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- π Canes Quarter Final, Baby Expo & Springsteen reborn
π Canes Quarter Final, Baby Expo & Springsteen reborn
Hurricanes Quarter Final at home, Brian Cox at TSB, Springsteen reborn, NZSO Romeo & Juliet, Sola Rosa funk & Tawa eats the world. Pack a brolly.
Kirstie and Steve
June 04, 2026
WellyBuzz π
Your Wellington Weekend Sorted
Canes Quarter Final, Baby Expo & Springsteen reborn
Canes Quarter Final at home, Baby Expo, Born to Run reborn, NZSO Romeo & Juliet, Brian Cox + Tawa eats the world. Pack a brolly π
π Welcome
Kia ora Wellington! π
Winter has properly landed - it's brolly weather Fri-Sat, then Sunday breaks fine - so we'd line up the indoor things first and save the outdoors stuff for when it clears.
What a three days though. The Canes host a home Quarter Final, Born to Run gets played in full by an NZ all-star line-up, the Baby Expo fills Lower Hutt, NZSO sweep Romeo & Juliet, and Tawa kicks off a 28-eatery food fest. Plenty in there to fill the weekend - let's go! π
π₯ Quick Picks
π Hurricanes Quarter Final v Brumbies (Fri) - Finals rugby at Hnry Stadium. 7:05pm kickoff.
πΈ Come Together - Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run (Fri) - NZ rock all-stars play the entire album, then a deep-dive Boss second set.
π» NZSO Romeo & Juliet (Fri) - Prokofiev's swooning ballet score plus Barber's Cello Concerto with Li-Wei Qin at the MFC.
π The Other Boleyn Girl (Thu-Sat) - Wellington Repertory's Tudor sister rivalry at Gryphon - closes Sat.
πΏ Heathers The Musical (Thu-Sun) - Dark-comedy musical at the Opera House.
πΈ Revel (Thu-Sat) - Wellington's cabaret experience at Hannah Playhouse.
πΆ Wellington Baby Expo (Sat-Sun) - Two days at Lower Hutt Event Centre. Free online tickets, kids under 16 free.
π Professor Brian Cox - Emergence (Sat) - Cosmology + biology on the biggest LED screens around, at TSB Arena.
π Wellington Saints v Otago Nuggets (Sun) - NBL returns to TSB Arena. 3pm tipoff.
π½οΈ Food & Drink
Khao Soi Welly Eatery is the tiny Te Aro spot we keep sending people to when the weather turns properly cold.
Their signature khao soi - slow-cooked coconut curry noodle soup from northern Thailand. From $26 (pick your topping; $33 for duck or beef eye fillet). Stir-fry version available, plus dips and small bites.
It's cosy and packed-in, so plan for a queue at peak - or grab takeaway. Find them at 3/100 Tory Street, Te Aro. khaosoi.nz
π Events - What's On This Weekend
π
Friday 5 June
Milan Borich, Adam McGrath, Jennie Skulander and Jon Toogood play Born to Run in full, then a deep-cut Boss second set. Thunder Road in winter.
π St James Theatre, 77-87 Courtenay Place, Te Aro | π Fri 8:00pm-10:30pm | π° $102.43+ (incl fees) | π All Ages
Wellington Repertory adapt Philippa Gregory's Tudor sister rivalry. Anne, Mary, Henry VIII - love as power, power as poison.
π Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee Street, Te Aro | π’ Fri 7:30pm + Sat 2:30pm & 7:30pm (closes Sat) | π° Adult $29.90, Concession $24.90, Under 17 $19.90 | π All Ages
πΏ Heathers The Musical
Cult dark-comedy West End musical lands at the Opera House. Sharpen those pencils, grab your croquet mallet.
π The Opera House, 111-113 Manners Street, Te Aro | π’ Fri 7:30pm + Sat | π° From $69.90 | π R14
π€ Julia
Gripping one-woman show about Julia Gillard and the landmark "misogyny speech". 80 mins, sharp and human.
π Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street, Te Aro | π Fri + Sat 7:00pm-8:40pm | π° Adult $60, Under 30 $30, Child $25 | π All Ages
Finals rugby is back in PΕneke - Canes host the Brumbies for a home Quarter Final under lights. Bring the yellow & black.
π Hnry Stadium, 105 Waterloo Quay, Pipitea | π Fri 7:05pm | π° Family/Bronze from $10, Silver $20, Platinum $25 | π All Ages
πΈ Revel
Paris has Moulin Rouge, Berlin has Wintergarten - Welly has Revel. Live music, top cabaret, cocktail bar built into the stage.
π Hannah Playhouse, 12 Cambridge Terrace, Te Aro | π’ Fri & Sat 7:30pm-9:00pm | π° Balcony from $48.12, Deluxe (incl cocktail) $73.75 (incl fees) | π All Ages
R18 cabaret romp at the Fringe Bar. Stacey's mom will be there. You should too.
π The Fringe Bar, 26 Allen Street, Te Aro | π Fri 8:00pm-10:00pm | π° Early Bird $23.25, GA $28.92, VIP $44.30 (incl fees) | π R18
Austin psych-rock heavyweights play debut Passover in full + a greatest hits set. Hypnotic, heavy, immersive.
π Meow Nui, 92 Vivian Street, Te Aro | π Fri from 8:00pm | π° From $99.90 | π Refer to event link
NZ prog death metal kings tour the new album at Valhalla with Pull Down The Sun, Fvkvshima and Wince. Brace yourself.
π Valhalla, 154 Vivian Street, Te Aro | π’ Fri 7:30pm-11:30pm | π° Earlybird $20, GA $30 (+ booking fee) | π R18
Cellist Li-Wei Qin tackles Barber's Cello Concerto, then NZSO sweeps Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet selections. Kenneth Young's Douce Tristesse opens.
π Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield Street, Te Aro | π‘ Fri 6:30pm-8:00pm | π° From $27 | π All Ages
Atlanta deep-house keys player blends house, Detroit techno soul and live jazz improv at meow. Late-night room, warm chords, groove-heavy. Support Benny Salvador, Awa, Kindekell.
π Meow, 9 Edward Street, Te Aro | π Fri 10:00pm | π° From $30 (+ booking fees) | π R18
Zody Takurua's new BATS show - a dystopian-housing reality-TV satire about hyper-visibility and loneliness. 60 mins. Strong language, flashing lights.
π BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace, Mount Victoria | π‘ Fri 6:30pm | π° Waged $25, Unwaged $15, Extra Aroha $40 | π All Ages (themes)
Two age groups running side by side at Kanteen Cafe with exclusive use of the venue. Drink and food included, mingle across age brackets at the break.
π Kanteen Cafe, 7 Waterloo Quay, Pipitea | π‘ Fri 6:30pm-9:00pm | π° $48.40 (incl fees) | π Adults Only
ποΈ Kids Market at Discovery School
Young Whitby entrepreneurs run their own stalls in a real-world pop-up market. Confidence, creativity and pocket money.
π Discovery School, Pullen Lane, Whitby, Porirua | π Fri 4:30pm-7:30pm | π° Free | π All Ages
π
Saturday 6 June
Two-day pregnancy and pΔpi expo with pram trial track, free car seat clinic, seminars and brand deals. Free tickets online (limited).
π Lower Hutt Event Centre, 30C Laings Road, Lower Hutt | π Sat & Sun 9:00am-4:00pm | π° Free online (limited) or $5 door; under 16 free | π All Ages
The Wonders of the Solar System host brings his most ambitious live show yet - cosmology, biology, philosophy on the biggest LED screens.
π TSB Arena, 4 Queens Wharf, Wellington Central | π’ Sat 7:30pm-10:00pm | π° C-Reserve $95, B $145, A $175, Premium $210 | π All Ages
25 years of Sola Rosa, eighth album. New visuals and lighting, with Lebowlski and Mikkie Dee.
π San Fran, 171 Cuba Street, Te Aro | π Sat 7:00pm | π° Final Release $64.86 (incl fees) - earlier tiers sold out | π 18+ (Supervised License - minors with guardian)
πΆ Cate Le Bon
Welsh art-pop visionary plays her acclaimed seventh album Michelangelo Dying for LΕemis. St Vincent calls her a favourite modern songwriter.
π Meow Nui, 92 Vivian Street, Te Aro | π’ Sat 7:30pm | π° GA $76.90 | π R18
Sharkra + Ashwynz, dark underground night at Valhalla. Hypnotic basslines + a rising DJ comp winner.
π Valhalla, 154 Vivian Street, Te Aro | π Sat 9:00pm-late | π° Final Release $30 (+ fees) | π R18
Berlin techno from Tresor/RSO/Fold at San Fran. Keepsakes + CYXQRD and Flipit b2b. Late, sweaty, loud.
π San Fran, 171 Cuba Street, Te Aro | π Sat 11:00pm-late | π° Late Release $38.09, Final Call $43.24 (incl fees) | π 18+
PΕneke funk-soul 7-piece play Moon with Welly's freshest soul-hip-hop. Bring your dancing shoes.
π Moon, 167 Riddiford Street, Newtown | π£ Sat 8:30pm | π° Student/Unwaged $15, GA $20 (+ fees) | π All Ages Licensed
Stacked combat card headlined by an NZMF Middleweight title bout - Luca Carter v Tehokotuku Gardiner-Hokianga - plus pro Muay Thai.
π Te Rauparaha Arena, 17 Parumoana Street, Porirua | π Sat 4:30pm (doors 4:00pm) | π° GA Presale $53.90, Family Area Adult $53.90, Child 8-17 $28.20 (incl fees) | π All Ages (under-8s free; upstairs family area alcohol-free)
Vivaldi's Gloria paired with Mozart's Requiem, performed by Orpheus Choir Wellington with NZ School of Music scholars as soloists. They're bringing it up to KΔpiti.
π Te Raukura ki KΔpiti, Coastlands Theatre, 34a Raumati Road, Paraparaumu | π Sat 7:00pm-9:00pm | π° Adult $30.75-$39.45, Concession $22.55-$30.23, Child/Student $17.43-$23.05 (incl fees) | π All Ages
The Marae and Sunday host shares personal stories behind her low-waste living approach. Practical, grounded, with Q&A.
π Wairarapa Events Centre, Holloway Street, Carterton | π Sat 1:00pm | π° GA $20 (incl fee); buy one get half off Mums Day offer (code MUMSDAY) | π All Ages
Jamie McCaskill's intimate Circa Two production about women whose lives intersect at a moment of change. 80 mins. (Themes: domestic and sexual violence.)
π Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street, Te Aro | π’ Sat 7:30pm + Sun 4:30pm matinee | π° Adult $60, Under 30 $30, Child $25 | π All Ages (themes)
12th annual contest for the best burlesque act built on under $100. No. 8 wire creativity, Constance Craving hosts, Delilah Deluxe defends.
π The Fringe Bar, 26 Allen Street, Te Aro | π Sat 7:00pm-10:30pm (doors 6:00pm) | π° GA $28.92, Front Row $34.05, VIP Table $44.30 (incl fees) | π R18
Monthly village market with handmade crafts, vintage finds, art, food and live music. Classic KΔpiti vibes.
π St Peter's Village Hall, corner Beach Road & Ames Street, PaekΔkΔriki | π Sat 10:00am-2:00pm | π° Free admission | π All Ages
Curated preloved kidswear (newborn-10yrs) sorted by size at Yoyo's first-ever pop-up. Bring clothes to clear out, paid on the spot.
π Island Bay Community Centre, 137 The Parade, Island Bay | π Sat 10:00am-2:30pm | π° Free entry; card only | π All Ages
Three DJs across the afternoon at a TΔ«tahi Bay brewpub. Cap ~100, free ticket so they know numbers.
π The Beer Engine, 31 Whitehouse Road, TΔ«tahi Bay, Porirua | π Sat 4:00pm-8:30pm | π° Free (register) | π All Ages Licensed (under 18s with guardian)
Two-day curated vintage, y2k, streetwear and preloved drop on Willis Street. Free entry, both Sat and Sun.
π 233 Willis Street, Level 2, Te Aro | π Sat & Sun 10:00am-3:00pm | π° Free entry | π All Ages
Sketchers gather to celebrate Te Matapihi reopening. BYO pad. Meeting point TBC.
π Te Matapihi Central Library, Te NgΔkau Civic Square, Wellington Central | π Sat from 10:00am | π° Free | π All Ages
π
Sunday 7 June
Mills Albert Saints back at TSB Arena. Rapid League warm-up 2pm, NBL main game 3pm. New Courtside section gets you closer to the action.
π TSB Arena, 4 Queens Wharf, Wellington Central | π Sun 3:00pm tipoff (doors 1:40pm) | π° Adult Allocated from $20.39 + Ticketmaster handling fee | π All Ages
Last chance for the pram trial track, free car seat clinic and the goodie bags. Free tickets online (limited time) or $5 at the door.
π Lower Hutt Event Centre, 30C Laings Road, Lower Hutt | π Sun 9:00am-4:00pm | π° Free online (limited) or $5 door; under 16 free | π All Ages
πΆ Sionna
Galway-meets-Limerick folk duo play their first PaekΔkΔriki headline after a sold-out Hothouse Flowers run. Get in early.
π St Peter's Village Hall, corner Beach Road & Ames Street, PaekΔkΔriki | π’ Sun 7:30pm-9:30pm | π° GA $25 | π All Ages
Rare public open afternoon at John Scott's heritage-listed modernist chapel. Free entry, no booking. Stick around for the 2pm harp concert.
π Futuna Chapel, 67 Futuna Close, Karori (parking on Friend St) | π Sun 11:00am-3:00pm | π° Free entry | π All Ages
Solo harp celebrating NZ harp music - Chris Everest, Ross Harris, Caoimhe Lane and Velvin herself - in one of the most beautiful spaces in PΕneke.
π Futuna Chapel, 67 Futuna Close, Karori (parking on Friend St) | π Sun 2:00pm-3:00pm | π° GA $15 (+ $0.75 fee) | π All Ages
Beethoven and Mozart sonatas, Chinese folk and Grieg's third Violin Sonata, presented by Waikanae Music Society. Door sales only.
π Waikanae Memorial Hall, 7 Pehi Kupa Street, Waikanae | π Sun 2:30pm | π° Public $50, WMS members $40, Students under 25 $10 (door only) | π All Ages
Aotearoa's burlesque community awards over brunch. Hosted by Sadie von Scrumptious + Pinot Sisters.
π The Fringe Bar, 26 Allen Street, Te Aro | π Sun 10:00am-12:00pm (doors 9:30am) | π° GA $28.92 (incl fees) | π All Ages
π³οΈβπ The Not-So-Straight Artists' Walk Tour
Walk Tours NZ explores rainbow arts heritage - Mansfield, Hodgkins, Lilburn and (reputedly) Wellington's most homoerotic sculpture. 90 mins, please register.
π Starts at The Cenotaph, corner Bowen Street & Lambton Quay, Wellington Central | π Sun 1:00pm-2:30pm | π° Free (register via walktours.nz) | π All Ages
Help bolster the escarpment for winter planting season - mΔtΔtΔ/fernbird gets new habitat. Bring layers and a spade. Hot food and drinks on site.
π Whitireia Park escarpment top, TΔ«tahi Bay, Porirua | π€ Sun 9:30am-12:30pm | π° Free | π All Ages
π΅ Rounds in the Square
Free open-air round-singing next to the newly reopened Te Matapihi. Monthly on the first Sunday.
π Te NgΔkau Civic Square, Wellington Central | π Sun 1:00pm-2:00pm | π° Free | π All Ages
π΄ Bonus: Tawa's International Food Festival
Tawa's annual International Food Festival is back - 28 local eateries, 15+ countries, a festival-only dish at each. Think Sri Lankan curry, Mexican birria, Vietnamese pho, Korean fried chicken, Polish pierogi - all in one suburb.
Grab a passport from any participating eatery, stamp it for each dish you try, and you're in the draw for a hamper of Tawa goodies. Thu 4 - Sun 21 June.
π Main Road, Tawa | π Thu 4 - Sun 21 June 2026 | Festival info & dish list
π¦οΈ Welly Weather Watch
π§οΈ Friday 5 June: Persistent rain, heavy at times morning and afternoon. Strong northerlies, easing later. High 16Β°C, low 13Β°C
π¦οΈ Saturday 6 June: Showers, some heavy, clearing to partly cloudy in the afternoon. Northwesterlies turning southerly. High 16Β°C, low 9Β°C
βοΈ Sunday 7 June: Showers, some heavy, clearing to fine in the morning. Northwesterlies developing in the afternoon. High 14Β°C, low 8Β°C
Brolly for Fri-Sat (especially Fri). Sunday clears - get outside while you can.
π Coming Up Next Week
Festivals and midweek picks landing before the next WellyBuzz:
π€ Saul Williams meets Carlos NiΓ±o (Mon 8 Jun, 7pm, San Fran) - Grammy-nominated spoken word meets improvised sound. GA $64.90.
π΅ The Big Sing Wellington Regionals (Wed 10 + Thu 11 Jun, MFC) - 1,500 secondary students, 48 choirs raising the roof. Daytime free, Gala $25-$35.
πͺ LΕemis Festival (Tue 9 - Sun 21 Jun, citywide) - Two weeks of music, food and art. Saint Levant, Troy Kingi (with Tom Scott + Melowdownz), Shayne Carter with NZSO, Acid Mothers Temple, Lydia Lunch.
β Crew Contributions
WellyBuzz is a free weekly guide put together by two Wellingtonians who love this city, read by 15,000+ of you.
If WellyBuzz has helped you fill a weekend, shout us a koha. Or join the Supporters Club ($5/month) for giveaways and an optional shoutout (birthdays included π). Genuinely appreciated π«Ά
That's your weekend, Wellington. Pull on the puffer jacket, book the indoor things first and see you out there.
Nga mihi nui,
Kirstie & Steve π
Nga mihi nui,
Kirstie & Steve π
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