bad apple
bad apple was an LGBTQIA+ arts and literature journal dedicated to Aotearoa’s marginalised communities. It has now ceased operations, but the website persists as an archive.
It was published on a submissions basis, curated online collections, organised reviews and facilitated live events.
bad apple collaborated with several organisations, including Auckland Council Libraries, Verb Readers and Writers Festival, Samoa House Library, Gus Fisher Gallery, Enjoy Contemporary Art Space, and more.
bad apple: LAST HARVEST
7 February 2026, Basement Theatre, Tāmaki Makaurau
After four years of serving the LGBTQIA+ community of Aotearoa, bad apple came to an end. Before the website went quiet, the team wanted to celebrate with Tāmaki Makaurau—one LAST HARVEST for all the fruits of the city.
This event was a stylish celebration and a commiseration, with readings and musings from frequent collaborators Amber Esau, Liam Jacobson, Ruby Macomber, Amy Marguerite, Ted Greensmith-West, Laura Vincent, kī anthony and Damien Levi.
Graphic design by Kaan Hiini.
future ANCESTORS
4–6 July 2024, Basement Theatre, Tāmaki Makaurau
9 November 2024, Te Auaha, Te Whanganui-a-Tara
future ANCESTORS was a three-night showcase of dance, comedy and poetry, from queer Māori and Pasifika creatives in Tāmaki Makaurau.
In the space, Indigenous people were placed at the forefront and asked to interrogate their relationships with their ancestors in consideration of their descendants. We are the future ANCESTORS—how will our mokopuna look upon us?
Each creative was asked the question, “What kind of ancestor do you want to be?” and interpreted this provocation through their performance.
The Tāmaki Makaurau season featured Hāmiora Bailey, Liam Jacobson, Laura Vincent, Koko Telfer, Mahalia Salesa, Elise Sadlier, Kitty Wasasala, Prowl Productions produced by Hayley Walters-Tekahika, and Rewa Fowles.
An additional event, future ANCESTORS: LGBTQ+ lineages, was curated for the Verb Readers and Writers Festival 2024 programme in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, featuring Sinead Overbye, Rangimarie Sophie Jolley and Herbee Bartley.
Graphic design by Kaan Hiini with artwork by Liam Jacobson.
The Showcase
13–17 February 2024, Basement Theatre, Tāmaki Makaurau
Five nights, twenty-five different queer poets from across Tāmaki Makaurau. For attendees, The Showcase was either a crash course into the local poetic world or a line-up of all their faves on stage.
Each night, five new faces were introduced to the stage to serve ten minutes of their poetry. There were hard-hitting slams, soft, yearning love stories and deft comedic takedowns of fumbling public servants.
Co-programmed with Mary Mosteller, The Showcase featured:
Shania Pablo, Ivy Lyden-Hancy, Naomii Seah, Ngaio Simmons, Josiah Morgan, Maxie Rodil, Dan Goodwin, kī anthony, Jo Bragg, Tate Fountain, Jennifer Rockwell, Eric Soakai, Ted Greensmith-West, Zephyr Zhang, Jiaqiao Liu, Zita Rose Featherstone, Sherry Zhang, Marcus Mckenzie, Stellar Pritchard, Amy Marguerite, Van Mei, Amber Esau, Liam Jacobson, Hebe Kearney and Laura Vincent.
Graphic design by Kaan Hiini.