Weekends In The City Centre

MAY 10-12

Mother's Day at Ima | 9, 10, 11 & 12 May | Ima Cuisine
Treat your mother figure to an exquisite six-course dinner or brunch, showcasing a curated selection of Ima's most cherished dishes from throughout their incredible 20-year history in the heart of the city. See more menu and booking details, here.

See more Mother's Day ideas, here.

Swan Lake | 9, 10, 11, 12 May | Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre
Get tickets to witness the brilliance of the Royal New Zealand ballet with Swan Lake, considered the greatest of all classical ballets - a perfect synthesis of music and dance. Book your tickets, here.

Becky Umbers | 8, 9, 10, 11 May | Basement Theatre
Snag yourself some tickets to this hilarious show as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival. In a rare meeting of the animal kingdom and the best of kiwi comedy, Becky Umbers and resident zoologist Ella Sussex present Comedians vs. Animals - the comedy panel show where comedians compete against each other in a game of animal trivia. Get tickets, here.

See more NZ International Comedy Festival events, here.

MAY 17-19 

Music related events to celebrate NZ Music Month

Auckland Live at Lunch | 17 & 24 May | The Civic | Free
Grab a beanbag and unwind as Auckland Live kicks off the weekend with their free lunchtime gigs. Enjoy a bite to eat in The Civic with a side of live music performed by local legends The Leonard Charles Group, and Romi Wrights & The Commotions. Plus, arrive early and be serenaded by Hudge, who will be spinning some sweet Kiwi tunes 30 minutes before and after the live performances.

Fetu Creative Forum | 17 May | Strand Arcade, 227 Queen Street | Free
Join a live podcast featuring prominent Tangata Moana songwriters Teremoana Rapley and Rubi Du, facilitated by Lucky Lance and DJ Gene Rivers at the Strand Arcade for an inspiring discussion about New Zealand music kōrero.

The Mids | 18 May | Spanning Wellesley St to Queens Arcade | Free
The Mids is a pop-up market celebrating music and street culture. Featuring a diverse array of attractions, including a record fair, live DJs, a sneaker swap meet with customizing, streetwear merchandise, and captivating street art. Explore iconic streetwear stores, groove to live music, take part in a thrilling skate challenge, enjoy exciting giveaways and discounts, and immerse yourself in an inspiring exhibition of music photography.

A Waiata in an Hour | He Waiata i te Hāora | 18 May | Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre
Be part of something special as legendary singer-songwriter Troy Kingi lays bare his creative process and invites the audience to be part of conceiving, writing and performing an entirely original waiata in 60 minutes. See more event info, here.

MAY 17-19 

Last days of the Auckland Writers Festival!

STREETSIDE: Britomart | 17 May, 6-8PM | Various locations around Britomart | Free
Expect hilarity, profundity and the thrill of the pace as writers light up the magnificent heritage buildings around Britomart's Takutai Square with wonderful, surprising, revealing words. From a book fight club to immersive performances, writers appear in unexpected spaces, set to inspire and move you. It’s fast and fun, and will get your brain whirring – there’s so much to take in. See the programme, here.

Pipi and Pou and the Forgotten Stream: A Walking Adventure | 18 & 19 May | Queen Street | Free
Round up the little ones and join superheroes Pipi and Pou on a mission along the Waihorotiu stream down Queen Street! This free interactive storytelling experience is not to be missed. Pipi and Pou and the Forgotten Stream is an app guided experience leading families on a short walk down Queen Street and surrounding laneways. Along the journey a story will unfold, and you will find activities and clues to help solve a mystery. Learn how to play, here.

Tusiata Avia | 17 May, 8.30PM | Hunua Room, Aotea Centre
Tusiata Avia, author of the Ockham NZ Book Award-winning The Savage Coloniser Book, returns with her satirical, defiant and fierce new collection, Big Fat Brown Bitch. Written partly in response to the very public backlash her poem The Savage Coloniser brought, which saw her subject to harassment and death threats, the poems combine Avia’s caustic wit, sharp eye and controlled fury to create a collection that critics have hailed as “a masterpiece of radical self-acceptance” and one that sees her “emerge[ ] … triumphant” over the controversy of recent years.