Sick to death of the election? Here are some other things to do this weekend

Looking for something to do this weekend that has nothing to do with politics? We’re here to help. 

If it feels like the 2026 election campaign has lasted for 3,987,241 days, that’s because it has. Two ticks for you, because it seems like a lifetime since the January day when prime minister Christopher Luxon announced the election date of November 7, kicking off months of political candidates doing anything to get your vote while nearby dogs eat dead birds. The end is now in sight, with tomorrow being the final day for voting. Once you’ve cast your vote (you've got until 7pm on Saturday!), you technically don’t have to give the election another second of your time.

If you’re a political junkie, you’ll of course be glued to The Spinoff’s live blog while furiously channel-surfing to soak up every hot take on Saturday night as the votes roll in. But what if you’re sick to the gills with election fever? What if you never want to hear the words “fiscal hole” or “wry and puckish” ever again and your democratic mojo has long since left the building? Don’t worry. Politics may touch us all, but that doesn’t mean you have to touch politics this Saturday night. Here’s a list of other things you can do this weekend if you can’t stomach another minute of this election.

Touch some grass

Go outside, take off your shoes and breathe deeply as Mother Nature pulls her into her increasingly warm embrace. Science has shown that standing on grass lowers your blood pressure, but what science hates is that touching grass also banishes all intrusive thoughts about overhangs and fat pens straight through your toenails.

Soak up some culture

There’s a heap of creative stuff happening across the motu this weekend to uplift your soul, feed your mind, and remind you that humans are brilliant creatures. There’s this weekend’s Queenstown Writers Festival, or the British and Irish Film Festival currently screening in cinemas nationwide. Wellington ballet lovers shouldn’t miss Royal New Zealand Ballet’s production of Sleeping Beauty, while Auckland is spoiled by an abundance of musical riches, from Jesus Christ Superstar to the Iron Maiden/Megadeth concert. Stan Walker performs in Ōtautahi, musician Greg Johnson continues his nationwide 60th birthday tour with a stop in Ōamaru, and if you’re feeling really classy, don’t miss the string quartet candlelight performance in Wellington Cathedral of St Paul on Saturday night. 

Find the father from the annoying One NZ TV ads

Are you EJ? ARE YOU?! Whoever ends up as prime minister needs to do the nation a favour and fast track this bloke’s whereabouts, ASAP. 

Watch some sport

If you love balls, then you’re in for a treat this weekend. The sporting extravaganza begins with a one-day cricket match between New Zealand and India in Wellington on Saturday (Sky Sport, 3pm), followed by the New Zealand derby between Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix in Auckland at 5pm (Sky Sport/Sky Open). Then there’s two huge Rugby League World Cup semifinals: the Kiwi Ferns play Samoa at 7.45pm, followed by the men's team against Tonga (10.05pm, both Sky Sport). If that’s not enough running around for one day, the All Blacks play Scotland on Sunday morning NZT (Sky Sport from 3.10am, delayed coverage on Three). 

Have a little sleep

Maybe when you wake up, the election will be over. Hahaha! Sorry, it’s never going to end. 

Watch something else on television

Broadcast TV will be wall-to-wall with frenzied election specials, so you’ll need to turn to your streaming services for some democracy-free content. Keira Knightley’s fast-paced spy thriller Black Doves returns to Netflix, while ThreeNow has the second season of the equally energetic thriller The Assassin. Prime Video’s new eight-part series about the life of Muhammed Ali kicked off this week, TVNZ+ has a new season of gentle local drama Dead Ahead, and HBO Max have just launched a new collection of classic movies that includes Casablanca, Singin' in the Rain and Ben-Hur. 

If you’re looking for something bright and breezy, try musical comedy Happiness (ThreeNow), or you could even revisit all six seasons of Xena: Warrior Princess, which just dropped on TVNZ+. Or, just watch the ads on TV? Maybe someone finally found EJ??? 

Write the novel that’s been trapped inside you for years

What better time to release the creative beast within than when the rest of the nation is distracted by a silly little poll? 

Leave the house

Lots of activities happening around the country this weekend have sweet, sweet nothing to do with politics. Whangārei is holding a fireworks spectacular on Saturday night, Hamilton has something thrilling called an “Inflatable Ninja Run”, and if you fancy some mega fun, great news: the Megafun Carnival is on in Whanganui. Enjoy watching strong people chuck heavy stuff around? Don’t miss the Hororata Highland Games in Canterbury. There’s also a twilight vintage market in Christchurch, sunrise yoga at Dunedin’s St Clair beach, and a new dinosaur exhibition at Tūhura Otago Museum. If nothing else, take yourself out for a stupid little walk and enjoy the lack of annoying election billboards polluting your neighbourhood.

Start a new hobby 

Impress your friends and threaten your enemies by learning something new. Cut your own hair, learn how to cartwheel, take an axe throwing class. The world is your oyster, especially if you really like oysters. 

Turn the power off and sit quietly in the dark until 2029

Let us know how you get on.