What’s on in Auckland this weekend: Beauty, art, wine and more

Mecca has unveiled an elevated new store in the heart of Ponsonby. The new MECCA in Posonby Rd.

Beauty juggernaut Mecca has unveiled an elevated new store in the heart of Ponsonby, marking the next chapter of the brand’s nearly two-decade operation in Aotearoa. Spanning an amazing 323sq m and sitting elegantly within a beautifully restored heritage building, it is celebrating the new opening with a series of meaningful moments, premium customer experiences and exclusive offers across this weekend, such as free pastries from Daily Bread, exclusive opening offers, complimentary fragrance engraving and gifts with purchase that include a very cute, limited-edition Mecca Ponsonby keyring. Customers will also have access to bookable launch services available over the opening weekend, such as a Charlotte Tilbury Express Makeup Application and Express Emma Lewisham Facial, further fuelling the fervour for beauty fans of all ages. Mecca Ponsonby is located at 286-306 Ponsonby Rd.

3) Auckland Art Gallery open late

Xin Jin and Tony Guo. Photo / Jiaqi Tang

Auckland Art Gallery’s free after-dark event series, Open Late invites audiences to experience the gallery through art, music, performance, food and creative surprises that aim to inspire and delight. This Thursday’s outing celebrates the gallery’s current exhibition, Forever Tomorrow: Chinese Art Now and includes poetry readings from Jiaqiao Liu and Zephyr Zhang and a specially created contemporary performance from artist Xin Ji and painter Tony Guo, SPACE DRAG, inspired by the exhibition. There will also be live music, with food and drinks available from local favourites Sumthin Dumplin and Lucky Mate, and the entire gallery will be open so visitors can enjoy special late-night access to Forever Tomorrow at $20 for adults and $15 for concession visitors. Doors open at 5.30pm.

4) In the company of giants

The Blue Guy from A Vaudeville of Flowers. Photo / Nimmy

The tradition of family acting troupes that span generations is alive and well, and will be on show when Whangārei’s Company of Giants bring their award-winning production A Vaudeville of Flowers to Auckland’s PumpHouse Theatre from Tuesday for a limited run.

A whimsical collection of acts celebrating the extraordinary and the ordinary in our backyards, the visually rich theatre experience is designed to delight audiences of all ages, with a troupe of puppets, animals, clowns and flowers bringing a garden of characters to life. It also features the return of veteran actor Stuart Devenie to the stage, performing alongside his granddaughter Lyra (7), while his daughter, director Laurel Devenie, leads the production. Kelly Johnson – aka Gerry “Blondini” Austin from iconic Kiwi film Goodbye Pork Pie – also appears as part of the exuberant ensemble.

5) Cassia pops up in Grey Lynn

Ketan Joshi, Sid Sahrawat and Karol Troncoso. Photo / Sahil Patel

Modern Indian restaurant Cassia has a new Grey Lynn residency opening this week while the team prepare for a move to a permanent new home in Auckland’s CBD later this year. From Wednesday, diners will be able to experience Cassia within Ozone Coffee in Grey Lynn, where on select evenings the team will be offering guests a refined, contemporary take on Indian cuisine while the restaurant’s future flagship site is completed. It will be a full-circle moment for Ozone’s head chef Karol Troncoso, who previously worked at Cassia and talks about the time as one of the most important chapters of her career. Cassia at Ozone will be open Wednesday to Sunday, from 5pm until late.

6) Dine with the winemakers

Queens Rooftop’s chef Maia Atvars.

Following the launch of its Winter Winemakers’ Dinner Series with Champagne Laurent-Perrier, Auckland CBD hotspot-with-a-view Queens Rooftop has announced three further evenings happening in June and July – each one an intimate, 30-seat dinner designed around the wines of a single celebrated producer. As with the opening dinner, each evening will feature a bespoke menu crafted by head chef Maia Atvars to complement the wines being poured that night. As each wine is poured, the evening’s winery representative will share the story behind the vintage, the philosophy of the estate and what makes each bottle a perfect match for the food on the table, with Paritua head winemaker Jason Stent introducing some of the best from the renowned Hawke’s Bay vineyard this Wednesday night. To secure a spot, email hello@queensrooftop.co.nz.

7) Celebrating the beauty of Brahms

Bach Musica NZ returns to the stage with Songs of Destiny, which celebrates Johannes Brahms.

Bach Musica NZ, New Zealand’s leading combined choir and orchestra, returns to the stage this Sunday with Songs of Destiny, celebrating the choral brilliance of Johannes Brahms. Happening from 5pm at Auckland Town Hall, the performance will be led by guest conductor José Aparicio, a native of Spain with an inspiring presence as a conductor and a musical style influenced by his experience in opera and orchestral ensembles across Europe and New Zealand. The beautiful Brahms repertoire will be complemented by the unique and seldom-performed Siegfried Idyll, as well as the song cycle from Manuel de Falla’s El amor brujo, performed by Anna Pierard. It has been stated that “people should perform more Brahms”, and Bach Musica NZ would love to take us all along for the ride.

8) Let’s wear yellow for Harold

Harold the Giraffe, beloved mascot of the Life Education Trust.

Who doesn’t appreciate the work of Harold the Giraffe, the beloved mascot of the Life Education Trust, New Zealand’s largest health and wellbeing provider for primary and intermediate schools. With continuing this important mahi in mind, this Friday, Aotearoa is encouraged to go yellow for Harold with schools, workplaces and communities invited to dress in yellow or giraffe-themed outfits for Life Education’s national fundraising day. Held close to World Giraffe Day, Wear Yellow for Harold is a fun, feel-good way to support tamariki and rangatahi, whether it’s via a gold-coin dress-up day, yellow bake sale, workplace morning tea or community activity. All funds raised help Life Education deliver health and wellbeing programmes in schools nationwide, with all donations to be kindly uploaded directly to the Life Education Givealittle.

Coming up

The French Film Festival, until June 28, nationwide Lōemis Festival, until June 21, across Wellington The Marriage of Figaro, June 17, 19 and 21, St James Theatre, WellingtonAuckland Live Cabaret Festival, June 24 – July 5, The Civic, Auckland Doc Edge Festival 2026, June 24 – July 26, nationwide World Press Photo & Doc Edge Immersive Exhibition 2026, June 24 – July 12, Smith & Caughey Building, Auckland Firing the Canon Act Two, June 25-27, Basement Theatre, Auckland The Veils Fragile World Tour, June 25- July 11, nationwide Gil Shaham Plays Beethoven with the Auckland Philharmonia, June 27, Auckland Town HallThe Auckland Opera Studio 2026 Gala, June 28, Auckland Town Hall, AucklandEnglebert Humperdinck: The Celebration Tour, June 26-30, nationwide Matariki: Waiata Anthems in Concert, July 9, Auckland Town Hall Postmodern Jukebox, July 11, Wellington Opera House Exploding Rainbow Orchestra’s The Jukebox of Joy, July 12, Aotea Centre, Auckland Dog Man: The Musical, July 14-18, Bruce Mason Theatre, Auckland The Harlem Globetrotters 100 Year Tour, July 14-19, nationwide Amanda Nguyen Live, July 21, Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland Massive Theatre Company’s Home Made, July 22-25, Te Pou Theatre, AucklandSheku Plays Elgar with the Auckland Philharmonia, August 13, Auckland Town Hall New Zealand Fashion Week, August 17-20, Shed 10, AucklandJason Derulo Last Dance World Tour, September 27, Spark Arena, Auckland The Wiggles Live In Concert Tour, October 10-14, nationwide

Email canvasplanner@nzherald.co.nz with brief details of your upcoming event, including dates/times, location and website.