C-Zone with Simon Howard

Home
New Zealand
Wellington
C-Zone with Simon Howard

Directions Website

Mondays 5pm-6pm. Tune in live on 106.1FM or stream at www.accessradio.org.nz. Stay tuned for arts an Theatre? Comedy? Dance? Film?

Tune in to Community Zone on Wellington Access Radio to hear Simon Howard take you through the very best of what's happening in New Zealand's cultural capital. Each show has the latest news, fascinating interviews and informative reviews. It's by the community, for the community. With great music from New Zealand and the rest of the world, tune in on 106.1FM, or www.accessradio.org.nz

12/10/2026

Coming up live from 5pm on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM we're celebrating the return of the Wellington Jazz Festival, while local favourite Louis Baker will be discussing his new album and tour.

From 5.05pm I'm joined by the Wellington Jazz Festival co-directors Dolina Wehipeihana and Tama Waipara to preview this year's festival. From Wednesday to Sunday more than 180 performances across 60 venues are headed our way. We'll discuss some of the headline acts, hidden gems, and what audiences can expect from one of the capital's biggest annual music events.

Then from 5.25pm acclaimed singer-songwriter Louis Baker is on the line to discuss his new album Trouble, the stories behind the record, and his upcoming album release tour. The tour includes a big Wellington headline show at meow NUI later this month.

04/10/2026

Coming up live from 5pm on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM we're exploring big ideas and unscripted creativity on our stages.

From 5.05pm I'm joined by Miranda Harcourt, Michael Hurst and Roy Clark to discuss After God, a new verbatim theatre work opening at Circa next week. Crafted from real conversations gathered across Aotearoa and around the world, the show promises to be a funny, provocative and hopeful exploration of meaning, madness and what it means to be alive right now.

Then from 5.25pm a crew of improvisers takes over the studio as we celebrate the New Zealand Improv Festival, now underway at BATS Theatre. Festival producer Mo Munn, local improv legend Wiremu Tuhiwai and friends will be chatting about a week of spontaneous storytelling, theatrical risk-taking and performances that will never happen the same way twice.

Tune in live or catch up later via the Access Radio website.

27/09/2026

Coming up live from 5pm tonight on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM we're celebrating creativity, spontaneity and imagination with two fantastic guests.

From 5.05pm Creative Director Austin Harrison joins me to discuss the return of the New Zealand Improv Festival, taking over BATS Theatre from Friday. With local, national and international performers coming together for a packed programme of unscripted theatre, Austin will share what's in store for audiences in a festival where anything can happen!

Then from 5.25pm I'm joined by Tom Knowles and Jeff Parsnips ahead of their return to Circa Theatre these school holidays with But Why, Dad? This brand-new musical adventure explores the wonderfully weird questions children ask every day and the super hero power of asking ‘why’. We may even have a special live performance of a song from the show!

20/09/2026

Tune in live from 5pm on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM to hear about a huge local musical and the return of a beloved literary festival.

From 5.05pm Natasha McAllister joins me as she prepares to take to the stage as Mrs Wormwood in Matilda the Musical, opening at the St. James Theatre this Wednesday. With music from Tim Minchin, this award-winning adaptation of the beloved Roald Dahl story finally arrives in the capital.

Then from 5.20pm Verb Wellington Co-Director Kate McDonald is here to discuss the return of the Verb Readers & Writers Festival after a year's hiatus. Running from Wednesday to Sunday, the festival brings together more than 50 writers, poets and thinkers for five days of books, ideas and conversation across the capital.

14/09/2026

Tonight on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM we're celebrating the final week of the TAHI Festival live from 5pm!

From 5.05pm Australian writer and performer Lucy Heffernan joins me to discuss her award-winning solo show Party Girl. This rock 'n' roll monologue follows children's entertainer Fairy Sprinkles as glitter, guitars and family crisis collide. Party Girl is at BATS from Wednesday.

At 5.20pm I'll be chatting with two of the next generation of solo theatre-makers featured in TAHI's 2026 HATCH Showcase. Majenta Grant from Toi Whakaari joins me to discuss 'Get Ready With Me!' Andy Lester from Te Herenga Waka tells me about 'You'. HATCH also opens at BATS on Wednesday.

Finally from 5.35pm Raureti Ormond is here to discuss the return of his hit solo show Grass Roots. Back by popular demand for one night only at the Hannah Playhouse this Friday, Raureti's heartfelt work tackles queerness, masculinity and our national obsession with rugby through comedy, music and storytelling.

07/09/2026

Coming up live from 5pm on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM I'll be previewing a busy week for theatre, puppetry and comedy on our stages.

From 5.05pm Anna Bailey joins me to discuss Flutter, a magical puppetry adventure with live music returning to BATS Theatre as part of the TAHI Festival from Friday. Anna will also be telling us all about next week's Wellington Puppetry Festival at Vogelmorn Hall.

Then from 5.20pm writer and director Rachel McLean is here to talk about blackpill, a darkly funny and thought-provoking new solo show exploring loneliness, belonging and the online manosphere. blackpill opens on Wednesday at BATS as another must-see in the TAHI Festival.

Then from 5.35pm, Austin Harrison and Sameena Zehra are here to tell me about A Welly Full of Laughs, a showcase of more than a dozen of Wellington's top comedians. They take over the Hannah Playhouse this Sunday for another huge night of stand-up.

Don't miss out!

30/08/2026

Coming up live from 5pm on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM, the spotlight shines on three exciting new productions heading to our stages.

From 5.05pm, director and set designer Andrew Foster joins me to discuss Uncle Vanya, a fresh take on Chekhov's 130-year-old masterpiece set against the backdrop of a rural vineyard. The production opens at Circa Theatre next weekend.

After 5.20pm choreographer Jessie McCall and Footnote New Zealand Dance Artistic Director Anita Hunziker are here to talk about Big Low Dream, a new contemporary dance work exploring what we reach for, together, in the dark. Their tour opens at the Hannah Playhouse next Thursday.

Finally, from 5.35pm Mo Munn joins me to discuss Dinner's Getting Cold, her new solo psychological thriller as part of TAHI Festival. The award-winning comedian and theatre maker's darker new work premieres at BATS Theatre from next Wednesday.

24/08/2026

Tonight on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM I'll be chatting to the creatives behind two popular New Zealand Fringe Festival hits returning at BATS Theatre this week.

🐞 From 5.05pm Lia Kelly and Phoebe Caldeiro join me to discuss Bug Songs Not Love Songs, their award-winning musical comedy about two ladybugs performing one final gig before fumigation. Lia and Phoebe will even perform one of the original songs in the show!

🌈 Then from 5.25pm I'm joined by Dr James Wenley and Vickie Norgrove from We're Weird for Other Reasons, the acclaimed documentary-theatre and sketch comedy show created entirely by members of Aotearoa's asexual, aromantic and aspec community.

Finally from 5.45pm I'll have a full what's on guide to everything happening on our stages this week and next. Tune in live or catch up later on www.accessradio.org.nz

16/08/2026

Tonight on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM from 5.10pm we're joined by TAHI Festival Director Dr Sally Richards to preview one of the festival's biggest programmes yet.

Returning to Pōneke next month, TAHI 2026 features more than 25 artists from Aotearoa and overseas, including RuPaul's Drag Race star Anita Wigl'it, acclaimed writer Duncan Sarkies, and a host of emerging and established theatre-makers. Sally joins us to discuss the programme, the growth of the festival, and why solo performance continues to captivate audiences.

Then from 5.35pm I'll have your regular round-up of what's on across Wellington's theatre scene over the coming week.

And if you missed my recent conversation with Wellington Community Ballet Theatre, we'll be replaying that interview before they open Winter’s Saga at the Hannah Playhouse tomorrow.

10/08/2026

From Norse mythology to anti-pigeon activism, tune in to Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM from 5pm to hear what's coming up across our stages.

First up at 5.05pm, choreographer Joana Joy and costume designer Ella Malcolm join me to discuss Winter’s Saga, Wellington Community Ballet Theatre's second production. Expect gods, heroes and epic battles as Norse mythology comes to life through contemporary dance and physical theatre at the Hannah Playhouse next week.

Then from 5.20pm, playwright Nadia Freeman is here to talk about Clay Pigeons, a new interactive satirical comedy receiving a playreading this Sunday as part of Proudly Asian Theatre's Fresh Off The Page series. When a community decides it's had enough of pigeons, the audience gets to decide what happens next.

Finally from 5.35pm I'll have a full round-up of everything else that's on this week and next across the city.

Address

Level 1, 35-37 Ghuznee Street
Wellington
6011

Opening Hours

Monday

5pm - 6pm

Website

https://accessradio.org.nz/shows-podcasts/c-zone-with-simon-howard/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when C-Zone with Simon Howard posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your business to be the top-listed media company in Wellington?