🐝 WellyBuzz: Mamma Mia, James May & Welly’s Weekend Surprises

👋 Kia ora and welcome! Wellington’s showing off a hint of sunshine this week – perfect timing now that the Cable Car is back chugging uphill after its winter spruce-up. 🌤️ Whether you’re itching to get outdoors or cozy up inside, we’ve got you covered this weekend with the usual eclectic mix of events and hidden gems. Let’s dive in!

🔥 Quick Picks This Weekend

🎶 Mamma Mia! – ABBA’s smash-hit musical lights up the St James Theatre.
🎵 R&B Fest – Wellington – 90’s and 00’s anthems, DJs, dancers, and confetti
🌍 Explorers – The Age of Discovery with James May – From ancient voyages to space travel at The Opera House.
🎤 Best of the Bee Gees Saturday Night Fever Show – Groove to Bee Gees classics and 70s disco hits at The Opera House.
🌟 Porirua Has Talent Finals 2025 – Celebrate local performers at Te Rauparaha Arena.
👗 Pre-Loved Clothing Market – Feral Nation Fundraiser – Designer finds, vintage gems, and kitten cuddles in Miramar.

🔥 In This Week’s Buzz

🐾 Pet of the Week – Chloe – Office greeter, seat-warmer, therapy dog, and SPCA fundraiser.
🕰️ Welly’s Time Machine – The shipwreck hidden under Lambton Quay you can still see today.
🌟 Local Legends – The Dutch Shop in Petone: cheese, stroopwafels, licorice wall, and Delft Blue mugs.
🍽️ Food & Drink – Pastrami on rye and house-made pickles at Pickle & Pie.
🎉 Events – 50+ things to do, from queer cabaret to glow worm tours.
🌦️ Welly Weather Watch – Fine Friday with a chance of showers Saturday & Sunday.
💝 Extra Sprinkles – InsideOUT Kōaro: making schools safer for rainbow youth.

🐾 Pet of the Week – Chloe

Meet Chloe, Creative HQ’s resident seat-warmer, chief greeter, and all-round morale booster. Whether she’s keeping a chair cosy while you make a cuppa, attending team meetings, or starring in the office’s social media, she’s truly part of the crew. Off the clock, Chloe’s a therapy dog and fundraiser for the SPCA - proof that she’s not just a pretty face, but a pup on a mission to make the world a better place.

Think your pet’s a star? 🐾 Send us their photo and a short blurb at [email protected] and they could be our next Pet of the Week!

🕰️ Time Machine: The Ship Beneath the Street

Only in Wellington could you shop on top of a shipwreck. In 1849, the barque Inconstant ran aground at Pencarrow Head. John Plimmer – “Father of Wellington” and part-time DIY master, hauled it to Lambton Quay, built a warehouse on top, and dubbed it Plimmer’s Ark. Land reclamation hid it for over a century, until 1997, when renovations at the Old Bank Arcade revealed its perfectly preserved timbers. You can still spot them today through glass panels – a hidden slice of nautical history.

🌟 Local Legend – Small Biz Gem to Check Out:

The Dutch Shop (89 Jackson St, Petone)

Step through the door of The Dutch Shop and you’re instantly in the Netherlands – greeted with a cheerful “Hallo en goededag”. This family-run gem boasts one of Wellington’s largest selections of cheeses (Dutch, local, and international), cut fresh to order, plus deli meats from Dutch and German butchers. There’s an entire wall of licorice that draws fans from across the region, buttery stroopwafels, sauerkraut, Indonesian spices, and European homewares from cheese slicers to Delft Blue mugs. It’s a little slice of Holland, right here in Petone.

🍽️ Food & Drink – Must-Try Spot This Week

Pickle & Pie (2 Lombard St, Te Aro)

A love letter to the classic NYC deli, Pickle & Pie piles pastrami high, ladles out steaming matzo-ball chicken soup, and serves their legendary house-made pickles on the side. The retro-meets-modern fit-out (all warm wood, big windows, and easy vibes) makes it just as good for a lingering lunch as it is for a grab-and-go pie. Order the pastrami on rye, then treat yourself to whatever sweet magic is winking at you from the cabinet.

🎉 Events: Your Weekend Lineup 🌟

Thursday 14 August:

🌙 Hutt City Night Market
Kick off the weekend early with global street food, handmade goods, and a buzzing local vibe in Lower Hutt.
📍 Dowse Square, Lower Hutt | 🕓 4:00pm–8:00pm | 🎟️ Free Entry

✍️ Snacks Amore - Speed Dating with Snacks
Join a fun night of speed dating at Amuse Snack Bar, featuring 12 mini dates and 6 Italian-inspired snack courses. Enjoy Lambrusco, tiramisu maritozzo, and more!
📍 Amuse Snack Bar, 178 Willis Street, Wellington | 🕐 5:30pm (Millennials) & 7:30pm (Gen X) | 🎟️ $75 | R18

Friday 15 August:

🎶 Mamma Mia!
The smash-hit ABBA jukebox musical featuring iconic songs like "Dancing Queen" and "Super Trouper" set on a Greek island paradise.
📍 St James Theatre, 77-87 Courtenay Place | 🕗 7:30pm–10:15pm | 🎟️ From $69 | All Ages

🍔 Āhuru Kai Kōhua Poaka: Burger Wellington
Te Papa Café’s gourmet take on the traditional Māori boil-up, featuring pork roulade, kūmara fries, and a heart-shaped raspberry dessert.
📍 Te Papa Tongarewa, 55 Cable St | 🕗 9:00am–3:00pm | 🎟️ $28 | All Ages

🎤 Cringeworthy: The 90's
A high-octane tribute to 90s music, fashion, and culture with a mix of local and international hits. Expect dance moves, catchy vocals, and cheesy comedy!
📍 Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki St | 🕗 8:00pm–10:00pm | 🎟️ $25–$60 | All Ages

🍔 Interislander: Pop-up Burger
Indulge in a gourmet burger with smoked paprika fries and Kapiti brie cheese at the pop-up truck outside Wellington Railway Station.
📍 Wellington Railway Station, Bunny St | 🕗 11:00am–2:00pm | 🎟️ $20 | All Ages

📖 The Magic of Her Body: Readings of Katherine Mansfield's Queer Writing
An immersive experience through Katherine Mansfield's sensual writings, accompanied by live music, at her birthplace.
📍 Katherine Mansfield House & Garden, 25 Tinakori Rd | 🕗 6:00pm–6:45pm & 8:00pm–8:45pm | 🎟️ $20–$35 | All Ages

💃 Unbound - NZSD at Whirinaki Whare Taonga
A stunning performance by the New Zealand School of Dance, featuring classical ballet and contemporary dance highlights, alongside new choreographed works.
📍 Whirinaki Whare Taonga, 836 Fergusson Drive | 🕗 7:30pm–9:00pm | 🎟️ $16–$26 | All Ages

🎤 SAPPHO: A Deliciously Sapphic Cabaret
A night of poetry, burlesque, drag, song, and comedy that will leave you flustered with gay panic. Get ready for a memorable sapphic experience!
📍 The Fringe Bar, 26 Allen St | 🕗 8:00pm–10:00pm | 🎟️ $20–$44.30 | R18

✍️ R&B Fest - Wellington
Get ready for an unforgettable night of 90’s and 00’s R&B anthems with DJs, dancers, confetti, and inflatable microphones!
📍 63 Courtenay Pl, Te Aro, Wellington | 🕐 10:00pm-3:00am | 🎟️ $40 | R18

🎶 Corrella Skeletons Winter Tour - Wellington
Catch Corrella live as they bring their new album Skeletons to the stage for the first time, supported by Valley Kids.
📍 San Fran, 171 Cuba St | 🕗 8:00pm | 🎟️ From $43.24 | All Ages

🎶 Girlss Offline Presents: TGIF
A girls-only night with an incredible lineup of female DJs, bringing energy, beats, and a safe space to dance the night away.
📍 Sassy Loves Cash, 24 Courtenay Place | 🕗 9:00pm–1:00am | 🎟️ $28.92–$39.18 | R18

✨ Ōtari Glow Worm Tour
Take a guided night tour through Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush to see the magical glow of titiwai (glowworms) in their natural habitat.
📍 Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, 160 Wilton Rd | 🕗 7:00pm–8:15pm | 🎟️ $0–$10.25 | All Ages

🎷 Monthly Jazz Night: Lisa Tomlins
Enjoy a soulful evening with Lisa Tomlins, whose stunning vocals will fill the room with jazz melodies and rhythms.
📍 The Thistle Inn, 3 Mulgrave St | 🕗 7:00pm | 🎟️ Free Admission | All Ages

🎶 La Bella: 25th Anniversary - Strictly Vinyl Edition
Celebrate 25 years of La Bella with all-vinyl sets from Miss Robyn, Odette, and Amber, honoring the legacy of women behind the decks.
📍 BL3, 8 Courtenay Place | 🕗 8:00pm–2:00am | 🎟️ Free Admission | R18

🎷 Jazz Orchestra Composer Series Presents: Jake Baxendale
Experience Jake Baxendale's new suite Sky Meets Country, capturing the vastness of landscapes through jazz improvisation.
📍 Bedlam and Squalor, 18 Garrett St | 🕗 7:00pm–8:30pm | 🎟️ $15–$20 | R18

🎧 Rebel Disco: All Flavours of Bass, Beats and Beers
Join four DJs spinning bass and beats at Abandoned Taproom in Petone, with cold beers and good vibes all night.
📍 Abandoned Taproom Petone, 38 Fitzherbert St | 🕗 7:00pm–Late | 🎟️ Free Admission | RP18

✍️ Fazerdaze - Live Duo Show
Catch Ōtautahi's dream-pop artist Fazerdaze (Amelia Murray) live in a special duo show, featuring hits from Soft Power and new single Motorway.
📍 Meow, 9 Edward St, Wellington | 🕐 8:00pm | 🎟️ $TBC | R18

🌍 Explorers – The Age of Discovery - with James May
Join James May as he brings to life the thrilling stories of explorers, from ancient migrations to space travel, in this theatrical show.
📍 The Opera House, 111-113 Manners St | 🕗 7:30pm–10:00pm | 🎟️ From $95 | All Ages

🎧 Losst Round 6
Join Jedi, Ludus, Lazy Daisy, Mr Meaty Boy, and Pothos for a night of techno, breaks, and unpredictable beats at Valhalla.
📍 Valhalla, 154 Vivian St | 🕗 9:00pm | 🎟️ $12 | R18

🎺 Blain Fitzpatrick’s Funk Fiends
Get ready for a funky night with Blain Fitzpatrick and his ensemble, featuring Ben Hunt on trumpet and groovy tunes.
📍 Jack Hackett's, 7/11 Dixon St | 🕗 8:30pm–11:00pm | 🎟️ Free Admission | All Ages Licensed

💃 Friday Fierceness - With Rainn Bowes
Kick off your weekend with drag performances, games, and karaoke hosted by the fabulous Rainn Bowes.
📍 Ivy Bar and Cabaret, 63 Cuba St | 🕗 9:00pm | 🎟️ Free Admission | R18

🎨 Sip the Sky: Paint, Sip & Stargaze
Enjoy a wine tasting, painting session, chocolate indulgence, and stargazing tour in Martinborough’s dark sky sanctuary.
📍 The Good Way & Considine Park, 10 Ohio St, Martinborough | 🕗 5:00pm–9:00pm | 🎟️ $119

Saturday 16 August

🎤 Best of the Bee Gees Saturday Night Fever Show
Get ready to groove to the iconic Bee Gees hits and other 70s disco classics!
📍 The Opera House, Wellington | 🕗 8:00pm - 10:20pm | 🎟️ From $89 | All Ages

🌿 Takurua Hauora: Winter Wellness series
Embrace winter wellness through this guided session focused on nurturing your spirit as we move towards spring.
📍 Wellington Museum, 3 Jervois Quay | 🕗 10:30am–12:00pm | 🎟️ From $5 | All Ages

🏃 Porirua Parkrun
Join the free 5km walk or run at Bothamley Park, a scenic course through a picturesque wooded valley.
📍 Bothamley Park, Champion St | 🕗 7:45am–9:00am | 🎟️ Free Admission | All Ages

🎶 Mamma Mia!
The smash-hit jukebox musical featuring ABBA’s greatest hits, set on a Greek island paradise as a young woman seeks to discover her father’s identity.
📍 St James Theatre, 77-87 Courtenay Place | 🕗 2:00pm–4:45pm & 7:30pm–10:15pm | 🎟️ From $69 | All Ages

💃 Coven An Evening for Queer Women and Gender Minorities
Join a sapphic showgirl dance party at Ivy Bar, exclusively for queer women and gender minorities. Dance the night away in a safe space!
📍 Ivy Bar and Cabaret, 63 Cuba St | 🕗 8:00pm–12:00am | 🎟️ Pay as you wish ($5–$50) | R18

🎤 80's Super Band 'Love Shack'
Relive the 80s with Love Shack’s ultimate party show, featuring hits from iconic artists like Prince, Queen, and INXS.
📍 Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club, 11 Logan St | 🕗 8:00pm–10:30pm | 🎟️ $39.18–$44.30 | All Ages

🎤 Sue Dyson - Welcome To Our Lounge
Sue Dyson and Freddy Sayer celebrate the timeless hits of Linda Ronstadt and Carole King in an intimate performance at Hilltop.
📍 Hilltop, 17 Upland Rd | 🕗 7:00pm–9:00pm | 🎟️ $34.05 | All Ages

🧖‍♀️ Pour & Explore - Sip & Sauna at Colombo
Relax in a 30-minute sauna session followed by pizza and mulled wine under the stars at Colombo Martinborough.
📍 Colombo Martinborough, 107 Todds Rd | 🕗 from 5:30pm–8:30pm (60mins each session) | 🎟️ $54.55 | All Ages

🎤 Porirua Has Talent Finals 2025
Celebrate local talent in Porirua at this grand finale showcasing singers, dancers, and performers from the community!
📍 Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua | 🕒 10:30am-3:30pm | 🎟️ Adult Ticket Koha from $15, Tamariki & Rangatahi: Free | All Ages

🎸 Take The Power Back
Experience the ultimate Rage Against The Machine tribute with Dave Against The Machine! Expect high energy and powerful performances.
📍 Valhalla | 🕒 8:00pm | 🎟️ $30 | R18

🎹 From Berkahn to Beethoven
Join the Kāpiti Concert Orchestra and renowned pianist Diedre Irons for a performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.4.
📍 Te Raukura ki Kapiti, Coastlands Theatre, 34a Raumati Rd | 🕗 7:30pm–9:30pm | 🎟️ $20.70–$36.08 | All Ages

🎭 Undercurrent Variety Show
Join us for a night of local performances, poetry, literary quiz, and more at The Undercurrent!
📍 The Undercurrent, 118 Tory Street | 🕔 5:00pm | 🎟️ $12.30 | All Ages

🌿 Wairarapa Garden Fiesta
Join this one-day festival celebrating all things gardening - plants, produce, and more!
📍 Clareville Showgrounds, Carterton | 🕘 9:00am-3:00pm | 🎟️ Free Admission | All Ages

👗 Pre-Loved Clothing Market - Feral Nation Fundraiser
A fabulous one-day market with pre-loved clothes, designer labels, jewellery, and more! All proceeds go to Feral Nation, helping stray cats. 🐱 Bonus: Cute kittens for cuddles (gold coin donation).
📍 Miramar & Maupuia Community Centre, 27 Chelsea St, Wellington | 🕒 10:00am–2:00pm | 🎟️ Free Entry

✍️ On a Good Day - EP Launch - Hihi & The Stitchbirds
Celebrate the debut EP release of Hihi & The Stitchbirds with a live performance, featuring their new music and special guests, The Bidibids.
📍 Moon, 167 Riddiford St | 🕐 7:00pm | 🎟️ From $25 | All Ages

✍️ Capital Montessori School Open Day
Explore a child-led learning environment at the Capital Montessori School Open Day. Meet the passionate teachers and tour the classrooms!
📍 Capital Montessori Preschool, Wellington | 🕐 10:00am | 🎟️ Free Admission | All Ages

✍️ Contra Dance
Join in a fun and easy contra dance, where you'll swap partners and dance in long lines at a relaxed pace. No special dance skills required!
📍 St. Michael's Community Hall, 81 Upland Rd | 🕐 6:30pm | 🎟️ $15 waged, $10 unwaged, $5 children, $30 family | All Ages

✍️ The Wedding of Liesl and Duncan
The most dramatic, musical, and slightly chaotic wedding of the season! Witness the union of Duncan and Liesl, as their families and cultures collide in a glorious love story, told through Brahms and other German art songs.
📍 Wesley Church, Wellington | 🕐 7:30pm | 🎟️ GA $35 | All Ages

✍️ The Mars Blueberry Astrobiology Dome
Explore the universe in New Zealand's unique portable planetarium! Take a 20-minute live voyage through space, ask questions to real space scientists, and discover the wonders of Mars and beyond.
📍 Martinborough Town Hall, 8 Texas St | 🕐 10:30am-5:00pm | 🎟️ $8.00 | All Ages

✍️ Te Aro Zero Waste Repair Cafe
Bring along a broken item and join skilled volunteers to help repair everything from small appliances to jewelry at this zero-waste community event.
📍 Te Aro Zero Waste, Sustainability Trust, 2 Forresters Lane | 🕐 1:00pm–4:00pm | 🎟️ Free Admission

✍️ True Tales of The Past of The Wellington Botanic Garden - Guided Walk
Join the Friends of the Garden for a fascinating 60-minute walk through history, uncovering intriguing stories from the Botanic Garden’s past.
📍 Wellington Botanic Garden, Kelburn | 🕐 1:30pm–2:30pm | 🎟️ $5

Sunday 17 August:

✍️ Wellington Lions & Pride Bunnings Warehouse NPC/FPC Double Header
Catch the action at Porirua Park as the Wellington Lions and Wellington Pride take on the Big ‘O’. Plus, celebrate our referees and enjoy giveaways for the first 75 kids at the Pride game and 150 at the Lions game.
📍 Porirua Park, 79 Gear Ter, Porirua | 🕐 Gates open 10:35am | 🎟️ $24 Adults, $14 Students, Free for Kids 15 & Under

🎶 Sunday Jazz
Enjoy live jazz with The Undercurrent All-Stars in a charming, bohemian atmosphere.
📍 The Undercurrent, Wellington | 🕐 3:30pm–4:30pm | 🎟️ $16.20 | All Ages

🎨 Art/Craft Workshop for Children (5-13yrs)
Unleash your child's creativity with a fun and engaging art workshop, offering a wide range of materials and guidance.
📍 Moera Community House, Lower Hutt | 🕐 3:15pm–4:15pm | 🎟️ $30.30 | Ages 5-13

🎤 Mamma Mia!
Get ready for a dazzling jukebox musical based on ABBA's greatest hits, unfolding on a Greek island!
📍 St James Theatre, Wellington | 🕐 From 4:00pm | 🎟️ From $69 | All Ages

🎭 Ration the Queen's Veges
A one-man play inspired by the true story of Te Wehi Ratana’s protest at Te Papa, exploring defiance, change, and activism.
📍 Circa Theatre, Wellington | 🕐 4:30pm | 🎟️ From $25 | R12

🎶 Ghost Trio (piano trio)
Experience a journey through time and cultural landscapes with the Ghost Trio’s performance of Beethoven, Takemitsu, Shostakovich, and the world premiere of Glen Downie's Sonata da chiesa.
📍 St Andrews on the Terrace, Wellington | 🕐 3:00pm | 🎟️ $44.30 (General), $10.25 (Under-26) | All Ages

🎤 Goodnight Kiwis: Live Lullabies and Anthems
Join for an acoustic evening of covers from Dave Dobbyn to Nicki Minaj, all wrapped in a cozy, humorous atmosphere. Prime Minister lullaby included!
📍 The Fringe Bar, Wellington | 🕐 7:30pm | 🎟️ $25.30 (General), $16.58 (Concession/Student) | R18

🎬 Sci-Fi Sundays: Waterworld
Dive into a flooded future with Waterworld as part of the Sci-Fi Sundays series. Enjoy complimentary popcorn and an optional live star talk after the screening!
📍 Space Place at Carter Observatory, Wellington | 🕐 6:00pm | 🎟️ $25 | R13

🎶 Jenny Mitchell - The Forest House Tour
Join Jenny Mitchell and special guest Katie Thompson for a night of captivating country tunes from her latest album Forest House.
📍 Old St Paul's, Wellington | 🕐 7:00pm | 🎟️ $50.00 | All Ages

🎶 NZSO Creepy-Crawly Carnival: Saint-Saëns & Roussel
Join the NZSO for a fun and engaging performance of "The Spider’s Feast" and "Carnival of the Animals," featuring Oscar-winner Bret McKenzie.
📍 Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington | 🕐 2:00pm | 🎟️ $25.00 | All Ages

🎷 Wellington Heads
Catch Wellington Heads at Underworld Tavern, playing their mix of blues, swing, and funky grooves from their latest album 'Southern Night Sky.'
📍 Underworld Tavern, Wellington | 🕐 1:00pm | 🎟️ $20.00 | All Ages Licensed

🎶 Songwriter Showcase #105
Join us for a night of original music featuring The Faustians, Martin Andrews, Beans Wright, and Billy Lyrical at Moon bar.
📍 Moon, Wellington | 🕐 6:00pm | 🎟️ $10.00 | All Ages Licensed

🎷 Sunday Jazz Club
Wind down your weekend with live jazz at Parrotdog Bar.
📍 Parrotdog Bar, Wellington | 🕐 3:00pm | 🎟️ Free Admission | All Ages

🛍️ Otaki Craft Market
Discover local crafts, food, and more at the Otaki Craft Market.
📍 Otaki Market, Ōtaki | 🕐 10:00am-2:00pm | 🎟️ Free Admission | All Ages

⛅ Welly Weather Watch

🌤 Friday: Fine. Westerlies, easing before dawn. High 14°C, low 8°C
⛅ Saturday: Mainly fine, chance of a shower from morning. High 13°C, low 10°C
⛅ Sunday: Partly cloudy, with isolated showers. High 14°C, low 9°C

💕 Extra Sprinkles – InsideOUT Kōaro

This Wellington-based national charity is on a mission to make schools and communities safe and inclusive for rainbow youth. InsideOUT provides workshops, resources, and support to help queer and trans young people feel valued and proud in every classroom. From setting up Pride groups in high schools to educating teachers on LGBTQIA+ issues, they’re empowering the next generation to be themselves without fear.

🐝 That’s a wrap! Whether you’re out in the garden, on the dance floor, or curled up with a cocoa, have a brilliant weekend in the capital. Try something new, support a local gem, and soak up those good vibes – you’ve earned it after braving Wellington’s winter week.

Ngā mihi nui,
Kirstie & Steve 🐝