The Spinoff’s top pick of events from around the motu. Here’s the best for the week February 5–12.
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.
Waitangi
Festival: Waitangi Day Festival
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
3–6 February
Free
Te Tiriti o Waitangi commemorations are celebrated and contemporary contexts discussed with a full family-friendly festival programme.
Tāmaki Makaurau
Music: Laneway Festival 2026
Western Springs
12.30pm–10pm Thurs, February 5
$249.90
Chappell Roan is headlining this one-day, multi-stage music fest and we are hot to go.
“Celebrate Waitangi Day at Te Puia | New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute with a jam-packed day of cultural festivities, delicious kai and wānanga. Kicking off at 9:00am, we’ve got activities for the whole whānau!”
Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Music: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
TSB Arena
6.30pm, February 5 & 6
From $156
“Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds will perform a setlist drawn from their latest album Wild God, alongside songs spanning the four decades of their storied career, in this critically acclaimed two-and-a-half-hour show.” Also Aldous Harding is opening.
Whakatū
Music: Adam Chamber Music Festival
Nelson Centre of Musical Arts
Various times, 5–7 February
Multiple prices
“At the heart of the festival is artistic director Gillian Ansell of the New Zealand String Quartet, who personally invites an exclusive lineup of leading international and New Zealand musicians for ten days of exceptional music-making. The carefully curated programme spans classical masterpieces, contemporary commissions, artist talks and masterclasses — all presented in the intimate, acoustically superb Nelson Centre of Musical Arts.”
Ōtautahi
Festival: Nostalgia
Ferrymead Heritage Part
Saturday, February 7
From $59.90
Line up includes Troy Kingi, Tami Neilson, Hollie Smith and Ladyhawke.
Ōtopoti
Festival: George Street Market & Eats and Beats on Bath Street
George St
Saturday, February 7
Free
Street performers, food, markets and music all day and into the night.
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