3 Apr 2015

What's on this Easter weekend?

7:35 am on 3 April 2015

With fine weather forecast, there's no excuse to be sitting on the couch eating hot cross buns and Easter eggs all weekend. Check out what's on.

Waiheke Island

Waiheke Island Photo: 123rf

AUCKLAND

FRIDAY

The Streets Easter Show

A family event of live entertainment, circus acts, rides, exhibits and an A&P show that has been running for more than 160 years. You will be able to feed lambs, watch some fireworks, jump on the ice-skating rink or see if you've got what it takes to survive a zombie apocalypse.

ASB Showgrounds, 217 Greenlane West, Epsom, Thursday to Monday - 10am to 10pm. Free admission.

Waiheke Jazz Festival 2015

Two days of jazz at various venues around Waiheke Island. Catch the ferry from downtown Auckland to Matiatia Wharf to see artists including Tiny Ruins, The Bads, Jamie McDell, Hipstamatics and Batucada Sound Machine.

Various Venues on Waiheke Island. Tickets from $49 per day from the Waiheke Jazz Festival Website.

Settlers' First Easter

Pukekohe East Church

Pukekohe East Church Photo: SUPPLED

For the history lover, Pukekohe East Church is opening its doors to showcase how early Pukekohe settlers would have spent their first Easter after arriving on one of 13 ships from UK, Ireland, Scotland and South Africa in 1864 and 1865.

Pukekohe East Church, 95 Runciman Rd, Auckland, 10am - 4pm. Free admission.

Giant Easter Egg Hunt in the Amazing Maze

The Easter bunny will be hiding 30,000 eggs throughout the Amazing Maze 'n Maize cornfield Maze, and it will be your mission to seek out the bunny, collect some eggs and find your way out of the eight kilometres of paths in the maze.

Amazing Maze 'n Maize, 833 Kingseat Rd, Auckland. From Friday to Monday between 11am and 2pm. Tickets from $10.00 can be purchased through Eventfinda.

Good Friday Concert

St Matthew-in-the-City will present the work of Membra Jesu Nostri by Dietrich Buxtehude. Dating from 1680, the piece, translated as The Limbs of Our Jesus, depicts in seven movements the different parts of Chris's crucified body. St Matthew's Voices will be accompanied by an instrumental consort including the Donald Barriball Memorial Chamber Organ.

Concert at St Matthew-in-the-City, 187 Federal St, Auckland CBD at 5pm. A $10 koha is requested.

Easter egg hunt

Easter egg hunt Photo: 123rf

SATURDAY

Eggcellent DIY Easter Fun

Get the family together and head down to Bunnings for the Easter Family Fun Day, which will include DIY workshops for children and adults, a colouring competition and an Easter Egg hunt as well as free entertainment, a bouncy castle and face painting sessions.

Various Bunnings Warehouse locations around Auckland. From 10am. Free admission.

Cadbury Eggstravaganza

Another family event where the young at heart can have a go in the giant inflatable Easter Maze, have their faces painted, meet the Cadbury Easter Bunny and visit the Canda Carnival area with a spinning wheel and Eskimo toss.

Okahu Bay, Okahu Bay, Orakei, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Entrance is free with gold coin donations for Make A Wish.

Ponsonby Laughter Club

If you feel like a bit of a giggle this Easter weekend, head down to the laughter club for laughter exercises, deep breathing, gentle stretches and relaxation.

Youthline House, 13 Maidstone St, Grey Lynn. Regular sessions every Saturday. Koha.

SUNDAY

Easter Spiritual Gathering and Satsanga

If you're feeling a bit spiritual this weekend, head along to Santsanga, which means "to share in the highest spiritual truths with those of like mind". There you can join in on some singing, meditation and hear an Easter message.

Balanced Living Centre, 81a Pleasant Road, Auckland, 10am. Free admission, but book ahead.

Couple doing yoga

Photo: 123rf

WELLINGTON

FRIDAY

Miserere - Music For Holy Week

In the Tudor Consort's Miserere - Music for Holy Week, music director Michael Stewart will reveal the twists and turns of Allegri's beloved work, and the choir will perform two complete versions, the famous mistake, and an authentic recreation of the Sistine Chapel experience.

Cathedral of St Paul, 45 Molesworth St, Thorndon, Wellington , Friday 3 April 2015 7 - 9 pm. General Admission is $25, concession $20.

High tea

High tea Photo: 123rf

Easter High Tea

If you haven't yet had enough chocolate this weekend, an Easter-themed high tea of hot cross buns, Cadbury Creme Eggs and macaroons could be for you.

James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor, 147 The Terrace. Thursday 2 April 2015 - Monday 6 April 2015 11:30am - 3:30pm. Book ahead.

Easter Fiesta

More family fun - a craft market, food stalls, rides, vintage machinery, face painting, petting zoo, lots of entertainment and much more. All proceeds will go to the Wellington Free Ambulance.

Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club, 11 Logan St, Upper Hutt, 10am - 4pm. Free admission.

How to Universe

Circus performance How to Universe, which premiered last year and sold out at the Wellington Fringe Festival, is back. This highly-skilled circus theatre show invites the audience on a journey into space through the world of modern circus. The performance includes aerial silk, juggling clubs, a living lamp and a transforming couch.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Wellington Circus Hub, Hutchison St, Newtown, 8pm. $15 tickets and koha.

SATURDAY

Easter Egg Hunt

Head along to Wellington start-up The Wellington Chocolate Factory to learn how staff make chocolate, take a tour and be let loose to hunt for eggs.

Wellington Chocolate Factory, 5 Eva St, Te Aro. Saturday 10:15am and Sunday 5 April 2015 10:15am. $5 admission. Easter egg hunt for children between 4 and 8 years old. Call ahead to book as places are limited.

Chocolate

Photo: 123rf

Make an Easter Basket

By now, you would have collected a fair few number of Easter eggs. Here's your chance to make a basket to store them in.

National Library of New Zealand, 70 Molesworth Street, Thorndon. 11:00am-12:00pm

SUNDAY

Easter Fun Pace Egging

At the Botanic Gardens, you'll be able to decorate a boiled egg, participate in egg rolling and chuck around some raw eggs in an egg throwing competition.

Top of cable car at the Botanic Gardens, Glenmore St, Wellington, 2pm - 4pm. Free admission.

Hop to the Colonial Cottage this Easter

Curious as to how early Wellington settlers celebrated Easter? Head to the Colonial Cottage for an easter egg hunt and have a history lesson on Easters of times gone by.

Colonial Cottage Museum, 68 Nairn St, Te Aro, 10-11am. Book ahead with the Museum of Wellington City and Sea.

Lyttelton Harbour

Lyttelton Harbour Photo: 123rf

CANTERBURY

FRIDAY

Rabbits Missing Easter Eggs

Hop into Tothill's Maze, solve the puzzle of missing eggs and get lost in the corn maze in an Easter egg hunt.

Tothill's Mazes, 493 Shands Road, Hornby, Christchurch City, from Friday to Monday, 10am - 5pm.

Easter Egg Hunt

Catch a ferry from Lyttleton to Quail Island for an adventure day to search the island for coloured tokens and exchange them for Easter Eggs. On your journey, you might also discover ship wrecks, native birds, volcanic cliffs and caves.

Quail Island, Quail Island, Banks Peninsula, 10.30am - 1pm. Bookings are essential - Call to Book 0800 436 574. 15 minutes by ferry from Lyttleton.

SATURDAY

Lincoln Easter Market

Check out some live music, stalls selling artisan fare and hand-crafted gifts.

The Village Green, Gerald Street, Lincoln. 10am - 1pm.

Sacred Art Workshop

Spend three days in contemplation creating a byzantium sacred icon. You will learn the skills of water gilding, gold burnishing, how to work with egg tempera and colour pigments.

Avice Hill Art & Craft Centre, 395 Memorial Ave, Christchurch City. Sun 5 Apr 2015-Tue 7 Apr 2015, 10:00am-4:00pm. r16. $390 p/p (incl gst, lunch & materials)