WINTER SPLASH
Dress up in theme - this year it's animals - and bravely take the plunge for the Mission Bay mid-winter swim.
There will be plenty of spot prizes, including best dressed, and a sausage sizzle thanks to the Orakei Local Board.
Tomorrow 12pm-3.30pm, Selwyn Reserve, 48-56 Tamaki Drive, Mission Bay. Registration is free and the swim takes place at 1.45pm
ALL LIT UP
The pairing of Matariki with Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori (Maori language week) is cause for celebration at Auckland Museum. This coming weekend the museum will light up orange and yellow for the Maori New Year, with orange referencing the sun and yellow the stars. During Te Wiki O Te Reo Maori the Museum celebrates "Generations of Reo", with each day representing a different generation, complete with performances, games and art sessions. Festivities will close with the annual Matariki Art Market and Kaporangi Kiriata Te Reo Maori Film Day - with jewellery, painting, carving, and wares for sale alongside screenings of Maori films.
Today from dusk, see the Auckland War Memorial Museum light up. July 10, The Kaporangi Kiriata Te Reo Maori Film Day from 11am-4pm in the museum's auditorium, and The Matariki Art Market, 10am-5pm in the atrium and galleries. All activities are free; see aucklandmusueum.com
PICK & MIX
Got any young movers and shakers in the family? Get them down to the New Zealand Dance Company's Tamaki Tour, where they can watch inspirational performances and join in a workshop. The shows are part of Auckland Live's Pick & Mix, with 27 free performances over 12 weeks in three Auckland locations - with each show followed by a free 45-minute workshop. Kids can learn the secrets of magic with comedy star Jarred Fell, clown around with White Face Crew, watch fairy tales come to life with Flaxworks, create music with Orchestra of Spheres and tell stories with Te Rehia Theatre.
Today and tomorrow, New Zealand Dance Company - Tamaki Tour. Today's performance is at 10.30am, workshop at 11.30am at Lower NZI, Aotea Centre. Tomorrow's performance is at 10.30am, Workshop: 11.30am, Bruce Mason Centre. For other events see aucklandlive.co.nz.
FINE FOOD
The aroma of coffee and cake floating over the ASB Showgrounds this weekend will herald the hospitality industry's biggest event of the year. Fine Food New Zealand will showcase the country's best offerings in food, drink and services, with a chance to make contacts with local and international buyers and vendors and view upcoming trends. Events include a baking competition and a Barista Smackdown to find the country's best purveyor of a flat white.
Tomorrow until June 28, 10am-5pm daily, ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane. Visit finefoodnz.co.nz, registration is free.
STARDOME GIVEAWAY
Explore the magic of space 365 days a year with an annual membership to Stardome Observatory & Planetarium. Weekend magazine have one family annual pass to give away. Go to winwiththeherald.co.nz and enter the keyword STARDOME to be in the draw. Competition closes 11:59pm, Wednesday, June 29. Terms and conditions apply, see website for details. The Starlight Explorer Family pass includes free entry to planetarium shows, telescope viewing, entry to school holiday sessions, invites to show previews and events and more.
NAVAL ANNIVERSARY
The navy's top brass (instruments, that is) will be performing in concert to mark the New Zealand Royal Navy's 75th anniversary. The Royal New Zealand Band will play a special concert as part of a programme of celebrations entitled Operation NEPTUNE. The name represents the greatest single loss ever sustained by the navy, when HMS NEPTUNE was sunk off the coast of Libya in a deep-sea minefield on December 19, 1941. More than 700 men died, including 150 New Zealanders. The concert will also premiere a new work by composer Anthony Ritchie.
June 28, 7.30pm, Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna. See ticketmaster.co.nz
THE ISLAND
Six young actors have drawn on their whakapapa to show an audience what it means to grow up in Aotearoa for Massive Nui Ensemble's new show The Island. The show explores the theme of isolation, both geographically and psychologically. There will be four performances before the crew take off to the National Theatre of Scotland's Exchange Festival.
June 28-July 1, Mangere Art Centre. See eventfinda.co.nz for details.
EXHIBITION
Contemporary Maori artists Areta Wilkinson and Te Rongo Kirkwood have created new works in response to the Auckland Museum's diverse collection. Korero Mai, Korero Atu features new kakahu (cloaks), jewellery and sculptural works, on display along with significant objects drawn from the Museum's taonga Maori, Botany and Applied Arts collections, including some of Aotearoa's finest kakahu cloaks on display for the first time.
June 30 - September 11, Special Exhibitions Hall, Auckland War Memorial Museum.
