Book Launch - Sunshine Road by Catherine Manchester
2026-01-28 11:00 - 12:00 (Pacific/Auckland) | Eastbourne Community Hub/Library, 38 Rimu Street, Eastbourne, Lower Hutt, 5013, New Zealand
Wednesday 28 January 2026 at 11:00am, Eastbourne Neighbourhood Hub.

An evocative semi-autobiographical coming of age story of friendship, family, love, betrayal, and resilience. Sunshine Road explores the journey of self-discovery, the courage of self-acceptance, and the transformative power of embracing your inner knowing of who you can become. Sunshine Road developed from a handful of short stories written twenty years ago.
Catherine Manchester grew up in Eastbourne, studied English Literature at Victoria and Fine Arts at Otago Polytechnic. Soon after graduation she won the Rita Angus art award and has painted and exhibited throughout New Zealand.

04 562 8042

There’s no need to book your place for this event. Just meet us at Eastbourne Neighbourhood Hub.

Rimu Street roadworks (2 days between 2nd-20th)
2026-02-02 - 2026-02-20 | Rimu Street, 1 Rimu Street, Eastbourne, Lower Hutt, 5013, New Zealand
This letter is to advise you that Connetics will be in your area as part of our project to remove pillar and install a new one as part of Wellington Electricity’s maintenance program.
Work will occur outside 21 Rimu Street and is scheduled to commence anytime from 02/02/2026 to 20/02/2026 between the hours of 9am and 3pm and 10pm to 5am.
These dates and times allow for any unforeseen delays as due to the nature of our work there are occasions where we may run unexpectedly over time as our work is highly hazardous and weather
dependent.
Noise at night will be keep to the minimum to complete work During this work, traffic management will be in place appropriate for the site to protect road users, public and workers safety, with full approval gained from the Road Corridor Manager at your Local Council. Where possible, restriction of vehicle access will be kept to a minimum and will be monitored by traffic management personnel.
This work is expected to take two days between the stated dates inclusive of final reinstatement to Local Council and National Code requirements.
We do ask for your patience as this work is highly critical to the Network integrity and we thank you for your co-operation during this time.
Please note, any residents directly affected by a power outage will receive a separate notification letter from Connetics prior to works.
Should you require any further information, please contact Connetics during business hours (7.30am-4pm) on (04) 570 5710 or email WellingtonConnetics@connetics.co.nz
Yours sincerely,
Brendan Drysdale
Project Manager
Connetics Ltd
E: brendan.drysdale@connetics.co.nz
www.connetics.co.nz
A copy of the letter can be downloaded here.
A copy of the traffic management plan is here

Household Preparedness - WREMO
2026-02-05 13:30 - 14:30 | Eastbourne Community Hub/Library, 38 Rimu Street, Eastbourne, Lower Hutt, 5013, New Zealand
James North from Wellington Region Emergency Management Office will be with us at Eastbourne Neighbourhood Hub to speak to Household preparedness in the event of an emergency. There will be a presentation followed by a question and answer session.

Waitangi Day
2026-02-06

Community Response and community emergency hubs - WREMO
2026-02-12 13:30 - 14:30 | Eastbourne Community Hub/Library, 38 Rimu Street, Eastbourne, Lower Hutt, 5013, New Zealand

Free Kayak Safety Course
2026-02-13
Wildfinder are excited to be hosting a fifth FREE Kayak Safety Workshop at Days Bay on Friday 13th February 2026! For all details of the workshop and to reserve your spot (spaces are limited!) click here:
https://www.wildfinder.co.nz/kayak-safety-workshop

in memory of Jack Skellett, 1998-2021
Following the tragic death of Jack Skellett in Wellington Harbour in 2021, the Jack Skellett give-a-little fund was set up to run FREE Kayak Safety Workshops for the community. We’ve now hosted four of these workshops, with a fifth scheduled for February 2026.
The 5th workshop will be held in Days Bay on Friday 13th February 2026. The workshop is a comprehensive, 1 day event covering every aspect of water kayaking safety, with a strong focus on theory and building awareness, plus practical and skills development. This is aimed at all ages from beginner to intermediate level. It will be hosted by our friends from the Wellington Sea Kayak Network Group: Noel Pepperell, Chris Henshaw & Denys Church, who bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the day.
Spaces are limited, and are on a first-come-first-served basis. Please click the button below to register your interest now.

Register Now

This free event is being funded by the Jack Skellett give-a-little fund, a donation that was set up following the loss of 23-year-old Jack in December 2021 after a kayaking incident along this coastline. With thanks to Wildfinder, Days Bay Pavilion, Victoria University of Wellington, and the Skellett family for help in organising this event for the community.

Jack Skellett, 1998-2021

King Lear - Bard in the Yard, Butterfly Creek: 19-28 Feb
2026-02-19 19:00 - 2026-02-28 22:00 | Muritai School Hall, 166 Muritai Road, Eastbourne, Lower Hutt
King Lear is this year’s Bard in the Yard production. Don’t miss the chance to see one of the world’s great plays.

Our February 2026 Bard in the Yard production of King Lear will be a bold, contemporary production of King Lear to be directed by Elspeth Cotsilinis. Our wonderful cast in alphabetical order:

Martyn Barry
King of France & 1st servant

Rhiannon Bertaud-Gandar
Cordelia

Penelope Bond
Lady Kent

Lian Butcher
Goneril

Suzy Cain
Lady Gloucester

Brandon Chung
Oswald

Ruth Corkill
Regan

Kevin Lenahan
Edmund

Izzy Longson
Curan, Messenger & 2nd gentleman

Anne Manchester
Doctor, Knight & 1st gentleman

John Marwick
Lear

Lauchlin Mead
Edgar

Martin Robinson
Duke of Albany

Philip Rossiter
Duke of Cornwall & Captain

John Smythe
Fool

Production dates are 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 & 28 February. The show will be in the Muritai School Courtyard unless the weather is unfavourable – in which case we will be inside the adjacent school hall.

Eastbourne Community Board meeting (rescheduled)
2026-02-24 19:15 - 21:00
Update: This meeting has been rescheduled to 24th February
Everyone is welcome to the Community Board Meeting to be held in the Eastbourne Community Hub/Library on Tuesday 24 February 2026 commencing at 7:15 pm.
A public forum is available 30 minutes before the meeting (6:45pm to 7:15pm) – this is not public comment (see below), but an opportunity for informal discussion. The public cannot ask questions during the actual meeting, other than during public comment.
Agenda, speakers and Chairs report are available here

Eastbourne Wharf to Wharf Swim 2026
2026-03-01 08:00 - 12:00 | Days Bay beach, 611 Marine Drive, Days Bay, 5013, New Zealand
The Eastbourne Wharf-to-Wharf swim will be next held on Sunday 1st March 2026.

Wellington Water Quality Update:
We’re continuing to keep a close eye on water quality following recent events at the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant and how this might affect the event. Water quality at Days Bay is tested weekly and daily predictions after that are based on weather and tide modelling. At the moment the inner harbour beaches all have safe water to swim in. You can check the water quality via LAWA website hosted by Greater Wellington Regional Council. We will provide another update in the week leading up to the event if there are any concerns about if it is safe to swim.If you are keen to swim but unsure you’re welcome to register and pay on the day if you decide to swim

The Wharf-to-Wharf swim has become an Eastbourne institution that has been running for over 100 years. This fun, non-competitive friendly swim event is run by the Muritai Yacht Club and volunteers for the benefit of the Eastbourne community. The course begins on Days Bay beach and finishes next to the Rona Bay wharf in Eastbourne. Every person is a winner and at a distance of approximately 1.25km it is an event that all age groups can enjoy together.
Entry is open to any swimmer who is confident in deep water but we do require that swimmers under the age of 12 years have parental consent and we recommend that an adult swims with a child who is in this age group. Numbers may be limited to a maximum of 200 at the discretion of the organisers.
Registration: Entry Form 2026
Race Information:
Entry is open to any swimmer who is confident in deep water but we do require that swimmers under the age of 12 years have parental consent and we recommend that an adult swims with a child who is in this age group. The Race Information PDF should answer your questions about the event, and provide you with the information you need for the day, but if we’ve missed anything then please send us an email.
Sponsors 2026:

Professionals Real Estate
Harcourts Real Estate
Just Paterson Real Estate
Best Couriers
Pack’n’Save
SignPro

We look forward to seeing you there.

Tupua Horo Nuku Project Ecologist talk
2026-03-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Eastbourne Hub/Library Boardroom

Watts Inside - Eastbourne & The Bays
2026-03-29 10:00 - 16:00
Visit neighbours who’ve added solar and electrified their homes – learn from their financial decisions, technical choices, and environmental impact.
Small groups, honest conversations, real homes.
Register Online
Smart investment: See actual installation quotes, utility bills before and after, financing options used, and realistic payback timelines. Perfect for running your own numbers.
Technical deep-dive: Compare monitoring systems, battery technologies, solar configurations, smart home automation, and EV charging solutions. Uncover the tech that’s right for you.
Real impact: Discover why homeowners invested and what excites them most – from reduced carbon emissions to energy independence and contributing to New Zealand’s renewable energy transition.
Whether you’re analysing ROI, evaluating tech options, or ready to make a positive impact – learn from neighbours who’ve been there.

ANZAC Day
2026-04-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Memorial Gates, Muritai School, 166 Muritai Road, Eastbourne, Lower Hutt 5013, Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand
Anzac Day is usually commemorated by the Eastbourne Community at the war memorial adjacent to Muritai School, followed by refreshments at the Eastbourne Sports and Services Club.
Assembly at Ballinger Gardens, Makaro Street from 9.30am – March to the Memorial Gates, Muritai School. ANZAC Service commences at 10am.
Anzac Day is observed on 25 April. It commemorates New Zealanders killed in war and honours returned and serving servicemen and women.
Anzac Day dates
1916 – Anzac Day gazetted as a half-day holiday
1921 – Anzac Day becomes a full public holiday
1939 – Dawn ceremony widely included in New Zealand Anzac Day commemorations for the first time
1949 – Legislation passed preventing Anzac Day from being ‘Mondayised’
1966 – Current Anzac Day Act liberalises activities allowed after 1 p.m. on Anzac Day
2013 – When 25 April falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the Monday will now be a public holiday
2020 – All Anzac Day public ceremonies in New Zealand cancelled because of COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic
The date marks the anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand soldiers – the Anzacs – on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. The aim was to capture the Dardanelles and open a sea route to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. At the end of the campaign, Gallipoli was still held by its Ottoman Turkish defenders.
Thousands lost their lives during the Gallipoli campaign: 87,000 Ottoman Turks, 44,000 men from France and the British Empire, including 8500 Australians. To this day, Australia also marks the events of 25 April. Among the dead were 2779 New Zealanders, about one in six of those who served on Gallipoli.
They may have ended in military defeat, but for many New Zealanders then and since, the Gallipoli landings signalled that New Zealand was becoming a distinct nation, even as it fought on the other side of the world in the name of the British Empire.
Anzac Day was first observed in 1916. The day has gone through many changes since. The ceremonies that are held at war memorials up and down New Zealand, and in places overseas where New Zealanders gather, are modelled on a military funeral and remain rich in tradition and ritual.
(https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/anzac-day/introduction)

Last day to enrol to vote in the election
2026-10-25
25 October – Last day to enrol to vote in the election. Check you are enrolled.
Go to https://vote.nz

Voting Day
2026-11-07
Election day 7 November . Voting places open from 9.00am to 7.00pm
Election night. Preliminary election results released progressively from 7.00pm on electionresults.govt.nz
