Events

Ōtautahi Christchurch’s summer soundtrack kicks off in style with Go Live in the Garden – an unforgettable afternoon of iconic Kiwi music under the sun – 2 Jan 2026 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm on the Archery Lawn in the Botanic Gardens.

Set in one of the city’s most picturesque outdoor spaces, this free concert brings together two legendary New Zealand acts, Stellar* and The Mockers, performing live and delivering the hits you know and love.

Gather your friends, pack a picnic, and soak up the vibrant sounds that define Aotearoa’s music scene.

The Mockers

Kiwi hit-makers The Mockers reform their classic line-up to proudly perform their pop gems like Forever Tuesday Morning, Swear It’s True, One Black Friday, My Girl Thinks She’s Cleopatra, Shield Yourself, and many more.

In celebration of 40 years since Forever Tuesday Morning – reuniting are Andrew Fagan, Brett Adams, plus Geoff Hayden travelling from London, and Australian-based Tim Wedde.

The Mockers enjoyed three Top 10 albums and six hit singles, and played to huge crowds across the country throughout the 1980s, riding a wave of New Wave pop success, before disbanding in the late 80s. Out of the blue, in 2017 they returned better than ever to charm old fans and win over many new ones, with a NZ tour and a live album. Subsequent festival appearances and nationwide tours have cemented their place as firm favourites with Kiwi music lovers.

Stellar*

Stellar* is a cornerstone of late-’90s/early-2000s New Zealand pop-rock: breakout success with their debut “Mix”, multiple hit singles and albums, national awards, and a loyal fanbase. After a break, they reformed and in 2025 marked a major milestone (25-year anniversary of Mix) by returning to the stage reaffirming their enduring place in NZ music.

Their debut album, Mix (1999), was a major success,  it went five-times platinum in New Zealand, produced several hit singles (like “Every Girl”, “Violent”, “Part of Me”, “Undone”), and became a defining album for late-’90s/early-2000s NZ radio.

The lineup consists of Christchurch vocalist/guitarist Boh Runga, drummer Andrew Maclaren, guitarist Chris van de Geer, and bassist Kurt Shanks.