'The god of wind is racist'
Nish Kumar cancels NZ shows amid severe gusts
Nish Kumar has been forced to cancel two shows in New Zealand because of extreme weather conditions.
The comic was due to perform his latest stand-up show Nish, Don't Kill My Vibe in Wellington in two sessions tonight.
However the city has been hit by a severe gale, with winds gusting at up to 75mph.
Emergency management chiefs warned locals to ‘take this one seriously’ and seek shelter in the middle of their houses away from windows and doors.
This is the first time Wellington has received a red warning since the colour-coded system was introduced in 2019, and the council has shut its venues in the town, including the Hannah Playhouse where Kumar was due to play.
He said he was ‘absolutely gutted’ to have to cancel the shows, joking: ‘The god of wind is racist. That is my only conclusion.’
Kumar will now perform three shows tomorrow – at 7pm, 9pm and 10.30pm – to accommodate some of those who had ticket to see the show tonight.
And he added: 'The weather is crazy here, and I totally get the council's decision to shut everything tonight.’
Ironically, the show includes ‘jokes about climate collapse’.
Kumar plays Auckland on Saturday then returns to the UK to resume the tour in Brighton on May 12.
The show will be filmed at the Hackney Empire in London on May 24, although it has not been announced where the special will air.
Published: 1 May 2025
