In 1988, Wellington’s punk scene remained a vibrant, DIY-driven underground community amidst the radical neoliberal reforms of Rogernomics. Centered on house shows, small halls, and a handful of sympathetic pubs it featured a mix of hardcore, thrash-influenced, and anarcho-leaning bands, with active groups touring between cities and supporting each other through benefits and shared bills.
The year began with a notable Rongotai house show at Simon Cottle’s place (Anti-System zine author), featuring One Less Customer alongside Nazgul, Microwave Babies, Acid Reign, Avil Retards, and Wazzo Ghoti. Fanzines like Anti-System documented the scene, covering interviews, reviews, and politics, while the community emphasized mutual support amid limited mainstream attention.
T.A.B. (formed late 1987) started regular gigs early in the year. Skank Attack organized events at the Railway Hall under “Skank Undertakings” and traveled to Auckland for shows like one at the Gluepot with Bygone Era in April. In the Hutt Valley, Microwave Babies hosted a gig at the Lady of the Rosary hall in February before splitting around March/ April. A May benefit honored Kevin Hawkins (ex-Shoes This High guitarist, who died in 1987). Nazgul and Wazzo Ghoti ventured south to Dunedin’s Nerve Centre in June.
Venues included the Clarendon Tavern (Courtenay Place and Taranaki Street corner), regularly hosting punk, rock, and metal; the Cricketers Arms (with its live room renamed The Bunker, featuring Flesh D-Vice, Number Nine, Wazzo Ghoti, and Nazgul); and occasional halls or house parties. Number Nine played frequently until June, when lineup changes occurred (Cynthia left, replaced by ex-NRA member Mike on bass).
The scene intersected with emerging heavier sounds: in December, high-school thrash metal band Shihad (Wellington High students) debuted at The Clarendon supporting T.A.B. – a modest start for what became one of New Zealand’s most enduring rock acts over the next two decades.
January
- Jan 9, Rongotai: Microwave Babies, Nazgul, OLCB, Acid Reign, Avil Retards, Wazzo Ghoti
- Jan 10, The Cricketers Arms: Axemen, One Less Customer, Surgical Brain Implant
- Jan 21, The Cricketers Arms: TAB, The Sub-Dominants
- Jan 29, Railway Hall: Skank Attack, Wazzo Ghoti, Electric Church, The Others
- Jan 30, Railway Hall?: Skank Attack
February
- Feb: Anti-System #11
- Feb 3-4, The Clarendon: One Less Customer, Avil Retards
- Feb 6, Lady Of The Rosary, Waiwhetu: Dirtcore 3: Microwave Babies, Avil Retards, Nazgul, TAB, Number Nine
- Feb 12, Victoria University: The Bats, Chris Knox, Wazzo Ghoti
- Feb 17, The Clarendon: Skank Attack
- Feb 19, Auckland University: Skank Attack, Fish For Life, Bygone Era
- Feb 20, Railway Hall: Earache 88: Droogs, The Sub-Dominants, Microwave Babies, TAB, Manson Family
- Feb 26, Railway Hall: Number Nine, Skank Attack, Pieces of Cod, Smacc Riflemen
- Feb 26-27, The Cricketers Arms: Despiser, Confessor
March
- March 19, Railway Hall: The Warners, Bygone Era, Number Nine, Nazgul
April
- April 1-4, Writhe Studios: Casualty recording
- April 3, The Cricketers Arms: Casualty, Nazgul
- April 4, The Cricketers Arms: Number Nine, The Sub-Dominants, The Wart, Magic Roundabout
- April 13-14, The Clarendon: Number Nine, Magic Roundabout
- April 17, The Clarendon: Manson Family, Toxic Avengers
- April 22, The Gluepot: Skank Attack, Bygone Era
- April 23, The Clarendon: Number Nine, Wazzo Ghoti
May
- May 8, The Cricketers Arms: Kevin Hawkins fundraiser: Number Nine
- May 13, Flesh D-Vice: Hamburger II, The Nite She Returned
- May 13, The Cricketers Arms: Flesh D-Vice, TAB
- May 14, The Clarendon: Wazzo Ghoti
June
- June 3-4, Nerve Centre (DUN): Nazgul, Wazzo Ghoti, Moral Fibre, Satan’s Vomit
- June 16, The Clarendon: Number Nine
- June 23, The Clarendon: Number Nine
July
- July 21, The Clarendon: Wazzo Ghoti, The Jonahs
- July 30, The Clarendon: Number Nine, The Cattlebirds
August
- Aug: Anti-System #12
- Aug 17-18, The Clarendon: Number Nine, Smacc Riflemen
- Aug 26-27, Cafe 88: Number Nine, TAB
- Aug 27, Aro Valley Hall: “Cactus Ball”: Naughty Amoebas (DUN), One Less Customer, The Wart, Onaweta
September
- Sept 4, The Bunker: Flesh D-Vice, Harry Death
- Sept 7, The Clarendon: Flesh D-Vice
- Sept 9, Cafe 88: Flesh D-Vice
- Sept 14, The Clarendon: Nazgul, Brewers Droop
- Sept 14, The Bunker: Flesh D-Vice, Number Nine
- Sept 23-24, Ponsonby Community Centre: Manson Family
October
- Oct 8, Cafe 88: Wazzo Ghoti
- Oct 15, Aro Valley Hall: TAB, Manson Family
- Oct 19, The Clarendon: Nazgul, Columbian Necktie
- Oct 30, The Bunker: Flesh D-Vice, Adventure Playground
November
- Nov 10, The Bunker: Wazzo Ghoti, Axoltl
- Nov 20, The Clarendon: Flesh D-Vice, TAB, Vas Deferens
- Nov 27, The Bunker: Sticky Filth, Nazgul
December
- Dec 10, The Bunker: Casualty, Manson Family, Toxic Avengers
- Dec 11, The Cricketers Arms: Manson Family
- Dec 14, The Clarendon: TAB, Shihad
