The Spinoff’s top pick of events from around the motu. Here’s the best for the week February 26–March 5.
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.
Whāngarei
Music: Summer Acoustic Series – Merlia
The Tunnels, Whangārei Quarry Gardens
2.30pm Sat, February 28
$10
The final in a series of concerts staged in one of Whangārei’s most atmospheric locations. Merlia’s style blends classical roots with moody modern pop, weaving rich, folk-inspired textures in her sound.
Tāmaki Makaurau
Fashion: Kong presents: Heirloom
Silo 6, Beaumont Street & Jellicoe Street
6.30pm Fri, February 26
$30
“Kong presents her solo runway show Heirloom at Silo 6 on Friday 27 February, 2026. The fashion collection blends together Chinese inspired, chinoiserie-patterns and European, rococo-flaired design to transform the silo into a decadent ballroom of desire through a queer, lesbian lens.
Silhouettes incorporate ornate corsetry, drapery, and exaggerated volumes, with a kiss of distressed finishes, asymmetry, and aged floral elements to create tension between fragility and power. The femme is balanced with the fatale as Kong pulls inspiration from Westwood, Galliano, and Guo Pei.
True to the label’s sustainable and slow fashion ethos, all of the textiles are truly preloved.”
Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Multi-arts: Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts
Multi venues
From February 24 – March 15
Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts returns with an array of arts experiences for all. Shows up this week include: Briefs Factory (dazzling circus, cabaret, burlesque); Werefolf by Binge Culture (immersive theatre, brilliant); the Red Phone Project (a free, one-person, one-phone-booth interaction with a stranger); Mythsoma – CYP (on Feb 26 only; mesmerising dance-theatre).
Literature: Book launch – Glenn Colquhoun
Unity Books Wellington, Willis St
6pm Friday, Feb 27
Free
Poet Glenn Colquhoun launches his latest project, a graphic poem called The Ballad of Joe Taihape.
Ōtautahi
Comedy: Dungeons & Comedians
Little Andromeda
6pm Sun, March 1
$15–25
“Join our crew of courageous comedians and as they play D&D onstage. With live illustrations from our resident animator, Andrew Kepple. It’s Dungeons & Dragons like you’ve never seen before.” (This is the first in a series of episodes).
Ōtepoti
Family: Children’s Day at Tūhura
Tūhura Otago Museum
10am–5pm Sun, March 1
Free
The first of March is for the kids! Face painting, science shows, free popcorn, Mr Whippy and more.
Wānaka
Craft: Wānaka Craft Market
Pembroke
10am–2pm Sun, March 1
Free
A wide range of artists – from potters to soap makers to carvers and more – exhibit their work for sale.
