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- ๐ Relay for Life, NZ Art Show, & Wellycon
๐ Relay for Life, NZ Art Show, & Wellycon
Plus The Other Boleyn Girl, Heathers The Musical, Motorcycle fest, Wright's Hill tunnels, salsa, vinyl + $10 Zoo. Sweet long weekend Welly ๐
Kirstie and Steve
May 28, 2026
WellyBuzz ๐
Your Wellington Weekend Sorted
Relay for Life, NZ Art Show & Wellycon
Plus The Other Boleyn Girl, Heathers The Musical, Motorcycle fest, Wright's Hill tunnels, salsa, vinyl + $10 Zoo. Sweet long weekend Welly ๐
๐ Welcome
Kia ora Wellington! ๐
King's Birthday long weekend is nearly here and Welly is absolutely loaded! The Other Boleyn Girl plays the Gryphon, Heathers The Musical lands at the Opera House, 4,600+ take on Relay For Life, Marlon Williams plays his last Welly show at the Michael Fowler Centre, NZ Art Show fills TSB Arena, Wellycon takes over Tฤkina with 250 games, David Tremont's model exhibition opens at Fishcube, plus it's another $10 zoo deal through to Monday. Sweet as - let's get buzzing! ๐
๐ฅ Quick Picks
๐ The Other Boleyn Girl (Thu-6 Jun) - Wellington Repertory Theatre stages Philippa Gregory's Tudor classic - see sponsor feature.
๐ค Heathers The Musical (Thu-7 Jun) - The West End smash lands at the Opera House. From $69.90.
๐จ NZ Art Show (Fri-Sun) - 200+ artists, 4,000+ works at TSB Arena & Shed 6. Fri 11am open.
๐ NZ Salsa Congress 2026 (Fri-Sun) - Year 19 of NZ's biggest Latin Dance weekend at Te Whaea.
๐ค Marlon Williams: Tฤ te Manawa (Fri) - Marlon's last Welly show. Michael Fowler Centre, 7pm.
๐ช Wellington Relay For Life (Sat-Sun) - 17 hours of laps for cancer research, Hnry Stadium from 3pm Sat.
๐ Wellington Motorcycle Festival (Sat-Sun) - Adventure biking + Poker run + live band.
๐ฒ Wellycon 2026 (Sat-Mon) - Biggest board game weekend at Tฤkina.
๐ David Tremont: The Model Maker (Sat-23 Jun) - 50+ hand-built models at Fishcube Gallery. Free entry.
๐ฟ 4th Annual Record Convention (Sun) - Tens of thousands of vinyl LPs at Brewtown. Free entry.
๐ช Wright's Hill Fortress Open Day (Mon) - Karori's WWII tunnels open. Cash only at the door.
๐ Sponsor - Wellington Repertory Theatre
The Other Boleyn Girl - ambition, desire and betrayal in Henry VIII's court. Sisters Anne and Mary Boleyn are rivals for the King in a dangerous game where love is power. Mike Poulton's adaptation of Philippa Gregory's bestseller, directed by Ewen Coleman.
๐ Wed 27 May - Sat 6 June | ๐ Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee St, Te Aro | ๐ฐ $29.90 Adult / $24.90 Conc / $19.90 Under 17
๐ฅ Food & Drink
Le Ciel Bakery & Patisserie is the dreamy French bakery Welly didn't know it needed.
Michelin-trained chef Shuchi Bhardwaj - ex-Heston Blumenthal, Le Cordon Bleu (Paris + Wellington), two-time Wellington On A Plate "Best Dine Dish" winner - has stepped out from the kitchen to open this terracotta-walled Tory Street patisserie.
Try the Viral Frenchie, Earl-y Cake or signature cashew cheesecake. Open Mon-Wed 8am-2pm, Thu-Sun 8am-4pm.
Find them at 100 Tory Street, Te Aro. lecielbakery.com
๐ Events - What's On This Long Weekend
๐
Friday 29 May
๐จ NZ Art Show 2026
Aotearoa's biggest art celebration - 200+ artists, 4,000+ works.
๐ TSB Arena & Shed 6, 4 Queens Wharf, Wellington Central | ๐ Fri 11am-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm | ๐ฐ $12.69 day / $22.89 three-day / Under 14 free (with paying adult) | ๐ All Ages
Marlon and The Yarra Benders bring it home before he steps off stage - a tour through his back catalogue.
๐ Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield Street, Te Aro | ๐ 7pm | ๐ฐ From around $132 incl. fees | ๐ All Ages
Pasifika stalls at The Hub - oka, sapasui, panikeke + tattoos. Cash.
๐ The Hub, Victoria University Kelburn Campus, Kelburn | ๐ 5pm-8pm | ๐ฐ Free entry | ๐ All Ages
Welcoming pinball tournament for women, trans + non-binary players.
๐ Ye Olde Pinball Shoppe, 18A Bond Street, Te Aro | ๐ Doors 6pm, tournament 6:30pm | ๐ฐ Free entry | ๐ All Ages
See our sponsored feature above. Runs to 6 June.
๐ Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee Street, Te Aro | ๐ 7:30pm-10pm | ๐ฐ Adult $29.90 / Concession $24.90 / Under 17 $19.90 | ๐ All Ages
๐ค Heathers The Musical
WhatsOnStage Best New Musical hits the Opera House - Veronica Sawyer, three impossibly cruel Heathers, and rebel J.D. in a darkly comic high-school tale. Mercilessly catchy ballads and bangers.
๐ Opera House, 111-113 Manners Street, Te Aro | ๐ 7:30pm-10pm | ๐ฐ From $69.90 | ๐ R14
Jamie McCaskill's intimate drama - women whose lives intersect at a moment of change. Contains references to violence.
๐ Circa Two, 1 Taranaki Street, Te Aro | ๐ 7:30pm-8:50pm | ๐ฐ Adult $60 / Under 30 $30 | ๐ All Ages
Year 19 of NZ's biggest Latin Dance weekend - parties + workshops.
๐ Te Whaea, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown | ๐ Fri 5pm - Sun late | ๐ฐ Party passes from $20, Full Pass $335-360 | ๐ All Ages
Vic Uni reimagines Hamlet's 'Bad Quarto' as a gothic vampire tale.
๐ Studio 77, 77 Fairlie Terrace, Kelburn | ๐ 6:30pm-8:50pm | ๐ฐ Waged $23.25 / Unwaged $10.25 | ๐ R13
Grand final of NZ's Battle of the Bands - climax of months of heats.
๐ Valhalla, 154 Vivian Street, Te Aro | ๐ Doors 7:30pm, show 8pm | ๐ฐ GA $27.35 / 2-night Superpass $44.30 | ๐ R18
Double-header of British rock tributes - Deep Purple's Highway Star + Napier's Megalomaniacs on Sabbath duty.
๐ Abandoned Taproom, 38 Fitzherbert Street, Petone | ๐ 7:30pm-11:55pm | ๐ฐ GA $23.25 | ๐ R18
Chamber music in NZ's finest French Gothic chapel - Haydn, Mozart, Danish String Quartet's Wood Works, Mรฉditation from Thaรฏs.
๐ Erskine Chapel, 31 Avon Street, Island Bay | ๐ 6:30pm-8:30pm | ๐ฐ Full $34.05 / Concession $28.92 | ๐ All Ages
Multi-genre silent disco - wireless headphones flip between two DJ channels. DnB, tech house, techno, dance pop.
๐ Red Square, 28 Blair Street, Te Aro | ๐ From 10pm | ๐ฐ Refer to event link | ๐ R18
Friday pub quiz by Yeh Nah Quizzes - movies, music, sport, history. Teams of up to 6, prizes.
๐ Two Grey, 2 Grey Street, Wellington Central | ๐ 6pm-8pm | ๐ฐ Free entry | ๐ All Ages
๐ฎ Welly Night Market
CBD night market - street food, food trucks, local creatives. Easy Friday dinner answer.
๐ Welly Night Market, 45A Abel Smith Street, Te Aro | ๐ 5pm-11pm | ๐ฐ Free entry | ๐ All Ages
๐
Saturday 30 May
Over 4,600 relayers across around 180 teams take to Hnry Stadium for the Southern Hemisphere's biggest Relay For Life of 2026 - teams keep a baton moving all night because cancer never sleeps, with a moving Candlelight ceremony honouring those affected. The Cancer Society's $750k goal funds free cancer support, transport, accommodation + research across the region. We'll be there - come say hi! Donations welcome if you're able.
๐ Hnry Stadium, 105 Waterloo Quay, Pipitea | ๐ Sat 3pm - Sun 8am | ๐ฐ Free to watch, $30 per person late tickets | ๐ All Ages
A jazz/classical mashup with the Te Kลkฤซ Big Band - Bernstein, Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F, Ellington's Harlem.
๐ Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield Street, Te Aro | ๐ 7:30pm (pre-concert talk 6:30pm) | ๐ฐ From $61.17 incl. fees | ๐ All Ages
Sat-Sun adventure biking through parks, forestry and private land. Saturday Poker run from Trentham and Masterton to Brewtown, then evening static displays and food trucks.
๐ Brewtown, 27 Blenheim Street, Upper Hutt | ๐ Sat 8am - Sun 11pm | ๐ฐ Adventure $350 / Road $45 | ๐ All Ages
Two fabulous days of dancing hosted by NZFATD - packed competitions and events from 8am each day.
๐ Alan Gibbs Centre, Wellington College, Dufferin Street, Mount Victoria | ๐ Sat 9am - Sun 11:30pm | ๐ฐ Refer to event link | ๐ All Ages
Part of KiwiKinksters Capital Weekend - 10-20 makers and artists exploring expression, sensuality and alternative culture. Welcoming and inclusive.
๐ Naumi Hotel, 10 Dunlop Terrace, Te Aro | ๐ 10am-4pm | ๐ฐ Free entry (Humanitix RSVP) | ๐ R18
Last weekend of the season! Pick your own apples and pears at this family-run Wairarapa orchard. Bring your own bucket, bag or basket.
๐ Molewood Orchard, 17 Mole Street, Greytown | ๐ 9am-4pm | ๐ฐ Free entry, pay per kg picked | ๐ All Ages
Opening day of Wellington Museum's new exhibition on 100 years of Welly's culinary heritage. Curator floortalks, chocolate demos + Kai Kart NZ. Runs to 6 Sep.
๐ Wellington Museum, 3 Jervois Quay, Queens Wharf | ๐ Opening day 11am-3pm | ๐ฐ Free admission | ๐ All Ages
๐ญ Julia
One-woman play dramatising Julia Gillard's 2012 'misogyny speech' and the career that led to it. Topical and sharp.
๐ Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street, Te Aro | ๐ 7pm-8:40pm | ๐ฐ Adult $60 / Under 30 $30 / Child $25 | ๐ All Ages
๐ฒ Wellycon 2026
NZ's friendliest board gaming con - tournaments, LARP.
๐ Tฤkina Convention Centre, 50 Cable Street, Te Aro | ๐ Sat 9am - Mon 3pm | ๐ฐ Adult day $45 / 3-day pass $100 / Child day $25 | ๐ All Ages
๐ญ Burlesque Baby May
Welly's newest burlesque at the Fringe Bar. Sells out fast.
๐ The Fringe Bar, 26 Allen Street, Te Aro | ๐ Doors 7pm, show 7:30pm | ๐ฐ GA $34.05 / Front Row Table $44.30 | ๐ R18
Live pro wrestling - the fall-out from Lower Hutt's Powerplay event. Family-friendly with food and drinks on site.
๐ The 162, 162 Gracefield Road, Gracefield, Lower Hutt | ๐ 5:30pm-8pm | ๐ฐ GA $10.25 / Family $36.92 | ๐ All Ages
Six queens through 80s power ballads, synth-pop bangers and retro chaos. Dress-up encouraged.
๐ Ivy Bar & Cabaret, 63 Cuba Street, Te Aro | ๐ Doors 9pm, show 10pm | ๐ฐ GA $23.25 | ๐ R18
Free New Orleans-style swing gig for clarinettist Oscar Lavรซn's birthday. Top-tier NZ jazz lineup on Bechet, Armstrong and Kid Ory.
๐ The Rogue and Vagabond, 18 Garrett Street, Te Aro | ๐ 9pm-11pm | ๐ฐ Free entry | ๐ R18
Underground bass all-nighter from Church of Bass + Kiljoy.
๐ Afters, 38 Dixon Street, Te Aro | ๐ 9pm-3am | ๐ฐ Refer to event link | ๐ R18
Welly's Funhaus pedal Detroit distortion - Stooges set + Iggy classics.
๐ Moon Bar, 167 Riddiford Street, Newtown | ๐ 8pm-11:30pm | ๐ฐ Pre-sales $20 | ๐ R18
Kiwi medium Kelvin Cruickshank's 2026 tour hits Porirua for one night - connection and spirit messages.
๐ Te Manawa Auditorium, Aotea College, Okowai Road, Aotea, Porirua | ๐ Doors 6:30pm, show 7pm-9:30pm | ๐ฐ $75 + booking fee | ๐ R16
๐
Sunday 31 May
A vinyl-lover's NZ Music Month party - vendors from across NZ bring tens of thousands of records. Bar + kids' activity table.
๐ Brewtown, 27 Blenheim Street, Upper Hutt | ๐ 10am-3:30pm | ๐ฐ Free admission | ๐ All Ages
Clean the rubbish-drowned Hutt Road cycle track. Minibus to Ngauranga, walk back to Petone (3-4 hrs).
๐ Honiana Te Puni Reserve, 11 The Esplanade, Petone | ๐ 9am safety briefing | ๐ฐ Free | ๐ Adults / capable walkers
Carterton's annual market in its 5th year - crafts, produce, plants and trees. Perfect for gardeners stocking up.
๐ Memorial Square, High Street, Carterton | ๐ 9am-12:30pm | ๐ฐ Free admission | ๐ All Ages
Welly's 30-person a cappella choir WOSOSI fills Futuna Chapel with songs from around the world.
๐ Futuna Chapel, 67 Friend Street, Karori | ๐ Doors 1:30pm, 2pm start | ๐ฐ $15 via Humanitix or door | ๐ All Ages
Relaxed Sunday at the farm - kids explore, the coffee's hot, the BBQ is sorted. Best Dressed Kings & Queens judged at 1pm.
๐ The Duck & Donkey, 610 Paekฤkฤriki Hill Road, Pฤuatahanui | ๐ From 10:30am | ๐ฐ Refer to event link | ๐ All Ages
Live music, tattoos, barbering, food, craft beer in Masterton.
๐ The Horseshoe Taproom, 4 Queen Street, Masterton | ๐ 11am-4pm | ๐ฐ Refer to event link | ๐ R18
๐ค The Warratahs
Iconic NZ country roots band, freshly inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame. Live in Upper Hutt.
๐ Whirinaki Whare Taonga, 836 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt | ๐ 8pm | ๐ฐ Standard $40 | ๐ All Ages
All-female DJ lineup for Breast Cancer Awareness.
๐ Afters, 38 Dixon Street, Te Aro | ๐ 8pm-3am | ๐ฐ GA $25.50 / Door $30.25 | ๐ R18
๐
Monday 1 June - King's Birthday ๐
Runs Sat 30 May-23 Jun. 50+ hand-built models from a decade of David's practice - large-scale vehicles + robots. See our socials for a sneak peek!
๐ Fishcube Gallery, 111 Dixon Street, Te Aro | ๐ 10am-5pm | ๐ฐ Free entry | ๐ All Ages
Rare chance to wander 620m of WWII tunnels under Karori. Military displays, supervised blank firing. Stout footwear needed.
๐ Wright's Hill Fortress, 50 Wright's Hill Road, Karori | ๐ 10am-4pm | ๐ฐ Adult $10, Child $5, Family $20 (cash only at door) | ๐ All Ages
The $10/$5 zoo deal runs the public holiday Monday too - tickets online only, first-in first-served. Brilliant whฤnau day out.
๐ Wellington Zoo, 200 Daniell Street, Newtown | ๐ 9:30am-5pm | ๐ฐ $10 adult / $5 child / under 3 free | ๐ All Ages
Last chance to game - Wellycon wraps up at 3pm. Half-day tickets at half price, great way to dip a toe in.
๐ Tฤkina Convention Centre, 50 Cable Street, Te Aro | ๐ Until 3pm | ๐ฐ Mon half day Adult $25 / Child $15 | ๐ All Ages
20 lucky tamariki playtest nature-based games and toys designed by Massey University students. Sign up via the event page.
๐ Central Park Play Area, bottom of Brooklyn Hill | ๐ 10am-12pm | ๐ฐ Free | ๐ All ages tamariki
โ
Welly Weather Watch
โ๏ธ Friday 29 May: Fine. 15ยฐC / 8ยฐC
โ๏ธ Saturday 30 May: Fine. 15ยฐC / 12ยฐC
๐ค๏ธ Sunday 31 May: Fine, showers from evening. 17ยฐC / 14ยฐC
๐ง๏ธ Monday 1 June: Rain easing. 18ยฐC / 14ยฐC
Fine Fri-Sun, showers Sun evening into Mon. Make hay while the sun shines!
๐ Extra Sprinkles - Charity of the Week
Wellington Circus Trust (The Circus Hub) has run one of NZ's biggest community circus schools from Te Whaea, Newtown for 20 years - 800+ students, 40+ weekly classes, plus social circus programmes for at-risk youth and people with disabilities.
Support them at circus.org.nz
Support them at circus.org.nz
Three days, heaps to do. Whatever you choose - tunnels, art, salsa, vinyl or a $10 lion - have a brilliant one.
Ngฤ mihi nui,
Kirstie & Steve ๐
Ngฤ mihi nui,
Kirstie & Steve ๐
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