Congratulations to Finn Anderson-Budd – winner of Eastbourne Unplugged 2025!

Phil from Eastbourne

At just Year 7 at Muritai, Finn’s original rap Fair Shot cut through with honesty, rhythm, and heart. It’s bold, real, and says what a lot of people feel but don’t always say — and that’s exactly what great songwriting does.
The judges were blown away by the creativity and passion across all entries this year. After collating thousands of likes, comments, and messages from the community, Fair Shot rose to the top — proving that age is no barrier when you’ve got something to say.
As part of his win, Finn has chosen to donate $200 to KidsCan, continuing the Eastbourne Unplugged tradition of giving back to the community. The remaining $300 goes directly to Finn as the winner — well deserved!
Well done, Finn — you’ve made Eastbourne proud!
MEGA Issue #8 – October
Finally, some movement on the political front — Tory, Barry, and Guppy are gone, replaced by Little, Laban, and Zee. The fossils are flushed, but the pipes still leak and the turnout’s still tragic. Fresh faces, same sludge — that’s Wellington local government for you.
Meanwhile, Live Nation keeps tightening its grip on NZ’s live music scene — one company booking the acts, owning the venues, selling the tickets, and milking the profits. It’s not live entertainment anymore; it’s corporate captivity.
In Eastbourne, The Herald changes hands — a reminder that local journalism only survives if locals back it. Advertise, contribute, or lose it.
And real estate? Four agencies fighting over a handful of listings in a village that barely needs one. The signs are everywhere — literally. Time to bury the billboards and sell some common sense.

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