The Spinoff’s top pick of events from around the motu. Here’s the week 11 – 18 September.
Welcome to The Spinoff event guide, your weekly, curated selection of gigs, events and exhibitions happening across Aotearoa. If you want to pitch your event for future guides then please use this handy form.
Tāmaki Makaurau
Music: We Are Loud Charity launch party!
Tuning Fork
4pm Sunday, September 14
$15–$50
A fundraising gig to support a charity that “supports our rangatahi and wider community to access transformative music education, instruments, and the confidence that comes with learning and creating.” Featuring: Reb Fountain, Hopetoun Brown and Jenni Smith with MC Moana Maniapoto.
Storytelling/performing arts: Koanga Festival
Te Pou Theatre
12–12 September (over the weekends)
$0–$50
Kōanga Festival cultivates new ideas and shares the bounty of new narratives through Māori performing arts. Full programme online.
Kirikiriroa
Visual art: Art Critique Session
Arts for Health, 2 Seddon Rd
12.30–2.30pm Friday, September 12
Free
“A supportive space where creatives bring their work, share openly, and receive constructive insights. Guided by facilitators, each session focuses on colour, composition, technique, and meaning – helping you refine your practice and gain confidence.”
Multi-arts: Launched Arts Festival – Celebrating Disability Culture
Southwell School Performing Arts Centre, 200 Peachgrove Rd, Claudelands
All day Thurs, September 18
Free
The 16th annual Launched festival will incorporate a static arts display, a wearable arts fashion show, song, dance, kapa haka, musical and dramatic performances, photograph slide shows, poetry readings and a music workshop.
Ngāmotu
Music: CMNZ series – From Scratch
Theatre Royal
7.30pm Tues, September 16
$16.38–$57.88
New Zealand’s oldest avant garde chamber music ensemble – led by artist Phil Dadson – is on tour.
Te-Whanganui-a-Tara
Dance: RNZB presents open ballet classes
RNZB studios, St James Theatre
6.30pm Tuesdays from Sept 16 – Oct 7
$30 (single open class)
The Royal New Zealand Ballet company are running an eight-week term of classes for adult beginners, and for those with a little experience.
Music: Kotahitanga: Artist Series With Te Kurahuia
Te Waka Huia Wellington Museum,
5pm Thurs, September 11
$35
As part of a series in which musicians are invited to respond to the exhibition, “He Kura Toi Tangata: 50 Years of the Waitangi Tribunal”, Te KuraHuia give a live performance.
Whakatū
Literature: Mapua Community Library Literature Festival
Mapua Community Hall, Tasman Bay
12 – 14 September
$10–$25
Three days of events include Michael Bennett (pictured above), Jenny Pattrick and Wendy Scott. Full programme online.
Ōtautahi
Film: Italian Film Festival
Lumiere
On now until September 24
$16.50–$22
New and classic Italian films. Full programme and links to book online at the festival’s website.
Ōtepoti
Literature: New Zealand Young Writers Festival
Te Whare o Rukutia, 20 Princes St
Sat 13 & Sun 14
Free (or “pay what you want”)
Celebrating, and bringing together, the next generation of writers in Aotearoa.
Film/dogs: New Zealand’s Top Dog Film Festival
Rialto Cinemas
6.30pm Thursday, September 18
$22–$29
A programme of short films from all around the world that celebrate the extraordinary connection between dogs and humans.
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