News, what's new & more
We have officially opened submissions for Tūhono 2024, our annual poetry journal for children and teens! This year’s theme is “Tūmanako | Hope”. We are so excited to read your entries this year — just make sure you get them in before the 12th of May! Use the button below to submit your entry.
ComicFest 2024 is just around the corner, which means it’s time to plan what workshops you’re going to!
These events are free and have limited capacity, so make sure to book ahead of time to avoid missing out. You can browse the full ComicFest schedule here.
Panel: Drawing Nature – The Great Outdoors
With Giselle Clarkson, Lily Duval, and Sarah Laing. Hosted by Neil Johnstone.
The natural world of Aotearoa New Zealand has always been, and continues to be, one of our greatest inspirations.
In this unmissable event hear three of our finest graphic artists talk about how they, in their own ways, engage with our great outdoors.
Our fabulous panel features: Sarah Laing, the artist behind the illustrations for the award-nominated Sylvia and the Birds; Giselle Clarkson, the creator of the publishing phenomenon The Observologist and Lily Duval, illustrator for the Critters of Aotearoa, the book based on RNZ’s hugely popular programme “Critter of the Week”.
Each one of these acclaimed artists has a unique interest and perspective on our natural environment.
From the 13th to the 28th of April, we invite you to join us for WHODUNNIT? at Wellington City SPYbraries and enter a world of detectives, spies, espionage, and mystery.
We have a whole range of exciting activities planned for you – race against the clock to solve a mystery, search through your local library – sorry, SPYbrary – to solve the mystery of the Golden Tickets, create your own kit of spy gadgets, or put together a tricksy maze using our LEGO® sets – there’s something for everyone!
Wellington City Libraries will also be welcoming two authors into our spaces over the April holidays.
Avril McDonald will be joining us in seven of our libraries for several storytimes throughout the first week of the holidays as she celebrates the launch of her latest book The Wolf and the Hocus Pocus and of the Empowering Brave Voices campaign. For more information about these events, check out this blog post.
Paul Beavis will be leading a fantastic workshop at Te Māhanga | Karori Library in the second week of the holidays where tamariki will get to learn about how a picture book is made and learn some illustration tips and tricks from the master. To find out more about this event, check out this blog post.
Visit this page to see the whole calendar, or read on to find out more about what’s coming up at your local library or community centre!
From the Producers of Hunt for the Wilderpeople & Jojo Rabbit and directed by Rachel House, ‘The Mountain’ is a heartfelt drama about three children on a mission to find healing under the watchful eye of Taranaki Maunga, and discover friendship in the spirit of adventure. A childhood cancer narrative is explored in this film, so we encourage you to view gently, especially for those with childhood cancer stories close to their hearts.
The Mountain is now showing at these cinema locations.
Win double passes to The Mountain over on our Facebook page.
Come along to Te Awe Brandon Street Library on Thursday 2 May to hear award-winning artist and conservationist, Phillip Waddington, talk about the collision of his two worlds. Phillip Waddington is a Petone artist whose life-long passion for art, the environment and conservation started at an early age, and has intertwined with his work as a professional artist for fifty years. His art captures the essence of nature from close observation and unique experiences with native reserves and forests.
He developed a painting style influenced by C.F Goldie and is also well-known for portrait art. His oil portraits earned Phillip the nickname ‘The Living Goldie’. His recent work includes a portrait of Chris Hipkins and the seaweed-and-fish sculpture on Petone Beach.
His talent goes beyond the canvas. With a lifelong passion in ecology, he also invented a humane predator trap for Department of Conservation and was awarded Wellingtonian of the Year.
Meet the artist and hear his free and fascinating talk, encompassing art and nature.
Continue reading “Art on Conservation talk: Award-winning artist Phillip Waddington”
Kia Tūpato: let’s begin this kōrero (in somewhat turbulent times) with a waiata from Morvin Simon:
And as we pause — kia maumaharatia anō Te Tiriti o Waitangi, me hora te aroha engari anō te rirhau, spread love not anger — ngā kupu mōhio nō ō tātou rangatira:
Here are some resources for Te Rā o Waitangi, gathered from ngā hau e whā…