What’s on in Wellington this week
There will be New Year’s Eve fun for all the family at Whairepo Lagoon on the waterfront.
Family Wana Ake Festival
Te Papa, 10am-6pm, daily
Create! Look! Explore! Celebrate summer at Te Papa with a dynamic festival of events, activities, exhibitions, and fun. Get up close with art, the world’s first Māori virtual-reality film, objects from the TVNZ 1 series National Treasures, clay makers, Māori and Pasifika art, skate culture, a garden in the sky, and more.
Take A Red Rocket To Space
Wellington Cable Car, daily, tickets $10.80 to $18.80
Experience the magic of the Cable Car as you blast off to Space Place on a red rocket from the heart of the city. Journey up through the hillside to the lookout perched high above the capital. Disembark at the Kelburn Terminal and take a short stroll through the Botanic Gardens to Space Place, where you can discover the beauty and greatness of the universe.
Zealandia By Day Tour
Zealandia Eco-Sanctuary, Waiapu Rd, Karori, 10am-noon
The tour will begin with an introduction to the exhibition and viewing of a short film that describes the significance of the sanctuary and its ground-breaking conservation work. After the film, venture out into the sanctuary to explore a variety of tracks and trails. You will be asked to complete a short biosecurity bag check before entering the venue. This is to prevent any predators, such as rats or mice, from entering the sanctuary with you.
Wellington Zoo
200 Daniell St, Newtown, 9.30am-5pm, tickets: adult $27, child $12, concessions
Wellington Zoo is open 364 days a year. Wander around the zoo or sign up for a close encounter, go behind the scenes or even attend a sleepover. wellingtonzoo.com
Events New Year’s Eve celebrations
Whairepo Lagoon, 8pm-12pm Whairepo Lagoon will be the place to be for New Year’s Eve, as everyone comes together to count down towards the start of 2021 with
live music, kai, entertainment and fireworks. The wha¯nau-friendly event includes an hour of charttopping favourites by Electric Avenue until the kids’ countdown at 9pm, then from 10pm Orchestra Wellington will entertain the crowd until midnight.
Exhibitions World of WearableArt – Up Close
Te Papa, tickets: adult $22.50 World of WearableArt – Up Close (Ao KākahuToi – Kia Tata) is a new exhibition featuring garments from World of WearableArt, the world’s most significant wearable art competition. It opened at the weekend and runs until February 14. Tickets from Ticketmaster.
Portraits Of Power/ Portraits As Power
The New Zealand Portrait Gallery, until March 2021
The gallery’s final exhibition of the year takes a look at how portraiture can be used to subvert society’s controlling power structures. It assembles 18 objects, from 2000-year-old coins of Alexander the Great, to large-scale paintings made only last year.
Chevron Hassett, Just Us
Enjoy Contemporary Art Space JustUs is a solo exhibition by Te-Upokoo-te-Ika artist Chevron Hassett. Drawing from his experiences growing up in Te Awakairangi/Lower Hutt, Hassett has developed a photographic installation that explores the lived realities and representation of Māori men in contemporary Aotearoa.
NZ Academy of Fine Arts
1 Queens Wharf, until January 25 The summer exhibition in the main gallery is showcasing works by members, with more than 200 selected works on show. There is something for everyone – paintings of all styles and genres, ceramics, sculptures, fabrics, and bronzes.
Star Gossage: He Tangata The People
New Zealand Portrait Gallery, until February 14
Star Gossage’s (Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Ruanui) paintings emerge from her wahine-centred world. Showing 20 years of her artistic practice, this complex and emotive exhibition illuminates her use of the portrait and figure in the landscape to communicate themes of unity, grief, compassion and aroha.
Whitireia Visual Art show
Te Auaha, until February 10
This exhibition pays homage to craft design and other visual arts practices, with a selection of active practitioners who have graduated from Whitireia’s arts programmes.
Events to include?
Email arts@dompost.co.nz with ‘‘ What’s On’’ in the subject line.