It takes hard graft to cut through the culture-vulture chaos of Fringe flyering, but Hoani Hotene has already done the work required to get this show to Edinburgh. Resembling a ginger Kiwi Ed Sheeran, with his comedy chops and guitar work he wins the crowd with ease.

His material is clever. SpongeBob translated into Te Reo Māori becomes both a linguistic workout and a philosophical deep-dive into why Mr Krabs is clearly working through some serious issues. From there, Hotene pivots into everyday absurdities: debates over what actually counts as a “meal deal,” the fraught politics of fridge real estate, and even a few ChatGPT musings that feel bang up to date. What’s impressive is the ease with which he makes the shift.

Audience work is also strong. He invites people to share interesting facts, and the responses are comedy gold. Edinburgh Fringe being the third most ticketed event in the world? Gingers needing 20% more anaesthetic than everyone else? He turns it effortlessly, quipping that redheads just get more pain in life anyway.

The prepared material keeps delivering, too. A hilariously problematic riff on “couple’s massages” becomes a highlight of the night, and a Christians vs. dinosaurs routine is handled with such class and precision that it avoids cliché and lands as both clever and properly funny.

Add in his knack for sharp, almost throwaway observations, and you realise just how tight his writing is beneath the relaxed exterior. He’s razor-sharp from the off, a comic who knows how to balance charm with bite. Hotene is already a name back home in New Zealand, but on this form he’s got the talent to become a defining presence on the international circuit too. Midnight Kiwi may technically be late-night/early-morning fare, but it has the freshness and spark of something worth staying up for. You leave the room feeling lighter, buzzing, and grateful you didn’t take the earlier night bus home.

A joy from start to finish — Hotene is one of those comics you’ll be bragging about having seen early.