This week, you have options. I mean, with these round-ups, when do you not have?

Maybe you're feeling a bit of improv, or maybe a whole village-worth of art? Maybe you're in the mood for a cocktail-fueled stroll, or a Thursday evening listening to smooth jazz. Or maybe you're less jive groovecat and more midweek punk and art community monthly party bonanza.

Idk. We've got a lot of cool stuff on, so why not take a look yourself? Here's what's on in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this week, as well as what's just around the corner.

And, like usual, if you're otherwise preoccupied for these first five days, then check out what’s on this weekend with my surefire way to make the most of the three allocated weekly days of freedom.

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 
• Coming Soon

Don’t Miss

Perfect Match

13 September | Covert Theatre | $

Image credit: Covert Theatre | supplied

Picture this: it’s your first dip into the world of speed dating, and you're nervous—scratch that, you're terrified. You're practically shaking in your boots. Only, when your date finally arrives, they're absolutely perfect... until you realise they can hear every thought racing through your mind. And worse? So can a live audience.

Perfect Match is Covert Theatre's latest experiment in innovative theatre, providing Ponsonby with some of the best improv shows around. Wander on down to Mackelvie Street this Saturday evening for the second of two limited performances, where you'll eavesdrop on speed daters' unfiltered inner thoughts as they navigate encounters with three potential partners.

Free & Budget-Friendly Events

World Suicide Prevention Day: Lifelines 'For the Dawn'

10 September | Anywhere/OKAHU | Donation/Koha/$

Image credit: For the Dawn/Lifeline Aotearoa | supplied

Lifeline Aotearoa—who receive no government funding, relying entirely on public support—are hosting a local event for World Suicide Prevention Day this Wednesday. In an effort to urge Kiwis to help turn silence into support, this year’s all about changing the narrative and encouraging openness, empathy and connection.

For the Dawn is an early-morning fundraiser, where everyone is encouraged to get out a bed a little bit earlier than usual, to show support, and promote discussion and where—either through individual donations or local fundraising events (including an epic wee dance dawn dance party you’re invited to)—every dollar donated will be matched by Office Products Depot, up to $20,000.

Poker @ Paraoa

Thursdays | Paraoa Brewing Co. | $

Image credit: Marin Tulard

Poker. Beers. Burgers. $15. Every Thursday night.

I would keep talking, but I think I'll just go practice my card counting instead. Actually, maybe this should be under food and drinks? Oh well.

Zone Bowling Wairau Singles Night: Swap Lanes

Every Tuesday, 'Til 16 September | Zone Bowling Wairau | $

Image credit: Zone Bowling Alley Wairau | Supplied

I said it before, and I'll say it again: 2025 is the year for ditching the swipes. "But what instead???", you yell from the pitched roofs of Auckland's multitudinous suburbs. "Alas, whither do we take our dates?!" How about Zone Bowling's new singles night: Swap Lanes. Yep, a classic in the realm of budding love—let Zone play cupid and watch the sparks fly between the guide rails (I promise I use them too). The best part? It's just $29.99 for a 1-hour Swap Lane Bowling session with 5-frame games, a drink, and fries. But make sure ya book!

Food And Drink Events

The Great Westie Burger Battle

All September | The Wild West | Free To Vote

Image credit: The Trusts | supplied

Here’s some good great news amongst the ocean of negativity that threatens to wash over us every damn day there: The Great Westie Burger Battle is Back! West Auckland’s very best burger vendors go head to head throughout September, with 14 grills battling it out for pattie supremacy of The West. Hit up The Trusts website to check out the contenders and to cast your vote via QR. P.S. Everyone who votes goes in the draw to win a Weber Baby Q BBQ or one of three smash burger kits. And just in time for summer. How good great.

Urban Cocktail Trail

13 September | The Viaduct & Wynyard Quarter | $$

Image credit: Urban Cocktail Trail | Instagram

Wine wanderers, vino voyagers, cocktail conquistadors; this one’s for you—and, well, everyone over 18, because who doesn’t love a good beverage-inspired adventure? Revamping the drab and sticky-floored concept of the pub crawl, Neighbourhood Events Co. have organised a Cocktail Trail to showcase the vibrant beverage scene of The Viaduct & Wynyard Quarter. It’s all self-guided, so grab your mates, dates and whoever else is keen, but be quick, 'cause tickets are selling quicker than you can say conquistador.

Arts And Culture

St Heliers Art Fest

'Til 14 September | St Heliers Beach | Free Entry

Image credit: St Helliers Art Fest | Supplied

A fortnight of celebrating creativity out at lovely St Heliers—the entire locale is coming alive 'til 14 September with an immersive, village-wide art experience that blends live music, exhibitions, workshops, and delightful pop‑up surprises. An inaugural, fresh festival, designed for locals and visitors alike to explore the artist within. It's St Heliers Art Fest.

The Lightship

September Through April | Port of Auckland | Free

Image credit: The Lightship | supplied

The Lightship is here for a new summer season, and it's bigger and brighter than ever. Australasia's largest lightwall—this behemoth of a light installation stretches 110 metres along Auckland’s waterfront, transforming a working port building into an illuminated canvas every single night. 8,500 LED lights, large-scale digital works from six artists across Aotearoa and Australia, free from dusk 'til dawn, the first gargantuan creation is courtesy of Melbourne-based painter Esther Stewart.

Gigs & Live Music

The Rory Johns Trio—Freida Jazz

11 September | Freida Margolis | $

Image credit: Mikita Tarasevich

Lush piano jazz in your friendly neighbourhood wine bar for a $5 door charge. Say less. It's Thursday Freida Jazz nights, this week, featuring The Rory Johns Trio.

Sweet Treats Punx: Punk Night #50

11 September | Whammy Bar | $

Image credit: Sweat Treat Punx | Facebook

But if you're less jive groovecat and more midweek punk and art community monthly, why not try something a bit harder, down at Whammy Bar at eight.

Music At Midday

Saturdays | The Arts House Trust, Pah Homestead | Free

Image credit: The Arts House Trust | Instagram

Now, I included these next two musically-infused inclusions in last weekend's round-up. But I deemed both to be just too damn good for my weekly readers to miss out on. So here ya go:

Every Saturday for the next wee while, an hour of free live music will be laid out by The Arts House Trust at the very beautiful Pah Homestead. Not only does this hour of musical power showcase some talented grassroots musicians, but it's also a chance to just take a step back and relax—soak it all in from the drawing room, or peruse the galleries as the tunes glide along the weekend breeze. If it's even a quarter as blissful as it sounds, it's well worth the venture out to Hillsborough.

Saturday Night Jazz

Saturdays | Rocketman, Auckland CBD | Free To Patrons

Image credit: Grantis 13/Rocketman | Instagram

Another weekly kinda deal—Rocketman, one of the grooviest joints in the CBD, now hosts live late-night Jazz from 9-11pm every Saturday night. It's an arrangement that is about as slick and chic as the bar itself, and if you get some sudden inspo, listening to their selection of hand-plucked hip-hop jazz talent, then book their karaoke room to belt out some tunes yourself.

Coming Soon

Kōkōwai: A Night Of Indigenous Fashion, Art & Music At Auckland Museum

12 September | Te Ao Mārama South Atrium, Auckland War Memorial Museum | $$

Image credit: Kōkōwai/Auckland War Memorial Museum | supplied

Kōkōwai, presented by The Auckland Museum Store, is a one-night-only, curated exposé of fashion, art, live music and performance on Friday 12 September. Showcasing the work of two acclaimed wāhine ringatoi Māori, Shona Tāwhiao (Ngāi Te Rangi) and Stevei Houkāmau (Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui), Kōkōwai is named for the sacred red ochre pigment once used to adorn bodies and mark the tapu. It's a one-of-a-kind chance to experience a powerful expression of creativity, with selections of both artists' works available for purchase on the night and a 10% discount for those with tickets to the museum's other standout exhibition of women's excellence: DIVA.

Ethel & Bethel’s Comedy Bingo Night—Fundraiser For The Kidney Society

12 September | Freemans Bay Community Hall | $$

Image credit: Ethel And Bethel | Instagram

Something about 'R18 Bingo Night' just gets me hyped. Maybe it's my competitive side, or maybe I just love taking seemingly innocuous events to the extreme—like that one mishap I had with Pin the Tail at my nephew's fifth birthday. Anyway... Ethel & Bethel's Comedy Bingo Night in September has me genuinely intrigued. It's a night with a mission—raising $30,000 to support people with kidney disease, with every ticket making a real difference. Beyond their sharp wit and chaotic energy, prizes, drinks, snacks, and a fair bit of community-inspired chaos await. No door sales, so grab your tickets now.

Crushed Grapes: Hans Herzog

18 September | QT Auckland | $$$

Image credit: QT Auckland | supplied

‘Vinous mischief’ is something I’d never heard of until now, but I definitely want to be a part of it. And it’s exactly what will be in store at QT Auckland next week, well, at least for the attendees of their latest instalment of Crushed Grapes: a night with one of New Zealand’s most revered winemakers, Hans Herzog and renowned chef, Sean Connolly. 

Begin with a glass of Hans' favourite drop and a signature ‘Mystery Pour Challenge’, where you’re challenged to guess what’s in the glass for a $50 Esther voucher (Hans has planted 26 different grape varieties on his riverbank playground, so good luck). Connolly will then weave into the affair a specially curated feast, which, of course, is perfectly paired with Hans' vintages. A delicious event complete with tales from both craftsmen and a room of like-minded folk, simply sit back and sip away an “evening uncorked”.

Sky Fan Zone Debut: All Blacks vs Wallabies @ Eden Park

27 September | Eden Park | Free With Match Ticket

How many test matches have you headed over to old mate’s for only to end up with either the most uncomfortable seat in the house, or even worse, a sh*t spot on the floor? Too often. You’ve probably sat there with your butt aching and thought, Why the hell didn’t I just go to the game? Well, with the launch of the Sky Fan Zone, there's now one more reason to get yourself down there. Actually two, as the exclusive space will be fizzing both before and after we take on the Wallabies come 27 September. And don’t forget, it’s a whanau-friendly 5.05pm kick off for that clash. Talk about an arvo.

Winetopia

3-4 October | Viaduct Events Centre | $$

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. It ain't 'til October, but securing tickets for the big ten-oh is essential.

Morepork BBQ Presents: Oktoberfest 2025

4 October, Tickets On Sale Now | Kumeu Showgrounds | $$

Image credit: Morepork BBQ | supplied

It's now September, which means, of course, to all you learned people out there, that October is next up. Which means, of course, to all us less learned people, in case we didn't know, lederhosen and frothy steins. And if these frothy images flood to mind 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 reckon as they prepare to celebrate the famous beer-quenched festival in next-level fashion. So while they polish their steins and get the smoker cranking, you should get over to their website to snag a ticket.

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.

Cirque du Soleil: Corteo

30 Oct-2 November | Spark Arena | $$$

Image credit: Cirque du Soleil | Maja Prgomet

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.

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.

Not in Auckland? Check out what's on in Christchurch, Wellington, and Queenstown this year.

Main image credit: For the Dawn/Adobe Stock.

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