The Spinoff’s top pick of events from around the motu. Here’s the week September 18 – 25.

Welcome to The Spinoff event guide, your weekly, curated selection of gigs, events and exhibitions happening across Aotearoa. If you want to pitch your event for future guides then please use this handy form.


Aotearoa-wide
The logo image for Te Wiki o te reo Māori which is a multi-coloured hei tiki.

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori

Celebrate te reo Māori with events near you. See the event guide at reomāori.co.nz, or use the online resources to create your own events at home, school or work. Read all about the history and future of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, here on The Spinoff.


Tāmaki Makaurau
A grid of books with the words "India Book Fair" written above them.

Literature: Spoor Books’ India Book Fair

Skar Image Lab, 1 New Bond St
1oam–4pm Sat & Sun, September 20–21
Free

A two-day event featuring 1,000 books never before available in Aotearoa. Brilliant!

Theatre/Improv: It’s Alive!

Pumphouse Theatre, Takapuna
September 23–27
$20–$28

A fully improvised puppet show for kids aged five and up, and including real live science experiments.


Rotorua
An image of a cinema screen showing a still of Charlie Chaplin. The audience is in silhouette and the tint is royal blue.

Film/Music: Silent Movies Live

Shambles Theatre, 8 Amohau Street
2pm Sat, September 20
$10–$30

Pianist David Selfe and percussionist Jeremy Fitzsimons perform live musical accompaniment to two silent Charlie Chaplin films.


Whanganui
A promotional image for the Whanganui Booklovers Literary festival which is a text-based logo with bookshelves behind it and a red tint.

Literature: Whanganui Booklovers Festival: Lit

Various venues
September 19 – 21
$0–$15

A superb programme of events with writers including Damien Wilkins, Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku, Dame Anne Salmond and many more.

Te-Whanganui-a-Tara
A black and white image of two monkeys wearing elaborate costumes, with some kind of wire attached to their necks and leading off shot, looking into each other's eyes and holding hands. They appear to be in an empty room or gym. Brit Bunkley, still from Archive, single channel video, 2025.

Visual Art: Art and AI – Brit Bunkley in Conversation with Megan Dunn

National Library of New Zealand
11am Sat, September 20
Free

New Zealand-based artist and videographer, Brit Bunkley, talks to Megan Dunn about the pragmatics and politics of making art with AI, with insights into the making of his latest work Archive, commissioned for Messengers.


Whakatū
photo of chris parker wearing a tie and throwing his hand up

Comedy: Chris Parker – Stop being so dramatic!

Theatre Royal
7.30pm Fri, September 19
$44.90

“I’ve heard the expression ‘Stop being so dramatic’ my whole life, but only now, at the culturally relevant age of 34, am I ready to address it and face these drama queen allegations head-on.” R15.


Ōtautahi
A black and white photo of a historic woman (19th century) wearing a high-necked dress with a collar; and short hair. She has freckles all over her face and is staring into the camera lens.William James Harding Unidentified Woman [1870-1889] Reference 1/4-030481-G, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington (detail).Exhibition/Photography: 19th Century Women Confronting the Lens

Te Whare Waiutuutu Kate Sheppard House
Opens Thursday, September 19 (and runs until October 31)
Free

This exhibition in Kate Sheppard’s former home presents an exhibition of photos by William Harding which documented the presence and diversity of women in Aotearoa New Zealand during the suffrage movement.


Waihōpai
A historic poster promoting equal pay: it shows a man and a woman balancing a scale.Council for Equal Pay and Opportunity poster from 1961.

Community/Family: Pay Equity Community Day

Gala St Reserve, Invercargill
11am–2pm Sat, September 20
Free 

A day of music, speakers, food and market stalls, activities for the whole family in support of equal pay for equal skills.