The Garden Party — Verb Wellington

GP_Eventfinda_1170x504+%281%29.jpg — The Garden Party

A fresh, new Summer festival celebrating talks, food and music in Pōneke. Gather friends and whānau and come along for a weekend of interesting and delicious.
Brought to you by The Spinoff and Verb Wellington. Entry to the festival is free or by donation if you can.

Feature artists

Church & AP

One of the most exciting acts to emerge from Aotearoa New Zealand’s modern music scene, Church & AP have taken the industry by storm.

Annabel Langbein

New Zealand’s most popular cookbook writer (The Free Range Cook has sold more than 160,000 copies), and now author of Bella which is a vivid insight into her remarkable life.

Matt+Morris.jpg — Matt Morris

Matt is author of Common Ground: Garden histories of Aotearoa which takes a loving look at gardens and garden practices in Aotearoa over time.

Karl Maughan The best-known garden painter in New Zealand and one of the most successful in the world. We celebrate the lush first book dedicated solely to his work. Limited capacity event. Pre-book here . — Karl Maughan
The best-known garden painter in New Zealand and one of the most successful in the world. We celebrate the lush first book dedicated solely to his work. Limited capacity event. Pre-book here.

Rachel+Haydon.jpg — Rachel Haydon

Rachel Haydon is the author of The Nature Activity Book: 99 Ideas for Activities in the Natural World of Aotearoa New Zealand. She has taught science to children all over the world and is now General Manager of National Aquarium of New Zealand.

Sacha Cotter & Josh Morgan

On Sunday 21 Feb join illustrator Josh Morgan (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata) and author Sacha Cotter for Songs, Stories, Sass & SPLASH! Creators of the 2019 Margaret Mahy Book of the Year, The Bomb/Te Pohū.

Paekākāriki Pops

Paekākāriki Pops make real fruit popsicles in a range of delicious and seasonal fruity flavours, all handmade in Paekākāriki. Containing no dairy products and less sugar than a normal ice-block, our pops are the perfect tasty treat for a summer festival!

Anna Fifield 2020.jpg — Anna Fifield

Editor of the Dominion Post, Wellington editor of Stuff; former bureau chief for the Washington Post in Tokyo and Beijing; author of The Great Successor about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

WitiI3%2Bby%2BAndi%2BCrown.jpg — Witi Ihimaera

One of the world’s most important indigenous writers. His novels include The Matriarch, The Whale Rider, and Bulibasha. His two memoirs Maori Boy and Native Son will soon be joined by a third.

Tessa Waters
Festival MC

Tessa is an award-winning comedian, actor, director, writer and mentor. Her comedy, theatre and short films have played to sell-out crowds around Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Garden Party After Party Join us and our artists for a party at The Hunter Lounge on Sat 21 Feb. We’ll be presenting some awards, enjoying live music and the company of fellow festival goers. Tickets here. * Tickets free for Spinoff Members and Verb Community. — Garden Party After Party
Join us and our artists for a party at The Hunter Lounge on Sat 21 Feb. We’ll be presenting some awards, enjoying live music and the company of fellow festival goers. Tickets here.
*Tickets free for Spinoff Members and Verb Community.

Linda Clark no jacket square.jpg — Linda Clarke

Linda Clarke will be talking with Dom Post editor Anna Fifield at The Garden Party. Linda is a Partner at Dentons Kensington Swan, and is a political analyst and commentator known for her sharp perceptions and strategic analysis.

The Big Fun Family Quiz!

Toby Morris & Toby Manhire (The Spinoff) host a quiz full of fun questions for the whole family. Win prizes, come dressed as your favourite book characters for bonus points.
11.30am, Sunday 21 Feb.

Beth Brash 1.jpg — Beth Brash

Beth is programme manager of Visa Wellington on a Plate and will be talking with Annabel Langbein at The Garden party. Beth’s love of food first started developing at a young age through years of culinary experimentation by her mother.

Mao & Co

Mao & Co make handmade dumpling and noodles bringing tasty, imaginative Asian food to the food truck scene. We can’t wait to feast on classic and contemporary homemade dumplings and noodles at the Garden Party.

New+Zealanders+%281%29.jpg — Thomas Sainsbury

Actor, comedian, writer and social media star, famous for his Snapchat impersonations of characters such as politician Paula Bennett, wine reviewer Fiona and Gingerbread the Cat.

Kemi & Niko

Kemi & Niko are a multi disciplinary artist duo working across art and design. They bring their beautiful Roaming Hut to the Garden Party with an exciting roster of artist activations.

Jean+Sergent.jpg — Jean Sergent
Tarot Readings

Jean Sergent is an actor, writer, and hereditary witch from Te-Whanganui-a-Tara. A descendant of Cornish Romanichal people, Jean's great-grandmother was the neighbourhood tea leaf reader in Naenae in the 1950s.

E.Knox cover COLOUR PRINT RESOLUTION - Ebony Lamb Photographer 2019-25.jpg — Elizabeth Knox

One of New Zealand’s most acclaimed novelists, the author of The Absolute Book will talk with Witi Ihimaera and Kim Hill about the sci-fi and fantasy anthology she edited, Monsters in the Garden.

Noelle McCarthy USE.jpg — Noelle McCarthy

Noelle has interviewed everyone from James Cameron to the Dalai Lama over the course of the last decade or so, for RNZ. Noelle will be talking with Thomas Sainsbury for the Garden Party.

Vic Books

Our amazing booksellers Vic Books will be on site all festival with the books being discussed across the festival; plus a selection of beautiful, bold, brilliant reads to stock up on for your Summer tbr piles.

Jordan (1) (1) (1).JPG — Jordan Hamel

Jordan Hamel is a Pōneke-based writer, poet and performer. He was the 2018 New Zealand Poetry Slam champion and represented Aotearoa at the World Poetry Slam Champs in the US. Jordan is one of the wonderful poets reading in our tiny poetry stage on Sat 20 Feb.

More artists to be announced soon.
Full timetable up by early Feb 2021.
Entry to the festival is free or by donation if you can.

The Garden Party is made possible because of support from: