Looking for something to do? Whether you’re a local, new in town or just passing through, we’ve rounded up the best things happening across New Zealand – from neighbourhood parties to restaurant pop-ups, boutique festivals and more.
Greystone Harvest Party
Saturday 17 May
6:00pm – 11:00pm
Christchurch & Canterbury
$50pp
Join Greystone in celebrating the end of a beautiful harvest with delicious food, wine and beer, and some local DJs. Chef Cam Woodhouse from Greystone, Maty Johns from Brew Moon and Josh Hunter from Food by Fire will be cooking whole Greystone hogget over the fire, served with harvest mezze plates full of local ingredients. Bus transport options available. BYO camping chairs and picnic blankets.
Taste of Made
Every Saturday
10:00am – 2:00pm
Hamilton
Enjoy free tastings and samples every Saturday at Made from selected vendors, including Bare, Expleo, Pirongia Mountain Vegetables, RedKitchen and Mezze.
Urban Wine Walk
Saturday 27 April – Saturday 18 May
Urban Wine Walk™ is a self-guided wine-tasting experience that takes place all over the world on a Saturday afternoon, including Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier and New Plymouth. Each experience features local bars and restaurants offering a wine-tasting experience from exciting winemakers – all within walking distance of each other.
Whole Fish Dinner at Graze Wine Bar
Monday 20 May
Wellington
$95pp
Graze is cooking up another banging collab, inviting guest chef Quentin Ville-Renon from NOWA to showcase his passion for zero waste cooking with a whole fish dinner – from scale to tail. The beautiful butterfish has been supplied by Strait Speared and each part will be used across 5 courses.
Rated - E: A Story by Eugeneous Evan
Sunday 19 & Monday 20 May
6:30pm
Wellington
$99pp
An event that invites you to embark on a culinary adventure like no other. Imagine a full-on movie with 6 exquisite chapters reimagined into 6 delectable (and fully meatless) courses, set in an intimate setting at Hillside Kitchen & Cellar. $15 from every ticket is donated to Everybody Eats.
The Kaibosh Charity Quiz
Tuesday 21 May
6:00pm
Wellington
$60 per team of 6
Parrotdog and Two Girls One Taco are teaming up to present The Kaibosh Charity Quiz. Join them for a night of quizzing, raffles and good food with 100% of ticket sales going to Kaibosh to support their mission of providing food to people in need that would otherwise go to waste.
Space Academy: Poets & Prophets
Thursday 23 May
Doors open 7:00pm
Christchurch & Canterbury
$15
Poets & Prophets is an evening of song and story, set in a writers round. An evening of deep cuts, and personal favourites, where listeners are able to hear some of the more intimate and lesser heard pieces by local artists – and a chance for artists to bare their hearts on their sleeves and share some of their art at it's most vulnerable.
Pasta Party at The Village
Friday 24 May
7:00pm – 10:00pm
Auckland
$125pp
Head along to the first edition of The Village's new monthly Pasta Party event. This month, the food is created in collaboration with Petra Galler from Butter Butter and Dave from Good Spirits. Each ticket includes a margarita on arrival, Italian sharing menu, Mediterranean snacks, fresh pastas for the table and a big helping of tiramisu.
Kebabs at KOL
Thursday 23 & 24 May
Auckland
$95pp
Inspired by a recent trip to India, Sid from Kol in Auckland is recreating Indian kebabs for two nights only. The special menu is designed to share between friends and will feature traditional kebabs cooked to perfection over fire or a classic tandoor oven.
Court Theatre Garage Sale
Saturday 25 May
9:00am – 3:00pm
Christchurch & Canterbury
As they gear up to move to their new city location in 2025, The Court Theatre is hosting a Garage Sale Event with some amazing bargains. Expect a treasure trove of vintage and retro goodies from the overflowing costume, props, set, and lighting/sound departments, with prices ranging from $2 to $350.
Avenues x Earl: Wāhine Toa
Sunday 26 May
From 1:00pm
Christchurch & Canterbury
$85pp
Avenues is rounding up some of the best female chefs in town to host a seven-course long lunch at Earl. The event will include a glass of Greystone Wines rosé, a Q&A with Jasmine Black from Greystone Wines, and a conversation with each chef hosted by Sam Parish.
Mr. Pickles x Two Rivers
Wednesday 29 May
6:30pm
Hamilton
$75pp Wine Only // $130pp Wine & Food
A special collab between Jono & Mat from Mr. Pickles, winemaker David Clouston, awesome human Joe Scoon from Procure Wine, and Head Chef JK Baek. Enjoy seven delicious wines from Two Rivers with the option to add on a light dinner.
Jura Wine Dinner at Margot
Friday 31 May
Wellington
$200pp
Celebrate the beautiful Jura wine region of France with Margot in Wellington, as they put on a five-course set menu with matching wines selected by Jonathan from The Last Drop.