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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Brain Storm is an immersive live music and storytelling experience exploring the realities of traumatic brain injury and the long road to recovery.

Created by Ōtautahi singer songwriter Bryony Matthews, the show weaves together original songs, personal storytelling, and evocative visuals to share a deeply human story of loss, resilience, and adaptation.

Drawing on Bryony's own experience of life-changing head trauma, Brain Storm offers a rare and honest glimpse into the often-unseen challenges of living with an acquired brain injury.

Featuring music from Bryony's upcoming concept album, the performance unfolds across six chapters, tracing a journey through injury, uncertainty, healing, and renewal. Atmospheric soundscapes and intimate storytelling combine to create an experience that is both deeply personal and widely relatable. Moving, insightful, and ultimately hopeful, Brain Storm invites audiences to step into a world rarely spoken about and gain a deeper understanding of the realities of living with brain injury.

On at BATS Theatre on the 2nd of September, tickets from bats.co.nz

Music written by Bryony Matthews

Soundscapes by Joshua Holmes

Visuals by Nicholas Ahu

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Genre-bending future soul visionaries Hiatus Kaiyote return to Aotearoa for the first time in five years. Playing Meow Nui on the 3rd of September as a part of their 15th Band-iversary NZ Tour.

Wizards of the shapeshifting live show, Hiatus Kaiyote have built a formidable reputation for their spectacular stage performances – a high-wire mix of musical mastery and thrilling, edge-of-your-seat chaos.

Live at Meow Nui on the 3rd of September. Tickets on sale from Livenation.co.nz

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Eyegum Music Collective presents GREAT SOUNDS GREAT, a multi-venue music and arts festival taking over Pōneke's Te Aro precinct for one night only on Saturday 5 September 2026. Showcasing 40 of Aotearoa's best artists across 10 neighbouring venues, this is one big party you shouldn't miss.

The programme has something for everyone! The eclectic lineup includes national treasures Bic Runga and Savage, heavy-hitting legends Beastwars, Kody Nielson’s project Silicon, indie math rockers So So Modern, powerhouse party starter Mokotron, local hip hop sensation MĀ and more!

Tonic Collective are back with their travelling stage, which includes Pitch Black celebrating 30 years as Aotearoa electronica pioneers and award winning artist Amamelia. Festival partners RadioActive will also be showcasing a special lineup of local acts at Rogue and Vagabond, and it's not all music with three of our best poets performing as well.

Limited tickets on sale now at eyegum.co.nz.

Presented with support from Abandoned Brewery, RadioActive.FM, Flying Nun Records, Massey University, and Wellington City Council. ...

We are stoked to be hosting one of the stages for one of our favourite events in the city - Great Sounds Great 2026.

In collaboration with Rogue and Vagabond, we offer you this lineup with some of the best live performers in the city - Bri Louise, Groove Council, Naakz and Babyzoot, and Tūī Band!

Tickets and more information available via https://www.eyegum.co.nz/great-sounds-great

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Coming up at the Hannah Playhouse is Big Low Dream, presented by Footnote New Zealand Dance. BIG LOW DREAM is a new contemporary dance work about what we reach for, together, in the dark.

Choreographer Jessie McCall looks to dream logic - unruly, queer, ethically imaginative, as a way to hold onto meaning in a time of overlapping crises. Ominous and funny, intimate and sweeping, BIG LOW DREAM is a rehearsal of possible futures — tender, desperate, and rising.

Wellington season: 10 - 12 September 7pm, Hannah Playhouse. Thursday 10th is Choose Your Price Night! Tickets from www.footnote.org.nz

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ENROLATHON 12 HOURS 12th SEPTEMBER!

Join us at PEG Gallery for a full day of DJs, live performances and good vibes, with the team on hand to help you check (or sort) your enrolment status on the spot.

230 Cuba Street, PEG Gallery

10am – 10pm, Saturday 12 September 2026

Check your enrolment and go in the draw to win goodies from Decoy Knitwear, Turumeke, Gramercy, Coffee Supreme, 15 Minute Bottles, Current Art Magazine and PEG!

Radioactive DJs on the decks all day: DJ Poets, Manakin, Seini, Jasmine, Martyn Pepperell, Subtle Grape, Club Medder & Maximillian, plus local performers Rens and Blip the Siren.

With special thanks to the support of the Electoral Commission.

See you there.

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DJs, dancing and doing good.

Dress up, get down to Moon and boogie all night while helping Kaibosh Food Rescue feed those in our communities that need it most.

Stellar DJs – Flatmate, Hexadecimal, Nam Chucks, Amira, Ché D, The Village Idiot and DJ Danger – spinning all night, with lights and visuals from the legendary Cubeman, Metrokorg and VJ Raskal.

House, breaks, tech house, techno, minimal, rave, bass music and more, with good times guaranteed, and sweet sounds from Torque Sound System.

Raffle, plus spot prizes for the best dressed (costume theme: spring!).

Tickets available at Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/spring-for-kaibosh

Saturday 12 September, 7am–2am, Moon Bar, tickets from $25.

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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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Following the release of their recent singles, “I Do Mine” and "Brand New Lovers", Wellington indie/alt rock band Debt Club have announced their first Aotearoa nationwide tour.

The tour will celebrate the release of their debut album “Foothold” which is out now; available for Vinyl and CD now on Bandcamp.

Debt Club's Wellington show is on September 18th at San Fran with support from First Reserve & Dillon Jo - tickets are on sale now at moshtix.co.nz  ...

Wellington's monthly residency of exploratory music is back at Cuba St Tavern's garden courtyard, with four musicians coming together to build something new in real time.

abey sparks (drums), Chris Beernink (bass), Dave Wilson (alto saxophone & bass clarinet) and Aslan (guitar) will spend the night uncovering grooves as they go - no setlist, just musicians listening and responding to each other live. Expect the unexpected: a set that shifts and shapes itself as it unfolds.

Grab a drink, settle into the courtyard, and let the night take you wherever it goes.

Thursday 24th September, 8pm - 10pm

$10 waged / $5 students / unwaged

Tickets available from humanitix.com

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Hailing from the Wetlands of Otautahi Christchurch, Single Malt are bringing their unique groove and undeniable swag to Pōneke, marking their first North Island show yet!

“Wetlands” is a gig where all can come and boogie, sing, connect, and get a taste of the unique vibe born from the East of Christchurch.

Single Malt have teamed up with incredible local talent:
Nameless and Brainless - a 5 piece soul/hiphop band bringing high-energy Kiwi raps and an insane rhythm section.
ZFC and HAZ - Welly local DJs bringing a mix of soulful house and groovy dance music guaranteed to make ya move.

Hosted at the iconic Moon Bar in Newtown, “Wetlands” will embody the good vibes of Spring, goodbyes of Winter, and the great nights of memories.

Tickets from undertheradar.co.nz ...