Che Fu – The Civic, 16 October 2026: Review & Photo Gallery

17th October 2026

Che Fu, one of New Zealand’s most successful male vocalists, a former vocalist of Supergroove, and a recent inductee into the NZ Music Hall of Fame, kicked off a nine-date tour around New Zealand with The Kratez in October to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Navigator. Tonight, they brought the celebration to The Civic in Auckland, the third-to-last stop on the tour.

King Kapisi

The show was scheduled to start at 8 pm, but well before then, New Zealand hip-hop pioneer King Kapisi was already behind the decks at centre stage, playing tracks and getting the crowd warmed up. Watching people walk past me, each with a drink in hand, I knew they were ready for a great night.

Che Fu

Right on time, the curtains slowly opened. Che Fu stood with his back to the audience, taking in the cheers before launching into The Mish. He moved straight through a run of classics, showing off his skills behind the decks between songs. It was a great reminder that he is more than just a vocalist, and these little touches kept the set feeling fresh. King Kapisi was soon invited back on stage to perform alongside him, and the night reached its first peak when heavyweight guest Radz, also known as Aaradhna, one of New Zealand’s best known R&B and soul artists, made her entrance. Wearing a colourful, flowing dress and walking onto the stage barefoot, she performed some of her best known songs, including tracks with millions of streams. Her effortless runs and beautiful vocal turns were hypnotic. She danced along with the music like a fairy, and the couple right in front of me were practically losing their minds!

Betty-Anne

Next up was Betty-Anne, who released her debut solo album earlier this year. She walked on stage with a Tahitian ukulele, an instrument with a distinctly Polynesian feel, and played with real warmth and passion. Her white dress was covered in large floral patterns, with two big red flowers in her hair. Even her ukulele had flower stickers on it. The whole look felt carefully put together and suited her perfectly. Her style was completely different from Radz, but both artists had their own charm, and watching them was a real pleasure.

Che Fu then reminded everyone that the show was all about celebrating the album’s 25th anniversary. He asked the crowd if they remembered the album cover, and whether they remembered the little kid sitting behind his backpack. That kid has grown up and become a talented musician in his own right. He is Che Fu’s son, and tonight he was on stage playing the saxophone! Seeing a father and son sharing the stage like this was a genuinely touching moment. They went on to perform Misty Frequency, Che Fu’s most iconic track, and the whole crowd got to its feet, singing along at the top of their voices and dancing together. People even poured out of their seats and into the aisles just to dance. It was one of those moments when the whole room seemed to move as one.

The first half ended on a high, with the musicians leaving the stage for a break. But the music never stopped. King Kapisi returned to the decks, and with the house lights now turned up, the crowd seemed even more fired up. I spotted a man in a full suit dancing with some seriously slick moves, drawing everyone’s attention around him. Clearly, nobody was here just to stand still and watch.

The second half was even better. Betty-Anne and Radz both returned to the stage, bringing even more energy to the performance. Even the introductions of the band members were entertaining. The lineup was seriously impressive. Alongside the usual guitar, bass and drums, there was a trumpet player and three saxophonists. You could really hear how much thought had gone into the arrangements. This mix of funk, hip-hop and soul had so many layers and changes in rhythm and feel that there was always something new to catch. It was an absolute joy to listen to.

An encore was always on the cards. Radz, Betty-Anne and King Kapisi all returned for a final group performance of Waka, bringing the night to a close amid a wall of cheers from the crowd. With nearly 24 songs across almost three hours, the show was generous in every sense of the word.

You didn’t even need to stand close to the stage to see how hard Che Fu had been working. From a distance, the light reflecting off the sweat on his face told the whole story. Yet none of it affected his smooth vocals or his performance. He remained in control from beginning to end, giving the crowd everything he had.

Throughout the night, he kept calling the audience “brothers and sisters”. There was something genuinely warm about that, and it felt true to the man he has always been throughout his career. Watching him tonight, I was reminded of a quality that can sometimes get lost in conversations about musical talent. Being a great musician matters, of course, but being a good person matters just as much, if not more. Before he is a great musician, Che Fu is a great brother, father and friend.

I hope this New Zealand music pioneer continues to enjoy every moment of his remarkable career, bringing his music to more generations and celebrating one milestone after another. Here’s to another 25 years.