What's on in Nelson Tasman - your entertainment guide
Nelson Fringe Festival: An eclectic array of local, national and international artists bring their talents to the festival, which started yesterday, with 48 shows over 10 days, including local, national and international acts, from comedy, to circus, to theatre. Each show is about an hour, which means keen festival-goers could attend three in an evening. With a threetiered price structure, tickets start at $16. Full lineup and ticket details at https:// nelsonfringe.co.nz/
Port Nelson Open Day: The port throws open its gates from 11am-4pm on Sunday, for the first time in seven years. Featuring interactive equipment and vessel displays, speaker sessions, historical exhibition, guided tours, kids activities, food and drink. Relay for Life: The Cancer Society fundraiser returns for the first time since 2018, with more than 50 teams walking around a 400-metre track at Richmond Park Showgrounds to help raise money for cancer research, celebrate survivors and remember those who have died. From 4pm, tomorrow until 8am on Sunday. Music, food and lashings of community spirit.
Muddy Buddy: Tasman School’s Muddy Buddy adventure fun run is back. Get ready to get muddy and raise funds for Tasman School, Sunday, registration 9.30am-11am, race starts 11.30am. Enter online $15 per person/ $40 per family, on the day $20 per person / $50 per family.
Multicultural Football Tournament:
See teams from Nelson’s diverse ethnic communities battle it out on the football fields at Neale Park, tomorrow.
Nelson Better Home and Living Show: Fresh, practical ideas to enhance your living spaces, your lifestyle and your wellbeing. Today till Sunday, from 10am at the Trafalgar Centre, tickets $5.
Nelson Yoga Festival: A weekend getaway of unlimited yoga, natural beauty, wellness and community. Access to multiple forms of yoga for all skill levels. Founders Park, tomorrow and Sunday, from 8.45am, $48.
Apirana Taylor: The internationally published Māori poet, storyteller, novelist, playwright, actor, musician, painter and performer will speak at the Motueka Library, Te Noninga Kumu, today from 6.30pm, suggested koha $10 for Motueka RDA. Tutus on Tour: The Royal NZ Ballet performs at Theatre Royal, today and tomorrow, including excerpts from Swan Lake.
Riverside Music Festival: A day of music, activities, stalls, and community connectedness at the Riverside Community, Lower Moutere, tomorrow, from 11am, adults $20, children $10.
Higgins Heritage Park: Open day with heritage cars, trucks, tractors and steam machinery, Sunday, 10am-3pm, adults $5. Gypsy Pickers: Celebrating St Patricks Day with the Gypsy Pickers at the Prince Albert Hotel, is a fine tradition. Join us for some good craic. Sunday, from 5pm.
Chia Sisters Olympic Tri/Multisport: Olympic distance triathlon, with duathlon and multisport options available. Long and short course options available. Rabbit Island, Sunday, check-in 8am. For details see www.nelsontriclub.co.nz Mountainbike rally: A week-long allinclusive enduro-format race, traversing the top of the south. Comprising worldclass trails in a pristine backcountry environment, sandwiched between three national parks. From three basecamp locations, 120 competitors will complete a circular itinerary out of Nelson, taking in both historic tracks and IMBA gold-level mountain bike trails. Until tomorrow. Genre Fluid: The duo of Wellingtonborn vocalist and performance artist, Silk Satin Suede, and Nelson’s own multiinstrumentalist and looping artist, Bosho will play at the Playhouse Theatre, Mapua, on March 28, at 8pm, tickets $25, and at the Boathouse, March 30, 7pm, tickets $25. Author talk: Constance Barnicoat was a pioneering journalist and mountaineer who deserves a place in history, says author Annabel Schuler, who will speak about her book Constance Barnicoat, a Cool Head and a Sharp Pen at Richmond library at 1pm on Tuesday, March 19.
Quiet Dog Gallery: James Robinson + Jane Tan’s exhibition, Majic Defends Itself, from March 16-April 13, opening today, 5.30pm. Motueka Orchid Show: At the Motueka Library Rooms, Wallace St, from 10am to 2.30pm, Sunday, March 24. Sales table, displays, information. $2 entry fee.
Doggy Day Out: Bring your canine companions for a swim or splash on Saturday, March 23, 9am to 10.30am at Nayland Pool. Gold coin donation entry (or more, if you can spare) for Second Chance Tasman to help dogs in need across the region. Golden Bay art exhibition: Painting, photography, jewellery, fibre art, with guest artist Elaine Robinson, Pakawau Memorial Hall, March 30 (Easter Saturday) 10am-3pm; Sunday, 10am-3pm, Monday 10am-1pm. Honest Lawyer 5k Fun Runand Walk Series: This popular 5km series is back for an eight-week run to Easter. Registration is from 5.15pm on Mondays, at The Honest Lawyer garden in Monaco, Nelson. Schedule: early runners and walkers (over 30min) 6pm start; runners (under 30 min) 6.15pm start; results and spot prizes 7.15pm. All proceeds to good causes in Nelson Tasman. Sharland Cycles 5k Fun Run and Walk Series: This series of 5km events for runners and walkers is organised by Waimea Harriers and based at Club Waimea in Richmond. Held on Wednesday evenings, it runs until March 27. Safety briefing is at 6pm at Club Waimea, followed by the walkers’ start and then runners 10 minutes later. $3 entry; free for schoolchildren.
Jazz on the Village Green: Pack your picnic basket, grab your blanket and comfy chairs. Whether you’re a seasoned jazz fan or simply looking for a relaxing afternoon, this promises something for everyone. Sundays until the end of March, 1pm to 3pm, at Founders Heritage Park, Nelson. Feasts on Fridays: Enjoy your favourite street food from Nelson Tasman at Kirby Lane, between 4.30pm and 8.30pm. This is a family-friendly event so everyone is welcome. Running until today.
Tākaka Open Mic Night: The Gypsy Pickers host and perform for the Open Mic Night at Roots Bar, Tākaka, Thursdays. This is a popular night with locals and travellers. Bring along your songs, instruments and dancing shoes for a fun and entertaining evening. Starts 8.30pm. No cover charge.
Animal Antics: A hilarious exhibition curated from the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards Collection. Immerse yourself in a world of mischievous monkeys, clumsy cats, and photo-bombing fish, captured in their most comical moments. Until May 5 at the Nelson Provincial Museum.
Te Hītori Aotūroa: Learning from Nature: A thought-provoking exhibition that delves into the world of birds, bones and bugs, showcasing natural history highlights from the Nelson Provincial Museum’s collection. Precious specimens on display range from majestic toroa (southern royal albatross) to the pūteketeke. Until May 5. Katoitoi – Response: Golden Bay/Mohua artists were asked to respond to an artist they have a strong preference for or are akin to and who has created a well-known work that represents or references Golden Bay/Mohua. Until April 30 at the Golden Bay Museum.
Inakord World Music Choir: Inakord, an “open access” community world music choir, was established more than 20 years ago to fulfil a desire in the Motueka area for people to gather and sing together regularly. No auditions are required – just a love of singing for fun and friendship. Mondays, 7pm. Cost: $4 a session. Disruptive Order: A showcase of abstraction from the Suter's permanent collection. The fourth in a series of exhibitions looking at different themes and approaches to abstraction. Until March 24, Suter Art Gallery. The Wairoa Bike Park: The Gorge, owned and operated by the Nelson Mountain Bike Club, is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Bookings are preferred. Motueka Sunday Market: Supporting local businesses for over 35 years. Fresh produce, small goods, artisan creations, arts and crafts. Every Sunday from 8am at the Decks Reserve car park, by the library. Visit: motuekasundaymarket.co.nz.
The Nelson Market: Grab your friends and family and head down to this local institution. Every Saturday at Montgomery Square, in the heart of Nelson city.
Nelson Farmers Market: Fresh, local and seasonal produce, food stalls and gourmet food items from all over the top of the south. Every Wednesday, 8am to 1.30pm, rain or shine. Halifax St beside the Elma Turner Library.
TākakaVillage Market: Every Saturday, 9am to 1.30pm, at the Tākaka Library car park.