Air and earth
Matariki is kite time, so find your favourite, get in touch with your inner child (go early for traditional kite making workshops on) at Monte Cecilia Park in Hillsborough. The new year festival is also about new beginnings, including planting, so join a tree dig too - or there are others in Highland Park and by the Whau River in Avondale. Better than your usual gardening, as there'll be musicians, good kai (some have hangi), arts and crafts, poetry and more. Good winter tradition.
Saturday, 10am-4pm. Monte Cecilia Park, Hillsborough; 10am-12pm, Cascade Walkway Reserve, Highland Park; 1-5pm, Browns Bay Village Green. Sunday, 1.30-4pm, Tony Segedin Reserve, Avondale. Free. matarikifestival.org.nz
Light and art
Maori artists are on show around the region - Peata Larkin paintings at Corban Estate; there are group exhibitions at Estuary Art, Orewa, Northart, Northcote, Papakura Art Gallery and NZ Steel Gallery, Pukekohe; Martin Awa Clarke Langdon examines past as present at Pah Homestead, while fibre and clay artists show their work at Nathan Homestead. matarikifestival.org.nz
