Thursday 30 November
The Spirit of Waiheke – Parent/Child Program Open Day, from 11:30am to 1:30pm, 92 The Esplanade, Surfdale (park on Blake Street). Learn more about the future programs starting in February, guest speaker Raewyn McGrigor, international mother and baby coach. Ages: newborn-three years. For pregnant mothers/parents/caregivers/children tea and snacks provided. Open days-rain or shine RSVP awstsh@icloud.com
Waiheke Community Pool: Lane swimming, community swimming, Aqua Fit and adult technique focused classes. Visit www.waihekepool.co.nz for times and dates.
Self-Defence Classes: Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30pm, Waiheke Red Cross Hall, first floor. This is a community focused self-defence programme with a focus on bullying at school or work, but which can be applied anywhere we are confronted with aggression. It’s not Fight Club. It’s not a martial art. It’s not a fitness class. It is a practical, real-world programme to discover how we work physically and mentally under threat, and how we can use that knowledge to prevent others from controlling us. If you want to find out more, contact Mark Mak (instructor) on 021 0222 6437, markmaknz@gmail.com.
The Return Of The Kiwi: From 6pm to 7:30pm, Surfdale Hall. Paul Ward from The Capital Kiwi Project has successfully re-introduced 63 kiwi to Mākara in the Wellington Hills over the last year. Come along and hear from Paul, as well as Tineke Joustra and Lady Jennie Fenwick from Save The Kiwi on the possibility of kiwi being released on Waiheke. Hosted by Te Korowai o Waiheke.
That Song and Poetry Thing: From 7pm, at the Sustainability Centre on 1A Mako Street. Performance poet Shane Hollands will be the last guest of the year. The event is BYO (food and drink). For more information, email Katy Soljak at katsun@xtra.co.nz
Solo: Thursday 30 November to Saturday 2 December, 7.30pm, Artworks Community Theatre. The inaugural Solo festival showcases one person plays performed and directed by Waiheke locals. Enjoy the vast variety of genres with six short plays consisting of original work, Shakespeare, verbatim theatre and more. Go to artworkstheatre.org.nz for more information and to book.
Friday 1 December
The Spirit of Waiheke – Bluebell Summer Camp Open Day, from 3pm to 4:30pm, 92 The Esplanade, Surfdale. Please park on Blake Street. Learn more about the January summer camp (Ages 6 to 11), sausage sizzle, games and treats. Open days, rain or shine RSVP awstsh@icloud.com
Waiheke Beachside Community Carols Oneroa: From 6pm to 9pm, meet at Little Oneroa at 6pm
Saturday 2 December
Waiheke Island Riding Club Show Day
From 10:30 to 3pm, at Waiheke Island Riding Club grounds, 165 Onetangi Road. Pony rides, woodchopping competition, barrel racing and the club’s annual Show Hunter horse jumping event. All welcome for a family-friendly community event. The club is also calling for entries in the woodchopping event and entry is free. If you would like to compete or for more information, email waihekeislandridingclub@gmail.com
Live Band At Arcadia: From 2pm to 5pm. An afternoon of live music, with The Re-Animators playing a collection of rock, hip-hop and dance covers. Free-entry and family friendly.
Wine and Vibes at Batch Winery
From 3pm to 10pm. Soak up the sunset and enjoy award-winning wine and food while listening to some of New Zealand’s top house music DJs. Last year sold out, so get your tickets now at www.ticketfairy.com. Use the promo ‘local deal’ for a discounted rate.
Waiheke Beachside Community Carols Surfdale/Ostend: From 6pm to 9pm, meet at the ANZAC Reserve next to the RSA at 6pm
WaiTalks Is Back And Ready To Chat: 6:30pm to 11pm, Morra Hall. Amazing speakers talking about bravery. Live music, platters, drinks and cocktails and little treats to please. We would love for the community to come support this by putting a table together or a single ticket. Buy now at www.talkingtreehill.co.nz or www.wai-talks.com
Sunday 3 December
Everything Planty: 10am to 2pm, Waiheke Island Sports Club, Ostend. Free entry, indoor/outdoor houseplants, terrariums, nikau planters, ceramic pots and more, local growers coming together.
Gloria Hallelujah: From 2pm, St Peters Parish Church. The Waiheke Choral Society presents a Christmas carols singalong, entry by koha, proceeds to Waiheke Budgeting Services.
Surfdale Picnic: From 4pm to 7pm, by the Surfdale food forest, 6 Hamilton Road. Join Kai Waiheke to celebrate all the food resilience mahi that’s been happening this past year. Bring your whānau and friends, picnic mats, kai to share, surplus produce, seedlings, flowers etc for our swapping table, everyone is welcome.
Waiheke Beachside Community Carols Onetangi: From 6pm to 9pm, meet at the picnic area opposite the Onetangi public toilets at 6pm
Wednesday 6 December
Together Threads: From 10am to 11am, St John’s Hall. A free group for connection and camaraderie fortnightly on Wednesdays. All welcome, Contact Rozanne, 027578 0572, rozanne.gold@waihekehealthtrust.nz
Coming Events
Splash to Sustainability: Thursday 7 December, from 12pm, Become a water-saving hero. WRT’s Nathalya Larson brings you another Zoom workshop on saving water. Learn how to be waterwise by checking your flow, spotting leaks and other water-saving hacks. Participants will be in the draw to win Ecostore and EcoSplat. prizes (Waiheke only). Email nathalya@wrt.org.nz to register for this free event.
Quiz Night: 7 December, from 7pm, Club Waiheke. Fancy dress theme, come along as something starting with P. Fantastic prizes including local wines and other treats, $5 per person.
Christmas Gala: 8 December, 4pm to 7pm, at Waiheke Specialty Foods. Christmas treats, gifts and sample tastings of our lovely cheeses and meats, Orders for Christmas hams and wine tastings. For every $100 spent go in the draw to win a $100 gift box.
Making Room for Rivers: Friday 8 December, at 6pm, at WRT Sustainability Centre, Mako St. Tom Kay, freshwater ecologist and Forest and Bird’s Fresh Water Advocate is coming to talk about Forest and Bird’s national campaign to promote a more nature-friendly approach to managing our rivers. Tom will show us how the way we have managed our environment has exacerbated flooding and disaster risk, discussing the impact of flood protection engineering on the health of our rivers. He’ll discuss how this is made worse by the loss of wetlands and tree cover and outline a ‘new’ way of thinking about building resilience to climate change in our communities. After his talk Tom will also be joined by Nathalya Larson from WRT will give an update on eDNA testing and the exciting results so far on Waiheke.
Island Time: Saturday 9 December, from 2pm until late, Ahi Pao. A night to remember for electronic music and emerging arts aficionados. Tickets for the event start at $25 and are available at www.eventbrite.co.nz
Round Rangihoua Four Hour Challenge: Sunday 10 December, registration on the day is from 10am and the race starts at 11am, Onetangi Sports Park. The Round Rangihoua Four-Hour Challenge returns to the mountain bike trails at Onetangi Sports Park. Entry is $40 per rider in advance or $50 on the day. Advance registration is at www.wmbc.co.nz/register/
Living Waters Church: Wednesday 13 December, Living Waters Church invites seniors to lunch with a ‘Christmas flavour”. From 12noon, meet at the church in Surfdale on the Esplanade.
End of the year birthday bash: Friday 15 December, from 5:30pm to 9pm, Waiheke Sustainability Centre. Celebrating 25 years of Waiheke Resources Trust. RSVP through our Facebook event ‘WRT’s end of the year birthday bash’ or email info@wrt.org.nz
Christmas Dinner: Saturday 16 December, at Club Waiheke, 5:30pm. The best gift you could receive this Christmas is your presents. So come share in the love, laughter and joy of the season $40pp.
Smoked Out Sundays: Waiheke Bowling Club, Sunday 17 December and every third Sunday of the month through summer. Join us for a fun, chilled community afternoon with free bowls, delicious smoked meat meals and live music. Fun for all the family.
