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January 23, 2026
Ama Mosese: Introducing the Southside Queens of Comedy – and the Rise of Ama Mosese
Dale Husband
Posted On January 23, 2026
Download AudioA bold new force is shaking up Aotearoa’s comedy scene – and it’s coming straight out of South Auckland.
The Southside Queens of Comedy are a powerhouse collective of wāhine Māori and Pasifika comedians, bringing unapologetic humour, lived experience and cultural storytelling to the stage. Their comedy is raw, relatable and rooted in community – and one of their newest and most dynamic voices is Ama Mosese.
Ama’s journey into stand-up has been anything but traditional. Known first as a confident host and storyteller, she says one of the biggest surprises in joining the Southside Queens has been stepping fully into vulnerability – standing alone on stage and trusting her own voice.
“It’s a different kind of courage,” she says. “Hosting is about guiding others. Stand-up is about standing in your truth and letting people meet you there.”
Ama’s background in storytelling and tourism has strongly shaped her comedy style. Years of connecting with people from all walks of life have given her an instinct for reading the room, timing, and weaving everyday experiences into humour that feels both personal and universal.
Her material draws on whānau, culture, identity and the small moments that resonate deeply with Māori and Pasifika audiences – but also invite everyone else in.
For Ama, representing Māori and Pasifika women in a comedy space that is still growing its Indigenous voices is both an honour and a responsibility.
“Seeing wāhine like us owning the mic changes what people think comedy looks like,” she says. “It tells our girls – and our boys – that our stories belong on every stage.”
As the Southside Queens prepare for the Waitangi Day Stand-Up Comedy Showcase, Ama hopes audiences walk away feeling uplifted, seen and connected.
She says the kaupapa is simple: laughter as healing, humour as resistance, and comedy as a way to bring people together.
With the Southside Queens of Comedy leading the charge, and Ama Mosese stepping confidently into the spotlight, South Auckland humour is claiming its place – loud, proud, and undeniably Indigenous.
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