Fun Things to Do This Weekend 16/02/17

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Anya and Mark Brighouse's pool garden is part of the Heroic Garden Festival. Picture / @anyas_bedlam

1.Garden enthusiasts take note: the annual Heroic Garden Festival is on this weekend, a wonderful chance to explore some of Auckland's most prestigious private gardens. There are 24 gardens across the city on show (plus several new additions to the programme) and 14 are open for children. All funds raised go to Mercy Hospice.
— Various venues, Auckland, February 18 and 19. Visit Heroicgardens.org.nz

2. Love horses? Champagne? And a jolly good day out? Then don't miss the Land Rover New Zealand Polo Open on this Sunday in the picturesque countryside of Clevedon. The day will be filled with polo games, as well as the Viva Fashion on the Field competition, a Land Rover versus pony horsepower race, and an afterparty with DJs. We've put together polo outfit and hair inspiration to get you ready for the day.  
— Auckland Polo Club, 102 Clevedon-Kawakawa Rd, Clevedon, February 19, from 10.30am. Tickets from $35 at iTicket

3. Academy Cinema is holding a special screening of the movie Moonlight tonight, with a portion of all ticket sales donated to the New Zealand Aids Foundation. The film is nominated for eight Oscars including Best Picture. Watch the trailer here.
— Academy Cinemas, 44 Lorne St, Auckland Central, February 16. Visit Facebook

4. It's your last chance to visit The Maori Portraits: Gottfried Lindauer's New Zealand exhibition. This has been the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki's most visited exhibition since it reopened its doors in 2011, and gallery director Rhana Devenport encourages New Zealanders to try and see this rare body of work by one of our most prolific colonial painters. "It is highly unlikely this many of Lindauer's portraits will be seen together again in our lifetime," she says.
— Auckland Art Gallery, cnr Kitchener and Wellesley Sts, Auckland, October 22-February 19. Visit Aucklandartgallery.com

5. All things 1930s take over Napier, the art deco capital of New Zealand, this weekend, with the coastal city celebrating its rich history during the Tremains Art Deco Festival. There will be music, magic, dance and comedy and the annual highlight of the free Gatsby Picnic on February 19. 
— Various venues, Napier, February 15-19. Visit Artdeconapier.com

6. As part of the Auckland Pride Festival, don't miss the LGBTIQ  Writers' Festival Same Same But Different Gala — where LGBTIQ writers will share stories about memorable parents either from life or fiction. On the lineup are writers Benjamin Law, Courtney Sina Meredith, Sam Orchard, Gina Cole, Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, Paula Boock, Philip Patston and Peter Wells. The event warns to come prepared to "laugh, cry, cringe or sigh".
—Sir Paul Reeves Building Room WG126, AUT, 2 Governor Fitzroy Pl, Auckland Central, February 17. Visit iticket.co.nz

7. Didn't have time during the week to watch the first episode of the final series of Girls? Catch up on it this weekend, and while you're at it, see who is your Girls style favourite.
Girls screens on Wednesdays at 8.30pm on Sky's SoHo Channel 010

8. Splore takes over the scenic shores of Tapapakanga Park this weekend. Headline acts include Fat Freddy's Drop, Blackalicious and Skye and Ross, and there's a varied visual arts programme, workshops, spoken word performances, forums, sustainability talks and more to enjoy.
— Deerys Rd, Orere Pt, February 17-19. Tickets at iTicket

9. Wrapping up a phenomenal circuit around the country, the annual Winery Tour will be heading to Auckland on Sunday night, with singer-songwriters Brooke Fraser, Bic Runga and Benny Tipene performing their final show at Villa Maria Winery.
—  Villa Maria Winery, 118 Montgomerie Rd, Mangere, February 19. Visit Winerytour.co.nz

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