Hello, hello, hello.
It's another week, and she's as eclectic as ever. From food and drink to arts and culture, events that don't hurt the wallet to events that might. Oh, and 'cause I'm really that guy, I've even included a handy section titled 'For The Sprogs These School Holidays' to help keep the wee ones at bay.
Here's what's on in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this week, as well as what's just around the corner.
And yes, you can also check out what’s on this weekend with my professionally curated list of the best things to do Friday to Sunday.
Never miss a new opening or upcoming event in Auckland again—get us in your inbox here.
Jump to:
- Don't Miss
- Free And Budget-Friendly Events
- Food And Drink Events
- Arts And Culture
- Gigs & Live Music
- Rainy Day Activities
- For The Sprogs These School Holidays
- Coming Soon
Don’t Miss
Morepork BBQ Presents: Oktoberfest 2025
4 October | Kumeu Showgrounds | $$
Image credit: Morepork BBQ | Supplied
Ah yes, October. The month renowned for lederhosen and frothy steins. If frothy images flood to mind when you think October, but you don't have the spare euros for a trip to Bavaria, why not cruise out to Kumeu instead? That's what Morepork BBQ advises, as they prepare to celebrate the famous beer-quenched festival in next-level fashion. So while they polish their glasses and get the smoker cranking, you should get over to their website to snag a ticket.
Free And Budget-Friendly Events
Checkmate
'Til 5 October | Aoatea Square | Free
Image credit: We The Young | Supplied
Although We The Young wrapped up at the end of last week, one of the more epic installations is making an extended go at it 'til Sunday. Auckland Live's Checkmate, a colossal interactive chess-inspired installation created by internationally renowned artists Amigo & Amigo, has transformed Aotea Square into a larger-than-life game board. Visitors of all ages are invited to step inside a whimsical world where oversized Bauhaus-inspired chess pieces tower above the crowd—more than just a game, it’s a chance to immerse yourself in art, design, and movement, for the price of zero dollars.
Sun, Sand & Swimsuits
'Til 5 October | New Zealand Maritime Museum | Free
Image credit: New Zealand Maritime Museum | Eventfinda
Ever wondered what beachgoers and beachgoing looked like for your grandparents? If they don't have an album lying around featuring them in colourful trunks and weird little hats (and why would they?), then you can instead dive into Auckland's water-loving heritage with a scavenger hunt at the New Zealand Maritime Museum. From Edwardian picnics and popular seaside resorts to the early days of surfing—a nice wee wander into the retro world of Sun, Sand and Swimsuits.
New York Style Boogaloo Shine & Cha Cha Cha Partnerwork
Every Thursday | The Light House Ballroom | $
Every Thursday evening for an hour, authentic New York sabor makes its way to Wairau Valley. Well, in the form of a partnerwork class in the signature sound and swagger of New York Club-Style of Boogaloo, led by NYC-trained professional Mai Dahlberg. Designed for all dancers and just twenty bucks at the door.
Food And Drink Events
SERVED at SkyCity
October | SkyCity Auckland | $$-$$$
Winetopia
3-4 October | Viaduct Events Centre | $$
Image credit: Winetopia | Supplied
Top-shelf wines without the pomp and elitism? I'm sick to death of bending down to the bottom shelves of the supermarket wine section for $11 worth of cat p*ss. It hurts my back, my taste buds, and my pride. That's why I'm very much fizzed for this year's Winetopia, celebrating a decade of providing exactly what the first sentence asks for... but for a more in-depth preview, hear from our resident food-savant Vicki Young:
Fifty winery teams from across the motu and overseas are making their way to Tāmaki Makaurau this Friday 3 and Saturday 4 October for the 10th Winetopia at the Viaduct Events Centre. From renowned winemakers going head to head at the ‘Wine Battle’ arena (hosted by MC Ben Hurley), to exclusive wine masterclasses from wine writer Joelle Thomson (featuring aged wines from Winetopia’s first year of 2016). Culinary legend Josh Emmett (Gilt, Onslow, The Oyster Inn) and Sir John Kirwan (with his very own JK14 wine range) will also be on the main stage, sharing their favourite sips. Tāmaki’s very own Tacoteca, The Wine Room, and Tempero will be running exclusive food pairing classes, and the incredibly talented chefs Kārena and Kasey Bird will also be running a kaimoana and Tohu wine masterclass. Food offerings from Spiga, Hazy Tiger, Nanam, and Chef Kyle Street from Culprit are on the eats list—plus a boogie from Too Many Chiefs and Mischief The Band playing live jams so you can work it all off (and then do it all over again). Check out the full schedule and get your tickets here.
Arts And Culture
Jody Rallah—Mosaics of Memory
30 September-12 October | Waiheke Community Art Gallery | Free Entry
Image credit: Jody Rallah, Foundations–Installation View Photo: Joe Ruckli
The latest artist in residence at Waiheke Community Art Gallery is the uber-talented Jody Rallah. She's exhibiting her Mosaics of Memory series, which "explores the relationships that connect us across the sea, considering the social tapestry of materials, bicultural and cross-generational exchange and vessel-making practices that embody deep-time transitions through threads of memory and veins of clay". And how appropriate a place to do so.
Favourite Places – Caroline Ducobu
'Til 18 October | The Charlotte Museum | Free/Koha
Image credit: Caroline Ducobu | Supplied
Kiwi-Belgian photographer Caroline Ducobu's latest exhibition, Favourite Places, is showing 'til mid-October, and the word around town is that it's pretty damn cool. Caroline is a seasoned professional photographer with a degree from the St Luc School of Fine Art in Liege, Belgium, and has been plying her trade in Aotearoa for over two decades. Check out what some of these beautiful images—showcased at The Charlotte Museum in Freemans Bay—might look like here.
Rainy Day Activities
Decoupage Workshop
1 October | Dooney & Daughters Ltd. | $$$
Image credit: Dooney & Daughters Ltd. | Eventfinda
Ever heard of decoupage? Neither. Decoupage, decoupage, decoupage. What a word. A word that actually means "the art of decorating an object by gluing colored paper cutouts onto it in combination with special paint effects, gold leaf, and other decorative elements." Want to find out how to do it? Me too, and luckily for both of us, Dooney & Daughters Ltd. will be taking us through it on Wednesday. All materials and tools provided. Open mind and creative spirit recommended.
Continual Store x Fever Vintage Pop-up
'Til 2 November | Ponsonby Central | Free Admission
Image credit: Fever Vintage | Instagram
Guess who's back, back again. It's the reloved thread lords over at Continual Store and Fever Vintage. They've scored another two-month stint at Ponsonby Central—showcasing their carefully curated selection of men’s and women’s clothing from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s, blending bold styles, timeless classics, and Y2K nostalgia. All the way 'til November, no less.
For The Sprogs These School Holidays
A Community Art Project By UXBRIDGE & Pub Charity Ltd.
'Til Complete | UXBRIDGE | Free
Community creative hub UXBRIDGE has fashioned a mural for the express purpose of kindling community spirit. Youngins can share something special about their family, and it's absolutely free to participate. Just make sure you check out their many other epically artsy offerings.
Spring School Holidays At Stardome
20 September–5 October | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium | $
$12 to take the kids to meet a T.Rex? The tyrant lizard king in all its glory? The hero of every child who can cock their arms and roar like a dragon? Stardome Observatory has combined CGI wizardry and revolutions in tyrannosaur paleontology to run a 360-degree feature where the whanau can come face to face with these ancient beasts. And what's even more exceptional is that these spring school holidays, ALL tickets to daytime planetarium shows are just twelve buckaroos. How good? So good.
Coming Soon
Shift into Neutral
Presale 9 October, Opening 10 October, Showing 'Til 22 October | Turua Gallery | Free
Image credit: Gilly Sheffield | Turua Gallery
Turua Gallery seems to have a limitless supply of stunning exhibitions up its sleeve, with the latest being Shift into Neutral, opening Friday 10 October. A curated collection celebrating the beauty of restraint—artworks that are visually calm yet full of depth and texture, from seven talented NZ artists showing everything from large-scale abstract paintings to recycled beehive sculptures, woven crosses on corrugated iron, ceramics, and wood.
Enchanting Bookshop Day At Enamoured Books
11 October | Enamoured Books | Free Entry
Image credit: Alex Heart | Supplied
What happens when love stories, artistry, and community all come together under one roof? I'll tell ya what: Enamoured Books 2025 Bookshop Day with Magnolia & Soul plus friends. Goodie bags, tea tastings, tattoo artistry, and literary sweetness—the lust-filled-page-crazed team at Enamoured will be celebrating a decade of Bookshop Day in Aotearoa on Saturday 11 October, with its doors swinging open from 10am. And be sure you're not a second too late... there's prizes up for grabs, after all.
A Massive Fundraising Dinner
11 October | Massive Theatre Company | $$$
Image credit: Massive Theatre Company | Instagram
It's a tough time in the creative world currently. Purse strings are pulled tight, wallets are sealed shut, and like so many other institutions around NZ, Massive Theatre Company—one of New Zealand’s longest-standing theatre companies—has been feeling the pinch. But lo and behold, a familiar hero has once again arisen: Aotearoa's most-famous chef, Peter Gordon ONZM, is joining forces with Billy T award-winning comedian Kura Forrester to host a fundraising night for the ages. Done ‘the Massive way’ with a relaxed atmosphere at their hub in the heart of Grey Lynn.
Being the good sort that Peter is, he's offering his time for free to prepare a whānau-stylethree-course meal, raising some much-needed funds for the multigenerational theatre company. What's more, Forrester will be cooking up the laughs, throwing a quiz into the mix, and slinging off a few stellar auction items up for grabs. All proceeds go towards supporting Massive’s ongoing mahi in the arts community, which includes dozens of free annual workshops for young people and countless hours of professional development for emerging and professional artists in what is now their 35th year. So, grab a ticket. I dare ya.
BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival
11 & 12 October | Auckland Central | Free
Image credit: BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival | Supplied
Back for a bang in typical kaleidoscopic fashion, the BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival is here next month to turn Aotea Square, Queen Street, and Rutland Street into a bona fide extravaganza. Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October are the days you’ll want to be in town for one of the most important festivals on the Hindu calendar. From 12-9pm, you’ll witness modern and traditional Indian cultural performances, theatre, music, dance, exhibitions, art installations, light projections, gorge on sweet and savoury vegetarian food, enjoy arts and crafts, activities and workshops, yoga classes, Bollywood movies, annnddddd a fireworks show. Sheesh. Oh, it’s free too.
Trent Dalton's Love Stories
16-19 October | The Civic | $$-$$$
Image credit: Love Stories | Supplied
Trent Dalton's critically acclaimed stage sensation and heart-expanding theatrical gem—Love Stories—is playing a limited five performances at The Civic this month. A bestselling author and one of Australia's preeminent journalists, Dalton spent two months in 2021 gathering stories on his sky-blue 1960s Olivetti typewriter, on a prominent street corner in Brisbane’s CBD. Speaking to Australians from all walks of life, he asked them one simple thing: "Can you please tell me a love story?" Inspired by a profound love and generosity, this is an unashamedly joyous collection of what I like to call Lovecdotes, taking the stage by storm.
Dani Josie SUCKERPUNCH
25 October | Tuning Fork | $
Image credit: Dani Josie | Supplied
It's about time we had a punk icon make waves on these shores.
Embodying every ounce of moxie and misfit madness that modern times so desperately miss, Wellingtonian Dani Josie is embarking on her bona fide antidote of a first-ever headline tour. SUCKERPUNCH will be rocking a city near you over the next month, delivering Josie's energetic, articulate performance with a healthy dose of chaos, connection, community, and, most certainly, damn good live music.
Cirque du Soleil: Corteo
30 October-9 November | Spark Arena | $$$
Image credit: Cirque du Soleil | Aldo Arguello
Cirque du Soleil is returning to Aotearoa this October, with the Auckland debut of Corteo. Directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, Corteo is a festive parade imagined from a clown’s perspective, set on a double-sided stage. Expect grace, power, and comedy played out in a liminal space between heaven and earth. Tickets are live.
TIRI: TE ARAROA WOMAN FAR WALKING
4-23 Nov | ASB Waterfront Theatre, Parnell Village | $$
Closing out the 2025 season is TIRI: TE ARAROA WOMAN FAR WALKING, a groundbreaking adaptation of Witi Ihimaera’s epic tale. For the very first time, the play will be performed in both English and te reo Māori. Directed by Katie Wolfe and starring Miriama McDowell, this two-part production follows Tiri Mahana, a 185-year-old matriarch, from the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi to modern-day Aotearoa.
Tool
22 & 23 November | Spark Arena | $$$
Image credit: Spark Arena | Scott Moran
The way Tool fans operate, I'm sure most of ya'll have already locked your tickets. But seeing as a second night has been added to the schedule, and with the first already sold out, I thought I'd better plug this PSA: tickets to Tool's headline visit to NZ in November are available. For now...
RÜFÜS DU SOL
29 November | The Outer Fields, Western Springs | $$$
Image credit: RÜFÜS DU SOL | Instagram
The most mind-bending, dimension-transcending electro experience known to humankind—RÜFÜS DU SOL—will light up the expansive Outer Fields of Western Springs this November. The Australian purveyors of electronic music-meets-legendary-lights-extravaganza-times-unholy-soundscapes are just too good not to feature. So here's a very, very early heads up that they're coming to town.
Laneway Ticket Registration & Release
6 February | Western Springs | $$$
Image credit: Laneway | Chontalle Musson
Heard the news? The big one is back.
St Jerome's Laneway Festival will once again be packing the grass of Western Springs for what some consider the flagship of Aotearoa's gig calendar. The lineup has been dropped to much fizz—Chappell Roan headlining—and look at that, tickets are already selling like hotcakes.
ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix Auckland
14 & 15 February | Online | $$$
Image credit: Sail GP | Supplied
With 2025's Grand Prix blowing fans out of the water, I feel it's very prudent that I inform you all that ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix Auckland tickets are on sale this week. Keen? Jump onto Sail GP to score a ticket, and hopefully get so close you can feel the salt spray from these boat cowboys. Yeeeehaw.
Not in Auckland? Check out what's on in Christchurch, Wellington, and Queenstown this year.
Main image credit: AR.
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