After losing her beloved father, Helen finds herself saved by an unlikely friendship with a stubborn hawk named Mabel. Through the bond, Helen rediscovers the beauty of being alive.

A Tongan/Kiwi warrior who could run 100 metres in under 11 seconds. He was the youngest All Black to put on the jersey and still holds the record for the most tries scored in World Cup history.

Behind every piece of music is a story and across their 2026 Season, the New Zealand String Quartet is diving into them. Join them at the Mayfair for an evening exploring a rich cross-section of compositional voices and celebrating the art of storytelling through music. Featuring music by Henry Purcell, Anthony Ritchie, Fanny Mendelssohn and more. PROGRAMME: Henry Purcell Fantasias Anthony Ritchie Perpetual Motion from String Quartet No. 3 (In Time) Fanny Mendelssohn Movements from String Quartet in E flat major Benjamin Britten Movements from String Quartet No. 2, in C major (Op. 36) Interval Antonín Dvořák Movements from String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96 (The American Quartet) Excerpts from the Danish String Quartet's album, Last Leaf The ‘Anthology’ programme brings together the best music of the NZSQ’s 2026 Season programmes. It opens with Henry Purcell's intricately wrought Fantasias, which served as inspiration for Benjamin Britten. Following is Anthony Ritchie, one of Aotearoa’s most eminent composers, celebrating playful melodic lines and infectious rhythm in Perpetual Motion from String Quartet No. 3. Fanny Mendelssohn’s only string quartet showcases her poetic, passionate and introspective voice, too long overlooked in the shadow of her brother, Felix. Benjamin Britten’s second string quartet, written in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, is widely regarded as one of the most extraordinary pieces of the twentieth century. Britten offers a powerful reflection of his inner feelings and a moving tribute to his compositional idol, Henry Purcell. Dvořák‘s String Quartet no. 12, opus 96, the beloved “American Quartet“, features sweeping melodies that evoke the spirit of exploration and adventure. Last Leaf, the acclaimed album by the Danish String Quartet reimagines early Scandinavian folk melodies, wandering through joy, sorrow and nostalgia. The concert programme, crafted in the NZSQ’s signature style, aims to engage audiences of all levels of familiarity with chamber music. Each piece of music is preceded by a lively and informative introduction delivered by the Quartet members themselves. These introductions seek to shed light on the stories behind the music, making it an enriching experience suitable for all audiences. Learn more about the NZSQ’s 2026 Season: nzsq.org.nz/upcoming-concerts To hear more news from the New Zealand String Quartet, sign up to their newsletter: https://my.nzsq.org.nz/content/sign

Now in its 24th year, the NZMFF international adventure film competition continues to draw highquality entries from across the globe. This year we'll be showing a selection of films from Kiwi adventure film makers. You’ll follow a man running back over the Southern Alps for the 258th time, a Superman raising money for cancer charities on Canada’s highways, and a New Zealander taking on the mountaineering establishment over a disputed world record. After the break, it’s a solo attempt on the world’s fifth-highest peak, a paraglider reaching New Zealand’s most remote point, and two expeditions deep into Fiordland. Sit back and enjoy the show.

Three friends go on a spa weekend that descends into chaos when their trainwreck friend joins, leading to hilarious consequences.

After Doomsday, Peter Parker tries to focus on college and leave Spider-Man behind. But when a new threat endangers his friends, he must break his promise and suit up again, teaming with an unexpected ally to protect those he loves.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world in which a virus has wiped out most of humanity, with survivors being terrorized by roaming scavengers called "Reapers." The protagonist is Hig, a pilot who survived the flu that killed everyone he knew, his wife included. He lives in the hangar of a small abandoned airport with his dog, his only neighbor a gun-toting ex-Marine. Hig sometimes heads off in his 1956 Cessna, where he can fish and pretend things are how they used to be. When a random transmission somehow beams through his radio, the voice ignites a hope deep inside him that a better life might exist if he flies a bit further. He risks it all. to chase a possible haven in Grand Junction.

After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, the Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognizable surroundings. Starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, THE END OF OAK STREET also stars Maisy Stella and Christian Convery. The film is written and directed by David Robert Mitchell and produced by J.J. Abrams, Hannah Minghella, Jon Cohen, David Robert Mitchell, Matt Jackson and Tommy Harper. The executive producers are Chris Bender, Jake Weiner, Joanne Lee and Leeann Stonebreaker. Mitchell’s team behind the camera includes director of photography Michael Gioulakis, production designer Maya Shimoguchi, editor John Axelrad, composer Michael Giacchino and costume designer Erin Benach. Warner Bros. Pictures Presents A Bad Robot Production, A Jackson Pictures Production, A David Robert Mitchell Film: THE END OF OAK STREET. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, only in cinemas August 13 2026.

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The Tempestuous: A Shrew’d New Comedy by Will Shakespeare and Penny Ashton. Award Winning comedian Penny Ashton is back, and this time is skewering the Bard Himself. The brains behind Promise & Promiscuity, Olive Copperbottom and Austen Found, Ashton is heading out on her sixth Arts on Tour odyssey in October, sparking 13 characters into life in this Elizabethan tale of magic, meddling and puffed bull’s puzzles. Sicily’s beloved King Enzo is dead. Now Princess Rosa, a stroppy spinster, must navigate the tempestuous waters of belching Step-Fathers, lusty suitors, popping cod pieces and menopausal witches, to face her destiny. “Incredibly clever, the script is just so smart.” Radio NZ “Masterful ‘shrewd comedy’ a tempestuous triumph…a phenomenal play.” The Post “Surely at some point we get to call Penny Ashton a national treasure?” Flat City Field Notes “Phenomenal energy, vivacity, versatility, inventiveness and humour." Theatreview Penny Ashton has been touring the world for over 20 years, performing over 1000 solo shows. She has sold out from Edinburgh to Edmonton to Mosgiel and has represented New Zealand in Theatresports and performed Slam Poetry at The Glastonbury Festival. Her award-winning solo musicals Promise and Promiscuity, Olive Copperbottom and The Tempestuous have gathered sparkling reviews and happy fans wherever they’ve been performed. In 2023, the Court Theatre presented Ashton’s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility to great acclaim, and she went on to direct it in Wellington in 2024, attracting over 5500 people. Ashton is also an improviser, performance poet, voice over artist, social commentator (including on RNZ’s The Panel), Wedding Celebrant, menopause podcaster with Showy Ovaries, and all-round jazz hand enthusiast. Presented by Art on Tour New Zealand.