A photograph from the show Creation, Creation in the We the Young festival at Auckland Live.
A photograph from the show Creation, Creation in the We the Young festival at Auckland Live.

Pop CultureSeptember 25, 2025

Ngaio Marsh Awards, mending and a festival for the kids: The Spinoff event guide

A photograph from the show Creation, Creation in the We the Young festival at Auckland Live.
A photograph from the show Creation, Creation in the We the Young festival at Auckland Live.

The Spinoff’s top pick of events from around the motu. Here’s the week September 25 – October 2.

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.

Hokianga

A promotional image for a country music festival in Hokianga featuring a photo of the sea; and lots of word art.

Music: Hokianga Country Music Festival

Opononi Hotel, Hokianga
5pm Friday–Sunday, September 26–28
$40 (for a weekend badge)

“Three days of continuous country music over five great venues along the Hokianga Harbour.”

Tāmaki Makaurau

A promotional image for a youth arts festival called We the Young featuring large red letters and a blue background.

Arts festival: We the Young

Aotea Centre & Town Hall
Thurs–Sun, September 25–28
$0–$35

An artist festival aimed at families and kids with a gorgeous range of shows and activities in the city centre.

Karenema & Heretaunga

A photo showing a hand mending torn jeans, using a floral motif.

Sustainability/Fashion: Visible Mending Workshop

Havelock North Library & Hastings Library
1pm Tues, Sept 30 (HNL); and 1pm Wed, October 1 (HL)
Free (but register here for Havelock, and here for Hastings. Age 13+)

Visible mending workshops, as part of a series of great events created for the school holidays.

Taitoko

A photograph of a pile of vinyl records.

Music: Levin Music Fair

Firebird Cafe, 54 Oxford St
4pm–7pm Thurs, September 25
Free

Vendors from all over the motu are converging in Levin with CDs, vinyl, tapes and more.

Ōtautahi

A photograph of a magnifying glass next to two novels by Ngaio Marsh.

Literature: The Ngaio Marsh Awards and the Murderous Mystery

Tūranga TSB Space
6pm Thurs, September 25
$20–$25

The 15th annual Ngaio Marsh awards for crime writing are afoot! (Includes an interactive murder mystery with the Court Jesters).

Ōtepoti

A golden sparkly cross.

Theatre/Musicals: Jesus Christ Superstar

Regent Theatre
7.30pm Thurs–Sat, September 25–27
$50–$80 

“The greatest rock musical of all time, as you’ve never seen it before.”

Aparima

A photograph of a group of musicians. There is a double base, violin and guitar. They're all looking at the camera.

Music: Douce Ambience

St Mary’s Church, Riverton
7.30pm Thurs, October 2
$10

An ensemble of talented musicians perform “rustic medieval dances, sublime classical music, light jazz, Irish, Tango with a little meditative Sting.”