Community News

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST NOW OPEN!

Are you interested in putting on an event for the Auckland Heritage Festival 2026, Tastes of Tāmaki: A Heritage Feast?

We are thrilled to announce that expressions of interest are now open! This year we are inviting you to join us for a celebration banquet of our region's rich, diverse, and delicious history. Think māra kai, mahinga kai, market gardens and orchards, restaurants, home cooking, wineries and pubs; Tastes of Tāmaki: A Heritage Feast explores how what we eat and drink has shaped our cultural identity.

We also welcome events celebrating our heritage which do not align with the theme. Follow the link in the comments to submit your application!

This year the festival will be held Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October, and the final day to submit your submission is Sunday the 24th of May.

Photo credit: ‘Learning is fun,’ Papatoetoe, 1979, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Footprints 00230 courtesy of Stuff Limited

Nominations are NOW open for the 2026 Tāmaki Makaurau Zero Waste Awards: https://www.ecomatters.org.nz/tamaki-makaurau-zero-waste-awards/

If you know an individual or organisation doing an incredible job reducing what goes to landfill, we want to hear about it!

You can nominate yourself, your whānau, your organisation or someone in your community who is making a real difference.

Awards brought to you by Auckland Council Waste Solutions and organised by EcoMatters Environment Trust. Nominations close 31 May 2026.

The Dust Palace is searching for people aged 65+ to audition for parts in an intergenerational theatre production - “The Two Islands”.

‍There are 6 speaking roles for seniors, plus several Chorus roles for those who prefer only to be on stage in costume. The 6 youth speaking roles and Chorus roles are going to the youth circus performers at The Dust Palace. Time commitment: 4 rehearsal days and 1 performance day.‍

Details are in the attached flyer. To get an audition (on 27-June), contact Geoff Allen 021-262-4907 or info@thedustpalace.co.nz.

Auckland Council launches essential guide to new life in Tāmaki Makaurau

Auckland Council is thrilled to announce the launch of its Welcome to Auckland web portal— a helpful and essential guide for anyone making Tāmaki Makaurau their new home. 

The portal aims to ease the transition for new residents by acting as a central hub for information, community services and civic participation, ensuring newcomers feel a sense of belonging from day one.  

The initiative is built on the Welcoming Communities framework – an international programme led in Aotearoa by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and is aligned with the Auckland Plan and the city’s strategic objectives for Thriving Communities.   

The Welcome to Auckland portal is not just a website; it's an invitation to engage. The resource was shaped by shared experiences of newcomers to Auckland as well as mana whenua and their perspectives on iwi roles in welcoming newcomers and making it a doorway to culture, values and an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Iwi and Hapū of Tāmaki Makaurau, as well as cultural events like Matariki. 

Alongside the digital platform, a practical orientation programme of workshops is being rolled out in partnership with community organisations across nine local boards. These workshops give new residents hands-on information on everything from public transport and accessing local services to participating in civic life. 

Nau mai, Haere mai ki Tāmaki Makaurau. Your journey to belonging starts here: Welcome to Auckland – a practical guide for newcomers.

We are in need of volunteers to help with all manner of roles in prep during the afternoons, and service in the evenings. If you're keen to support an awesome kaupapa with community-minded people and get fed while you do it, look no further.

We are able to do what we do for the community because of the community - the volunteers are the heart and soul of the place. Where there is need, there is a need for volunteering, and let me tell you: WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!

Have a look through our website for volunteering opportunities - you can sign up and volunteer as often or as little, as regularly or irregularly as suits, as long as you do come! Where else can you come be a part of a fold and eat something delicious that you know is making a difference for someone else who needs it!

Donate your pre-loved women's and men's clothing and gently loved handbags - every item helps fund free, compassionate palliative care.

Drop off - 107 Main Highway, Ellerslie

St Heliers Centre was founded on the principle of caring for our local community, so we're happy to share our excellent facilities with groups, individuals and families who are looking for a safe and welcoming space.

Tagalad, an Auckland Council facility which St Heliers Community Centre manages, is a perfect space to host a birthday party, family gathering, reunion, event or class/workshop. Book the Hall and Lawns will have access to the whole venue - great if you'd like separate spaces and access to the reserve, lawns for putting up a gazebo for outside seating or even bigger outdoor games.

Please note that there is a $250 SpaceProtect/Bond fee. This will be fully refunded to you if the space is left in a satisfactory condition.

Weekend event bookings minimum 3 hours

Hato Hone St John is offering a vital FREE one-hour education programme, Ngā Tohu Whakaora e Toru (3 Steps for Life), designed to give all New Zealanders the confidence to act when someone suffers an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

What You Will Learn

Calling 111: Knowing how to quickly connect with expert call handlers to send the right help.

Starting CPR: Learning the simple, vital steps of CPR.

Using an AED: Understanding how an AED works to deliver a shock and restore a natural heart rhythm.

By taking part, you are gaining the skills to step up in an emergency, helping us build stronger, healthier communities—one life saved at a time.

Cantemus is a very friendly community choir based in Newmarket, but with members from all over Auckland. We are an unauditioned SATB choir conducted by Stuart Weightman, singing a wide variety of choral secular and religious music from Bach to Beethoven and beyond. We practise on Monday evenings from 7.30-9.30 (supper included), at St Luke's Church in Newmarket/Remuera.

We sing a variety of choral pieces, from Bach to Beethoven and beyond. Rehearsals for 2026 start 9th February. For more information, please email abronwen13@gmail.com