Join us as we uncover how Auckland—Tāmaki Makaurau—became the epicenter of a uniquely Kiwi movement, forever changing the way house music and dance are expressed in the Pacific.

We map the pioneering path from the first inspired jams and local tracks, to the rise of influential venues like Kinetic Dance Studio, HIT Dance Studio and En Beat Dance Academy. Discover the role of legacy spaces like Grey Lynn Community Center, Empire Studios and TST Studios in shaping the culture, and how fierce events in other cities—like Swagfest in Hamilton—helped light the spark for a nationwide movement.

Meet the visionaries and powerhouses propelling the house dance movement in Aotearoa forward. We highlight foundational figures like Lawrence Liew and Jasmine Cox—early house dance champions and co-founders of House Dance NZ, whose dedication built a bridge from grassroots jams to formal studios. Learn how Jasmine’s roots with Plague Dance Crew and Lawrence’s prowess in teaching helped lay the community’s foundation.

Explore the dynamism of Sheldon Rua—aka Scent—whose leadership of Faleheddz turned a passion for house into a South Pacific powerhouse, creating open jams, thrilling battles, and cross-cultural connection every Thursday at Kinetic Studio.

Hear how Mr. Zee (Zedrik Nufable) steered the 603 Boogie Squad and co-directed En Beat Dance Academy, nurturing both beginners and future champions, and how his regular Monday cyphers with Hip Hop House Headz Aotearoa keep the culture thriving.

Get to know today’s icons: John Vaifale—“Happy Feet”—Red Bull champion, DJ, and MC infusing every event with boundless energy; John Bernardo "JB", the ever-generous teacher who built skills at TST and beyond; and Gabriel Nito, a three-crew powerhouse and passionate instructor at HIT, Flow Motion, and 603 Boogie. Experience the MC mastery of Ken Vaega (Lightsaber), orchestrating battles, throwdowns, and the joyous chaos of jam circles. Discover the vision behind Kinetic Dance Studio from founders Mitchell & Matthew Yee and Timothy Choy, plus the visionary event direction of Rina Chae at En Beat Dance Academy.

We spotlight the crews and organizations shaping the scene: from House Dance NZ and the community-building Faleheddz movement, to the electrifying HipHop House Headz Aotearoa, project-makers Projekt Team, the ever-evolving Flow Motion Dance Crew, the historic Plague Dance Crew, and the Monday night magic of LH Combine.

Relive signature battles—like the high-stakes Battlezone (with 2024 champ Sheldon Rua), the legendary Britomart Backyard Battles hosted by Faleheddz, the unforgettable Swagfest win by Sheldon & Kokonut in Hamilton, and crowd-favorite events like Funk In Da House at Zong Kitchen, and Ladies of Hip Hop Aotearoa 2025, which featured international House dance icon Toyin Sogruro.

Show notes