Strike a Pose: The Rise and Radiance of Aotearoa New Zealand's Vogue Ballroom Scene

Join us on a dazzling study into the electric world of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Vogue Ballroom scene—where self-expression, community, and queerness sparkle brighter than stage lights. This episode traces the journey from Harlem’s underground runways to South Auckland’s marae halls, exploring how a global movement rooted in resistance became a beacon of cultural restoration, chosen family, and Pacific pride in New Zealand.

In this episode, we unpack:

1. The Origins & Global Roots

• Voguing’s birth in 1960s Harlem, USA, as an artform of African American and Latino LGBTQ+ communities (Paris Is Burning as pivotal inspiration).
• Signature elements—fashion magazine-influenced poses, Egyptian iconography, and sharp body movements.
• Cultural impact and sanctuary ballroom culture provided, especially for Black/Latino queer and transfeminine people.
• The global ‘vogue explosion’ after Madonna’s “Vogue” (1990) and the worldwide influence of Paris Is Burning.

2. Arrival & Adaptation in Aotearoa

• The first balls in Ōtara, South Auckland (2013), at Tapu Te Ranga Marae—significance for Māori and Pacific queer communities.
• The founding of FAF SWAG Arts Collective in Auckland by Pati Salomona Tyrell and Tanugago.
• Ballroom as “chosen family” and radical cultural adaptation for indigenous and diaspora communities facing both racism and queerphobia.

3. Architecture of the Scene: Houses, Stars, and Safe Havens

• The rise of iconic houses: House of Coven-Carangi, House of Aitu, House of Iman, Kiki House of Marama (Wellington), House of Givenchy, and Avant House of Dawn.
• The living legends: Mother Mistress Coven-Carangī (scene’s godmother), Tanu Gago, Pati Salomona Tyrell, Mother Honey Givenchy, Cara Mara & Romay, Mother Venus, Godfather Sam.
• House structures as surrogate families—mentorship, life skills, competition, and fierce love.
• “007s” (free agents) and the organic flow of new houses and talent.

4. Balls, Battles & Community

• Signature events: Legacy Vogue Ball, Fictional Ball, Metalliball, Dusk Till Dawn & Through the Eras Kiki Balls, A Hula Fashion Week, Battle Zone.
• The move from grassroots marae venues to national arts centres and Te Papa museum.
• Workshops and educational events from FAF SWAG to Kiki House of Marama—building skills and preserving authenticity.

5. Cultural Impact & Ongoing Journey

• Ballroom as sanctuary and tool for radical self-love and empowerment, especially for queer Māori/Pasifika youth and artists.
• The vital role of cultural restoration: spaces for “queer brown bodies” to thrive, challenging conservative Pākehā norms and colonial values.
• Scene’s evolving inclusivity, mainstream visibility, and the joys/challenges of greater recognition.

6. Timeline of Pivotal Moments

• 1960s Harlem origins → 1990s globalisation → 2013’s Aotearoa debut, house formations, major events.
• Recent landmark balls, art residencies, and government honours—plus a look ahead to rising regions and future plans (Blenheim, Te Papa events in 2025).

Tune in for shimmering stories, iconic moments, and a celebration of resilience—where every duckwalk, dip, and pose is a victory against erasure. As the scene grows, we ask: how can we help every future star’s freak flag truly fly?

Show notes