Reggae band House of Shem will play at Summer Frequencies in Gisborne. Photo / Stuart Whitaker
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Summer Frequencies
The Summer Frequencies music festival is on at the Gisborne Soundshell from 3pm to 11pm on two days. Featured artists are from a range of genres, including reggae, hip-hop and R&B. Artists include Kiwi reggae artists House of Shem, pop and R&B singer Aaradhna, American reggae star Spawnbreezie, Australian artist Sammy Johnson and many others. It is a licensed event for those over 18. Tickets are available from Ticketspace.
FRIDAY
Uprising
The Rabbits, Pray for Summer, Jed Skuse, and Ethan Hannah will play at Smash Palace. 8pm-11pm. Door sales $15.
The Endless Summer, Spotlight Screening
The classic 1966 surf movie directed by Bruce Brown is on at Dome Cinema and Bar. The bar and pizza are available from 5pm. The movie starts at 7pm. Bookings are essential. Text the Dome Cinema with names, the date, the movie and the number attending to 027 590 2117.
Live music at The Rivers
From 6pm-8pm at The Rivers, Gisborne. You can get a bite to eat and enjoy music from Peter Shaw. The Rivers’ phone number is 06 8633733.
SATURDAY
Rise & Shine at Tatapouri Bay
Start your weekend by the ocean with gentle yoga, fresh air and positive vibes. 7am-8am, Tatapouri Bay, 516 Whangara Rd, Makorori.
Gisborne Rodeo
The rodeo is on 87 Birrell St, Elgin, from 8am to noon. Local barrel racing finals will feature among rodeo favourites. Tickets are at the gate.
East Coast Museum of Technology
Open from 10am–4pm. The East Coast Museum of Technology is at 67 Main Rd, Makaraka, Gisborne. You pay cash or use Eftpos to enter at the door.
Mystic Muses
Celtic music is in focus at Smash Palace from 7pm-9pm. The Mystic Muses are Melissa Cox and Celia Farran, who play originals, sea shanties and traditional songs. If you’re a fan of artists like Enya, this night is for you.
Social programme at the 2026 National Surfing Championships
The pōwhiri/welcome at Midway Hub will take place from 4pm. Free drinks and pizza thanks to Neighbourhood Pizzeria and Sunshine Brewery. It will cover the event format, judging, and schedule of events, as well as provide an opportunity to connect and mingle. All surfers, whānau and community welcome.
SUNDAY
The Golden Spurtle
Dome Cinema and Bar is screening a film featuring passionate porridge makers at work in Carrbridge, Scotland, at the World Porridge Making Championships. The bar and pizza are available from 5pm. The movie starts at 7pm. Bookings are essential. Text the Dome Cinema with names, the date, the movie and the number attending to 027 590 2117.
The Big Blues Birthday Build Up
The Poverty Bay Blues Club presents The Big Blues Birthday Build Up from 4pm–9pm at Smash Palace, $10 on the door, PBBC members are free.
Rise & Shine at Tatapouri Bay
Start your weekend by the ocean with gentle yoga, fresh air and positive vibes. 7am-8am, Tatapouri Bay, 516 Whangara Rd, Makorori.
Social programme at the 2026 National Surfing Championships
From 6pm at Neighbourhood Pizzeria. Live bands and mingling. Relaxed vibes, good food, live music and a chance to connect with surfers, friends and the local community.
2026 National Surfing Championships social event programme
Monday, January 12 – GBC Open Learn to Surf Day, 9am-noon. Always wanted to try surfing, or still new? This one’s for you. Discounted Give It a Go session, $10.
Tuesday and Thursday, January 13 and 15 – Movie nights at Dome Cinema. Bar opens 5pm, movies start 7pm – Tuesday is Cold Water Surf Movie Night, with showings of Creatures of Habit and The Search for Volcano Island. Thursday will be a showing of Point of Change. Both nights include a screening of Gisborne Boardriders Club History by Damon Meade.
Wednesday, January 14 – Skate Expressions at Gisborne skatepark. Registration 4pm, Expression Session 5pm–7pm. Open to all ages and genders. Epic prizes and free barbecue.
Thursday, January 15 – Club night, Neighbourhood Cantina. 6pm. DJ vibes, bringing all boardriders clubs together to connect, share stories and celebrate surf culture.
Friday, January 16 – Coast Kids Surf Day, 10am–2pm. Inviting all coast kids in town to watch NZ’s best open surfers, learn about judging, get in the water themselves and finish with a barbecue.
Friday, January 16 – Ambrose golf tournament, 3pm. Teams of four, $100 per team. Spot prizes. The winning team scores a Neighbourhood Pizzeria voucher. Poverty Bay Golf Club.
Saturday, January 17 – Afterparty at Smash Palace, from 6pm until closing. Live music: Butlers, Flaxxies and Johnny, $40, limited tickets at Flicket.
Registrations and tickets for events are available through the club’s website or socials.
MONDAYS
The 500 Card Club: Poverty Bay Bowling Club, 111 Ormond Rd, 1pm-4pm, $3. Ph Tony (06) 8633468.
Fun Dancing Gisborne: Modern sequence and social ballroom. St Andrew’s Church hall, 176 Cobden St, 7.30pm-9.30pm, $7. Contact Kev or Isabel (06) 8670074 or 021 1812414.
Gisborne Choral Society: New choir members welcome at the society’s regular practice. St Andrew’s church from 7pm.
Gisborne Orchestra rehearsals: Gisborne Intermediate School, 7.30pm-9pm. New players welcome. Contact Jill 021 756364 or email gisborneorchestra@gmail.com.
Badminton Social Morning Club – Recommences January 12 - Monday mornings weekly from 9am to 11am. Cost $5 a session. For more information, call Leslie on 0274 156 872.
Badminton Summer Club - Adults and junior players, Year 11 plus. Recommences January 12. Mondays from 7pm to 9pm, new players are welcome. Cost – sub - $120/$100 or $10/$8 casual fee. Contact: Geoff on 0276568222.
City of Gisborne Highland Pipe Band: Learn to play the pipes or drums. Learners and experienced players welcome. Learners start at 6.30pm, seniors 7.30pm-8.30pm. The Bandroom, 200 Childers Rd. For further information, ph/text 0274 874480. Every Monday except public holidays.
TUESDAYS
Sun City Spinners: Poverty Bay Bowling Club, 111 Ormond Rd, 9am-11.30am, fees apply. Contact Dale (06) 8675083 or email eastland@creativefibre.org.nz.
Gisborne Line Dancing: Senior Citizens Hall, 30 Grey St, 4.30pm-7.30pm. Contact Kerry 021 1024890.
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: 6pm-9pm, Badminton Centre, 134 Roebuck Rd. Contact Alfred 0273 072318.
WEDNESDAYS
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. Contact 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
Gisborne Line Dancing: Senior Citizens Hall, 30 Grey St, 6pm-8pm. Contact Kerry 021 1024890.
Gisborne Caledonian Society Practice: Social, modern and sequence dancing. Holy Trinity Church Hall, 70 Derby St, 7.30pm-9.30pm, $5. Contact Pat 021 0497148.
FRIDAYS
Friday Stairs Workout: Meet at the lower carpark, Titirangi/Kaiti Hill, 5.55am, workout 6am-6.40am.
Bowls, burgers & bevvies at Poverty Bay Bowling Club: Keen to give bowls a go? Get along to Poverty Bay Bowling Club for an evening of social bowls, music and burgers. 5pm-7pm. 111 Ormond Rd.
SATURDAYS
Gisborne Farmers’ Market: A variety of fresh and prepared goods from local farmers and growers. Corner Stout St and Fitzherbert St, 9.30am-12.30pm.
Gisborne Parkrun: Waikanae Surf Life Saving Club, beach end of Grey St, 7.45am-10am. Register at parkrun.co.nz/gisborne/
Pilates with Tilly: Tone, sculpt and flow. Saturdays and Sundays, 8am-9am. The Space, Yoga Coast Plus, 46 Makorori Beach Rd. Ph 0273 311032 to book.
Tairāwhiti Coffin Club: BCR Joinery, 522 Gladstone Rd, 9am-10am. Details at tairawhiticc@gmail.com
Tennis for all: Ormond Tennis Club, Hill Rd, Ormond, 2pm-4pm. For more information ph (06) 8625741 or (06) 8625856.
SUNDAYS
Gisborne Walkers Club: 8am, meet at Mitre 10, 24 Derby St. Text 0278 902224 for more info.
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 021 02967107.
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 Siduri 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. Contact Margaret (06) 8630144.
Tairāwhiti Menzshed (Tues, Thurs and Sat): Corner Parkinson and Innes Sts, Sat 9am-3pm, Tues and Thurs 9am–2pm. Details phone/text 022 4650396.
Tairāwhiti Aviation Museum (Tues and Sun): Gisborne Airport, Aerodrome Rd, 9am–3pm, $5 adults, Under-12s free.
FORTNIGHTLY
Gisborne Country Music Club (1st and 3rd Sundays): Senior Citizens Hall, 30 Grey St, 1pm-4pm, $5 visitors, $3 members, $1 children. Contact Flo (06) 8677637, 0274 946979 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. Contact Bill 0274 507719 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, 2pm-3pm.
Irish Music Session (1st Sunday): The Rivers restaurant, 4pm-6pm. Contact Marty 021 0557685.
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. Contact Chris 0274 602430.
Gisborne Friendship Group – formerly Gisborne Combined Club (1st Wednesday): For active retirees looking for friendship. Kahutia Bowling Club, 165 Cobden St, 9.30am, $5, includes 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 Rd and Ormond Rd, 9.30am, $2 at the door. Contact Diane 0274 441073.
Prostate Support Group (2nd Tuesday): Cancer Society Rooms, 718 Gladstone Rd, 4.30pm. Inquiries to 021 0634515.
The Country Garden Club (2nd Tuesday): Waerenga-a-Hika Hall, 728 Matawai Rd, 7.30pm, $2. Contact 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. Contact Malcolm (06) 8672591 or 0272 402590.
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 Hāpara 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. Contact Helen 022 1945671.
To include your event, email details to whatson@gisborneherald.co.nz at least a week before the event.