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News | 11 October 2023
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Pōneke getting ready to sleigh the festive season

Pōneke will be celebrating the silly season in the Capital with a full calendar of whānau friendly, entertaining, accessible and summer events for everyone to enjoy.

A aerialist circus performer dressed in a red and green elf costume performs in front of an audience.

A number of roads around the city will be closed for some of these events, and town will get busy for the major ones so please consider taking public transport, cycling, scooting or walking to events, and allow extra time for your journey.

The main events

Courtenay Place Light Boxes 'Here'
14 Oct – 12 Feb
77-97 Courtenay Place

'Here' features photographs by Ben Lowe, using long exposures in the night sky, while hiking Wellington’s South Coast, Te Rimurapa/ Sinclair’s Head. The photographs allow us to experience these places differently. The interplay of light trails of distant stars, people, planes, ships, and meteors ignites our imaginations. Find out more about Courtenay Place Light Box exhibitions.

Kaibosh Community Party
Sat 14 Oct | 10am-3pm
11 Hopper Street, Mount Cook
kaibosh.org.nz

Kaibosh is turning 15 and everyone is welcome to celebrate with a community open day. There’ll be cake, a smoothie bike making delicious drinks, samples of jam from Community Fruit, go behind the scenes with a tour of the main site, and support their amazing mahi with a donation or two.

WXV 1 tournament
20-21 October
Sky Stadium
world.rugby/tournaments/wxv

Wellington will host the world’s top women’s rugby superstars in a new global competition coming to Aotearoa. The inaugural WXV 1 tournament features the world’s six top ranked teams including New Zealand's Black Ferns as well as England, France, Wales, Canada and Australia.

Ziggy Alberts
Sat 21 Oct
Michael Fowler Centre

After captivating audiences around the globe, Ziggy Alberts is set to bring his mesmerizing live performance Wellington. Supporting him on this tour are UK-based indie artist Nathan Ball and rising singer-songwriter Little Green from Australia.

Wellington Jazz Festival
25-29 October 2023
Various locations
jazzfestival.nz

A quality line-up of jazz talent is set to dazzle at venues across Wellington. Find at more information and book now at jazzfestival.nz

Royal New Zealand Ballet – Hansel & Gretel
26 – 29 October
St James Theatre

Follow the breadcrumbs this Christmas, and venture into the fantastical realm of ‘Hansel & Gretel’. Inspired by the old-fashioned magic of silent movies, this ballet will transport you to a magical world with large-scale cinematic effects. With choreography by Loughlan Prior and a score by Claire Cowan, expect a wonderful ballet experience for all age.

Performers on stage at Diwali festival
Diwali Festival

Diwali Festival of Lights & Fireworks
Sun 29 Oct | 2pm-8.30pm (8.45pm fireworks display)
TSB Arena & Shed 6
wellington.govt.nz/Diwali

Sample the colours, tastes, and sounds of India and South-East Asia at Wellington’s vibrant Diwali Festival of Lights. There will be non-stop cultural entertainment, food, and Indian cultural activities for the whole family to enjoy. Finish the day with a short fireworks display on Wellington Harbour.

Performance Art Week Aotearoa (PAWA)
1 – 5 November
performanceartweekaotearoa.com

PAWA returns to Wellington for its fourth biannual festival, bringing together a selection of Aotearoa and the world's most celebrated performance artists. Proudly hosted by the Adam Art Gallery, there’ll be selected works in public spaces across Wellington city.

Dracula’s: The Resurrection Tour
2 – 4 November 
St James Theatre
wellingtonnz.com

Australia’s famous vaudevillian variety show, Dracula’s, will hit Wellington for the first time ever this November. Following a sold-out season in Australia, the New Zealand tour will combine years of perfected performances into one blockbuster show, set to dazzle and delight.

Phoenix double headers
Sat 4 Nov & Sat 23 Dec
Sky Stadium
wellingtonphoenix.com

The Wellington Phoenix A-League women and men’s teams will be bringing double trouble to Sky Stadium for two big events. But you can check out wellingtonphoenix.com for the full schedule and fixtures.

SCI-FI Sundays - Zombies Edition
5, 12, 19 Nov
Space Place
Spaceplace.nz

Unearth the undead with Space Place’s zombie movie edition on the spine-tingling planetarium. Space Place is home to a state-of-the-art Sky-Skan digital full-dome planetarium system hosting a range of planetarium movies for every age. 

Semi Permanent Aotearoa 2023
8-10 Nov
St James Theatre
semipermanent.com

Now in its 21st year, Semi Permanent brings together creative industries from across New Zealand, Australia, and beyond. The three-day festival includes an incredible line-up of keynote talks, panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, and more.

Polish Christmas Market
Sat 18 Nov | 11am-6pm
257 Riddiford Street, Newtown
polishcommunity.org.nz

The Polish Christmas Market kicks-off the festive season with its always popular event with amazing food, cute stalls, terrific music, dancing, kid’s activities and Father Christmas. 

Toast Martinborough 
Sun 19 Nov
Martinborough
wellingtonnz.com

Make your way to Martinborough to celebrate the 30th year of New Zealand’s most esteemed wine and food festival.

Highly Suspect
Sun 19 Nov
TSB Arena
wellingtonnz.com

American rock band Highly Suspect are known rule breakers. Mixing gritty guitars, haunting piano, off-kilter synths, and hip-hop production style. Their New Zealand shows sold out within minutes. But don’t worry, a venue upgrade means more tickets are available for their Wellington show.

Bill Bailey
19 & 20 Nov
Michael Fowler Centre
wellingtonnz.com

Come on a magical, musical mystery tour of the human mind. Much-loved comedian Bill Bailey will be pondering pressing matters about whales, biophilia, and unrequited love.

 
Marvel comics Credit: Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes
Marvel: Te Whakaaturanga Mārohirohi o Te Ao

Christmas in the Quarters
Saturdays 25 Nov – 16 Dec | 12pm-5pm
wellington.govt.nz/christmas

Christmas in the Quarters celebrates Christmas with four themes, at four events, in four different quarters of the city. Each Saturday will be different, there’ll be Christmas carols and music, crafts, circus acts, and Saturday 16 December will be full of whānau friendly activities and a guest appearance from Santa! More information coming soon.

On a Good Day
30 Nov – 2 Dec
Anderson Park
wellingtonnz.com

Following the success of last summer’s Fat Boy Slim show, a three-night series kicks-off with internationally acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy, the following night stars indie-rock band The War On Drugs, with the final night’s act Australian singer-songwriter Matt Corby joined by American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Allen Stone.

Nanogirl Live 2023! Little Bang Big Bang
3 Dec
St James Theatre
wellingtonnz.com

This interactive show gives lots of opportunities for young scientists to step on stage, collaborate with Nanogirl, and put science to the test. The performance is surprising, filled with mind-bending science like you have never seen them before. It’s guaranteed to be both entertaining and educational for the whole family.

The Teskey Brothers - The Winding Way Tour
9 – 10 December
Michael Fowler Centre
wellingtonnz.com

ARIA Award winners and GRAMMY® nominees The Teskey Brothers have announced The Winding Way Tour. The Australian band will be performing at their biggest international venues to date — including Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre.

Toi 500 – Toi Pōneke Arts Centre residents’ exhibition
13 – 21 December
Toi Pōneke Arts Centre

Toi 500 annual residents’ exhibition is a chance for audiences to grab an art bargain with works $500 or under. Works presented by Anthea Hayley, David Brown, Franzeska Pound, Jane Hyder, Kedron Parker, Laura Woodward, Maria Colls, Odette Anscombe-Smith, Rebecca Mooney, Selene Simcox, Yon Yi Sohn, Terence Turner and more.

Marvel: Te Whakaaturanga Mārohirohi o Te Ao 
14 Dec – 28 April 2024
Tākina
wellingtonnz.com

Exclusive to the capital, it features rare artifacts, original comic art, film props, costumes, immersive designs and exclusive memorabilia, getting fans up close with iconic Marvel Heroes, films and comics. For more information visit wellingtonnz.com/MarvelExhibition.

Love Actually – Live in Concert
Fri 15 December 
Michael Fowler Centre
wellingtonnz.com

For the first time in Wellington, you get to see your favourite Christmas movie play out in concert. Featuring an all-star cast, Love Actually has become a beloved festive season film. 
A full symphony orchestra will play the soundtrack while the movie is projected on a big screen above.

Dinosaurs of Patagonia | Ngā Taniwha o Rūpapa
16 Dec – 28 Apr 2024
Te Papa
Tepapa.govt.nz

Step into the desert of Patagonia and discover incredible new fossil finds, including one of the biggest creatures ever to walk the planet: the 37-metre-long Patagotitan mayorum. This family-friendly exhibition includes models, fossils, videos, and fun activities – walk like a dino, sound like a dino, even create a virtual dino!

Dream11 Super Smash cricket double header
Thurs 21 Dec | 12.30pm & 4pm
Cello Basin Reserve
supersmash.co.nz

Wellington Blaze and Firebirds kick-off their Super Smash season with a double header at the home of cricket.

Summer Solstice
Fri 22 Dec | 8.30pm
Island Bay Beach

Let the Festivities begin! Celebrate the summer solstice with live music, fire, and a summer solstice ceremony. Check out loemis.nz for more information.

New Year’s Eve
Sun 31 Dec | 8pm–midnight
Whairepo Lagoon 

A free, fun evening of great music to bring in the New Year, in one of Wellington’s iconic locations. Kids, enjoy an early countdown and blast of fireworks at 9.30pm. For more information visit wellington.govt.nz/newyear.

Summer Sampler
Every weekend during Jan-Feb 
Wellington Waterfront
wellington.govt.nz/summer-sampler

Join us as some of Pōneke's finest performers fill the waterfront with vibrant delights.

Gardens Magic
9-28 Jan
Botanic Garden ki Paekākā 
wellington.govt.nz/gardens-magic

Wellington City Council’s iconic summer event returns with three weeks of free music, a Light Display, Kids Garden Trail, and Kids Explorer Days, all set amongst the natural beauty of the Botanic Garden ki Paekākā. 

Z Manu World Champs – Regional Qualifier
26-28 Jan
Jump Platform, Wellington Waterfront.

Have you got the goods to become the first Manu World Champion? Learn more and secure your qualification spot when manuworldchamps.com goes live this month.

The Darkness 20th Anniversary ‘Permission To Land’ Tour 2024 
26 Jan
The Opera House 
wellingtonnz.com

The Darkness ignited the mainstream rock scene in the early 2000s. Their trademark falsetto, spandex, guitar riffs, and theatrical live shows propelled them to the top of the UK charts. Their album, ‘Permission to Land’ went 5x Platinum and is now 20 years old. Celebrating this anniversary, the band is hitting Wellington in January as part of an Australasian tour.

Foo Fighters
27 Jan
Sky Stadium
skystadium.co.nz

Foo Fighters are returning to Aotearoa this summer. The legendary rock band will be hitting the road for a massive world tour in support of their new album, ‘But Here We Are’. They’ll be joined at Sky Stadium by special guests Dick Move and The Breeders.