Boh Runga returns to her hometown, Christchurch, early January, when Stellar* plays Go Live in the Gardens.
Stellar* is a cornerstone of late-’90s/early-2000s New Zealand pop-rock: the band enjoyed breakout success with their debut album“Mix”, and went on to have 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.
We spoke to Boh about the upcoming gig.
Go Live in the Gardens – Stellar – is it good performing in your home town?
Yes, I think the fact that myself and Stellar*’s drummer, Andrew, both come from Christchurch makes it special. And also, I think there’s a real fondness for Stellar* in Christchurch and we really appreciate that.
And you’re sharing the bill with The Mockers. How much fun will that be?
It’s a lot of fun performing with The Mockers! Andrew Fagan is a fantastic performer. They have such classic hits.
Did you ever see them when you were younger?
I’m pretty sure I saw them at Jellie Park in the 80s. I definitely remember seeing The Netherworld Dancing Toys there – Jellie Park was the place to be!
How did growing up in Christchurch influence your creativity?
I remember that Christchurch, when I was growing up, had a real love for the British Music Scene and that probably influenced me. Particularly my playing with bands in high school.
You were at Hornby High School – was that very musical?
I had very good music teachers there who had a big impact in my life. Pete Rainey was one of them and he started Rockquest. Ingrid Van Roosmalen was also one of my teachers and she was very encouraging. When you have great teachers it’s so helpful. I was blessed to be surrounded by these people who encouraged me to sing and write. They encouraged me to take a risk on a profession where there aren’t any guarantees.
You’ve had huge success with Stellar* – and you’re obviously still together after many years – how does that work?
We’ve been off and on in each other’s lives for many years now, and we still enjoy each other’s company and we’re really proud of our songs. It’s also the coolest thing that people seem to really like our songs. It can be really quite random, it’s great when you see who’s singing your songs – it can be the biggest, burliest man singing ‘Part of Me’ and it’s just a great feeling to see that.
You’re also a very successful jewellery designer – how did you come to do that?
That was fortuitous really. Basically, an introduction came about through my music contacts – there was a bullion company who were looking for new designers, and I made a pitch. In the last seven years I’ve taken over the business myself and that’s been really great.
Had you always been interested in jewellery?
I like accessories. I like a bit of bling. I enjoy fashion. I don’t think of the jewellery as a fashion thing, I actually think of it as more as a gifting thing. It’s very much about New Zealand flora and fauna – how unique we are. I think that’s why the bird range has done so well.
How does your music career fit together with your design? Are there similarities between the two? Creating a song and creating a piece?
With the jewellery, it all comes from a story – which is similar to writing a song. With both things, you’re trying to evoke people’s imaginations. I think the jewellery has done so well because each collection represents New Zealand’s story. So, both things have a similarity that have worked for me, the songwriting and the jewellery. The jewellery range has been going for over 15 years and some of the original designs are still in the collection.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever had?
The best advice that I’ve had and that I would share is to work out what you do best – there’s a lot of finding yourself. Recognise what your strengths are and also learn from other people – there’s a lot you can learn from working with other people. You need to be open to other ideas. For me, the best thing I can do is read. Reading makes your comprehension change as you do it. It opens your brain. I read a lot, and I watch a lot of documentaries – time is precious and as I get older, I am a lot more selective about what I spend my time on! But I find that escaping into your own special world – like a book – is really good for creativity.
What do you think is essential for creatives to have in their lives?
Everyone is creative in different ways, but everyone needs encouragement. Whether you get the encouragement from tutors or family or mentors, doesn’t matter but having someone encourage you makes all the difference. Finding an outlet to express your creativity is also really important.
What do you draw your everyday inspiration from?
Well, as I’m talking to you, I’m at a garden centre. I adore having plants. I’ve still got a Monstera I bought when I was 12. It’s a cutting from my mother’s plant and it’s still going strong. Right now, I’m searching for ground cover. So, I guess you could say I get inspired from gardening.
Is there a place in Christchurch you get homesick for?
I used to love to go to Hagley Park and the gardens. I really loved going to the museum – I know it’s under construction right now, but I have a real soft spot for it.
Check out Go Live in the Gardens – featuring Stellar* and The Mockers 2 Jan 2026 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm on the Archery Lawn in the Botanic Gardens.