Tomorrow's Histories: photographs by Neil Penman marks significant moments in Porirua's history and honours the legacy of local photographer Neil Penman, who dedicated himself to documenting moments of urban transformation.

Working in black and white documentary style, Penman saw photography as a form of social history, preserving the stories of people and places for posterity. Among his photographs are the people who were there throughout it all, including portraits of Ngāti Toa kaumatua.

Tomorrow's Histories will be on display from the 8th of August until the 8th of November at Pātaka Gallery.

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Meet our costume artisans! At these exclusive events, step into our cinema in the heart of Wētā Workshop, as two of our costume technicians reveal how a hobby grew into a career and how the skills behind blockbuster films can begin at your own kitchen table.

10AM, Thursday 17, Saturday 19, Sunday 20, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September @ Wētā Workshop Experiences in Miramar.

A treat for World of Wearable Art fans and makers alike. Sessions available across WOW festival. Secure your booking from wetaworkshop.com

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The Aotearoa Festival of Architecture is running from the 21st of September until Sunday the 4th of October right here in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington!

We are celebrating the joyful, energetic spirit of the city, with a nod to our famously windy climate. Uplift is about bringing people together, embracing Wellington’s creative energy, and contributing positively to the life of the city through architecture, design and community.

Everyone is welcome to attend the events for Aotearoa Festival of Architecture, as we are hosting a bunch of different events happening across the festival including:
Exhibitions
Industry Talks / Panel discussions
Building + Walking Tours – LGBTQ+ topics
Early morning yoga or sketching workshops
Movie screenings + Kōrero
Architecture firm open studios
Mixer, networking events
Music Gig
Quiz Nights


For more information head to www.nzia.co.nz ...

Warning: contains monsters (and the young makers who create them).

Fangs. Claws. Scales, and a few too many eyes. These school holidays, kids can sculpt them all from a single lump of clay.

In this new workshop, they'll become a monster maker for an hour. Working with the same modelling clay used by our Wētā Workshop crew, they'll shape and sculpt their very own creature, then take it home... if they dare.

Book on the Wētā website!

Price: $29, parents and caregivers go free.

Want to make a day of it? Add a tour with our Junior Combo for $49 per person: Monster Makers & Tour Combo | Wētā Workshop Experiences

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Dinosaurs are taking over the planetarium!

Space Place presents T.REX - a 360-degree dome film experience narrated by national treasure Sam Neill about how the latest scientific developments have changed our understanding of the legendary tyrannosaurus rex.

Suitable for ages 5+. Save 20% off your visit with the Take a Red Rocket to Space Combo.

Plan your visit at spaceplace.nz

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After two decades Wellington has finally gifted us an appropriate venue from which Music Without Subtitles can host its first ever live-to-air radio show, It's all going down at Octo & Herbs this Saturday the 26th of September from 9-11pm!

Marking TV DiSKO's twenty-year stint with RadioActive.FM, the city's best little community radio station, Octo and Herb’s as the show’s sponsor have graciously allowed us to mark this auspicious anniversary with a live broadcast from their bar.

Join us in person and come on down to Octo & Herbs for this free event, and if you can't make it down you can tune in to 88.6FM to hear it all unfold over the airwaves! 

Octo & Herbs
26th September
Music Without Subtitles live
9-11pm
Free Entry ...

Vogelmorn Upstairs is calling out for songwriters, singers, and musicians of all genres to showcase their craft at our Upstairs Open Mic Night.

Welcome to the perfect environment for new and seasoned songwriters alike who want to test new material for an audience, practice the intricacies of a song, or simply have some fun on stage. All ages, voices, styles, and levels of experience are welcome.

Sign up between 5:30 and 6:30 with music kicking off at 6:30pm. Come early for a home-style meal from VBC Eats.

See you at the Upstairs Open Mic Night!

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This October, JAWSHY (Yumi Zouma) is taking over the Tav for an all nighter.

JAWShY aka Josh Burgess hails from the mighty Manawatū and has been based in New York since 2012. Co-founder and producer of dream-pop band Yumi Zouma, he also brought Flying Nun Records' reissue campaign to life in the US from 2010 to 2020.

When he gets behind the decks, things go long and wide - from New York disco to Christchurch indie sleaze, melodic house, gospel, European tech, Hindi funk, Afrobeat and Lebanese dream pop.

Come prepared to dance, cry and connect.

There's only one rule: NO PHONES ON THE DANCE FLOOR

Friday 2nd of October, 9pm - 1am - all nite long at Cuba St Tavern.

Free Entry.

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Music & The City at Cuba Street Tavern in collaboration with RadioActive.FM

Hosted by NZIA, NZILA, and SEGD, Music & the City is an event series designed to dive into a hot topic with city shaping voices.

The next iteration: Music & the City will explore the spaces where music happens—town halls, old churches, basements, parks, beaches, street corners, recording studios, record stores, radio stations—and asks how people make those spaces special, what architects, landscape architects, and experiential designers can add for the future of music and the city.

We’ll be marking the final weekend of Aotearoa Festival of Architecture 2026 at Cuba Street Tavern, with a live broadcast of the Late Late Breakfast show, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A about how we best design spaces for music in our city, and kick-ons with RadioActive DJs to see you deep into the night. 

Cuba Street Tavern Saturday 3rd October

1pm-1am Free Entry ...

Saturday the 3rd of October Puffin is bringing in Doom Juice for a big ol' puff party!

Including:

Hold Up A Min will be creating a flash sheet just for the day and will set up a tattoo station in the bar.

GLIZZYS LIMITED hotdogs from chch are up for the day slinging dawgs.

And of course; Doom Juice Wine slingin’ wines (& goons of course)

Ghuzzles. Glizzys. Ghuznee. 2pm until 2am. 60 Ghuznee St. Free Entry. See you there!

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From 14-18 October, the Wellington Jazz Festival returns to the capital for its 30th anniversary year, with an electrifying programme of international artists making their Aotearoa debuts, acclaimed New Zealand musicians, new works, and unforgettable live performances.

Across five days, more than 100 performances will fill Te Whanganui-a-Tara with music. From intimate late-night club sessions to major theatre shows, audiences can experience jazz, soul, funk, brass, blues and bold contemporary sounds across venues, streets, and unexpected spaces throughout the city.

Find more info and specific events via jazzfestival.nz

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RadioActive presents: Reb Fountain is back on tour around Aotearoa this October with latest album 'Water for Gasoline'!!!

As if all roads were leading to this, Water for Gasoline captures Reb’s artistic energy and creative instincts as they unfold. Reb leans into her experience, her relationships, and her every day, creating an album that feels like a reflection of ourselves and sounds like we are part of her story. Water for Gasoline is made for the present moment and is out NOW!

Join Reb & band as they bring this ever evolving art work on tour in Aotearoa this October.

Landing in Wellington Saturday 24 October. Meow Nui. Tickets on sale 19 August 12pm via rebfountain.co.nz

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