Community news & events

Matariki Celebration – @ Kaicycle Urban Farm

You’re warmly invited to join in celebrating Matariki with Kaicycle this Sunday 22nd June. This event will take place at Kaicycle Urban Farm, 5 Hospital Road, Newtown, and will be weather dependent.

Join us from 11am to harvest from the māra and prepare kai, or join us at 1pm for our community lunch. Kai will be provided but please bring some to share if you have the capacity. We’ll share food together, reflect on the year, farewell those we have lost since last Matariki, and look forward to what we want to bring into the new year.

We’d love for you to join us for any amount of time on the day and help us celebrate this important time of reflection, community, and looking to the future.

Sunday 22^nd June

Kaicycle Urban Farm

5 Hospital Road

Newtown

Matariki Māori Business Showcase

Celebrate Matariki at Te Papa with a vibrant Māori artist and business showcase. Connect with talented makers, share stories, and explore unique Māori creations.

At Te Papa Museum

Sunday 22 June

9am – 6pm

Check out the entire month’s schedule on our website tepapa.nz/Matariki

Read to kuri at Johnsonville Library

Join us and our doggy guests from Canine Friends Pet Therapy for Read to Kurī at the library. You can book a 15-minute session to sit with one of our friendly dogs and read your favourite book, or one you’ve found at the library.

Read to Kurī aims to help children improve their literacy, self-confidence, and self-esteem in a relaxed, non-judgemental environment.

This programme is perfect for tamariki aged 5+ who would like to practice their reading skills, or older rangatahi and teens who need some time and space to de-stress, while making a new canine friend at the library. Bookings are essential as spaces are limited

To book your session, please call the library on 04 477 6151, or email johnsonville.library@wcc.govt.nz with your preferred date and time.

Bookings are for 15 minutes only. After you have booked, library staff will be in contact informing you what time to arrive for your session

Talks, Poetry & Solidarity with Yousef Aljamal

Palestinian author, researcher, and storyteller Yousef M. Aljamal is coming to Pōneke with two free public events you won’t want to miss.

A close friend and collaborator of the late Dr Refaat Alareer, Yousef brings the voice of Gaza to Aotearoa at a time when it’s more vital than ever.

Wednesday June 25

12.30pm – Lunchtime Book Talk at Unity Books Wellington Featuring “If I Must Die” by Refaat Alareer  Limited copies of the book will be available to purchase in-store

5.30pm – Public Talk at Victoria University – Legacies from Gaza: Life, Death & Resistance through the work of Dr Refaat Alareer