What's on this weekend

Take part in the the Manu Aute kite day. Photo / Thinkstock

Handpicked, the best activities for your weekend agenda.

Drag yourselves away from the Commonwealth Games on telly to join the final weekend of Matariki gives us plenty of midwinter celebrations:

1. Fly a Kite

The Manu Aute kite day was one of the early centrepieces of Matariki. Flying kites give the new year a good start, a tradition that dates from the ancient navigators welcoming the Matariki stars with their kites. Make up your own kite (there'll be workshops) then enjoy the glorious wind and views at the top of Orakei Domain. Plenty of kai, entertainment, performances and craft stalls. Saturday, 10 - 4pm, Takaparawha Reserve, Orakei Marae, Kitemoana St, Orakei. matarikifestival.org.nz

2. To market to market

Special Matariki markets on the Waterfront at Silo Park and the Auckland Museum showcase the best of Maori art, design, performance and music. Saturday's Silo Park has the best of design and crafts, while Sunday is family day with music and food, including the Modern Maori Quartet.

Auckland Museum, Sunday 10 - 4pm aucklandmuseum.com Silo Park, Saturday and Sunday, 12 - 6pm matarikifestival.co.nz

3. Quirky collectors

Revert to your childhood and introduce your small sorts to non-screen toys at the Collectors' Toy and Model show at Mt Eden. Curse that you didn't keep your treasures in box-perfect condition, buy up nostalgia-feeding comic books, annuals and posters. Or if you're still stuck in a glorious time-warp, revel in the Victoriana-meets-engineering creations of the AetherCon Steampunk Convention. Make, talk, buy.

Steampunk, Saturday 10 - 6, Ellerslie Events Centre. Collectors, Mt Eden Hall, Sunday 10 - 1pm.

4. Stories on Stage

Q Theatre is showcasing Robyn Malcolm in The Good Soul of Szechuan Bertolt Brecht's 'tart with a heart' musical theatre. Or be prepared to pull out the hankies at Devonport's Navy Museum with Sister Anzac, the story of the first nurses at Gallipoli
Szechuan until August 17. Book at qtheatre.co.nz Sister Anzac until August 2 navymuseum.co.nz then at Maritime Museum August 6 - 10 maritimemuseum.co.nz

5. More duffels

You'll be really annoyed that you didn't make the effort to get to the beauts at the International Film Festival this weekend, including New Zealand's Best, the six finalists of the short films vying for the $5000 jury prize (Saturday, Monday) , Susy Pointon's candid portrait of a Hokianga community Tumanako/Hope (Sat, Sun, Tuesday) or Australian Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil in Charlie's Country (Saturday, Thursday, Friday). See Peter Calder's interview with director Rolf de Heer in Saturday's Weekend Life.

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