Dinner by the River is back this Saturday night. Enjoy a variety of tasty treats at Gisborne's only food truck event, at Marina Park next to Lawson Field Theatre, from 4pm to 7pm.
FRIDAY
Nohongū Quiet Time @ The Library: A sensory-friendly zone with reduced noise and light is now available at the public library for those who prefer a calmer environment. Papatipu | Launch Pad space, 9.30am–11.30am. H.B. Williams Memorial Library, 34 Bright St.
The Vista Foundation 48Hours – NZ’s largest guerrilla film-making competition: Shoot weekend from Friday–Sunday. Go to 48HOURS 2025 to find out more.
SATURDAY
Stand With Gaza: End the Genocide. Hīkoi and rally. Walking together in solidarity, calling for freedom and humanity in Palestine. 9.30am–11.30am, Heipipi Park, Gisborne, as part of the National Day of Action for Palestine.
Upcycled Fashion: Free workshop at EIT Tairāwhiti with tutor Adrianna Wilson. Enjoy yourself, express yourself, recreate and upcycle. August 16, 23 and 30. 10am–3pm, Design Lab, 290 Palmerston Rd. Contact Bridget French (06)8693187, 0272526944 or bfrench@eit.ac.nz.
Wahine Wellness with Maxine Johnson: A transformative journey to reconnect with your sacred feminine self. Free. 11am – 4pm. At EIT Rural Studies Unit, 312 Stout St, Riverdale.
Learn to hunt Tairāwhiti: Develop your hunting skills with the 2025 HUNTS course. Email Wendy to register: Tairawhiti-GisborneHUNTS@deerstalkers.org.nz. 11am–3pm. $480. From today to September 13. Final celebration on September 16.
Dinner by the River: Gizzy’s monthly street food event by the river. Celebrating local mobile food vendors. 4pm–7pm. Marina carpark, 1 Vogel St.
Entertainment Quiz Night at Unity Theatre. Gisborne Centre Stage invites teams of trivia buffs, movie lovers and music nerds to put their pop culture knowledge to the test in a fun-filled quiz night. 7pm–9pm, Unity Theatre, 209 Ormond Rd ($90 for a table of six, $15 per person).
The Morning Shift – Live On Tour: Aotearoa’s favourite podcast trio steps out of your headphones and on to the stage. Jordan Vaha’akolo, Brook Ruscoe and ex-Gisbornite Marc Peard take the stage at War Memorial Theatre. 7.30pm–9.30pm. Tickets through Ticketek.
DJ Hitman Johnny: Throwbacks and remixes from the 80s, 90s and 2000s. Get ready for a special-edition dancefloor rewind with DJ Hitman Johnny behind the decks, digging deep into the vault. From 8pm, Smash Palace Bar, 24 Banks St.
SUNDAY
Annual Exhibition of Gisborne’s Artists, Potters, Photographers: A curated collection of photographs, paintings, ceramics and sculpture. Tairāwhiti Museum, 10 Stout St. Runs until October 19.
Sunday Drive. Vinyl Open Session: Ease into your Sunday with smooth spins and good vibes. 3pm–5pm, Smash Palace Bar, 24 Banks St.
Riviera Revenge: Film. Part of the 2025 Aotearoa French Film Festival, a comedy directed by Ivan Calbéac set on the French Riviera. Sunday, 6.30pm, Dome Cinema & Bar. 38 Childers Rd.
MONDAY
Gisborne Choral Society: New choir members welcome as GCS resumes regular practice after the winter break. St Andrew’s Church from 7pm.
THURSDAY, August 21
Contemporary Dance for Adults Gisborne: Community dance class for experienced dancers wanting to get moving again. Block of four classes. St Andrew’s Hall, 5.30pm–6.30pm. $10.
SATURDAY, August 23
Early Nights with White Chapel Jak: Beloved for their feelgood grooves, powerhouse vocals and contagious charisma, White Chapel Jak are taking their signature sound on the road with lights out by 10pm. 6pm–9.30pm, Smash Palace Bar, 24 Banks St.
THURSDAY, September 11
Your Health Your Power. An evening with Dr Tracey Clissold. Celebrated for her work regarding good bone health for women, the former Gisborne woman will speak about her expertise in this field. 6.30pm–8pm. Shark Bar, Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club. Go to eventfinda for tickets.
REGULAR EVENTS
Mondays:
The 500 Card Club: Poverty Bay Bowling Club, 111 Ormond Rd, 1pm–4pm, $3. Tony (06)8633468.
Fun Dancing Gisborne – Modern Sequence and Social Ballroom: St Andrew’s Church Hall, 176 Cobden St, 7.30pm–9.30pm, $7. Kev or Isabel (06)8670074 or 0211812414.
Gisborne Orchestra rehearsals: Gisborne Intermediate School, 7.30pm–9pm. New players welcome. Jill 021756364 or email gisborneorchestra@gmail.com
Badminton: Badminton Centre, 134 Roebuck Rd, senior groups – social morning club, 9am–11am, $5. Leslie 0274156872.
Gisborne Badminton Club: 7pm–9pm. Kevin (06)8671416.
Tuesdays:
Sun City Spinners: Poverty Bay Bowling Club, 111 Ormond Rd, 9am–11.30am, fees apply. Dale (06)8675083 or email eastland@creativefibre.org.nz
He Kākano: Popular sing-along baby session for under-2s. H.B. Williams Memorial Library, 34 Bright St, 10.30am, free.
Gisborne Line Dancing: Senior Citizens Hall, 30 Grey St, 4.30pm–7.30pm. Kerry 0211024890.
Hāpu Māmā Aqua Class: Keeping mums-to-be comfortably active while puku and pēpi are supported by the water. Kiwa Pools, 6.30pm–7.15pm.
Badminton: Gisborne Pinoy Smashers, Badminton Centre, 134 Roebuck Rd, 6pm–8pm. Alfred 0273072318.
Patutahi Badminton Club: Patutahi Community Hall, 7.30pm–9.30pm. Ron 0274460146.
Wednesdays:
Badminton: Badminton Centre, 134 Roebuck Rd, junior age groups – Kiwi Shots (Years 3-6), 3.30pm–4.30pm, $10; Mid Shots (Years 7–8), 4.45pm–5.45pm, $10; Hot Shots (Years 9–13), 6pm–7.30pm, $12. Badminton Centre, 154 Roebuck Rd. Geoff 0276568222.
Badminton: Adult coaching – basic coaching and games, 7.30pm–9.30pm, $10. Hamish 0274456234.
Fifties Forward low-impact aerobics: YMCA, 447 Childers Rd, 9.30am. First class is free, otherwise $2.
Mainly Music: a fun music group for preschoolers. St Andrew’s Church community centre, 176 Cobden St, 9.45am, $4/family. Trish (06)8672789 or (06)8685513.
Gisborne Concert Band: 6.30pm–8pm, the Bandroom, 200 Childers Rd. If you play brass, woodwind or percussion, come and join. New musicians welcome.
Thursdays:
Te Pihinga/Little Sprouts: A fun sing-along and story time for 2- to 5-year-olds. H.B. Williams Memorial Library, 9.30am, free.
Gisborne Line Dancing: Senior Citizens Hall, 30 Grey St, 6pm–8pm. Kerry 0211024890.
Gisborne Caledonian Society Practice: Social, modern and sequence dancing. Holy Trinity Church Hall, 70 Derby St, 7.30pm–9.30pm, $5. Pat 0210497148.
Badminton: Thursday morning casual group, Badminton Centre, 134 Roebuck Rd, 9am–11am. $5. Inquiries to eastland.association@gmail.com
Fridays:
Friday Stairs Workout: Meet at the lower carpark, Titirangi/Kaiti Hill, 5.55am, workout 6am–6.40am.
Teen Writers’ Hub: Love to write? Teens are invited to join the Teen Writers’ Hub. H.B. Williams Memorial Library. Mahutonga/Southern Cross Room, 34 Bright St. Every Friday at 3.30pm during Term 3.
Rangatahi Film-making Programme: Free programme for rangatahi interested in learning film-making and production skills. Every Friday from August 1 to December 12. 9am–5pm, Rāngai, 235 Gladstone Rd. Call 0212222571 or email www.rangai.nz
Saturdays:
Gisborne Parkrun: Waikanae Surf Life Saving Club, beach end of Grey St, 7.45am–10am. Register at parkrun.co.nz/gisborne/
Tairāwhiti Coffin Club: BCR Joinery, 522 Gladstone Rd, 9am–10am. Details at tairawhiticc@gmail.com
Gisborne Farmers’ Market: A variety of fresh and prepared goods from local farmers and growers. Corner Stout and Fitzherbert Sts, 9.30am–12.30pm.
Tennis for all: Ormond Tennis Club, Hill Rd, Ormond, 2pm–4pm. For more information ph (06)8625741 or (06)8625856.
Tahu After Dark: Every Saturday from 9pm, Tahu shifts gears from dinner to DJ. 40 Centennial Marine Drive. 9pm–11.20pm.
Sundays:
Sunday Funday at Reset: Pop-up classes at a reduced rate with a different teacher each week. 9am–10am. Reset Yoga Studio, Room 2, Level 2, Poverty Bay Club. 38 Childers Rd.
Gisborne Walkers Club: 8am, meet at Mitre 10, 24 Derby St. Text 0278902224 for more info.
Feminine Embodiment Class: Nourishing dance medicine, 10am–11am, Reset Studio, upstairs at Poverty Bay Club, corner of Customhouse St and Childers Rd.
Silent Flute Taijiquan: Movement lab for life. Free one-hour Tai Chi Chuan (Mandarin) Taijiquan (Cantonese) class open to everyone. 1pm–2pm, Botanical Gardens. Text 0210490722 to confirm location.
Dharma Practice and Meditation: Lama Damchoe leads dharma practice and meditation, followed by a shared lunch, 10am, Palpung Kagyu Samten Choling Tibetan Buddhist Centre, 31 James St. All welcome.
Sunset Yoga: Beginner-friendly yoga flow overlooking Makorori Beach, finishing with tea at sunset. Small class sizes. 4.30pm–6pm. Contact Zoey at 02102967107.
The Mexican at Smash Palace: Enjoy some tasty dishes and wash it down with a cold beer or a margarita. 5pm–8pm. Smash Palace Bar, 24 Banks St.
Saturdays and Sundays:
Lions Express Train Rides: Starts near Gisborne Wainui Lions Junior Cycle Park, Centennial Marine Drive, 11am–3pm, weather permitting, $2.
Bottomless Brunch at Sidura Wine Bar: Enjoy two-hour brunch bookings at the CBD’s coolest wine bar. Saturday and Sunday, 16 Peel St, 10am–2pm.
Each week:
Mahjong Club (Mon and Thurs): Gisborne Town and Country Women’s Club, 42 Emily St, 12.30pm. Margaret (06)8630144.
Tairāwhiti Menzshed (Tues, Thurs and Sat): Corner Parkinson and Innes Sts, Sat 9am–3pm, Tues and Thurs 9am–2pm. Details ph/text 0224650396.
Tairāwhiti Aviation Museum (Tues and Sun): Gisborne Airport, Aerodrome Rd, 9am–3pm, $5 adults, Under-12s free.
Fortnightly:
Lego Club for ages 5–17: H.B. Williams Memorial Library, 3.30pm–5pm, free. Go to www.gpl.govt.nz for full details.
Gisborne Country Music Club (1st and 3rd Sundays): Senior Citizens Hall, 30 Grey St, 1pm–4pm, $5 visitors, $3 members, $1 children. Flo (06)8677637, 0274946979 or email flo.pahuru@outlook.co.nz
Gisborne Woodworking Club (2nd and 4th Saturdays and last Thursday): Green shed opposite Enterprise Aquatic Centre carpark, Nelson Rd, 10am to about noon. Bill 0274507719 or email gizzywheelers@gmail.com
Monthly:
Gizzy Monthly Market (1st Saturday): Locally produced crafts, food and products. Lawson Field Rose Garden, 7 Fitzherbert St, 9am–1pm, weather permitting.
Gas Guzzlers’ Breakfast (1st Sunday): Behind the courthouse on Reads Quay, 8.30am–11am.
Crop Swap (1st Sunday): Swap plants, produce, preserves, baking, books and more. Makaraka School carpark, 137 Main Rd, Makaraka, 2pm–3pm.
Irish Music Session (1st Sunday): The Rivers restaurant, 4pm–6pm. Marty 0210557685.
Gisborne Floral Art Club (1st Monday): Waverley St hall, 9.30am–11.30am; (3rd Wednesday) Kahutia Bowling Club, 7pm.
Poverty Bay Blues Night (1st Tuesday): Dome Cinema, Poverty Bay Club, 6pm doors open, 7pm gig. $10 door sales, Blues Club members free, R18.
Ulysses Motorcycle Club (1st Tuesday): Bushmere Arms public bar, 673 Matawai Rd, Waerenga-a-Hika, 7.30pm. Chris 0274602430.
Gisborne Friendship Group – formerly Gisborne Combined Club (1st Wednesday): For active retirees looking for friendship. Kahutia Bowling Club, 165 Cobden St, 9.30am, $5, including morning tea. Register with Noelene (06)8684473 or Dianne (06)8674294.
U3A Gisborne (1st Thursday): Social interaction and learning for mature-aged folk. House of Breakthrough, cnr Lytton and Ormond Rds, 9.30am, $2 at the door. Diane 0274441073.
Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group (1st Friday): CCS, 7 Kahutia St, 10.30am–1pm, Moira 0274576923.
Prostate Support Group (2nd Tuesday): Cancer Society Rooms, 718 Gladstone Rd, 4.30pm. Inquiries 0210634515.
The Country Garden Club (2nd Tuesday): Waerenga-a-Hika Hall, 728 Matawai Rd, 7.30pm, $2. Katrine (06)8672427.
Gisborne Proactive Club (3rd Wednesday): Retired people’s interest group. Watson Room, Gisborne Cosmopolitan Club, 190 Derby St, 9.30am, $30/year sub and $5/meeting. Malcolm (06)8672591 or 0272402590.
Gisborne Camera Club (3rd Thursday): Senior Citizens Hall, 30 Grey St, 7.30pm. Details at gisbornecameraclub@gmail.com
Gisborne Sceptic Group (3rd Sunday): 11am. Details/venue (06)8673715 or (06)8677122.
Te Hapara Garden and Floral Art Club (4th Tuesday): Redstone Room, Farmers Air Event Centre, Showgrounds Park, 2pm.
First City Toastmasters (1st and 3rd Tuesday): Become a confident speaker and leader. Adult Literacy Rooms, 1st Floor, 100 Grey St, Gisborne, 6.15pm. Helen 0221945671.
To include your event, email details to whatson@gisborneherald.co.nz at least a week before the event.