“What began as a pop-up has grown into a much-loved local space for original art, ceramics, photography, jewellery and textiles, thanks to the support of our community.”

With an eclectic array of art forms the Gallery is well worth a visit and adds well to the reputation of the Kāpiti Coast as the arts capital of the region.

Our very own Grand Master

At the 2026 NZIPP Iris Awards, Kāpiti-based photographer Karolina Stus was awarded the Grand Master of Photography distinction, the highest honour within the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography.

The award marks ten years since her first entry into the awards and makes her the only NZIPP Grand Master of Photography in the Kāpiti region.

Karolina was also named 2026 New Zealand Professional Creative Photographer of the Year for the third consecutive year. Over the past decade her practice has grown beyond traditional photography into mixed media, incorporating cold wax, stitching and plaster, with physical materials becoming central to the work rather than just a means of presenting an image — a shift reflected in this year’s award-winning pieces, which blur the lines between photography, painting, textile and object.

Karolina says the focus of her work has stayed constant throughout: storytelling rooted in memory, place, emotion, belonging and resilience, leaving space for viewers to find their own meaning within it.

Her creative language now also includes wood and, more recently, ceramics, treated as extensions of the same exploration rather than separate pursuits.

Karolina will feature as a headline artist for the 2026 Kāpiti Art Trail, opening her studio over Labour Weekend and the first weekend of November to showcase her mixed-media photography, wood work and early ceramic pieces together. Reflecting on the past decade, she says she set out to become a better photographer but instead discovered the artist within herself — one she believes is only just getting started.

The exhibition, titled Love to Stitch, is a testament to the patience and skill required to make such fine art.

More information is available at www.embroiderynz.co.nz

The Kāpiti Embroiderers’ Guild meets at the Waikanae Arts & Crafts Rooms, 27a Elizabeth St, Waikanae on the third Friday each month from 9.30am to 12 noon.

The Guild also have a Stitch Day on the first Friday at the same time and venue. The second Friday is the Cafe Stitch at the Olive Grove Cafe, Mahara Place Waikanae 9.30 – 12noon.

Email: kapitiembguild@gmail.com

The launch takes place on September 5 in the Paekākāriki Railway Station tearooms at 2pm. David has launched a number of books from the venue with his mate Michael O’Leary.

“This memoir is really an autobiography as it covers my life up to now,” says David.

“It is really satisfying, and a little daunting, to get it all between 242 pages. The front and back cover illustrations are by Tom Scott.”

David says the book is a reflection of both his Scottish and Irish character and he says it was important that the book be entertaining.

“There are quite a few blunders in there which readers will enjoy.” David mentions the time he was interviewing celebrated actress Sian Phillips in the UK for the TV Times and during a break was talking with her husband, actor Peter O’Toole, when a whisky-fueled chat about rugby ended as one might expect with Peter O’Toole….

Born in Auckland, educated in the Bay of Plenty and at a Christchurch seminary, he trained as a teacher and did a BA at Victoria University of Wellington. He worked as a feature writer for The Listener, Sydney’s The Bulletin, London’s TVTimes, wrote columns for the Evening Post in Wellington and edited a local lifestyle magazine before becoming a full-time writer in 1984.

A teacher, journalist, world traveller and author, David says Paekākāriki is home again.

Entry is free and the gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 4pm.

For more than fifty years, Brent Wong has been one of New Zealand’s most distinctive and enduring artists. This selection of paintings, drawn from the artist’s private trust, covers the period 1970 to 1991.

Wong’s work is instantly recognisable: isolated structures stranded among luminous hills; unlikely objects hovering in intensely blue skies; sharp light, long shadows and an eerie stillness that invites reverie. His imagery and ability to manipulate scale, space and mood have much in common with surrealism.

These paintings are like dreams, moments of concentrated focus when everything both near and far can be seen with brilliant clarity. Space and time seem to have altered and both dimensions stretch into infinity. Time passing is implied, but often very slowly, through the movement of a giant snail, the languid drift of jellyfish and balloons in the sky and the suspended smoke from an erupting volcano. Conditions of weight and solidity are upended: rocks float and concrete structures mass like cumulus clouds.

A recurrent theme shows the relics of human habitation abandoned in their unpeopled surroundings. Another is the relationship between light and darkness embodied in sky and land forms. Wong’s treatment of light is a key factor in the effect of his paintings. Their pervading luminosity seems symbolic and to suggest the possibility of immanent revelation, although meaning remains opaque.

Painting has been a form of meditation for Wong, the slow application of layers of acrylic often taking months, even years. It has been a means of working through stress and of externalising states of isolation, anxiety, tranquillity and transcendence.

The gallery has extended warm thanks to Brent Wong and James Blackie for enabling the loan of these paintings to Toi MAHARA.

Set in 1975, the film follows 19-year-old Bourdain as he arrives in Provincetown for a summer job in a restaurant kitchen. He is directionless, frustrated and carrying plenty of attitude, but gradually discovers that the chaos and camaraderie of a professional kitchen may offer him the purpose he has been missing.

Dominic Sessa gives an impressive performance as Bourdain. Rather than portraying him as a ready-made celebrity, Sessa presents a young man who is often selfish, insecure and difficult, but also intelligent, curious and hungry for experience. That makes the character considerably more believable.

Director Matt Johnson wisely avoids trying to squeeze Bourdain’s entire life into two hours. Instead, Tony concentrates on one formative summer and the people who influence him. The restaurant scenes have an energetic, almost documentary-like quality, while the quieter moments allow the audience to see the person behind the future public persona.

Rating: ★★★★☆

See Shoreline Cinema for booking times: https://shorelinecinema.co.nz/movies/829/

With over 5,300 high-school students and their caregivers already registered to attend, including many students from the Kāpiti Coast, the university says it will be a day to remember.

Iconic Wellington landmarks will be lit up green to mark the occasion, contributing to a city-wide celebration. From the moment visitors exit the train station and head to the bus stop outside our Pipitea campus, they will see Wellington through green-tinted glasses.

The event offers prospective students a chance to attend sample lectures, explore the University’s campuses, and get a feel for life as a student in the capital. They will have the chance to ask big questions of the University’s in-house philosophers, use some giant rollers to create a printed design, play some student-created video games, and even sample some ice cream made with liquid nitrogen.
Local retail, hospitality, and tourism businesses are also getting involved, offering discounts and giveaways to visitors through our funky festival wristband.
Vice-Chancellor Bryony James says that while attracting prospective students to Open Day is a key focus, the event is as much about showcasing the city vibe as our three fantastic campuses.
“What an incredible city to be a student in. You’re right in the beating heart of the creative, political, legal, corporate and scientific ecosystem of the country.
“The best thing about Open Day is watching the spark ignite someone’s sense that they might just have found their place in the world.”
The event is part of the University’s ongoing efforts to attract and engage prospective students while supporting the Wellington scene. Open Day 2026 is expected to be one of the largest gatherings of future students in recent years.

Registrations are open now. https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/open-day

There are free buses throughout the day between campuses:
 Kelburn campus, Kelburn parade, Kelburn
 Pipitea campus, Bunny Street, Pipitea
 Te Aro campus, Vivian Street, Te Aro

“We endeavour to break down barriers between candidates and voters by providing an opportunity for candidates to voice their message on why they should be elected as an electorate MP (for their electorate).

“Voters then have a more informed chance (either in person or online from the comfort of their own home) to decide where they should put their electorate vote for this coming election,” says Somers.

The Kāpiti electorate show will be held at the Kāpiti Impact Hub, 6 Tongariro Street, Paraparaumu on Monday 19th October. Doors open at 6:30pm – Broadcast Time from 7pm to 9pm.

Somers and Nick Hollander, Candidate Liaison will kick the series off with the show in Palmerston North.

The schedule:

Palmerston North Electorate

Venue: Square Edge Community Arts Evelyn, Rawlins Room, on Level 1(Same place as 2020, 2023 and Local Bodies 2025)

Date: Saturday 10th October 2026

Time: Doors open at 6.30pm – Broadcast Time from 7pm to 9pm

Wellington North Electorate

Venue: Khandallah Town Hall; Cornerstone Community Centre in the main hall (Same place for the Ōhāriu in 2020, 2023 and Wellington Mayoralty in 2022 and 2025)

Date: Sunday 11th October 2026

Time: Doors open at 6:30pm – Broadcast Time from 7pm to 9pm

Rangitīkei Electorate

Venue: Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō (Levin Community Centre) (Same place for the Horowhenua Mayoral Race in 2025)

Date: Monday 12th October 2026

Time: Doors open at 3:30pm – Broadcast Time from 4pm to 6pm

Wellington Bay Electorate

Venue: Te Whare Hapori o Ngā Puna Waiora, Newtown Community Centre (Same place for the Rongotai Shows in 2020 and 2023)

Date: Wednesday 14th October 2026

Time: Doors open at 6:30pm – Broadcast Time from 7pm to 9pm

Wairarapa Electorate

Venue: Eketahuna Community Centre, 4 Haswell Street, Eketāhuna

Date: Friday 16th October 2026

Time: Doors open at 6:30pm – Broadcast Time from 7pm to 9pm

Kenepuru Electorate

Venue: Linden Community Centre, Tawa

Date: Saturday 17th October 2026

Time: Doors open at 6:30pm – Broadcast Time from 7pm to 9pm

Remutaka Electorate

Venue: Epuni Community Hall, 40 Mitchell Street, Epuni, Lower Hutt (Same Venue we filmed Central Ward, Hutt City Council, 2022 and 2025)

Date: Sunday 18th October 2026

Time: Doors open at 3:30pm – Broadcast Time from 4pm to 6pm

Hutt South Electorate

Venue: Epuni Community Hall, 40 Mitchell Street, Epuni, Lower Hutt

Date: Sunday 18th October 2026

Time: Doors open at 6:30pm – Broadcast Time from 7pm to 9pm

Kāpiti Electorate

Kāpiti Impact Hub, 6 Tongariro Street, Paraparaumu (Same place we did our 2023 Mana Electorate General election Show and Kāpiti Coast Mayoral Race in 2022 and 2025 Local Bodies)

Date: Monday 19th October 2026

Time: Doors open at 6:30pm – Broadcast Time from 7pm to 9pm

All candidates standing in the aforementioned electorates are welcome to appear in their electorates’ show, and can register their participation at www.itsintheballot.nz

Voters wanting to put questions to the candidates standing, can also do that at www.itsintheballot.nz  or ring toll free on 0508 Ballot

Candidates who have already confirmed their attendance:

Palmerston North

● Netra Ghimire – Opportunity

● Helma Vermeulen – NZFirst

Wellington North

● Jessica Hammond – Opportunity

● Matthew Hague – ACT

Rangitīkei

● Steve Gibson – NZFirst

● Bernard Long – Green Party of Aotearoa NZ

Wellington Bays

● Julie-Anne Genter – Green Party of Aotearoa NZ

Kenepuru

● Matthew Evetts – National

● Lan Pham – Green Party of Aotearoa NZ

Hutt South

● Ben Wylie-van Eerd – Opportunity

Kāpiti

● Sophie Handford – Labour

● Penny Gaylor – NZFirst

Full list will be updated as candidates confirm their participation.

Most managers and business owners will face situations where they need to address performance issues, behaviour concerns, or other sensitive workplace matters. These conversations can feel daunting, but with the right approach, they can lead to positive change and stronger working relationships.

Join us for an engaging and practical workshop designed to help you tackle challenging conversations with confidence, professionalism, and empathy.

Date: 10th September

Time: 9:30am – 11am

Location: Ramaroa at QE2 Park, Whareroa Rd

Free to attend

More information: https://www.kapitichamber.org.nz/events... or www.starpeople.nz

A public meeting to discuss these issues is being held in Waikanae on August 20 (Poster with details below).

Ms Budd, who worked with Police in the UK for 22 years, says the frightening reality is that most children don’t realise they are being groomed until it has gone too far—and many parents don’t recognise the warning signs either.

See the Signs is hosting a community workshop to help parents understand:

• How sexual predators groom children and teenagers.

• The warning signs of child sexual exploitation.

• How social media, gaming, and everyday relationships are used to target young people.

• What parents can do to protect their children before harm occurs.

This isn’t about creating fear—it’s about giving parents the knowledge and confidence to recognise the signs early and have the conversations that could make all the difference.

Prevention starts with awareness. Protecting our children starts with us.

For more see: https://seethesigns.setmore.com/

Alongside her journey is Peyton, who is coming to understand what a Tangata Tiriti partnership is and Grayson, a young Māori lawyer navigating his role in the system.

Performed by an ensemble cast, including well known rangatahi Hariata and Tamati Moriarty, the play is presented in Te Rākau’s unique Theatre Marae framework, creating space for collective reflection and shared experience.

Te Rākau is the longest running Māori theatre company in Aotearoa founded in 1989.

Recommended age 12+ contains swearing and depicts some violence. Children under 12 can accompany for free with a paying adult.

Thursday 30 July, 6:30pm – 8:20pm

Ōtaki College, Ōtaki

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/waenga/otaki/tickets

Saturday 1 August, 6:30pm – 8:20pm

Te Raukura ki Kāpiti, Coastlands Theatre, Paraparaumu

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/waenga/paraparaumu/tickets

Friday 31 July, 6:30pm – 8:20pm

Horowhenua College, Levin

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/waenga/levin/tickets