 22 Feb, 2026
Sat 6:30pm | Sun 4pm
Meteor Theatre
ADHD is so hot right now!
In this “funny as hell” theatre show, Jo Randerson ONZM unpacks their diagnosis, neurodivergent parenting, sad songs, men taking their time, and more.
The performance on Feb 22 is a unique bilingual integrated performance which weaves English and NZSL, so both d/Deaf and hearing audience can access and enjoy the show together. These shows feature our Deaf performer Pollyanna Ferguson alongside Jo.
Speed is Emotional
Whangārei Tour
17 — 18 Feb, 2026
6:30pm
Oneonesix Theatre
ADHD is so hot right now!
In this “funny as hell” theatre show, Jo Randerson ONZM unpacks their diagnosis, neurodivergent parenting, sad songs, men taking their time, and more.
The performance on Feb 18 is a unique bilingual integrated performance which weaves English and NZSL, so both d/Deaf and hearing audience can access and enjoy the show together. These shows feature our Deaf performer Pollyanna Ferguson alongside Jo.