Plenty to See And Do in Wairarapa This Labour Weekend

An eclectic range of events set to showcase the Wairarapa’s artistic communities and highlight its wine and food reputation will keep visitors in the region entertained this long Labour Weekend.

“There’s never been a better time to enjoy a long weekend in the Wairarapa than this Labour Weekend,” says Destination Wairarapa marketing manager Barb Hyde.

“There’s a huge range of events on – many of which are part of our Kokomai Creative Festival and others which are perfect for families looking to spend time together in our beautiful region. It’s also perfect timing for those who haven’t visited for a while to visit Greytown, which just won New Zealand’s Most Beautiful Small Town (population under 5000) award and Masterton, which just won New Zealand’s Most Beautiful City Award.”

Ms Hyde said there was plenty of accommodation still available across the region and encouraged visitors to ring the Masterton or Martinborough i-SITE Visitor Information Centres to book or visit www.wairarapanz.com for more information. She also said the full festival programme for Kokomai can be viewed on www.kokomai.co.nz.

In the meantime, Destination Wairarapa had collated a highlighted list of things to see and do across the region this long weekend.

FREE EVENTS

Heart Foundation Book Sale
Masterton Intermediate School
Fri, 20 October 4-6pm
Sat 21 October 10am – 4pm
Sun 22 October 10am – 3pm

Block Party, Masterton
Co-hosted by Aratoi: Wairarapa Museum of Art and History and Urban Dream Brokerage, come and enjoy live music, historical tours around Bruce and Dixon Streets and Queen Elizabeth Park; view arts and crafts, a cash-in-carry art sale, games, a pottery demonstration, weaving, storytelling and pavement art.
Saturday, 21 October 11am – 3pm.

The Marty Mural Walk
Explore the wine village of Martinborough and follow a curated walk with newly painted murals. The full map on where murals are located can be found on http://kokomai.co.nz/programme/marty-mural-walk.

FOOD AND WINE AND BEER EVENTS

Masterton Brewery Beg, Borrow & Brew will open its gates on Norfolk Road for the the first time this Friday 20 Oct, 4-7pm to pop in for your take away craft beer for Labour Weekend. Fill a flagon, rigger or you can take your own clean vessel to fill. Find out more on their Facebook page @begborrowbrew

Noodles, dumplings and Wine
The awesome food truck Mao & Co returns to Te Kairanga Cellar door in the wine village of Martinborough this Labour Weekend. Taste Mao & Co delicious dumplings and noodles and TK wines.
Sunday 22 October 10:00am
Monday 23 October 10:00am

FAMILY EVENTS

The Whale Riders
Stonehenge Aotearoa
Sat 21 October 7pm – 8.30pm
This presentation discusses the legends, stars and sea lore, and the techniques used by Polynesian sailors when migrating between islands leading to the colonisation of Easter Island and New Zealand. Afterwards, weather permitting, explore the night sky and identify stars and constellations important to Maori. Bookings are essential on 06 377 1600.

Nature Lego competition at Pukaha Mount Bruce
As part of Conservation Week Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre is holding its inaugural Lego challenge on October 21st. The theme is nature and visitors are invited to create anything around that theme. Creations will be displayed from 10am – 4pm and winners announced at 3.30pm. Email: info@pukaha.org.nz for an entry form or visit the website for an entry form and competition details.

Wairarapa Orchid Circle Spring Show
Senior Citizens Hall
Cole St
Masterton
October 20th – 21st

A HIGHLIGHT OF KOKOMAI CREATIVE FESTIVAL EVENTS

The Saddest Songs in the Universe
Homegrown singer-songwriters Julia Deans and Sean James Donnelly perform their most treasured laments as well as brand new laments for this performance. Expect tears of laughter, tears of woe - along with many guitars, synthesisers and mysterious musical objects.
Fri 20 Oct, 7.30pm
Carterton Events Centre
Adult $39

Die Roten Punkte
Fans of Spinal Tap and Flight of the Conchords, will love this performance by dysfunctional siblings Otto & Astrid who will perform their latest show, Eurosmash! Otto & Astrid are Berlin’s (self-appointed) Prince and Princess of Art Rock and Europop. A lipstick-smeared, tantrum-loving, sonic collision between the B52s, Kraftwerk and the early Ramones, Die Roten Punkte are truly one of a kind.
Sat 21 Oct, 8pm
Carterton Events Centre
Adult GA $46

Sunny Ray and the Magnificent Moon.
This amazing show comes from the imaginations of Clare Bartholomew and Daniel Tobias, creators of the internationally acclaimed Comedy Festival favourite, Die Roten Punkte and, the award-winning creators of theatre for young audiences, Arena Theatre Company directed by Christian Leavesley. Featuring original music, Sunny Ray and the Magnificent Moon will delight audiences aged four years and over.
Sun 22 Oct, 2pm
Carterton Events Centre
Adult $30, Child $15 (2-18) / Under 2's sitting on knees, free

Contrast
A double-bill of exceptional new dance work from Footnote New Zealand Dance, CONTRAST is the combination of two distinct choreographic voices, Sarah Foster-Sproull (Auckland, New Zealand) and Emma Murray (Bern, Switzerland).
Sun 22 Oct, 7.00pm
Kuranui College Auditorium, Greytown
Adult $39 / Child $20

HEDLEY’S READERS AND WRITER FESTIVAL
SATURDAY, 21ST OCTOBER 2017
Damien Wilkins and Ashleigh Young
Ashleigh Young and Damien Wilkins Award are award winning authors and co-workers at the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University. Ashleigh teaches creative science writing, whilst Damien is the Director at the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University.
Time: 11.00am
Duration: 90 minutes
Venue: Wesley Wing, Aratoi in Masterton
Price: Adult $15

SUNDAY, 22ND OCTOBER 2017
Anne Salmond
Anne Salmond is an eminent historian, writer and academic. In 2013 she became New Zealander of the Year and winner of the Rutherford Medal from the Royal Society of New Zealand.
Time: 9.30am
Duration: 90 minutes
Venue: Wesley Wing, Aratoi in Masterton
Price: Adult $15

Mandy Hager
Mandy Hager is a multi-award winning writer of fiction for young adults. She has won numerous awards for her children’s fiction as well as 2 fellowships and the 2015 Waikato University Writer in Residence. She currently tutors the Novel Course for Whitireia’s Creative Writing Programme.
Time: 11.30am
Duration: 90 minutes
Venue: Wesley Wing, Aratoi in Masterton
Price: Adult $15

Phil Pennington
Phil Pennington is a senior reporter for RNZ. He has received a national media award for his feature writing and in 2017 released a book about the Christchurch Earthquake called Surviving 7.8.
Time: 1.30pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Venue: Wesley Wing, Aratoi in Masterton
Price: Adult $15

Tom Scott
Tom Scott is an award winning political columnist, editorial cartoonist, film maker and dramatist. Six collections of his satirical writings and five collections of his cartoons have been published. He is currently the Dominion Post’s editorial cartoonist.
Time: 3pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Venue: Wesley Wing, Aratoi in Masterton
Price: Adult $15

ENDS

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