🐝 WellyBuzz: Your Guide to Rugby Roars, Secret Pastries & Neon History!

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👋 Kia ora Wellington!
We’re midway through winter and the school holidays are nearly over. Despite the chill, Pōneke’s bringing the heat with heaps on: from a blockbuster rugby showdown to French festivities and cozy indoor fun. Grab your coat (and maybe a beret 🥐) - let’s dive into the weekend!

🔥 Quick Picks This Weekend

🏉 Black Ferns & All Blacks Double Header – Back-to-back international rugby clashes at Sky Stadium
♻️ Zero Wasters Winter Market – Eco goodies, DIY kits & low-waste inspo.
🎶 10cc - Ultimate Greatest Hits Tour – 70s hitmakers (“I’m Not In Love” 👀) bring 50 years of classic rock to the Opera House for one night only.
🎁 Coolmoves Annual Gold Coin Donation Garage Sale – Grab bargains, support the Wellington City Mission!

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🔥 In This Week’s Buzz

🐾 Pet of the Week – Bentley the 4kg ragdoll kitten who runs the house (and the cuteness game) in Karori.
🕰️ Welly’s Time Machine – That time Wellington threw a six-month neon-lit party in 1939
🌟 Local Legends – A Lower Hutt op shop with flowers and heart 💐 + Wellington’s ultimate bike-lover’s HQ 🚲
🍽️ Food & Drink – Unmarked pastry haven 🍞 and a world-class brew bar ☕
🎉 Events – What’s on across Wellington this Fri, Sat & Sun (plenty for everyone!)
🌧️🌬️ Welly Weather Watch – Rain and wind ahead, grab your coat!
💝 Extra Sprinkles – Ronald McDonald House in Newtown is a home-away-from-home for families with hospitalised kids 💕

🐾 Pet of the Week – Bentley: This Week’s Cuteness Champion!

Meet Bentley – a 6-month-old cream point ragdoll who already tips the scales at 4kg (and the cuteness meter). Raised by DamaliDollz Ragdolls NZ in Auckland, Bentley grew up with kids, dogs, and endless cuddles – and it shows! He’s social, sweet, and loves showing off his toy stash to visitors. At home in Wellington, he rules the roost alongside his older cat-siblings Cooper (9) and Portia (6).

Got a pet that steals the show? 🐾 Nominate your furry, feathery, or scaly friend for Pet of the Week by emailing a photo and blurb to [email protected]!

🕰️ Welly’s Time Machine – Wellington’s Neon Wonderland of 1939

In 1939–40, Wellington hosted the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition to mark 100 years since Te Tiriti. Over 2.6 million visitors explored the Art Deco site, featuring a 47-metre tower, a sea-woman fountain, a roller coaster, and a miniature railway. At night, 37,000+ lights turned the city into a neon wonderland. It remains one of Wellington’s most dazzling celebrations.

🌟 Local Legends – Small Biz Gems to Check Out:

Revive Charity Op Shop + Flourish Floral Design – 455 High Street, Lower Hutt

Tucked into a charming storefront in Lower Hutt, Revive is more than just your average op shop. It’s a heart-led boutique where secondhand treasures meet fresh floral magic, thanks to an in-store florist by Flourish Floral Design. From chic pre-loved fashion to beautiful bouquets, every purchase helps support Pregnancy Choice Wellington, a local organisation providing support and care packages for women facing unexpected pregnancies. It’s a wholesome place with soul – and definitely worth a browse.

Pedal Project – 158 Victoria St, Te Aro

Wellington’s cycling community rides on passion, and Pedal Project is its hub. Recently expanding to a shiny new store, this locally-owned bike shop is gearhead nirvana – jam-packed with top-end road, mountain and e-bikes, plus expert repair and fitting services. The crew at Pedal Project live and breathe cycling: they’ll tune your dream bike, set you up with the perfect fit (thanks to fancy 3D fitting tech), and send you off with a grin. Whether you’re a Lycra-clad racer or a casual cruiser, these folks have the know-how (and coffee, of course) to keep you rolling.

🍽️ Food & Drink – Must-Try Spots This Week

Good Grief Baking – 90 Abel Smith St, Te Aro

Step through an unmarked door and into a pastry lover’s paradise. Good Grief specialises in laminated delights, sourdough loaves, and fresh egg sandwiches that locals rave about. Grab a seat in a blonde-wood booth and enjoy it all with a Supreme coffee.

Sketchbook Coffee – 40 Taranaki St, Te Aro

This light-filled corner café serves expertly brewed coffee by baristas who’ve competed on the world stage. Sketchbook pairs its pours with great sandwiches and pastries in a sleek, welcoming space. A daily go-to for Wellington coffee fans.

🎉 Events: Your Weekend Lineup 🌟

Friday 11 July:

⛸️ Wellington Ice Rink
Glide, spin, and yes, fall (but get up laughing) - at Wellington’s favourite mid-winter pop-up rink under disco lights.
📍 Queens Wharf | 🕒 Daily 10 am–10 pm through Sunday 13 July

🎨 Octopus’s Garden Ceramic Exhibition
Explore Sophie Florence’s solo ceramics show at Rice Pudding Gallery, with free kids’ pottery on Friday and complimentary coffee on weekend mornings.
📍 91 Constable Street, Newtown | 🕒 Opening Thu 10 July, 5:30–8:30 pm | Free Pottery for Kids’ Fri 11 July, 10am–3pm | Wed–Fri 10am–3pm, Sat–Sun 10am–4pm until 20 July

🎄 Festival of Christmas – Let It Snow with FreshChoice
Greytown’s midwinter charm comes alive with nightly snowfalls, twinkling lights, live music and markets – all bundled into a festive winter wonderland.
📍89 Main St, Greytown | 🕒 Fri & Sat evenings 6pm-8pm

🚚 Food Truck Central
A lineup of Greytown’s best food trucks brings international eats and comfort classics to the village square – ideal for a family-friendly foodie night out.
📍 Greytown Town Hall Square, Main St, Greytown | 🕒 Fri & Sat 4 pm–8 pm

🔥 Mad for Marshmallows
Indulge your sweet tooth at this gooey marshmallow-making workshop – perfect for choc lovers, families, and anyone who likes to get sticky.
📍Staglands, Upper Hutt | 🕒 Fri - Sun 9:30am-5pm

🎧 The Sound Inside
Intimate theatre meets powerful storytelling in this Pulitzer Prize–winning play about a music therapist and a cello prodigy.
📍 Circa Theatre | 🕒 Fri-Sun times vary

🏃 The Jackson Street Quest
A live-action street puzzle adventure through Lower Hutt’s Jackson Street - solve clues, dodge detours, and uncover neighbourhood secrets.
📍 Starts at 251 Jackson St, Lower Hutt | 🕒 10am-3:30pm

🎨 Junior Intro to Sculpting Workshop
Little Picassos, unite! This kids’ sculpting class teaches basic techniques using clay and everyday materials - hands-on creativity guaranteed.
📍Wētā Workshop Group Space, 129 Park Road | 🕒 Fri & Sun 10:15am-11:15am

🕵️ Escape Rooms Wellington – July School Holidays
Family-friendly escape rooms pop up for the holidays - solve puzzles with riddles, locks, lasers (well, laser pointers) and make memories under pressure.
📍 Escape Rooms Wellington, 118 Tory Street | 🕒 10am-7pm

🎭 My Puppet Who Sighs in Pearl Shavings
A hauntingly beautiful solo puppet show exploring love, loss and longing - visuals so raw you’ll barely believe it’s a rod-and-string.
📍 Bats Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace, Wellington | 🕒 Fri & Sat 7pm-7:45pm

🎭 The Story of Hansel & Gretel and Little Red
A fresh twist on classic fairytales as Hansel, Gretel and Little Red team up in this upbeat, comedic theatre adventure for kids and grown-ups.
📍 Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee St | 🕒 Fri-Sun Various times

🔭 Mars Blueberry Planetarium Shows
Explore planets, stars and cosmic mysteries floor-to-ceiling in this portable planetarium - a kid-friendly voyage into the galaxy.
📍 Greytown Town Hall | 🕒 10:30am-2pm

🎭 D H Lawrence’s The Fox
An atmospheric chamber play by D. H. Lawrence about betrayal and desire on a rural farm - quietly intense and beautifully staged.
📍 Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee St | 🕒 Fri-Sun various times

🩰 The Ballad of Maria Marten
A gorgeously gothic melodrama based on real Victorian-era murder – Paraparaumu’s town theatre puts a haunting spin on local history.
📍 Te Raukura ki Kapiti, Sir Jon Trimmer Theatre, 34a Raumati Rd | 🕒 Fri & Sat 7:30pm-9:30pm

🎭 Red Riding Hood
This playful stage adaptation brings Red, Grandma and even the wolf into a vibrant, interactive fairy-tale romp - great for whānau audiences.
📍 Little Theatre, 2 Queens Dr, Lower Hutt | 🕒 Fri & Sat Various times

🎸 10cc – Ultimate Greatest Hits Tour
One-night-only gig at the Opera House with pop-rock legends behind “I’m Not In Love,” “Dreadlock Holiday” and more singalong classics.
📍 Opera House | 🕒 8pm

❤️ Speed Dating 45–59 and 60+
A relaxed, fun evening of speed-dating mingles over drinks and snacks - meet someone new in your age bracket without the swipe fatigue.
📍 Kanteen Cafe, 7 Waterloo Quay | 🕒 6:30pm-9pm

🎸 Mallgoths Last Show
Emo-pop-punk legends Mallgoths wrap up their era with one final basement show - brace for sing-alongs, mosh pitting and nostalgia sweat.
📍 Valhalla, 154 Vivian Street | 🕒 8pm

🎷 George Young & Band
Soulful vocals, bluesy guitar and infectious grooves - George Young and his band light up Rogue & Vagabond with a late-night set.
📍 Rogue & Vagabond, Te Aro | 🕒 9:30pm-11:30pm

🎨 Kids Crafts
A crafty drop-in session for tamariki - with sticks, glue, stickers and all sorts of creative mess encouraged.
📍 ZEALANDIA Eco-Sanctuary, Waiapu Road, Karori | 🕒 10am-3pm

🧩 Autism NZ and LEGO Whānau Fun Day
A welcoming community event with LEGO bricks, sensory play zones and relaxed spaces designed for neurodiverse families.
📍 Te Papa | 🕒 Fri and Sat

🎶 Mate Ururoa Wellington Opera
A stunning Māori-language opera experience based on seafaring legends - powerful voices, haka and orchestral swells.
📍 Hannah Playhouse, 12 Cambridge Terrace | 🕒 Fri-Sun Various times

🍷 Annual Bastille Day French Food & Wine (Lunch and Dinner options)
Celebrate French national day in Martinborough with moules, fromage, live music and pedigree wine - an ode to all things Gallic.
📍 Union Square Bistro & Bar, Memorial Square, Martinborough | 🕒 Fri–Sun from 12

📚 Suzy Cato at Johnsonville Library
Join the beloved author and presenter Suzy Cato for a whimsical story time and fun activities at Waitohi during the school holidays – kids (and grown-ups) will come away inspired!
📍 Johnsonville Library, 34 Moorefield Rd | 🕒 10:30am-11:30am

🌊 Waterworld at Te Ngaengae Pool
Waterworld’s inflatable mega waterpark is popping up in Naenae for three splash-filled days of slides, pools, and indoor fun.
📍 Te Ngaengae Pool, Everest Ave, Naenae | 🕒 From 10am

🕶️ Scotts Discovery Hut VR Experience
Step into Antarctic explorer Robert Scott’s hut via immersive VR - wander around replicas, hear his diary entries, and feel the chill without leaving Wellington.
📍 Te Papa | 🕒 Fri-Sun 10am-4pm

🌈 Rainbow Wellington Monthly Mixer
Meet, mingle, and sip in great company at this friendly LGBTQ+ social hosted at iconic Cuba Street venue S&Ms – the perfect spot to make new mates or catch up with chosen whānau.
📍 S&Ms, 176 Cuba St, Te Aro | 🕒 From 5:30pm

💃 Colombian Dance Night – Salsa & Bachata
Celebrate Colombian culture with DJ Rafa spinning salsa and bachata all night long - plus a free Cali-style salsa class to kick things off.
📍 Dancetopia, 11 Torrens Terrace, Mt Cook | 🕒 8:30pm-midnight

🎤 Story & Song Time with Suzy Cato – Wainuiomata
Join beloved Kiwi icon Suzy Cato for a heartwarming hour of stories, songs, and nostalgic fun - perfect for tamariki and the young at heart.
📍 1A Queen St, Wainuiomata | 🕒 2pm-3pm

🎪 Liv’s Chest of Wonders – 2025 Edition – Cabaret meets carnival in this fantastical variety show. Expect magic, comedy, drag, and a hint of the absurd – a true feast for the senses.
📍 The Fringe Bar | 🕒 8:00pm–10:00pm

🎧 Stepping Forward – Underground house and techno vibes in a cool lounge setting. DJ/producer collective “Stepping Forward” spins from dusk till late – for those who like their beats deep.
📍 Havana Bar | 🕒From 8pm

Saturday 12 July:

🏉 Black Ferns & All Blacks Double Header
A historic rugby feast: the Black Ferns take on Australia (4:30pm) then the All Blacks battle France (7:05pm). Two matches, one night – the stadium will be pumping! (Hint: arrive early, wear black, lose voice 😅)
📍 Sky Stadium | 🕒 Gates open 3:45pm (First match 4:30pm)

🐾 Walking with Alpacas
Stroll along Paraparaumu’s scenic coastal paths with friendly alpacas - great for photos, laughter, and animal therapy.
📍 Cantharis Alpacas, 105 Waterfall Rd, Paraparaumu | 🕒 Sat & Sun Various times

🎁 Coolmoves Annual Gold Coin Donation Garage Sale
Everything goes for a gold coin each, with all funds supporting Wellington City Mission. Curious bargains with a heart - shop preloved treasures, support a great cause.
📍 11 Jean Batten Street, Rongotai | 🕒 10am-2pm

🛍️ Cool Stuff Market
Browse stalls packed with vintage gear, retro art, records, oddities and quirky Wellington-themed gifts.
📍 Thistle Hall, 293 Cuba St | 🕒 10am-3pm

♻️ Zero Wasters Winter Market
Eco-friendly market vibes with local stallholders offering low-waste goods, DIY kits and sustainable inspiration.
📍 Te Aro Zero Waste @ Sustainability Trust, 2 Forresters Lane, CBD | 🕒 11am-3pm

🔥 Molewood Orchard Festive Bonfire Inferno
Greytown’s winter warmth is served up with cider, snacks, live tunes…and a roaring bonfire under orchard skies.
📍 Molewood Orchard, 17 Mole St, Greytown | 🕒 5pm-6:30pm

💃 GirlyPop Burlesque
Sassy, sparkly, and unapologetically pop-infused burlesque from a troupe blending glitter, groove and glam.
📍 The Fringe Bar | 🕒 8pm-10pm

🎪 Wildfire Pole Competition 2025
Pole athletes twist, flip and defy gravity at this empowering, high-energy competition showcasing strength and art.
📍 Tapere Nui Theatre, Te Auaha, 65 Dixon Street | 🕒12pm and 6pm

🎸 Turkey The Bird
Foot-stomping folk trio with quirky lyrics and harmonies, uplifting vibes guaranteed at this intimate gig.
📍 Hilltop, 17 Upland Road, Kelburn | 🕒 7pm-9pm

🍷 MOKOMOKAI – The Shardonay Tour
Soulful, bold and beautifully raw. MOKOMOKAI hit Meow with their new album Pono, joined by Brandn Shiraz for a night of lush beats and lyrical truth.
📍 Meow, 9 Edward St, Te Aro | 🕒 8pm

🪵 Festival of Wood 2025
See stunning wood craftsmanship using native timbers like Matai, Rimu, Totara & ancient Kauri at Pataka’s Bottle Creek Gallery. Live demos on 12 July!
📍 Pataka, Porirua | 🕒 Daily 10am-5pm

🎉 24 Hour Party People
Indie night with Britpop and Madchester hits, dancefloor nostalgia, and crowd sing-alongs till late.
📍 San Fran, 171 Cuba St | 🕒 8pm-4am

📰 Dateline with Elliott Dawson
Indie pop meets art rock. Dateline and Elliott Dawson bring emotion, grit, and winter heat to Lyall Bay. First free gig of the season!
📍 Parrotdog Bar, 60-66 Kingsford Smith St | 🕗 8pm

🎶 Music for the Ministry
Six bands, one cause. Support DCM and those living rough with a full day of live music, food donations, and a fundraising market.
📍 Valhalla, 154 Vivian Street | 🕑 from 2pm

🎷 Andrew London & The Swing Voters
Cowboy jazz meets clever originals in a toe-tapping tribute to Western swing - featuring Nick Granville and Wayne Mason.
📍 Abandoned Taproom, Petone | 🕗 8pm-10:15pm

🌼 Discover the Camellias in the Garden (Guided Walk)
Botanic Garden blooms come alive with an expert guide pointing out camellia varieties, history and insider gardening tips.
📍 Wellington Botanic Garden | 🕒 1:30pm

🔌 Electronics Recycling Drive – Echo Tech NZ
Clear out your cupboards and drop off your old tech at this easy drive-through e-waste event - recycle everything from laptops to microwaves, and support Variety while you're at it.
📍 Wellington High School Carpark (via 18 Wallace St, Mt Cook) | 🕒 9am-3pm

🎂 Wellington Cake Show – Halloween Edition
Sweet meets spooky at this year’s Halloween-themed cake showcase! Marvel at edible masterpieces and creative confections across two days of sugar-fuelled inspiration.
📍 Angus Inn, 5 Cornwall St, Lower Hutt | 🕒 Sat & Sun, 10am–4pm

🏃 WUU2K Ultra Marathon – Hundreds of hardy runners will tackle up to 60+ km of our toughest hills, from Khandallah to Owhiro Bay.

🕺 Breaking Limits Battle – Hip Hop Jam
High-energy dance battles, fresh talent, and unbeatable community vibes - this all-ages hip hop event brings together breakers from across the country. Come for the moves, stay for the mana.
📍 Ngaio Town Hall | 🕒 12pm–5pm

🎶 Midwinter Christmas Carols at Anchor Church
Hot drinks, cosy carols, and a festive evening of stories and song - celebrate the spirit of Christmas without the December chaos.
📍 1 Joseph Banks Dr, Whitby | 🕒 7:30pm

🎻 Candlelight: Tribute to Queen & The Beatles
An intimate string-quartet concert set in candlelit splendour at Wesley Methodist Church - relive rock classics like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Hey Jude” with a classical twist.
📍 Wesley Methodist Church, Te Aro | 🕒 6:30pm

Sunday 13 July:

🎷 Sunday Jazz – Mike Booth Quartet
A laid-back Sunday session featuring trumpeter Mike Booth and his quartet, blending smooth jazz and soulful improvisation.
📍 Rogue & Vagabond, Te Aro | 🕒 5pm-7pm

🔥 Howl’s Moving Castle FYE Edition – Calcifer’s Breakfast
Studio Ghibli magic meets brunch at The Roxy - watch Howl’s Moving Castle on the big screen and upgrade to a themed “Feast Your Eyes” experience.
📍 The Roxy Cinema, 5 Park Road, Miramar | 🕒 12pm

🧶 Porirua Community Craft Market
Warm up at this cosy indoor market packed with handmade treasures, local eats, and live entertainment - perfect for a winter browse-and-snack day out.
📍 Kai Tahi, 20 Parumoana St | 🕒 11am-4pm

🎵 Turkey The Bird (Greytown)
Folk harmonies, banjo, and toe-tapping good vibes from NZ’s most bearded trio.
📍 Cobblestones Museum, 169 Main St, Greytown | 🕒 3pm-5pm

🎶 Gumbo
A fresh Americana mix of blues, folk, country and soul. Fiddles, banjos, neon stories and honky-tonk vibes.
📍 The Undercurrent, 118 Tory St | 🕠 5:30pm

🎸 Vic Manuel & The Manuelitos – “Man of Clay” Album Launch
Celebrate the release of Man of Clay with a concert-style showcase of original folk-blues, featuring a stacked lineup of top local talent.
📍 Moon, 167 Riddiford St, Newtown | 🕖 7pm-10pm

🎭 The Pantoloons Present: Red Riding Hood (Carterton)
Panto chaos with henchwolves, a pet moa, and one seriously sassy Red. Big laughs for all ages!
📍 Wairarapa Events Centre, Holloway St, Carterton | 🕐 1pm

🛍️ The Waikanae Beach Mid‑Winter Indoor Market
A cosy indoor market packed with handmade crafts, plants, books, toys, and local treasures. Family-friendly and free!
📍 Waikanae Beach Community Hall, 22a Rauparaha St, Waikanae | 🕙 10am–1pm

💃 Bailamos – Bachata Latin Dance Party
A free night of bachata, salsa & Latin vibes with a beginner-friendly lesson at 6:30pm. No experience needed – just come dance!
📍 Southern Cross Garden Bar Restaurant, 39 Abel Smith St | 🕕 6pm–9pm

🧘 Release & Renew – Kundalini Yoga & Gong Sound Healing
Breathe deep, move gently, and restore calm with Kundalini yoga and a soothing gong bath.
📍91 Ruapehu St, Paraparaumu | 🕒 1:30pm-3:30pm

🌿 Meet the Seaweeds – Rocky Shore Ramble
Join local marine experts for a hands-on walk through Taputeranga Marine Reserve, learning all about Wellington’s beautiful seaweeds (aka rimurimu) and how we can help protect them.
📍 Taputeranga Marine Reserve, Island Bay | 🕒 9:30am-11:30am

🌦️ Welly Weather Watch

🌬️ Friday: Occasional rain. Northeasterlies, rising to gale in the afternoon. High 15°C, low 11°C.
🌦️ Saturday: Showers, easing. Northerlies, becoming fresh. High 14°C, low 10°C.
🌧 Sunday: Showers. Fresh northerlies. High 14°C, low 9°C.

💕 Extra Sprinkles – Ronald McDonald House Wellington

RMHC Wellington provides a home‑away‑from‑home at 30–38 Riddiford St, Newtown for families with hospitalized children. Stocked kitchens, comfy spaces, and volunteer support help ease the burden so families can focus on their tamariki.
📍 30–38 Riddiford St, Newtown

Winter in the capital may be crisp, but our city’s heart is warm. Whether you’re cheering at the stadium, savoring a buttery croissant, or discovering a hidden gem at a local market, make the most of these cozy Wellington vibes. Stay safe, have fun, and enjoy your weekend adventures!

Ngā mihi nui, Kirstie & Steve 🐝