Esther’s High Tea at the QT Hotel.
This Sunday celebrates Mother’s Day, and although she might tell you that she doesn’t want a fuss made and it’s the thought that counts, it doesn’t mean that delivering on a special day out won’t make her whole month.
To help you out, we’ve gathered some mother-figure-friendly events that may fit the bill, whether her penchant is for art, theatre, film or just a flute or two of champagne.
Caterpillar, the debut feature from award-winning New Zealand actor and film-maker Chelsie Preston Crayford, is a multi-generational drama about three women living under one roof as the delicate balance of their family begins to unravel.
Anchored in deeply recognisable family dynamics, the film promises emotionally charged storytelling amidst a richly textured early-2000s setting, making it quite possibly just perfect for a Mother’s Day outing.
Caterpillar will be released theatrically in New Zealand on May 14, but with the above in mind there are special Mother’s Day screenings taking place at selected cinemas across New Zealand. To find a cinema near you, head to www.madman.co.nz.
This coming Friday, May 15, thousands of New Zealanders will stand together to stop bullying and celebrate diversity for Pink Shirt Day 2026. Whether at school, work or home, it is time to Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora - Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying. This year’s official T-shirt features a joyful new design by Wellington-based artist Bonnie Brown of Studio Bon, which you can pick up from Cotton On stores across the motu, with 100% of net proceeds going to the Mental Health Foundation.
Helping to fund vital programmes for schools, workplaces and communities that lift mental wellbeing, being an upstander has never looked so good! Wear pink, spread kindness and help create an Aotearoa where everyone feels safe, valued and respected.
Opening this Thursday at Silo Hall, Julia Grogan’s Playfight is a fearless, funny, and unflinching portrait of girlhood that starts with a game and a dead possum … and ends with someone getting hurt.
Described by Phoebe Waller-Bridge as “a blinding, sucker-punch of a play”, Playfight explores what happens when no one teaches you to look after yourself, leaving you to figure it out with your friends, your instincts, and the internet, as 15-year-olds Keira, Zainab, and Lucy soon find out.
Directed by Brita McVeigh and hot on the heels of a smash-hit Edinburgh season, grab a ticket and rest assured that you’ll never glance sideways at a group of teenage girls the same way again.
Taking place at the New Zealand International Convention Centre all weekend, the Auckland Travel Show is New Zealand’s premium travel discovery and booking event, curated for experienced travellers seeking extraordinary destinations and a world-class event experience.
Now in its second year, the show brings together more than 40 leading global destinations, cruise lines, airlines and specialist operators under one roof - connecting those of us with wanderlust on our minds with trusted experts across immersive, experience-led travel. Dreaming of a hammock on a beach in Indonesia, mornings on the hills above Sri Lanka’s tea plantations or soaking in the northern lights as they shimmer over Iceland? This is the show for you.
Returning as part of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, British comedian and television star Stephen K Amos will be taking to the stage at Auckland’s Q Theatre tonight and tomorrow night with Now We’re Talking, his latest show.
Last in New Zealand in 2016, the United Kingdom household name and Bafta award-winning actor is a regular guest on TV shows like Live at The Apollo, QI and Have I Got News for You, and even survived the jungle as a contestant on I’m A Celebrity …Get Me Out of Here.
Promising feel-good comedy delivered via his innate ability to intimately connect with audiences, Now We’re Talking promises to be a very fun night out.
This Mother’s Day, Esther’s Mother’s Day Champagne High Tea at Auckland’s QT Hotel is where every mother figure will be celebrated accordingly. Under the eye of chef Sean Connelly, Esther’s High Tea is less about tradition, more about reinterpretation, and the Parisian-inspired dessert trolley will be piled high and accompanied by more than a touch of theatre.
A welcome glass of G.H. Mumm champagne will be waiting for her on arrival, before she is given the option of sipping on a selection of fine teas or to swapping out the pot for an upgrade to an afternoon of bottomless champagne. Because mums know that one glass is lovely, but a free-flowing situation? That’s how you say thank you properly.
For this weekend only, a series of normally private art studios across Auckland’s Upper Harbour will open their doors to the public, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at how their work is created.
Now in its second year, Open Art Studios Upper Harbour invites visitors inside tucked-away creative hubs and established studio environments, and for 2026 features no less than nine studios and 20 artists, offering visitors the chance to move between spaces and experience a diverse range of practices, materials and artistic approaches.
From sculptors and painters to illustrators, ceramic artists and photographers, each studio offers a distinct experience - with artists on hand to share their process, demonstrate techniques and offer original works for purchase. Entry is free and the studios will be open from 10am – 4pm and across both days.
Experience the timeless beauty of Handel’s mighty Messiah in a special joint concert by Pakūranga Choral and South Auckland Choral happening this Sunday afternoon at Howick Presbyterian Church.
Directed by acclaimed conductor David Hamilton with organist Michael Bell and sung by a collective of over 60 singers and soloists that includes Antonia Brightwell (soprano), Brittany Osborne (alto), Hamish Regan (tenor), and Blake Scanlen (bass), it promises an afternoon of unabashed musical splendour that mums and non-mums alike will love. Tickets are available now and at the door.
Email canvasplanner@nzherald.co.nz with brief details of your upcoming event, including dates/times, location and website.