Join The Creative Kids Collective in their newest adventure from 10am to 2pm on Saturday. Kindly supported by the Albert Eden Local Board.

Celebrating junk and what we can do with it. Creative child led, imaginative, open ended play meets the re-cycling and rubbish pile! A recipe for fun!

Kids will need creative solutions in a future climate changed world and part of that is seeing rubbish in entirely different ways.

Bright Nights is an  immersive lighting experience taking over Auckland’s premier waterfront precinct from 8-12 May 2019.

Viaduct Harbour has teamed up with award-winning Angus Muir Design to create a full scale lighting experience at Auckland’s premier waterfront destination. This free, public event will see the Viaduct Harbour transformed into a luminary wonderland, with more than a dozen interactive artworks and performances from local and international artists.

Two Bright Nights trails will weave their way through to the Viaduct Harbour hospitality precinct, once commencing at Waitematā Plaza, and the other from Te Wero Island.   Find the Bright Nights map here 

Bright Nights is alive from 6pm to 10pm from Wednesday 8 May to Sunday 12 May 2019.

Bright nights is a fully wheelchair accessible event.

Let the White Face Crew give you the skinny on the 70’s and 80’s. Come boogie down as they take you back to the days when hip-hop dance emerged from disco dancing. Join the White Face Crew as they showcase their unique style of physical comedy, with clowning, dance and physical theatre. Can you dig it?!

Afterwards join the White Face Crew team to learn some tricks of the trade to create your own funny routines, with the tools of clowning, comedic timing, and dance.

Performances start at 10am, followed by a workshop at 11am.

Auckland Live Pick & Mix events are free, however bookings are essential. Please book your tickets at https://www.aucklandlive.co.nz/show/auckland-live-pick-and-mix-white-face-crew#tickets-times

Let the White Face Crew give you the skinny on the 70’s and 80’s. Come boogie down as they take you back to the days when hip-hop dance emerged from disco dancing. Join the White Face Crew as they showcase their unique style of physical comedy, with clowning, dance and physical theatre. Can you dig it?!

Afterwards join the White Face Crew team to learn some tricks of the trade to create your own funny routines, with the tools of clowning, comedic timing, and dance.

Performances start at 10am, followed by a workshop at 11am.

Auckland Live Pick & Mix events are free, however bookings are essential. Please book your tickets at https://www.aucklandlive.co.nz/show/auckland-live-pick-and-mix-white-face-crew#tickets-times

Six whimsical tales for kids!

Prepare to be mesmerised and enchanted as huge packing cases open and new worlds emerge, filled with quirky characters and stories.

Capital E’s National Theatre for Children is bringing back this much-loved collection of tales from popular children’s author, Pamela Allen. Using an assortment of props and found objects, three performers bring the tales to sweet, music-infused life. This wonderful production features adaptations of the stories Mr McGee, Alexander’s Outing, Belinda, Brown Bread and Honey, Mary Elizabeth’s House, and Mr McGee and the Biting Flea.

The books by Pamela Allen are published by Penguin Books Australia and New Zealand, and licensed by Tim Curnow, Literary Agent and Consultant, Sydney.

Two performances only at 10am and 11:30am
Recommended for children aged 2 – 8 years.
Duration: 45 minutes

Book tickets here: https://www.aucklandlive.co.nz/show/kids19-mr-mcgee-and-the-biting-flea

Mandela My Life: The Official Exhibition is on at the iconic Eden Park, where in 1981 flour bombs were dropped in protest at the Apartheid regime and the ongoing imprisonment of the future South African president.

The exhibition will provide visitors with a glimpse into the extraordinary personal life of Nelson Mandela. Produced by iEC Exhibitions, Museums Victoria, and TEG Live in full collaboration with The Nelson Mandela Foundation based in South Africa, this brand-new world class exhibition arrives direct from the prestigious Melbourne Museum, exhibiting in Auckland as part of a 5-year worldwide tour.

Expertly curated by a team of Museums Victoria staff headed by iEC Exhibitions’ Samantha Heywood, Mandela My Life: The Official Exhibition features over 200 original artefacts, documents, personal items and artworks from The Nelson Mandela Foundation and Nelson Mandela’s private collection. This is the most comprehensive collection ever to be shown outside of South Africa.

Book online, or purchase at box office on the day

The exhibit is open from 10am to 4pm each day until Sunday 4 August 2019*

*Hours may be subject to change due to private events, so please check with the organiser before you go to make sure it is open on the day you want to go..

Dedicated to exposing discrimination in the art world, in politics and in the film and music industries, the Guerrilla Girls is an anonymous collective of feminist activist artists. Formed as a collective more than 30 years ago, the Guerrilla Girls’ gorilla-mask costumes, bold visual language and frank, humorous messages have rendered them iconic in the history of art and as part of wider social movements. Guerrilla Girls: Reinventing the ‘F’ Word – Feminism! follows the collective’s artistic practice from 1984 until 2016 and explores how they employ bold, fun and provocative poster art to criticise ongoing biases in art and society.

The exhibition is recommended for teenagers aged 13 years plus as there is some mature subject matter relating to oversexualisation of Hollywood and reproductive rights. 

The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 5pm until Friday 11 October 2019.

Image credits: Guerrilla Girls © George Lange 1990

ThinkLab lets you experiment, get digital, be creative and think outside the square!

​Children use real materials, tools, and equipment that encourage creative curiousity through discovery and play at Takapuna Library every Wednesday*.

Suitable for kids aged 8 years and up.

*Note: ThinkLab sessions run during term time only, and are not held during school and public holidays

ThinkLab is the event that lets you experiment, get digital, tinker and think outside the square!  Come along on Wednesdays after school to Ranui Library and work on exciting projects.

Children use real materials, tools, and equipment that encourage creative curiosity through discovery and play.

Best suited for ages eight years and over.

This event takes place during term time only. The event does not run on school or public holidays.

Cult Japanese-inspired artisan sushi store Sushi Sushi is opening in New Zealeand.

The first 100 people to visit their new Botany Town Centre store on 2 May will get a free hand-roll so get there early and be one of the first people in NZ to try it!

Activities on the opening day include:
– Taiko drumming demonstration. Feel the beat while local group Kumo Taiko performs 11:00am-11:30am
– Calligraphy. Have your name written in Japanese calligraphy for free by local artist Rie Shibasaki 10:00am-2:00pm
– Win a trip to Japan. Snap a picture with the Golden Koi for your chance to win a trip for two

Storytime is a very popular Thursday session of stories read aloud by librarians and authors. It’s ideal for kids aged 3 to 5 years and also a great opportunity for parents and grandparents to socialise.

Come along to Waitākere Central Library and join in the fun!

Note: This story time does not run on public holiday or in the school holidays.

Teen book club group for anyone who reads from the teen section at Remuera Library.

First Thursday of each month,

You and your toddler can learn rhymes, action songs and finger plays to share in a friendly and relaxed environment at Rhyme Times at Te Manawa.

Suitable for children aged 2 to 4  years, but all welcome.

Every Friday there are two 30 minutes sessions, one at 9.30am and the next at  11am during school term. 

Note this event is not on in the school holidays.

Storytime for preschoolers told in Mandarin with music and songs on the first Friday of every month at Highland Park Library.

Note: This story time does not run on public holiday or in the school holidays.

Children’s book club Karapu pukapuka taitamariki for school-aged kids with fun activities and books galore.

Note: This book club does not run on public holiday or in the school holidays.

Preloved & new kids clothing, toys and accessory stalls plus coffee truck and face painting.

Great morning out for the whole family!

Stalls, market, music, entertainment and cafe.

There will be a sausage sizzle, facepainting, photobooth, badge-making, colouring-in table, design your own cupcake, kid’s tattoos and more.

Only cash is accepted on the day.

All proceeds  from the May Fair will go to Mothers Helpers – a charity that supports mothers experiencing Antenatal or Postnatal Depression/Anxiety to recover.

Celebrate the great big wonderful world of ANIMALIA.  Spend the day exploring, discovering and creating, with exhibitions, workshops and live performances inspired by how animals look, walk, talk, work, rest and play.

A free event for all the family, bring a picnic lunch or visit one of the delicious food trucks.

Corban Estate Arts Centre is  just a short walk from Henderson train station, and offer limited free parking onsite.

It glitters, it crunches, and comes in all the colours of the rainbow! Don’t miss this delightfully gooey weekend at MOTAT.

Kids will learn to make different variations of slime and get creative in the Obelic Slime Pits experimenting zone! Enjoy the fun without having to clean up the mess!

Be sure to catch the fun and fascinating shows by Tornado Tammy!

Aimed at primary/intermediate aged children and their families, this science-based event will have a range of fun, interactive and educational activities.

Recommended for ages 4 to 10 years.

More information can be found here:
https://www.motat.org.nz/experience/events/slime-weekend/

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki presents Frances Hodgkins: European Journeys, a major exhibition of work by one of New Zealand’s most influential artists.

The exhibition which is FREE for children is open from 10am to 5pm daily until Sunday 1 September 2019.

Frances Hodgkins: European Journeys is the culmination of a significant international project that brings together artworks from New Zealand and around the globe to explore the artist’s place in 20th-century art. The exhibition traces Frances Hodgkins’ creative and peripatetic life through France, Morocco and Spain to her final days in England, examining the influence of location on her development as a modernist painter and the notion of travel and journeying as a source of artistic inspiration.

Born in Dunedin, Frances Hodgkins (1869–1947) left for Europe in 1901 and, by the late 1920s, had become an important figure within British Modernism, exhibiting with avant-garde artists such as Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore. With a professional life that spanned almost six decades, the two World Wars, and periods of massive social and cultural change, Hodgkins caught the spirit of a new age. Today, she is celebrated as one of New Zealand’s most successful expatriate artists of the 20th century, and has an ongoing legacy in both Europe and this country.

The exhibition includes more than 150 artworks produced between 1901 and 1946: from early watercolour travel sketches of the French Riviera, Morocco and Venice, through to her first contact with modernism in Paris, and oil paintings from her later life in Britain.

Get the kids started on their cycling journey!

Learning to ride a two-wheeler is one of those big childhood milestones, and being part of that experience as a parent is a thrill.

If you are wondering how to get started, or experiencing a few bumps along the way then check out the free #Learn2Ride sessions.

AT’s team of qualified instructors work alongside parents to get kids riding. Whether starting on a balance bike or making the transition to pedals the team is there to help.

Sessions are weather dependent and run on a drop-in basis. Bring your own bike or try one of AT’s bikes.

Weekly FREE Saturday Code Club at Albany Village Library to help Kiwi kids get a jump-start into modern IT and the new Digital Technologies curriculum.  Code Club is offering free basic software training to children in years 5 to 8. You need to bring your own laptop.

This course will cover the core concepts of computer programming, software design and small-scale Internet of Things projects using Netduino and external sensors.

Kiwi kids now have a chance to create web and mobile apps quickly and offer them to a global market instantly. With a basic understanding of programming, design and a big imagination, the world can be your oyster.

Note: This event does not run on public holidays or during school holidays.

Sneak into a fake Kollywood film shoot and immerse yourself in an imaginary blockbuster-in-the-making: learn a dance move, watch a performance, or have your headshot taken and be discovered by one of the talent scouts.

Created by visionary director Ahi Karunaharan, and featuring culinary treats by Samrudh Akuthota and the sweeping, majestic artwork of Bepen Bhana, Kollywood Extra is an interactive homage to South Indian cinema. Part performance and part live art installation, the audience is invitied to be an observer, an extra, or to step up and take the leading role.

Rain Date: Saturday 11 May, 12pm – 6pm. Please check with the event organisers: http://satellites.co.nz/if you wish to confirm if the event is on due to weather before going.

GLOW DISCO for primary-school aged and pre-schoolers.

There will be UV and Disco lights, smoke machine all lead by the costumed DJ Minion!

Great fun for kids supervised by the ‘Glow Wardens’, so parents can take a break, shop through the kids fair and have a coffee while your kids dance the afternoon away in safety!

Spot prizes for: The person who ‘GLOWS’ the most!; Best dancer! and Best hair!

Bookings are recommended to avoid disappointment as tickets are limited.

Award-winning French picture book author-illustrators Clotilde Perrin (Inside the Villains) and Eric Veillé (Encyclopedia of Grannies and My Pictures after the Storm) are in Auckland on Saturday 4 May as part of the the Embassy of France’s Les Petits Kiwis (Reading Kiwis) Festival in association with Gecko Press, Alliance Francaise and Institut Francais.

Grannies & Villains: Clotilde Perrin and Eric Veille have fun … one reads while the other draws live! Come along with your questions

SPECIAL GUEST : French Famous Author Karin Serres taking part of the Randell Cottage writing programme in NZ

A variety concert featuring the Manukau Youth Orchestra, Manurewa Youth Symphonic Band, Te Toi Taiohi Orchestra, Manukau Youth Jazz Orchestra and our beginner orchestral students from Hillpark School and Manurewa Central School.

Stargazing labs are family friendly and ideal for young scientists. You will have a nice opportunity to learn more about the solar system and the Universe, and also to motivate interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in young minds. Some telescopes and additional resources will be available for use. Including telescopes that can be operated by kids.

You will have opportunities to observe the craters and mountains on the Moon, Jupiter’s Great Red Spot and the rings of Saturn. You will also have a chance to observe deep sky objects like star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies.

Bookings are required. The event can be postponed due to weather conditions, so please check with Skylabs before attending the event.

May the Fourth Stardome at celebrate you must.

Enjoy drinks and snacks then head into the planetarium and catch a galactic empire 360-degree show where you’ll fly to galaxies far, far away.

Everyone is welcome, even if you’ve gone to The Dark Side.

Dress up as your favourite Star Wars character and you’ll be in to win Stardome and Star Wars themed prizes.

Shows at 6:30pm, 8pm and 9:30pm. Each show is 50 minutes long.

Bookings are essential

Fresh from a gritty performance against the Melbourne Storm on Anzac Day, the Vodafone Warriors are back home and preparing to take on the Newcastle Knights at Mt Smart Stadium this Sunday and the theme for game day is Kids’ Day Out!

As well as free all you can eat Mr Whippy ice creams for the kids, the hugely popular Mitre 10 Mini Golf course will be in action with a special competition taking place between 1.30-3.30pm. Of course, it wouldn’t be Kids’ Day Out without carnival rides and the return of the ever-popular Little Bo Peep’s Mobile Barnyard. There will be cup and saucer rides, a mini ferris wheel and a merry-go-round, as well as roving entertainers including Roro the Clown, balloon twisters, a bubble machine, giant board games and face painting.

All activities are free of charge!

TIMINGS:

9:45am – Gates open
10am – Junior Vodafone Warriors v Newcastle Knights
12:05pm – Vodafone Warriors men’s and women’s touch v Sydney Roosters
1:45pm Vodafone Warriors (Canterbury Cup) v Newcastle Knights
2:00pm Roro the Clown
2:30pm to 4pm  – Balloon Twisters
4pm – Vodafone Warriors v Newcastle Knights

A time of music and movement for under 5s followed by playtime for the children and chat time for the adults. A great way to meet new friends.

A music and movement playgroup suitable for children ages 0-4 years old.

Starts at 9:30 on Tuesdays during the school term. There is 30 minutes of music and movement. Followed by play time for the children and chat time for the adults as you watch your child explore, meet other children and have fun.  A morning tea is provided for the adults.

All parents and grandparents are welcome to come.

Grab a free coffee and hang out with other like-minded grownups while Monty the Monkey entertains your under fives with crafts and story time.  Plus your kids can come along and play with thousands of  LEGO® DUPLO® bricks each time, creating and connecting anything their imagination can think of.

Join Westfield Albany on  Tuesdays for fun from 10am  to 12pm located on the ground level next to Baby City!

SKOOB is a group for kids aged 7 years and up who love reading and sharing their thoughts about what they read with others. Children will get the chance to check out the newest books and take part in a fun activity.

SKOOB is on the first Tuesday of every month, except for public holidays and during school holidays.

If you’re kids are 7 to 13 years old, LOVE books, want to hang out with other readers AND want to get first pick of the brand new books that have arrived at the library, then they are welcome to come along to the after school book club at Pukekohe Library.

Please note this event isn’t held during school and public holidays

Grab a free coffee and hang out with other like-minded grownups while Monty the Monkey entertains your under fives with crafts and story time.  Plus your kids can come along and play with thousands of  LEGO® DUPLO® bricks each time, creating and connecting anything their imagination can think of.

Join Westfield St Lukes for fun from 9:30am to Noon  located on the Food Court, Level 1

New cult Japanese-inspired artisan sushi store, Sushi Sushi is celebrating opening their first NZ store in Auckland with a month of celebrations called ‘Matsuri’.

They will host a kids masterclass where your little ones – big or small  will learn how to make their own sushi hand-rolls from skilled sushi artisans. Bring them down for a fun morning!

Learning to ride a two-wheeler is one of those big childhood milestones, and being part of that experience as a parent is a thrill.

If you are wondering how to get started, or experiencing a few bumps along the way then check out the free #Learn2Ride sessions.

AT’s team of qualified instructors work alongside parents to get kids riding. Whether starting on a balance bike or making the transition to pedals the team is there to help.

Sessions are weather dependent and run on a drop-in basis. Bring your own bike or try one of AT’s bikes.

Inspired by artist Sena Park’s residency in Mongolia, come and explore the current sculptural installation and then create your own responsive 3D dreamscape of Mongolia.

About Saturday Gallery Club
Drop in between 10.30am and 12pm to create art inspired by the latest exhibitions in the gallery. We will be presenting fun and free art-making sessions for kids on the second Saturday of each month, exploring a different art topic and set of techniques each time.

All art materials are provided. Although there is no need to book, participation is limited by space. Art activities are designed for children aged four years and over, and run for around 30 minutes. These sessions are family friendly so adults can join in too—children just need to be accompanied by an adult.

For more info contact info@ceac.org.nz (09) 8384455

Join the APO and artist Elise McCann for a scrumdiddlyumptious musical adventure inspired by the fantastical imagination of Roald Dahl.

Dahl is one of the world’s most popular authors. His stories have entertained generations of children combining fun, fear and a sprinkling of naughtiness.

Grab your golden ticket for this magical family concert. Elise McCann (2016 Helpmann Award Winner, Miss Honey in Matilda the Musical) and the APO will perform music from Matilda the Musical, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, original compositions of Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes and more.

Conductor David Kay
Featuring Elise McCann
Musical arrangements and direction Stephen Amos
Dahlesque is presented by Bayleys

Performance times are 11am and 2pm.

Steel ‘n’ Wheels 2019 promises plenty of action to keep you revved up with lots of adrenalin pumping attractions and great entertainment for the whole family.

Four hours packed with a variety of exciting displays, mean machines, live music and markets. Something for everyone; vintage and classic cars, hot rods, trucks, tractors, military, bikes and more! The NZ Freestyle FMX bikes will be back with more outlandish stunts, the World War II Re-enactment display and battle, the V8 Bottle-O chainsaw and Harley chainsaw racing, Dragster fire ups, the Cackle fest and Fire Service displays, to name a few. Entertainment this year features one of the top Elvis impersonators with ‘The Elvis NZ Band’, local rock band ‘Mind Over Matter’, rock ‘n’ roll & country from ‘Roger and the Ramjets’, ‘Franklin Rockers’ rock ‘n’ roll dancers and other performers, plus lots of kids carnival activities and the huge food and craft market.

Bring the family for a fun filled day. Entry is by way of a gold coin per person to support the continuation of this great community event.

This event goes ahead rain or shine.

Mums, grandmas, aunties. They make the world go around! Show them how much they mean to you this Mother’s Day by treating them to an exciting trip to Stardome. Mother’s can sit back and relax in the reclining seats, gaze up at the 360-degree theatre dome and be wowed by the Universe (and you, for being so thoughtful!)

Free entry for mum is across all shows – so whether she is happy to enjoy a preschool show with the littlies or explore the night sky later at night with the older kids, there is sure to be something mum will enjoy!

Sunday 12 May. All show times.

• 1pm – Tycho to the Moon
• 2pm – Tilt
• 3pm – Dinosaurs at Dusk
• 4pm – Tales of a Time Traveler
• 7pm – Dream to Fly
• 8pm – The Autumn Night Sky

Bookings Essential.

AYO presents Butterfly Lovers free  concert. at the Auckland Town Hall.

Cornwall Park is not just a park, it is also a fully working farm as well! This exhibition will highlight the daily life on Cornwall Park farm from the farmers and their hardworking farm dogs to the sheep and cattle that roam the paddocks.

The exhibition is  on from 10am to 4pm daily from Monday 13th May until Sunday 2nd June at the Huia Lodge Discovery Hub.

Free event.

Come and see a different character each session, along with a variety of activities including story-telling, games, bubbles, balloon twisting and parachute & mat activities for everyone to enjoy.

Toddler Tuesdays takes place at 10:30am outside Farmers (ground floor)\ at NorthWest Shopping Centre.

Forty-one children with and without disabilities will share the limelight in Auckland this May in New Zealand’s first ever fully-inclusive children’s musical, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure Junior.

Based on the rip-roaring DreamWorks animated motion picture, and featuring the movie’s original music and lyrics, this fully inclusive production is being presented by New Zealand’s leading professional, inclusive performance company, Touch Compass, at The Rose Centre, Belmont.

The cast includes children aged 6 to 18, almost half of whom have some kind of disability or learning difference – including Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome and Spina Bifida. Performers who require full-time support will be accompanied by support actors on stage – in costume.

Madagascar tells the story of Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, the hilarious, plotting penguins as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.

Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure Junior and its delightful cast will leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It”.

The show will also be fully accessible, including Deaf signing by a young interpreter who is Deaf herself, hence, rather than interpreting what’s on stage, will be learning the entire script word for word. While this does happen from time to time overseas, it is very unique in New Zealand.

There will also be a special relaxed show for young theatre-goers with autism and sensory sensitivities and one show will be audio described for those who are blind or have low vision. Both these shows also include a touch tour beforehand.

Bookings are essential

New Zealand Baby Expo is coming to Auckland for another fantastic show! Discover all you need to know for you, your pregnancy or young child.

Gain expert, up-to-date advice from our diverse range of exhibitors and experiment with products and services to find what best suits your needs.

A Complimentary Creche, Extra Wide Aisles, Baby Change and Mother Rooms are provided onsite to ensure you have everything you need to visit in comfort.

A huge range of products and services will be on show, along with seminars, demos and workshops. Exclusive offers, activities and competitions are also provided so this show is not to be missed!

New cult Japanese-inspired artisan sushi store, Sushi Sushi continues their opening celbrations with Matsuri this month! on Saturday May 18th come down, bring the kids and keep their idle hands busy with the art of origami.

Learn the traditional Japanese art of folding paper with local artist Jean Francois Vognin 10:00am – 12:00pm

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED BY TE URU

Enter into a device free, relaxed space at te uru to tune back into your imaginative self and enjoy the processes of making inspired art.

There will be a series of 3 different media for you to explore in your own unique way including: print making, painting and collage bringing together a large-scale, mixed media artwork to take home.

Discover new techniques and methods to enhance your artistic skills in a supportive, creative environment surrounded by a tranquil bush backdrop.

Suitable for children aged 8 to 15 years old.

Bookings essential: (09) 817 8087 x 201 or email info@teuru.org.nz

The animals in the park have inspired  Craft Corner for May.  Stop into Huia Lodge on your weekend visit to the park and make your own origami sheep or cow bookmark!

Instructions, examples and equipment will be supplied for your DIY creations.

Activities suitable for 4 years and up, parent supervision required.

Craft Corner dates:
Saturday 18th, and 25th May
Sunday 19th, and 26th May

Huia Lodge Discovery Hub is open 10 am – 4 pm

THE EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR 18 MAY 2019 DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE GROUNDS

From 11 am – 2 pm the area under the trees between the cafe and pohutukawa drive will turn into a leaf extravaganza with leaf piles for you to run through, jump into, draw carefully, photograph, throw into the air or create outdoor art with.

This event is weather pending, so our fingers are crossed for a lovely crisp Autumn day!

Location is a little tricky, but when entering the park from Greenlane West the Autumn leaves will be on the left-hand side of Pohutukawa Drive just past the pedestrian crossing.

New Zealand Opera Open Day is back and this time it’s all about The Barber of Seville. Drop in to New Zealand Opera in Parnell on Saturday 18 May from 12:30-3:00pm to get a glimpse behind the scenes as we prepare to open this energetic and sassy production.

There’ll be a chance to watch the Freemasons New Zealand Opera Chorus in rehearsal with Director Lindy Hume and Conductor Wyn Davies, see the wigs and makeup team and the wardrobe department in action. You can try on costumes and join in some special activities.

This event is free and great fun for all ages. Please note there will be limited seating available in the rehearsal area.

Important transport note: Due to the location and the markets at La Cigale, driving to the Open Day is not recommend and you are better to use publich transport. Please note, La Cigale French Markets run from 8am – 1:30pm just next door.

For the first time ever the Albany Community Hub comes alive with a FREE programme of music, outdoor activities, games, craft, food and more for the high energy Family Fun Day.

Hosted by your friendly Upper Harbour Local Board the Family Fun Day provides an opportunity for families to actively engage with their kids and the people in their neighbourhood. As our DJ spins some great tunes and food trucks roll up with their tasty treats, the day promises to be the perfect family adventure.

Children are encouraged to burn off some energy on the outdoor activities including all the usual favourites such as a giant bouncy castle, bungy trampoline, wall climbs, giant football target and zorb ball. The arts and crafty ones can get a little messy with some face painting and get creative with balloon making sessions.

Auckland Transport have also kindly provided FREE bikes so everyone can have a go on the track. But wait … there’s more … pop-up games and a safe play space for the under 5s round off a fantastic assortment of family fun.

All activities are FREE and the event will go ahead rain or shine.

Celebrate NZ Family Music during NZ Music Month. 

Three of NZ’s most dynamic family acts all under the one roof for one epic show. Levity Beet, Mr Roberelli, Captain Festus McBoyle’s Travellin’ Variety Show. 

Kiwi Kids Music Disco with Lee from 95 BFM Kids Show.

The lovely Ethel will face painting, five bucks a face.

Other members of The Kiwi Kids Music Collective will be onsite for meet/greet and signing opportunity’s. Merchandise will be available. Cash sales only. 

Hot food and full bar onsite 

Join EcoMatters every Wednesday 2.30-4.30pm for Cycle and Recycle goodness at the old 3 Guys site, 1909-1949 Great North Road at the Avondale Town Centre. Starting 8 May 2019 and running until July.

Note: Cycle and Recycle Wednesdays will not go ahead on rainy days.

CYCLE: ECOMATTERS BIKE FIX

Got a bike that’s not working right? Bring it to the free EcoMatters Bike Fix Drop-in Session by the pump track! Get tips and tricks on maintaining your bike and pick up free cycling maps. Hop on their BMX bikes and give the pump track a go, or try out their novelty bikes.

Bike donations welcome. Donated bikes are restored and made available again to the community at a low cost. This helps to fund the EcoMatters Bike Hubs’ free services.

RECYCLE: CASH FOR TRASH

Eco Matters are bringing back the ‘cash for trash’ bottle deposits. Bring your plastic, glass bottles and aluminium cans, and they will give you 20c for each beverage container – it’s one less bit of rubbish on our streets and in our waterways! (Limited to 80 items per person.)

The Careers Expo comprises the widest range of exhibitors of any career focused Expo in New Zealand, consisting of employers, industry, tertiary providers, training institutes, government departments, and corporate New Zealand.

This fantastic event provides young people a valuable opportunity to make important connections as they plan their careers.

Opening Hours
Thursday 23 May: 10:30am to 3pm and 5pm to 7pm
Friday 24 May: 10:00am to 3pm
Saturday 25 May: 10am to 3pm

The Out and About Skate Series is here!  Come along to Victoria Park Skatepark on May 25th and enter into the skate comp – or, simply sit back and enjoy some wicked skateboarding moves.

Categories are:

• Under 13s
• Under 17s
• Girls
• Open

Entry into the comp and to watch is FREE.

Stories, games, music and fun for families to share. Join Te Manawa for this free, interactive event on Saturdays from 10:30am to 11:00am

This event is recommended for children aged 3 to 7 years old.

No bookings required. For more information email: temanawa@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Really into robotics? Minecraft mad? Then drop on in to Te Manawa to experience Tech Week with Brain Play!

They will have 10 mBots for you to have a go at coding, as well as laptops loaded so you can design your own amazing Minecraft Creation.

For ages 5 – 15.

No bookings required. For more information email: temanawa@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Get ready for the BIGGEST and BEST Africa Day Festival yet featuring:

• Authentic African cuisine including Sudanese, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Eritrean and Zimbabwean foods;
• Boutique African fashion and accessories;
• A live art studio by NZ’s finest African artists by Black Creatives Aotearoa;
• Photography and profiles of our diverse community;
• Children’s activities;
• Giant garden games; and
• live music by BLACK SUNDAY, UNCHAINED XL, NUEL, CHIKA, FARAI KATIYO, MUKUKA & D. MATTHEWS

ETPOS will be available.