What's on in Gisborne?

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Saturday, August 31

Gisborne parkrun. Wear a colourful tutu on your run or walk. Meet: Waikanae Beach Playground, Grey St, 7.45am. Kid, dog and pram-friendly. See http://www.parkrun.co.nz/gisborne/?

Tairawhiti Coffin Club. Design your own personalised coffin; constructed by a joiner, fitted out and decorated by you. BCR Joinery, 522 Gladstone Rd, 9am-midday.

Tairawhiti Menzshed. Pop in for a cuppa, or work in a fully equipped workspace with woodwork/carpentry tools on community or personal projects. Tairawhiti Menzshed, cnr Parkinson & Innes St, 9am-midday. Details: See Facebook, or ph/txt James 022 465 0396.

TRAMPS. For all singers, musicians and poetry readers to come along and perform. The Band Room, 200 Childers Rd, 1.30-3.30pm, $3, ph John 868 9658.

Zirka Circus. See acrobatic tricks, clowns, magicians and daredevil acts. Old St Mary’s School site, Childers Rd, 7-8.45pm. Tickets: At eventfinda.co.nz or ph 0800 294 752; $19-$48+Bfee child/adult, $86-$110+Bfee family pass.

Flag the Bag Sewing Bee. Bring your sewing machine and scissors to help sew reusable fabric shopping bags. Tairawhiti Environment Centre, 386 Palmerston Rd, 2-4pm. Details: Ph 867 4708 or see Facebook.

Tennis for players of all skill levels. Ormond Tennis Club, Hill Rd, Ormond, 2-4pm, ph 862 5741 or 862 5856.

Heartland Championship Rugby, East Coast vs Mid Canterbury. Whakarua Park, Ruatoria, 2.30pm.

Heartland Championship Rugby, Poverty Bay vs South Canterbury. Rugby Park, Gisborne, 2.30pm. Entry: Non-perishable food item (can of food).

Will to Live’s Speak Up Tour. Supporting vulnerable young rural Kiwis isolated from essential mental health services. Dinner, charity auction, inspirational local and national speakers; including Elle Perriam with her late partner’s huntaway, Jess. Patutahi Community Hall, 20 Biggs St, 6pm start, 6.30pm a moment of silence for those who lost their battle and a 'bark up' with 100s of dogs in unison to break the silence. Tickets: $10+Bfee from Eventbrite or Facebook; Speak Up and Gisborne Young Farmers.

A Night at the Races. Loads of fun, buy a racehorse, bet on eight races, mini-auction, raffles and prizes for best-dressed. Supporting the Gisborne Rowing Club. Dress code: Race-wear, dresses, fascinators or snappy attire. Gisborne Boys’ High School, 80 Stanley Rd, 6-10pm, $30 incl first drink, shared platter, supper, shared tables of 10 or less. R18. Tickets: Cherie ph 027 335 5955 or cherie.mirko@gmail.com

Rockshop Bandquest. A platform for primary and intermediate-aged musicians to perform in a supportive competition. War Memorial Theatre, 159 Bright St, 7-11pm. Sound check for performers: 1.30pm. See http://bandquest.co.nz/east-coast/

Gisborne Orphans Club Cabaret. All welcome. Senior Citizens Hall, 30 Grey St, 7.30-11pm, guests $15, members free, supper provided. Contact: Mike ph 867 5247 or Phil pjshn@xtra.co.nz

One One One. Waikato-based three-piece rock band with hits from the 80s. Smash Palace, 24 Banks St, 9pm, $10 cash-only door sales.

Sunday, September 1

Gisborne Runners and Walkers Club. 1.5 hour walk/run and a cuppa. 8am start. For meeting place: See Facebook or email gisbornerunnersandwalkers@gmail.com

Gas Guzzlers’ Breakfast. Bring dad along for an outing to check out classic or vintage cars, hotrods, bikes and projects. Behind the Courthouse on Reads Quay, 8.30-11am. Rain, hail or sunshine.?

Lions Express Train Rides. Take the kids for a train ride around the playground and lake. Start: near Gisborne Wainui Lions Junior Cycle Park, Centennial Marine Dr, 11am-3pm, $2.

Father’s Day Pizzeria. Celebrate this special day in a beautiful vineyard setting with pizza and live music with Ben Wilkinson. Matawhero Wines, 189 Riverpoint Rd, midday-4pm. Bookings essential: ph 867 6140.

Zirka Circus, 1-2.45pm. See Aug 31.

Waikanae Stream: Weeding and rubbish collection. Come along to help care for plantings along the waterway. Meet: Alfred Cox Skate Park, 204 Grey St, 1-3pm. Details: Tairawhiti Environment Centre ph 867 4708. Bring: gloves, suitable footwear/clothing.?

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

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

Monday, September 2

Badminton Centre, 134 Roebuck Rd. New players welcome and rackets available. Social Morning, 9-11.30am, $4, ph 867 2584. Kiwi Badminton for Year 3-7 players, 4.30-5.30pm, $5, ph 027 350 9482. Gisborne Badminton Club, 7-9pm, $10, ph 867 1416.

Gisborne Contract Bridge Club. Supervised play for all players. 572 Gladstone Rd, 9.15-11.30am, $4, ph Jean 867 2383.?

Neighbourhood Support Exercise Class. For over 60s: Steady As You Go exercises for balance and muscle-strengthening. Dunblane Conference Room, 107 Iranui Rd, 10.30-11.30am, ph Noel 027 314 3893.

Mahjong Club. Enjoy a friendly fellowship. Gisborne Town & Country Women’s Club, 42 Emily St, 1pm, ph 281 0187.

Hibernian Club Indoor Bowls. A roll-up for new or seasoned bowlers. Gisborne Intermediate Hall, 7pm, ph 867 6383.

Fun Dancing Gisborne. Beginners class and reviews for modern, sequence and social ballroom dancing. St Andrew’s Church Hall, 176 Cobden St, 7-10pm, $5, ph 867 0074.

Tuesday, September 3

Tairawhiti Menzshed, 9am-midday. See Aug 31.

Baby Time: for 0-2, parents or caregivers. Interactive play and rhymes. HB Williams Memorial Library, 34 Bright St, 10am, free.

Community Workshop and Mentoring. Budgeting, cooking, sewing and gardening advice. SuperGrans Tairawhiti, 185 Childers Rd, 10am-1pm, free. Bookings: ph 868 3571 or supergrans.tairawhiti@xtra.co.nz

Over 50s Men’s Vets Golf. For any skill level. Poverty Bay Golf Club, cnr Awapuni & Lytton Rds, 11am. Details: ph Dave 867 4402 (opt 1), email Glenn at glennb355@gmail.com

TriAbility Whanau Triathlon Advisory Meeting. An opportunity to introduce the event, look at logistics and form an advisory group. Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti, Level 1, 74 Grey St, 12.15-1pm. Bring your lunch along.

Gisborne Wainui Lions meeting. A friendly club, who have fun while making a difference in our community. 69Central (The White House)?, 69 Peel St, 5.30pm.

Poverty Bay Blues Night. A selection of live blues music. PBC, 38 Childers Rd, doors open 7pm, music 8pm, $5 door sales, R18.

Patutahi Badminton Club. New players welcome. Patutahi Hall, Biggs St, 7.30pm, ph 862 7783.

Immigration Workshop. Advice on how to make successful work and residency visa applications. Speaker: Mariska Van Den Haak, immigration adviser. Blind Foundation Rooms, 39 Grey St, 7.30pm. Details: Citizens Advice Bureau ph 867 2606.

Wednesday, September 4

Mainly Music. A fun music group for pre-schoolers. St Andrew’s Community Centre, 176 Cobden St, 9.45am, $4/Fam. Details: Trish ph 867 2789 or 868 5513.

Mahjong Club, 1pm. See Sept 2.

Hospice Shop Fashion Show. An annual show premiering Spring stock and spot prizes throughout the night. Hospice Shop, 66 Peel St, doors open 5.45pm. Tickets: $10 incl refreshments and nibbles, from the venue or door sales on the night.?

Gisborne Young Farmers Meeting. Come along for a yarn and meet like-minded people. Patutahi Tavern, 150 Seddon St, 6.30pm, meeting starts 7pm.

Kai and Toddlers. Session to support parents with toddlers. Topics: Why toddlers are fussy about food, mealtime strategies, nutrition guidelines and recipes. Gisborne/Wairoa Plunket, 7 Ormond Rd, 7-9pm, free. Limited spaces, booking essential: Text 027 286 5017 or email debbie.adamson@plunket.org.nz

Thursday, September 5

Bridge and Rummikub Club. Gisborne Town & Country Women’s Club, 42 Emily St, 9am, ph 281 0187.?

Tairawhiti Menzshed, 9am-midday. See Aug 31.

U3A Gisborne. Coffee morning group for retired folk with guest speakers and 30 learning-groups; writing, music, food/wine, history and exercise. Gisborne Cosmopolitan Club, 190 Derby St, 9.30am for 10am start, $2 at the door. Details: Anne ph 868 5460.

Family, Whanau and Work with Pio. An opportunity to look at relationships; whanau, work, drugs and alcohol challenges and learn about the oral fluid drug testing standard. Featuring; Ann-Louise Anderson of Inscience and Pio Terei.? Shark Bar, Gisborne Tatapouri SFC, 1-4pm, $25 non-members (incl smoko). To register, go to: http://www.fica.org.nz/whanau-and-family

Gisborne Senior Citizens Concert. Come along and be entertained. Senior Citizens Hall, 30 Grey St, 1.30-3.30pm, $3.

Ulysses Motorcycle Club. Gisborne Branch meeting for anyone who rides or is interested in motorcycles. Gisborne Tatapouri SFC, 6-9pm, ph Chris 868 9661.

In the Gap. A community evening in partnership with Oranga Tamariki to foster a community response to children in need. Equippers Church, cnr Lowe St & Childers Rd, 6.30pm, free, incl supper and childcare. Keynote speaker: Paediatrician Dr Shaun Grant, Hauora Tairawhiti. ?

Gisborne Caledonian Society Practice Night. Modern, sequence and social dancing. St Mark's Church Hall, 776 Childers Rd, 7.30-9.30pm, $4.

Friday, September 6

Toddler Time: for ages 2-5. Songs and stories. HB Williams Memorial Library, 34 Bright St, 10-10.30am, free.

Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Group. If you are a sufferer of ME or CFS come along and meet others. CCS, 7 Kahutia St (entrance around the back), 10.30am-1pm, ph Moira 027 457 6923.?

A Race Night. Fundraising for Friends of Chelsea Hospital. Waikanae Surf Life Saving Club, 280 Grey St, doors open: 6pm for a 6.30pm start. Tickets incl $200 funny money and supper; $30 each from The Gisborne Herald, Sean Shivnan Pharmacy and Chelsea Hospital. Prizes for the best dressed filly and most stylish colt. Cash bar, auctions and raffles available.

What's on the other side? Dying to Know? Come along and listen to a man stung by a box jellyfish, declared clinically dead, who saw both heaven and hell. Kaiti Yacht Club, Kaiti Beach Rd, 7pm, free. Details: Sharlene ph 022 681 5620.

Build-a-Band. Come along and jam. Smash Palace Bar, 24 Banks St, 8-11pm, free entry, R18.?

Saturday, September 7

Gisborne parkrun. A 5km run/walk. Meet: Waikanae Beach Playground, Grey St, 7.45am. Kid, dog and pram-friendly. See http://www.parkrun.co.nz/gisborne/

St Andrew’s Monster Garage Sale. A selection of white elephant and bric-a-brac items. Cash sales only. Carpark behind St Andrew’s Church Hall, 176 Cobden St, 8am.

Tairawhiti Coffin Club, 9am-midday. See Aug 31.

Tairawhiti Menzshed, 9am-midday. See Aug 31.

Love Tennis in Gisborne (to Sep 8). For all ages and skill levels. If you are new to tennis or want to get back into it, then go along to any tennis club across Gisborne for a game, 1-4pm, free. Equipment will be provided, along with a BBQ, prizes and giveaways. Details: http://www.gisbornetennis.com

Ormond Tennis Club, 2-4pm. See Aug 31.

Heartland Championship Rugby, Poverty Bay vs North Otago. Rugby Park, Gisborne, 2.30pm.

Shaun Kirk: EP Tour. Australian singer-songwriter with a selection of blues, soul, roots and harmonica. Dome Room, PBC, 38 Childers Rd, 8pm, $20+Bfee presales at http://www.shaunkirk.com/tour or $25 cash-only door sales or at The Aviary, R18.

Sunday, September 8

Gisborne Runners and Walkers Club, 8am start. See Sept 1.

Equestrian Sports NZ: Jumping Practice Day. A non-registered day; a great way to start out jumping with your horse or pony. Gisborne ESNZ Equestrian Area, A&P Showgrounds, Makaraka, 9am-3.15pm, free entry.

Lions Express Train Rides, 11am-3pm. See Sept 1.

Love Tennis in Gisborne, 1-4pm. See Sept 7.

Winter Concert Series. Auckland-based husband and wife perform; violinist James Jin and pianist Xing Wang. Tairawhiti Museum, 10 Stout St, 2-3pm, $5A, free for child/student with ID, pay on the day, ph 867 3832.