This is your May What’s On for New Zealand, curated by your local staff – sharing all of their favorite events and must-do’s for the semester. Current students can check their inbox for the full digest.
Auckland
La Cigale French Market [FREE]
Where: La Cigale, 69 St Georges Bay Rd
When: Every Saturday and Sunday 8am – 1:30pm
A great NZ and imported products in a French style market. About 50 stallholders selling seasonal fruit and vegetables, fresh meats and fish, French cheeses, breads, jams and chutneys, olive oil, fresh pasta, fresh mozzarella, smoked fish and lots more.
New Zealand International Comedy Festival
Where: Various Venues
When: April 21 – May 14
Look out for the 2016 NZ International Comedy Festival coming to Auckland from April 21st through to May 14th. Shows at affordable prices and laughs for free. See the website for this year’s line up.
Open Streets ft. K’Rd [FREE]
Where: City Centre Cycle Network and Karangahape Roa, Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD
When: Sunday May 1 from 12-7pm
Revel in live music, street dining, art installations, popup performances and so much more brought to you by your K’Rd hosts.
The Auckland Writers Festival
Where: Aotea Square
When: May 10-15
The Auckland Writers Festival plays host to more than 150 writers over six days of ideas, readings, debates, stand-up poetry, literary theatre, children’s writers and free public and family events.
See writersfestival.co.nz for the full programme and tickets
Space to Dream: Recent Art from South America [$10]
Where: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Cnr Kitchener and Wellesley Streets
When: May 7 – Sept 18
The exhibition reveals how South American artists see a social significance for their work and how as rebels and revolutionaries, dreamers and poets, they have challenged, embraced, explained or transformed their realities, lives, cultures and spaces from the 1960s to today.
Palmerston North
Frida Kahlo – Her Photos [$10]
Where: Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and History, 326 Main St.
When: Open throughout May
Frida Kahlo’s distinctive colourful self-portraits and extraordinary life have made her one of the most recognised artists of the 20th Century. Less well known is her interest in photography. Upon Kahlo’s death in 1954, more than 6,500 personal photographs belonging to her and husband/artist Diego Rivera were sealed and stored at the Casa Azul, her home in Mexico City. For more than half a century this collection of personal memorabilia remained hidden from the public.
Hokowhitu Village Farmers Market [FREE]
Where: Hokowhitu Village Centre, 356 Albert St, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North
When: Every Sunday from 9am – 1pm
Hokowhitu Village Farmers Market. A market for locals offering a range of artisan and local produce to tease your taste buds! Also featuring live music by local talent.
Palmerston North Brick Show [$2]
Where: Barber Hall, Waldegrave Street, Palmerston North
When: Saturday May 21 and May 22 from 9am
We will have around 30 exhibitors coming from all around New Zealand there will be at least 60 tables worth of LEGO displays for you to see and in some cases touch! Everything from released LEGO sets, new and old to MOC’s (my own creations). Most LEGO themes will be shown from classic space to lord of the rings
S+ART Something
Where: Square Edge, 47 The Square, Palmerston North
When: Friday May 20 and May 21 from 8am
S+ART Something – the very best of what happens when science, technology and art come together.
See the website for the for line up.
Wellington
2 for 1 Desserts
Where: The Library, 1/53 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington
When: Every Tuesday from 5-12am
Check out the Iconic Library Bar and Restaurant. Each & every Tuesday all our delicious desserts are on special & 2 for 1. If you’re lucky live music is also on the cards!

Six barrel soda HQ tours [$20]
Where: Six Barrel Soda Co., Level 1, 33-35 Dixon St, Wellington
When: Friday, May 6 from 9:15 – 10:00am
Take a tour of six barrel soda HQ and see where and how we make our small batch, speciality sodas. Hear our story and enjoy a guided soda tasting.
Fabric-a-brac [FREE]
Where: St Anne’s Hall, 22 Emmett St, Newtown, Wellington
When: Saturday May 7 from 10am – 2pm
If you’re looking for some great bargains and funky fabric – fabric-a-brac is for you. All proceeds from Wellington Fabric-a-brac goes to Mary Potter Hospice
The Documentary Edge International Film Festival
Where: Roxy Cinema, 5 Park Road, Miramar, Wellington
When: May 4-15
New Zealand’s foremost documentary film festival reaches its 11th year in 2016. This popular and growing festival features a cultural smorgasbord of films both home-grown and from around the world. The carefully curated line-up includes numerous international award-winning films, giving New Zealand audiences a chance to experience gripping stories, meet incredible people and open their eyes to the diversity of our planet. See the website for tickets and screen times.
Africa Day Celebrations 2016
Where: Shed 6, Queens Wharf, Wellington
When: Saturday May 14 from 12-7pm
The ACCW extends an open invitation to anyone interested in celebrating a day about African Unity and African Culture.
Space & Science Festival
Where: Onslow College, 159 Burma Road, Johnsonville, Wellington
When: Saturday, May 14 from 12-10pm
Everything Space, Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Please check on website for ticket availability and details.
Third Thursday – Meet the Makers [FREE]
Where: Wellington Museum, 3 Jervois Quay, Queens Wharf, Wellington
When: Thursday, May 19 from 6-9pm
Meet the talent behind Wellington Museum’s newest exhibition, The Attic, a new permanent exhibition space that honours the Wellington region. It aims to create enchanting experiences that captivates the imagination, stimulates curiosity and capture the essence of our city.
Christchurch
The Diversity Food Market
Where: The Commons, 70 Kilmore St, Christchurch
When: Saturdays and Sundays
The diversity food market has a new location at the commons every weekend. Saturday night market 4pm-9pm. Sunday day market 10am-3pm. Come and try the best street food in town from around the world with great entertainment and culture.
Weka Pass Railway [Tickets from $18]
Where: Waipara Glenmark Station, 113 Glenmark Drive, Waipara
When: Sunday, May 1 and May 15
The Weka Pass Railway is a historic rural railway using both vintage steam and diesel-electric locomotives on 12.8 km of scenic line through the unique limestone beauty of the Weka Pass out of Waipara, North Canterbury. Public trains run every 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month.
The Original Gypsy Fair [FREE entry]
Where: Richmond Village Green, Stanmore Rd, Richmond, Christchurch
When: Saturday, May 7 and May 8 from 9am
Check out the live performances, hand crafted jewels, clothing, crafts and more.
Buddha’s Birthday Festival [FREE entry]
Where: Fo Guang Shan, 2 Harakeke St, Riccarton, Christchurch
When: Saturday May 14 from 10am – 4pm
Programme includes such activities as: Bathe the Buddha, Art & Craft Stalls, Multicultural Performances, Buddhist Prayer Beads stall, Vegetarian Food Stalls, Free Chinese and Western Health Check Tea Meditation, Sutra Transcription
Dunedin
Nook & Cranny Music Festival [FREE]
Where: City Library
When: Sunday, May 1 from 11am – 4pm to launch New Zealand Music Month
There’ll be New Zealand music all over the Library, on stages, on tables and in nooks and crannies among the books, with something for all tastes and ages.
Yumi Zouma + Doprah New Zealand Tour
Where: Re:Fuel Bar, Dunedin
When: Thursday, May 5 from 8pm
This May marks the stuff dream-pop is made of – when enigmatic trip-pop group Doprah, fresh from
the release of their highly-anticipated debut album Wasting in March, hit the road this May with highly lauded dream-pop outfit Yumi Zouma for four epic dates around the country. To really top things off they will also be joined by the excellent up and coming Soccer Practise.
Autumn Events Classic Film Weekend
Where: Regent Theatre, Dunedin
When: May 6-8
Classic films and New Zealand premieres will play on the grandest screens in the four main centres, including our own Regent Theatre in the Octagon. Head to the website for ticket information.
The Churchill Tour [$20]
Where: 52 Dundas, Dunedin
When: Thursday, May 12 from 8pm
New Zealand folk musician, ALBI (From Albi and The Wolves) & Australian folk musician, kyle taylor have announced tour dates for The Churchill Tour. ALBI recently performed at The 2016 Auckland Folk Festival with his band. Kyle Taylor has just rounded out an Australian Tour and is looking forward to supporting ALBI on The Churchill Tour.
Southern Region Inaugural Sport Stacking Tournament [$2]
Where: Maori Hill School, Dunedin
When: Saturday, May 28 from 9am-5pm
Sport stacking is an exciting individual and team sport where participants stack and unstack 12 specially designed plastic cups in a pre-determined sequence. Great for focus, concentration and left right brain activity. Tickets at door $2.
