What's on in Gisborne?

WA165 over Waipoua bridge. File picture

Saturday, January 5

2019 Hapuka Hunt. Annual two-day boat and beach fishing competition for anglers of all ages. Te Puka Tavern, Tokomaru Bay, 5.30am-5pm. Boat fishing, per angler: $15 u/12 yrs, $50 open. Beach fishing, per rod: $25. Register: on Facebook at Te Puka Hunting & Fishing, or today 5.30am onwards. Prize-giving at Te Puka Tavern, Tokomaru Bay, today at 7pm. For details: tepukahuntingandfishing@gmail.com or 027 430 0548, 021 222 1701.

Tolaga Bay Beach Races. Annual event since 1876 with seven horse races and $1 betting. Kaiaua Rd, Tolaga Bay, 10am, $5 cash-only entry, see Facebook for details. The event is run by volunteers, all prizes donated and proceeds go back to the local community.

Wa165 steam train trip to Muriwai. Enjoy the scenery, bring a picnic or have a cuppa on board. Leaving from the Railway Station, Grey St at 1pm, $12 child, $30 adult, $70 family pass (2A and 2C). Tickets: half an hour before departure from the station (cash or Eftpos), Gisborne i-Site, 209 Grey St, ph 868 6139 for credit card bookings, or see http://www.gcvr.org.nz

Naamah Cheiban Live. Enjoy gourmet pizza, organic wines and live music, featuring Smokefree Rockfest Regional Finalist, Naamah. Wrights Vineyard and Winery Cellar Door, 1093 Wharerata Rd, 1.30pm-3.30pm, free entry.

TRAMPS. Beginners to experienced singers, musicians and poetry readers are welcome to come along and perform. The Band Room, 200 Childers Rd, 2-4pm, $2 in the jar, ph John 868 9658.

Tennis for beginners to experienced players. Ormond Tennis Club, Hill Rd, Ormond, 2-4pm, ph 862 5741 or 862 5856.

Summer Concert Series: Tony Yan Tong Chen. 19-year-old Auckland pianist, now studying in New York gives a recital with Beethoven and Schumann sonatas, Mozart’s Fantasia and more. Tiromoana, 41 Winifred St, Okitu, 2.30pm. Tickets: door sales, adult $25, student/child free.

Smashfest VII. Legendary metal MC Lee ‘Big Sexy’ Scarfe, local and national bands. Smash Palace Bar, 24 Banks St, 3pm, $25+Bfee at http://www.eventfinda.co.nz

Go-karts, Motorbikes, Freestyle NZ, Golden Oldie Stockcars. Bring your family, pack your dinner and enjoy a great night of racing. Eastland Group Raceway, gates open 6pm, racing 7pm. Gate sale tickets, subject to change: family (2A+3C) $40, adult $15, pensioner $10, 5-15 years $8.

Sunday, January 6

Gisborne Runners and Walkers Club. Weekly 1.5 hour walks with a cuppa and chat afterwards. 8am start. For meeting place: gisbornerunnersandwalkers@gmail.com

Gas Guzzler Breakfast. Everyone welcome to check out the cars on the Quay. Behind the Courthouse on Reads Quay, 8.30-11am.

Jolly Lifestyle Market. Live music, stalls, parking in the paddock. Jolly Stockman carpark, 3 Saleyards Rd, 11am-2pm, weather permitting. Stall holder inquiries; pirihirahall@gmail.com

Wa165 steam train trip to Muriwai, 1pm. See Saturday Jan 5 listing.

Gisborne Country Music Club. Singers and musicians welcome. Blind Foundation Rooms, 39 Grey St, 1-4pm, members $2, non-members $3, incl afternoon tea, ph Flo 867 7637 or flo.ross@xtra.co.nz

Historic MV Takitimu Cruise. Enjoy the sights of Poverty Bay from a fully-restored historic tug. Sailing from Pier 1 Inner Harbour (gate outside Tatapouri Fishing Club), weather permitting, 2pm. Tickets, pay at the gate: $20 adult, $10 child u12. Details: Brian 027 474 9360 or Barry 868 3900.

The Irish Club. Join us if you possess a sense of humour and a real passion for all things Irish. The Rivers, cnr Gladstone Rd & Reads Quay, 4-6pm. For details ph Phil 867 3715.

Monday, January 7

Badminton Holiday Programme. Badminton Centre, 134 Roebuck Rd. For start time or cost details see http://www.sporty.co.nz

Half-day Holiday Programme Workshop (to Jan 11). For 7-12 year olds: robotics, bottle rockets, hackathon, coding and virtual reality. The Mind Lab, Shed 3, The Esplanade, 9am-midday, $30 per child/day. Register: gisborne@themindlab.com or ph (06) 777 0522.

Breakthrough Parenting: Building Awesome Matua. Programme for dads who have been through their own challenges to be violence free. Tauawhi Men’s Centre, 71 Peel St, 5.30-7.30pm, free. Whanau support welcome.

Tuesday, January 8

Surfing for farmers and their families. Get off-farm, have some quality downtime, learn to surf if you don’t already, have a BBQ and catch up. Midway Beach (dependent upon waves), 5.30-7pm. Boards, wetsuits and lessons provided free.

Poverty Bay Blues Night. We promote, perform and educate the Gisborne region about blues music. PBC, 38 Childers Rd, doors open 7pm, music 8pm, $5 door sales, R18.

Wednesday, January 9

The Amazing Read Holiday Programme: for ages 2-8. Bring your caregiver and teddy, listen to stories and have a Teddy Bear hunt and picnic in the courtyard. HB Williams Memorial Library, 34 Bright St, 11am-12.30pm, free.

First Encounters Holiday Programme: for ages 9-12. Bring your caregiver and learn about the first encounter between Maori, James Cook and crew in 1769. HB Williams Memorial Library, 34 Bright St, 11am-12.30pm, free.

Friday, January 11

East Coast Vibes (to Jan 12). Headlined by soul, roots, reggae acts and various DJ’s. Awapuni Stadium, Centennial Marine Drive, midday-late, R18. Tickets: $90+Bfee for single day, $195+Bfee VIP for 2-days at http://www.ticketspace.co.nz

Live on the Lawn: Gisborne Country Music Club. Bring a picnic and enjoy the country music. Marina Park, Lawson Field Theatre Riverbank, 6-8pm. Listen to MoreFM after 3pm if inclement weather.

Build-a-Band. Turn up and jam. Smash Palace Bar, 24 Banks St, 8pm, free entry, R18.

Saturday, January 12

St Andrew’s Car Boot Sale. A variety of realistically-priced bargains. In the carpark behind St Andrew’s Church (access off Childers Rd), 8am-midday, $5/car, ph 868 8226.

East Coast Vibes, midday-late. See Friday listing.

Ormond Tennis Club, 2-4pm. See Saturday Jan 5 listing.

Pink Floyd Tribute. Performed by Revival, a Hawke’s Bay-based band with decades of experience and dedicated to reproducing the sound of Pink Floyd, featuring Tasha Godinet. The White House, 69 Peel Street, 8-11pm, $20+Bfee at http://www.eventfinda.co.nz

Big Blues Up. Wellington-based band Shaken Not Stirred, featuring blues legend Bullfrog Rata, Lazy Fifty and Rich Alexander. Smash Palace Bar, 24 Banks St, 9pm, R18. Tickets: $20+Bfee at http://www.undertheradar.co.nz

Sunday, January 13

Gisborne Runners and Walkers Club, 8am start. See Sunday Jan 6 listing.

Summer Arts & Crafts Fair. Local artisans selling their creations: batik, jewellery, woodwork, sewing, cards, quilting and much more. Poverty Bay Bowling Club, Ormond Rd, 9.30am-3pm. Eftpos available.

Historic MV Takitimu Cruise, 2pm. See Sunday Jan 6 listing.?