What’s on in Auckland this weekend: 50 years of Porsche, Pet Expo and more

Tony Chen Lin.

St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra performs tomorrow at St Matthew’s-in-the-City, for an afternoon of fine orchestral music with light post-concert refreshments thrown in. Titled Inspired by Mozart, the programme sees Tony Chen Lin performing Mozart’s Paris Symphony and Piano Concerto No. 20 with the much-loved orchestra, alongside the debut of a freshly commissioned work by Bjorn Arnsten and Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite. A new highlight of the St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra season is their complimentary post-concert hospitality, which they share with audiences after every concert thanks to the support of Villa Maria. Tickets to Inspired by Mozart are on sale now via Eventfinda.

3) Head south to the Franklin Art Show

Dream Tangerine by Tracey Coaxley. Photo / 2025 Frankly Small Show

Art lovers can hit the road this weekend for a trip to the annual Franklin Arts Festival, on until September 26 at the Franklin Arts Centre in Pukekohe. Called the Frankly Small Art Show, it showcases talented artists from across the region and beyond, each year attracting a diverse audience of art lovers, collectors, and community members. Now in its 36th year, the festival continues to grow, with last year’s Frankly Small featuring more than 400 artworks from local and national artists. Providing an important platform for artists and arts supporters alike, it’s open daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm and entry is via koha.

4) An operatic masterpiece

Georges Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers.

An early masterpiece by the composer of Carmen, Georges Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers arrives at Auckland’s Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre this Wednesday for a limited run before heading to Christchurch. A bold new production that recreates the timeless story for today, it sees the passionate tale of love and betrayal set at an exclusive resort hosting enigmatic jewellery house, Pêcheur & Perle. It’s a world where image, influence and ambition shape every decision, as old loyalties begin to fracture and love and power collide. Directed by visionary storyteller Stephen Barlow, the production stars a cast of internationally acclaimed opera talent from Aotearoa led by Madison Nonoa, Filipe Manu, Phillip Rhodes and Anthony Robin Schneider, and isn’t to be missed.

5) The Pet & Animal Expo is back

As a nation we love our pets, with 63% of New Zealand households sharing their lives with a companion animal. That special relationship will be celebrated all this weekend at the Auckland Pet & Animal Expo 2026, which returns to Auckland Showgrounds for two fur and fin-filled days. Now in its 13th year, the expo brings together the latest products and services, expert advice, show-only specials and free samples, alongside dogs, cats, rats, reptiles, fish, kunekune pigs and more. Visitors can also meet animal charities, rescue organisations, clubs and breeders, with a strong focus on responsible pet ownership. There’s entertainment too, including Billy Black and his Performing Pig along with the Heritage Sheep Shearing Show, in the performance arena. For the safety and comfort of all animals attending the expo, visiting public are not allowed to bring their own pets.

6) The Karangahape Art Weekend is here

Art by Gavin Hurley. Photo / Melanie Roger Gallery

For one inspiring weekend, Auckland’s most creative neighbourhood will become one giant gallery as the Karangahape Art Weekend takes off on the much-loved inner central strip. Home to the largest concentration of contemporary art galleries, K’Road has long been a destination where artists, curators, makers and creative communities collide. Visitors are invited to experience the entire precinct as one interconnected arts destination across the weekend, with galleries opening their doors for late-night happenings, exclusive exhibitions, artist talks, guided tours, workshops, studio visits and live music. The initiative was created to encourage people to wander the iconic road, discover new artists and experience the unique creative energy that has made K Road one of Aotearoa’s most important cultural precincts.

7) Our largest South-Asian theatre company in action

Mama Moo. Photo / Ankita Singh and Calvin Sang

Opening Monday at TAPAC is Mama Moo, a wildly ambitious love story brought to life by Aotearoa’s largest South-Asian theatre company, Prayas Theatre. Written by Auckland novelist and screenwriter Nimish Tanna, the plot centres around widowed butcher Siddhant, who is visited by the ghost of a cow he has slaughtered and sent on a mission to win the heart of an animal rights activist while saving a calf named Mercy. Throw in a devil, a hostage situation, live music and a whole lot of heart, and you’ve got one of the year’s most original comedies.

8) Unmissable theatre

Nikita Tu-Bryant. Photo / Serena Stevenson

It’s the final weekend to catch Pork and Poll Taxes at Tāmaki Makaurau’s Herald Theatre, a heart-wrenching family tragedy inspired by the histories of Chinese market gardeners during Aotearoa’s poll tax era. Deeply grounded in research and cultural specificity, the play centres Chinese voices and experiences that have long been marginalised in mainstream narratives, delving into migration, racism and shifting family dynamics with heart, drama and urgency. Returning to the stage five years after its sold-out premiere, the play has been redeveloped with a new creative team, design and ambitious vision for one of Aotearoa’s most overlooked histories. Written by Talia Pua, the new production expands the original work in both scale and ambition, drawing on the emotional weight of Greek tragedy while remaining grounded in lived experience.

9) 50 years of Porsche in Aotearoa

Celebrate 50 years of Porsche in New Zealand at the Viaduct Event Centre. Porsche cars.

The iconic luxury mark is set to celebrate 50 years of Porsche in New Zealand with a free public event at the Viaduct Event Centre this Sunday. Around 250 Porsche cars will be driving into Auckland as part of the celebrations before gathering at the Viaduct, where from 11am-2pm visitors can see the iconic Porsche 917 Museum car, one of Porsche’s most legendary racing cars, a special Porsche 911 GT3 Anniversary car and browse a selection of Porsche clothing, accessories and lifestyle products at an on-site shop. Free tea and coffee and competitions for kids will fuel the event, which offers a rare opportunity to get up close to some very special cars and experience the scale of the Porsche community in New Zealand – right in the heart of Auckland’s waterfront.

Coming up

Cabaret: the musical at the Kit Kat Club, September 22-October 18, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland NZ Opera’s The Pearl Fishers, September 23-27, Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, AucklandVerb Readers & Writers Festival, September 25-27, WellingtonJason Derulo Last Dance World Tour, September 27, Spark Arena, AucklandWe The Young Festival, September 25–October 11, across AucklandThe Chocolate & Coffee Festival, September 26-27, Viaduct Events Centre Joel Archer Birth of a New Day, until October 13, Strand Arcade, AucklandThe Surprise Party, October 10-18, Pumphouse Theatre, AucklandThe Wiggles Live In Concert Tour, October 10-14, nationwideAlberton Vintage Market Day, October 11, Alberton House, AucklandNZ Opera’s The Pearl Fishers, October 14-18, Isaac Theatre Royal, ChristchurchMacy Gray Live, October 16-22, nationwideAuckland FC vs. Melbourne Victory, October 17, Go Media Stadium, AucklandStan Walker – A Symphonic Experience, October 17, The Trusts Arena, AucklandA Box of Memories, October 22-25, Q Theatre, AucklandJesus Christ Superstar, October 22–November 15, The Civic, AucklandThe Rainbow Games, October 29-November 1, AucklandElling, October 29-November 7, Artworks Theatre, WaihekeHighwic Plant Fair, October 31, Highwic, AucklandAll You Had Was Fun, November 18-29, Q TheatreAn Evening With Mary Beard, November 19, Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, AucklandLove Actually in Concert, December 14, The Civic, Auckland

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