Hoani Hotene won the prestigious Billy T Award comedy award last year and he’s now touring his latest show ‘Must Be Funny in a Rich Man’s World’.
After a little bit of banter with the front row which involved being star struck by a famous actress sitting there, Hotene launched into a set about cafe culture. Being new to Auckland it’s surprised him you can get merchandise at some coffee houses. He also loves a big breakfast but asks the question ‘why are you there?’ to the ubiquitous half a tomato. No one likes them he says, except perhaps old people.
His banter is casual and observational with a touch of political satire not far away. Some of these references are tossed in at the last minute and that’s what makes them funny and pointed. An example was equating the encroachment of baked beans into other ingredients to that of a colonising power. They don’t call it an English Breakfast for nothing he says with a grin.
His family is not safe from satire and he delights in mentioning a cousin convinced the pyramids were built by aliens, his own father has an odd habit of recycling toothbrushes – for re-use, and a three year old cousin has learned how to get away with saying ‘fuck.’
Hotene is quite an unassuming comedian who is very likeable and has some clever things to say in a manner that is both coy and self-possessed.
HOANI HOTENE
5-9 May 2026
Basement Theatre