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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On now at Pātaka Art+Museum, award-winning artist Lindah Lepou shares her world of Pacific couture, weaving her Samoan gafa (genealogy) into Pacific couture as a living fashion art archive.

Lepou has been a guest judge for the World of Wearable Art Awards and has exhibited alongside Dior, Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano.

Lindah Lepou’s Mata’AITU runs until 8 November. Free entry.

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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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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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Big Girls Don't Cry is in Cinemas from October 8th!

Set in rural Matakana and Omaha during the summer of 2006, the film follows 14-year-old Sid Bookman as she navigates friendship, identity, desire and a desperate need to fit in.

Fresh from an international festival run including Sundance, SXSW and BFI Flare, it also opened the 2026 Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival.

Written and directed by Auckland filmmaker Paloma Schneideman, also known as musician PollyHill.

In cinemas across Aotearoa from October 8. Get in early for the preview screening October 7th at Penthouse Cinema - ActiveCard holders get $12 discounted tickets via penthousecinema.co.nz

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Radio Active, Banished Music and Lacuna presents Flamingo Pier.

After more than a decade of building dancefloors around the world, Flamingo Pier return to Aotearoa this spring to celebrate the release of their new album, WOVEN TOGETHER.

Don’t miss the chance to experience WOVEN TOGETHER live, as Flamingo Pier bring their full live band to the stage for a celebration of connection, community and irresistible grooves.

Flaming Pier with support from Christopher Tubbs & Bontempo. Meow Nui October 9th. Get your tickets from ticketek.co.nz

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Spring has arrived, and we're pretty stoked about it at the Tav.

We've pulled together a sweet lineup of old friends and new ones for Spring Sessions - a primo selection of Pōneke selectors, starting early and carrying on into the night.

Each of them holds down different nights at the Tav, so if you've missed out on one of their sets before, this is your chance to catch them all in one night and get a taste of what they deliver.

Benny Balance & Shush Bon Tempo Coda Jen Kyle Jewel School Temp Schmempo

Epic beats all night guaranteed.

Saturday 10 October from 3pm at Cuba St Tavern.

Early birds $10, tickets from undertheradar.co.nz Set times to be announced. ...

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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