Between the torrential rain, infected beach waters and cancelled festivals, the holidays felt particularly short this year. We had hoped for a Hot Girl Summer, instead we got Hot Swamp.

So as we reluctantly head back to work this week, dreaming of being salty sea dogs again, we decided to rack our sleepy brains for everything we're looking forward to in 2023. Screw the resolutions, we need entertainment and escapism!

Bikini Kill live

Legendary feminist punk singer and riot grrrl pioneer Kathleen Hanna and her band are coming to Tāmaki Makaurau on March 15 to perform their first ever show in Aotearoa at Powerstation. It’s an all-ages gig, so we’re expecting to see a generational mix (and a lot of Dr Martens) in the crowd – nostalgic millennials wearing original X-girl tees, Gen-Z rebel girls, and hopefully some cool punk mums with their babies in tow. Tickets are still available for $80 and you can buy them here. 

Greta Gerwig's Barbie

Our most anticipated film of the year, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling hits cinemas on July 20 and we can’t wait to see her portrayal of the iconic fashion and hot pink Barbieland. The first teaser trailer was released in December and immediately went viral, while the storyline is said to involve Barbie being expelled from her not-so-fantastic plastic world for being an ‘imperfect’ doll, so she attempts to find true happiness as a human being. We’re intrigued, and we’re setting up a countdown until July 20.

A good year for film

It’ll be the year of Barbie, but we’re also looking forward to films including an adaptation of Judy Blume’s classic Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (April 28), the live adaptation of Disney’s The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey as Ariel (May 25), and Wonka, starring Timothée Chalamet as the main character (December 14).

Rihanna graces the Super Bowl

“This is my Super Bowl” will take on new meaning with Bad Gal Riri’s half-time performance at the very big football game on February 12. It’ll be her first live appearance since 2018 (that was at the Grammys and of course she slayed), with rumours – or hopes from fans like us – that it’s a precursor to a new era or album. Ever the businesswoman, the singer just released a Super Bowl-inspired collection for her brand Savage x Fenty.

The 2023 General Election

It’s coming around again: later this year, New Zealanders will get to decide who forms Aotearoa’s next government. There’s not a date set for when the next election will be held, but it's likely to be in the second half of 2023, so expect to see electoral campaigns kick off closer to the time. Currently National and Labour remain ahead as the two main parties, but we look forward to discussing the key contenders, proposed policies and important issues as we hear more, and covering them Ensemble-style, of course. Why not check you’re enrolled to vote here now and save the paperwork come election time. 

Harry Styles, IRL

It feels like this concert was announced years ago, but Harry brings his Love On Tour to Aotearoa, finally, on March 7, with its flamboyant Alessandro Michele era Gucci costumes and boot scoot dancing from the crowd. We’ll be there.

Long weekends 

The summer break never feels long enough, but luckily there are a few public holidays coming up to keep the holiday spirit rolling. Pōneke people are first up, with Wellington Anniversary day on January 23, followed by Auckland Anniversary on Monday January 30 - catch us dancing the day and night away at Laneway Festival. Then there’s Waitangi Day on February 6, perfect time to book a camping trip and go back to basics while you still can. Check out the DOC website to see what’s available near you.

Pamela's story

Following last year's Pam & Tommy series, the actual Pamela Anderson announced that she'd be releasing a documentary series with Netflix to share her life story, on her terms. That'll be released on January 31, the same day her memoir, Love, Pamela, will be on sale. She described the book on Instagram as "Just one girls messy life. A celebration - of imperfections. The book is a unpolished attempt. I had no co writer".

That all comes after she appeared in a delightful Christmas campaign for Jacquemus - expect 2023 to be the Pamelaissance.

New Lana and Miley, on the same day

Set your alarms: Petty queens Lana del Rey and Miley Cyrus are both releasing new music on March 10. 

Miley – who had one of the year’s first viral moments with her and godmother Dolly Parton’s New Years’ Eve performance of Wrecking Ball segueing into I Will Always Love You – will release the first single, Flowers, on January 13, which also happens to be the birthday of her ex husband, Liam Hemsworth. The album, Endless Summer Vacation, will see her reunite with Bangerz producer Mike Will Made It, with fans hoping it’s a return to the hits/bangers of that era (but not the problematic aesthetics, which were criticised for appropriating Black culture).

Meanwhile Lana chose to promote her new album, the perfectly titled Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, with one billboard - in the hometown of her ex, with the single of the same name also released on his birthday.

Fashion Week is back (🤞)

After a pandemic-hiatus of some three years we are looking forward to the return of NZFW in 2023, rumoured to be in August, and the first under its new ownership. We can’t wait to see the direction the new, invigorated event takes, corralling the various needs and seasons of myriad designers in a rapidly shifting industry. 

Sports!

The Black Ferns win at last year’s Rugby World Cup was a jubilant display of the strength of women’s sport and we can’t wait to do it all again when New Zealand and Australia co-host the football World Cup in July and August. 16 of the 32 competing teams will be based here in Aotearoa for the competition, including current no.1 team the US, who have won the tournament four times and are defending their position as champions.

Yellowjackets returns

Yay! It’s back! It seems like only yesterday we were all obsessed with the mysteries and cannibalism of the debut season of the buzzy hit show starring Kiwi sweetheart Melanie Lynskey. In March, season two will drop with fellow Kiwi actor Simone Kessell (as adult Lottie) and adopted Kiwi Elijah Wood joining the stacked cast. Looks like we’re going to have to rewatch season one again to prepare. The new season is set to be released on Showtime in the US on March 24, with a wider release two days later.

The Met Gala

If we’re honest, we’re a bit over the hype surrounding fashion’s big event that is now probably bigger than the Oscars red carpet – but we’ll still be dedicating the first Monday in May to watching and covering it. This year’s Gala will open an exhibition dedicated to the work of Karl Lagerfeld, widely known for his time at Chanel but who also worked at brands like Chloe and Fendi – and we’re intrigued to see how celebrities and fashion insiders take that and interpret it in their own ways. And, of course, how the curators acknowledge the designer’s controversial history…  

The adaptation of Daisy Jones and the Six

We loved this book by Taylor Jenkins Reid about a band in the 1970s, and we’re pumped for the miniseries adaptation. The series will be released on March 3, starring Riley Keogh as Daisy. Expect lots of fringing, denim, suede and fantastic 70s hair.

King Charles III's coronation

Are you sick of the royals, post Harry’s memoir publicity blitz? We wouldn’t blame you. Expect there to be plenty more royal news as the year progresses, particularly ahead of the coronation on May 6. The ceremony at Westminster Abbey is said to be a ‘smaller’ affair compared to the Queen’s three-hour x in 1953, but there will of course be plenty of pomp and circumstance that the royals are known for. We think there’ll also be plenty more conversations this year about the place of the monarchy in 2023, and its colonial past.