Mother’s Day is just around the corner (May 14 if you’re wondering) and while not all of us have a mother we almost certainly all have someone who’s looked out for us, someone who’s cared for us, someone who has supported us no matter what. Maybe it’s your Work Mum, your House Mum, your Chosen Mum, or the one who brought you into this world. And it’s these people in our lives who we take the opportunity to thank this Mother’s Day.
From jaw-dropping jewellery design and smokin’ hot eye candy, to a battle of the high teas, this Mother’s Day lineup is packed with more quality time than you can shake a flaming baton at (or, like, a chopstick if you don’t happen to have a flaming baton on hand).
Here are the best things to do with Mum this Mother’s Day.
Weave Nature
Willow And Sage Botanics, Kumeu | 5 May
Image credit: Willow and Sage Atelier | Instagram
There’s an inextricable connection between mothers and Mother Nature and this autumnal wreath workshop at the Kumeu Arts Centre is a beautiful way to honour that link. During the two and a half hour autumnal wreath workshop, Jade from Willow and Sage Botanicals will teach you and mum the ins and outs of foraging and how to prep and create a dried floral wreath. Afternoon tea provided with vegetarian and vegan options available on request. Flowers not mum’s thing? We bet you one of these other workshops will be.
Get Your Om On
School of Modern Meditation, Freemans Bay | 11 May
The connection between mother and child can be complex, heart-wrenching, messy, confusing, or beautiful. Often, a mélange of all of the above. Mothers, whether known to us or not, form an intrinsic part of us so understanding them and how we relate to each other, is part of understanding ourselves. So this Mother’s Day you might like to meditate and SOMM’s Community Practice, with a partially-guided meditation and senior meditation teachers on hand to offer advice, could be the perfect place to do so.
Give Mum A Very Nice View Indeed
Men Of Steel, Auckland CB | 11 May
Image credit: Men of Steel | Facebook
While we're on the topic of blissing out, you might like to consider giving mum a night off. And by that we mean a front row seat to Mums' Night Off by Men of Steel. Yep, there's nothing G-rated about this event and, no, we're not sorry. Promising to be one helluva spicy evening, the Magic Mike-style show might just top mum's hierarchy of needs (and yours, for that matter).
Ice A Thing Then Devour It
Neat Cakes, Balmoral | 11 & 12 May
You can only go right with cake this Mother’s Day, especially if it’s a Neat Cake as decorated by you and your mum. Whether you decide to create an effigy of that painting you did when you were five, ice a portrait of your family pooch, or just see what materialises with your forces combined, this Mother’s Day Cake Decorating Workshop is sure to please. All plant-based, no added gluten available.
Relish All The Treats
JW Marriott | 11 & 12 May
Fresh from some seriously swish renovations, high tea at JW Marriott is definitely one of the best things to do with mum this Mother’s Day. Greeted with a tea-infused cocktail on arrival (or a mocktail for any sprogs), you’ll dive into a sharing menu packed with all sorts of delectable fare including a (very) moreish Portuguese cheese puff, to dessert offerings covering all bases—from dulce de leche through to mascarpone, basil, and pear—before finishing off with scones two-ways and dark chocolate cremeux.
Raise A Pinky
Park Hyatt | 11 & 12 May
If your mum’s all about the finer things in life, she might just relish wrapping her mouth around Park Hyatt Auckland’s Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea. It’s a veritable world of flavors including umeboshi (for the uninitiated, that’s fermented Japanese plum), buffalo curd, ricotta cheesecake, burnt vanilla crème, roasted rhubarb and more. Of course such a feast would begin with a glass of Louis Roederer Brut Champagne and include live entertainment, and a gift from Kingdom Candles.
Paint And Caffeinate
Remnants Shop, Matakana | 12 May
Image credit: Hemy Pottery | website
Local ceramicist, Han Mills, is bringing her joyful Hemy Pottery to the table with a Coffee, Croissants & Clay Mother’s Day workshop in the a.m. at Remnants Shop in Matakana. During the two-hour get-together, from 10am-12pm, you and your mum will get to paint a Hemy Pottery mug in whatever style takes your fancy while sipping on coffee and grazing on croissants and nibbles. Lovely.
Bliss Out With Pure Mama
HANA, Grey Lynn | from 12 May onwards
No shade on great kai but perhaps the best thing you can give any mother—let’s be real—is a moment that’s truly their own. Relaxation is a scarce resource on the journey to and through motherhood but with HANA you can give mum the excuse (and it’s heart-breaking that she needs one but such is the society we live in) to hit pause. A wellness sanctuary in Westmoreland, HANA’s Pure Mama massage treatment gifts cloud nine to pregnant and post-partum mothers releasing stress, improving blood flow, and soothing aches. While you're there, make it a double and book yourself into one of their classic treatments too, you know, for health.
Ground + Glow
35 Watea Road, Torbay | 12 May
Image credit: Embody Strength Studio | Facebook
A trifecta of wellbeing woven together, Ground + Glow is a mix-and-match wellness event made up of a female physiology-informed strength class followed by a sauna and ice bath by Embody Strength Studio, a yoga flow to wind down to with Marjolein Yoga Roots, and a delightful cacao ceremony by Gypsy Yogi. Ground + Glow welcomes mothers of tiny humans, grown humans, fur babies, plants and more.
High Tea At Te Kaahu
Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport Hotel | 12 May
Nancye Pirini attributes her love of cooking to her mother so it’s fitting that Nancye, executive head chef at Te Kaahu, Te Arkinui Pullman Auckland Airpot Hotel’s top-tier restaurant, has created a gorgeous high tea to celebrate mothers. Start the festivities with bubbles on arrival, followed by a plethora of dainty delights from yuzu lemon croissant to beef short rib pie and kawakawa bonbons.
Make Beautiful Things
Layla Kaisi Collection, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Layla Kaisi Collection | supplied
While the jury’s out on whether diamonds are, in fact, a girl’s best friend, one of the best things to do with mum this Mother’s Day does involve all that sparkles. And if you’re wondering how you can make Mother’s Day extra special this year, booking an appointment at Layla Kaisi Collection could be just the thing. LKC is a local jeweller that’s contemporary luxury incarnate, creating exquisite pieces that go beyond celebrating a momentt—they immortalise stories. This Mother’s Day, start the process, working with your mum to co-design a micro-collection that illustrates your connection with sheer elegance.
Brunch It Up, And Make It Boozy
Various
If your mum’s a bit of a lavish lush, spike Mother’s Day festivities with a bottomless brunch to remember (or not). With Tāmaki gems slingin’ bottomless goodness some weekdays and most weekends, specialising in world cuisines and catering to various dietary requirements, book into mum’s favourite cuisine and get ready to make some sweet memories… or a hangover.
Be Marked, Magically
Studio Alora, Grey Lynn
Image credit: Studio Alora | Instagram
Ink the connection between you and your mum in the spirit of Mother’s Day at cotton-candy-perfect tattoo studio, Studio Alora. Deepening the dimensions of the art with precious ritual, tattoo ‘heartist’ Maddi Garrett’s Magic Markings—soulful designs and patterns to accompany you on your journey through this life—would be a stunning way to celebrate XXX.
Wander Through The Trees
Various | Whenever you like
Spending some time in nature can be the perfect backdrop for D&Ms with mum this Mother’s Day. Whether you’re after a coastal stroll, a slog up a never-ending staircase, a forest-bathe or an urban jaunt, we’ve got it all. Check out the best the city has to offer or, if you’ve got a pooch in tow, you might like to explore the top dog-friendly walks.
Stuck for gift ideas this Mother's Day? There's a list for that.
Image credit: