What’s On

Thursday 23 November

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.

Sunday 26 November

Waiheke Airport Open Day: From 9am to 4pm, Waiheke Airport Open Day – 35 year anniversary, Fun games for kids, fundraising sausage sizzle, food and drink stalls, modern and classic aircraft fly-in, classic car display, scenic flights showcasing the beauty of Waiheke from the air. Waiheke Airport, 171 Carsons Road.

Onetangi Hall Art and Craft Fair: Sunday 26th November, 10am to 2pm, Onetangi Hall. Sponsored by the Onetangi Residents Association. Local stall holders selling a range of crafts. A chance to buy affordable gifts for Christmas. Please bring cash as there’s no Eftpos.

Speaking Freely about Free Speech: Sunday 26 November from 10.30am to 11.45am, Nomads Cafe, Oneroa. Morning coffee and korero with Jonathan Ayling, chief exec of the Free Speech Union, for a talk with Q&A on the responsibilities and limitations of free speech. Koha.

Tuesday 28 November:

A Christmas Crack up: From 7.30pm to 9pm, Artworks Theatre. Waiheke Comedy’s Improv troupe farewell 2023 with a Christmas show. Presents, memories and stories of cheer abound in this fabulous festive improvised send off. ‘Pay what you can’ tickets are available on iticket from $5 to secure your seat, or door sales available on the night. 

Coming Events

The Return Of The Kiwi: Thursday 30 November, 6pm to 7:30, 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: Thursday 30 November, 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 Theatre Festival: 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.

Waiheke Island Riding Club Show Day: Saturday 2 December, Pony rides, woodchopping competition, barrell racing and the club’s annual Show Hunter horse jumping event. All welcome for a family-friendly community event from 10am at the club’s grounds, 165 Onetangi Road. 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: Saturday 2 December, 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.

Gloria Hallelujah: Sunday 3 December, from 2pm, St Peter’s Parish Church. The Waiheke Choral Society presents a Christmas carols singalong, entry by koha, proceeds to Waiheke Budgeting Services.

Surfdale Picnic: Sunday 3 December, 4pm to 7pm. By 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.

Together Threads: Wednesday 6 December, 10am to 11am, St John’s Hall. A free group for connection and camaraderie, fortnightly on Wednesdays at St John’s Hall, All welcome, Contact Rozanne, 027578 0572, rozanne.gold@waihekehealthtrust.nz

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 at Waiheke Specialty Foods: 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.

Island Time: Saturday 9 December, from 2pm until late, Ahipao. 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/

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

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.