Pacific humour takes centre stage: Meet Aotearoa’s hottest acts for May's Comedy Fest

Aotearoa New Zealand’s funniest rising talents and seasoned comedy veterans are back for The Best Food’s 2025 New Zealand International Comedy Festival.

Kicking off on 2 May and running across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Pōneke Wellington, the festival will host over 150 local and international performers, featuring 600 live acts.

Viki Moananu, a playwright and comedian, is returning to the gala after debuting his first solo show, Puka, in 2024. The show explored themes of queerness, destiny, and sibling quarrels.

He is back with his new boundary-pushing comedy-musical, Poofta, a clever reclamation of twisted narratives about gayness and gay people.

In an interview with Tofiga Fepulea’i on 531pi Island Time, Moananu discusses how the show tackles some “heavy” topics and advises viewer discretion.

“It's kind of about my sexuality, of course, but it's also about being brown. I explore not only mental illness but also kind of the state of religious extremism.

"It's definitely an interesting one. I'm excited to see it staged and excited to see the reactions. I think it’s going to be fun.”

Moananu says that when he began writing Poofta, he was inspired by the early stages of the Destiny Church’s recent crusade against queer individuals.

He felt particularly intrigued by the number of young Sāmoan members of the collective.

Watch Viki Moananu's full interview below.

“There's a lot of Sāmoan young people in it, people who look like me, who are kind of saying that I shouldn't exist, and so it's been a tough discussion to have and also to write.

"To me, that isn't what being Sāmoan is. Like the Sāmoans I meet are generous, kind, and loving, and it's about community.

“So it's like a really interesting dichotomy to me, like this hateful group, where I only know kind of the love side of it.”

In creating this musical piece, Moananu laughs and says it needs songs “because it’s…gay”.

Poofta will be showing at 9pm from 6-10 May at Wellington’s BATS Theatre.

Viki Moananu presents 'Poofta' at this year's Comedy Gala in Wellington. Photo/ComedyFest

Two Pacific comedy heavyweights, known as Double Up, will also feature in this year’s gala.

Bringing twice the laughs, Opeti Vaka (Tongan, Māori) kicks off the set with sharp, brainy humour, blending life stories and clever takes on race relations in New Zealand. Then Richie Fa’avesi (Sāmoan and Cook Islands) will follow with his unique brand of raw, filthy humour.

The duo spoke with Fepulea’i about bringing Pacific humour “from the garage to the stage”.

“We came up with the name of just doubling up on some brown comedians coming up through the scene instead of individually. We’re going to come doubled up with this comedy of ammunition,” Fa’avesi says.

Watch Opeti Vaka open up about his life's journey from prison to stand-up comedy on the KoKonutPodKast below.

The show is R16 with Vaka joking, “It’s because of Richie”.

“His style is raw. I’ve never seen anything like it. When I first saw him, I was like, ‘Wow, this is something new, something different.’ It’s unique.”

Described as a “brilliantly crafted” show with humour for everyone, Fa’avesi says Vaka’s style is relatable, while his is more “shocking and what you would think but wouldn’t say out loud”.

Double Up will be at Auckland’s Q Theatre on 15 and 16 May.

Richie Fa'avesi (right) and Opeti Vaka get raw and real in their show Double Up. Photo/ComedyFest

Roll Call

There’s a stacked lineup of hilarious Pacific and Māori comedians, including the formidable funny lady Bubbah, mic-master Joe Daymond, and witty Sāmoan-Welshman James Nokise, who will also be performing at the Comedy Fest at Kāpiti.

Bubbah’s one-night-only show “unpacks the intricacies of being the eldest grandchild”, portraying her as “the black sheep, the dropkick, the family disappointment”.

Josh Thompson, known from 7 Days, Educators, and Taskmaster NZ, has entertained audiences for years. His show, Old Mate, deals with the looming reality of aging.

Meanwhile, the iconic old-school Poly-humour group The Naked Sāmoans will reunite for their first live show in seven years.

Mario Gaoa, Shimpal Lelisi, David Fane, and Oscar Kightley from comedy troupe The Naked Sāmoans. Photo/ComedyFest

Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Shimpal Lelisi, Robbie Magasiva, and Iaheto Ah Hi will bring audiences a fresh serving of their “wild chemistry, edgy social satire, and daft physicality in a one-hour dark comedy”, titled The Last Temptation of the Naked Sāmoans, which tackles themes of denial, miracles, and community service”.

Comedian and TV Personality Joe Daymond will host both the Comedy Fest at Parrotdog and the Comedy Mixtape.

The latter features a carefully-curated lineup of talented performers, who will bring big laughs and sharp wit to Pōneke on 6 May at Te Auaha and then to Tāmaki Makaurau on 7 May at Q Theatre.

Among the familiar faces performing at Comedy Mixtape are Opeti and Vaka, alongside the queen of pessimism, Angella Dravid (Sāmoa, India), who will present her feature, I’m Happy For You.

Making his Comedy Fest debut is former NiuFM host Timprovise, who performs as The Kapa Haka Dropout and is known for shows like Bakery Runs and The Crowd Goes Wild.

Bailey Poching and Anthony Crum will entertain as part of Standing On The Shoulders of Giants, while The Daring Duet brings an all-new original masterpiece from their uniquely invented yet thought-provoking minds.

The hottest comedian in Aotearoa New Zealand is 2025 Billy T Award nominee Hoani Hotene, renowned for his smooth delivery of personal experiences as a fair-skinned, ginger-haired, light-eyed brother from Ngāti Hauā.

Joel McCarthy, Kajun Brooking, and Mo Munn will add their flavours to the mix. Janaye Henry will perform at Femmes & Thems in Auckland, which showcases women and gender-nonconforming comedians across Aotearoa.

Finally, Wiremu Tuhiwai will be featured in Gifted & Talented in Wellington, an eclectic show where comedians, cabaret artists, and improvisers compete in a classic talent show.

The catch is that contestants won’t know their talent until they hit the stage.

For tickets and more information about the NZ International Comedy Festival, visit their website and follow their social media pages.