The Spinoff’s top pick of events from around the motu. Here’s the best for the week October 9-16.
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.
Aotearoa-wide
October sees the Show Me Shorts Film Festival delivering 126 screenings of 83 short films at 40 cinema venues across Aotearoa. See the full programme online for information on what’s on, how much and where. October also plays host to Bookshop Day! On Saturday October 11 make sure you visit your local bookshop for events for all ages – and to scoop up some books and take them to a good home.
Tāmaki Makaurau
Art Activism: Stitching Solidarity Aotearoa: Artists for Palestine Quilt Project
Samoa House Library
10am – 7pm Fri, October 10
Free
Contribute a fabric panel to the quilt created by Artists for Palestine Quilt Project.
Festival: Whau Arts Festival
Archibald Park (and other locations)
9–24 October
Free
A beautiful community-based festival of free events including poetry readings, car boot sales, live music, art battles and more.
Te Matau-a-Māui
Literature: Hawke’s Bay Readers & Writers Festival
Multiple venues
Fri 10 – Sun 12
$0 – $15
A selection of well-crafted lit events with Aotearoa authors including Ali Mau, Ruth Shaw and Dr Jessica Hutchings.
Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Theatre: Heartbreak Hotel
Circa Theatre
14–25 October (various times)
$15–$49
This show, written by Karin McCracken and created by EBKM, is simply one of the best theatre shows I’ve seen, ever. Don’t be foolish and miss it.
Whakatū
Comedy: Tom Sainsbury – Lessons Not Learnt
Theatre Royal
7.30pm Sat, October 11
$39.90
Tom Sainsbury (Stake Out!, Wellington Paranormal, social media) is back with a new show full of his particular take on small-town drama and small town characters.
Ōtautahi
Literature: David McWilliams On Money
The Piano
7.30pm Tues, October 14
$20–$30
Renowned economist David McWilliams demystifies economics and chats the history of money with RNZ’s Anan Zaki.
Tāhuna
Storytelling: Neighbourhood Story Slam
Sherwood Hotel
7pm Thurs, October 16
$20
A Moth-style story-off where people share five-minute stories on a theme. Naturally, October’s theme is ‘Goosebumps’.
