Stories by
Gabi Lardies
Gabi is the Editor of The Big Idea
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What artists want from cities, and other news
A new Silver Scroll award, a donated collection, Helen Clark, and more. -
War, roses, and the news
What place does art have in a world that feels like it’s falling apart? -
Two decades of Theatreview, new spaces, and new faces
Gabi chats to John Smythe about the little website he started all those years ago, plus all the most important happenings in the arts this week. -
Aotearoa artists in Shanghai, The Mint Chicks, and missing paintings
Gabi visits the Shanghai Biennale, and rounds up the week's happenings. -
The Walters Prize and people, people, people
A crash course in the finalists for NZ's biggest contemporary art prize, and the week's arts news. -
Inside the Auckland Writers Festival programme, and the week’s arts news
Artistic director Lyndsey Fineran on reading four books a week, wrangling 220 writers, and keeping the programme responsive to the world. -
Indie venues to receive $100,000 of tech, plus the week’s arts news
Including the Ockham shortlist, the Taite prize finalists, a new festival, and new residencies. -
The making of Pūtātara, a new podcast about toi Māori, and the week’s news
Matariki Williams shares the challenges of using imperfect archives for a project that aims to contextualise Māori art and correct the canon. -
Big birthdays, new strategies, and a huge garage sale
Gabi Lardies dives into this week’s arts news. -
How to read The Big Idea
Your guide to our stories, columns, and categories. -
A few things to keep on your radar in 2026
We’re back and busier than ever!