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10 | InTouch SPRING 2026 OUT OF ISOLATION INTO THE SPOTLIGHT On the bustling Cake Tin concourse inWellington, a young DJ was warming up the crowd ahead of the sold-out 2026 Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final, with handpicked mixes of popular songs for the fans. Written by Tristan Ogden, Manawanui FEATURE For many 14-year-olds, performing at a major sporting event would be a daunting prospect. But for Waikanae's Harper Ahern, aka DJ Harpz, it was just another gig, and the latest milestone in a growing musical career. He wasn't even nervous. “It doesn’t really matter where I play, as long as there’s people I’m happy,” he says. "I just love seeing how they react to different tracks.” What began as a childhood interest in music has grown Harper finds his groove Harper getting the crowd moving at the CubaDupa street festival. into a passion for DJing and Harper’s resume already includes Kapiti Coast community events, pop-ups on Wellington's waterfront and Lambton Quay, even beachside sets. Harper’s mum Trish Ahern says music has been part of who he is since he was a boy. "I remember getting him a keyboard when he was about six or seven years old. He just loved it and spent the whole day making little tunes and sounds."