Author: Matt Roswell

Our Nelson Issue 255 – 9 September 2026 

A blossoming friendship: 50 years with Miyazu
This spring, Nelson will celebrate a momentous milestone with our sister city, Miyazu.
Miyazu is Nelson’s longest-standing sister city, and the relationship has grown over nearly five decades through shared culture, hospitality, and genuine connection. The bond between the two cities is grounded in mutual respect and a long history that continues to offer meaningful opportunities for cultural learning, school exchanges, community visits, and cultural celebrations, enriching life in both Nelson and Miyazu.
Nelson Miyazu Sister City Association Chairperson Linley Smith says it is wonderful to be celebrating 50 years of the Nelson Miyazu sister city relationship. 
"This friendship was started due to the similarities between the Nelson Boulder Bank and the Miyazu sand bridge Amanohashidate and has endured over the years thanks to successive mayors from both cities and the dedicated sister city association members.”
Five decades later, that friendship has grown into one of New Zealand’s longest-standing sister city relationships. This year’s Cherry Blossom Festival at Miyazu Garden on Saturday 26 September, 11am–3pm, will celebrate this five decade milestone. A delegation from Miyazu including Mayor Kizaki will be joining the celebration as well as the Ambassador of Japan. There will be Japanese and other ethnic food stalls, music and cultural performances for the community to enjoy as well as the chance to join in the Miyazu dance. Linley Smith encourages Nelson locals to come and celebrate this relationship with our guests from Japan.
“Sister city relationships began to bring connection and understanding between other countries and cultures, so I feel it is important to celebrate this milestone by showcasing and sharing Japanese culture, food, and entertainment with the community,” says Linley.
There will also be opportunities to discover more about Japan and Nelson’s sister city relationship, with displays at Elma Turner Library and Civic House, alongside a bonsai exhibition at Founders Heritage Park.
Come along, enjoy the blossoms and help celebrate 50 years of friendship between Nelson and Miyazu.

Council to decide on Civic Hub location
Consultation on the future site of Nelson's new Community Hub, Library and Civic Space concluded on Sunday, with more than 1200 Nelsonians submitting their preferred location for the city's new Civic Hub.
The six-week Community Hub, Library and Civic Space consultation put forward three options that would see Civic House and Elma Turner Library, both buildings nearing the end of their useful lives, combined into a single facility. 
The options put forward for consultation were refurbishing Civic House alongside the Savings Bank and State Advances sites or building new on Collingwood Street or Church Street.
Deputy Mayor and City Revitalisation Chair Pete Rainey says the level of engagement exceeded his expectations.
“I want to thank Nelsonians for getting in and becoming engaged. It's great to see people are passionate about this process - there's been rigorous discussion about the pros and cons of each of the sites, which is good, that gives us real confidence that we're doing something that's got people's interest.” 
Elected members and Council staff have been out at the Nelson Market every weekend since consultation opened, and a public meeting, attended by more than 100 people, was also held during the consultation period. 
Questions have ranged from parking and access at each site, to how upfront and long-term costs compare, and why the project has to go ahead now.
Rainey says people have approached him directly to talk about the project too, including at the supermarket.
The consultation had landed during a tough economic time for many households and some people had suggested Council should do nothing at all. But continuing to patch up ageing buildings would also have a significant impact on finances, he says.
“I do acknowledge that times are really tight, but we can’t kick the can down the road any longer. We’ve got to make a provision - if we delay the decision, it's going to cost the city even more in the long term.”
Elected members will now weigh the consultation feedback alongside further technical, financial and planning advice before deliberating. Once a preferred location is chosen, the budget for the 2027–2037 Long Term Plan will be confirmed. Council staff will collate the submissions, including any late submissions that come in this week, and present the results to Council. A decision is expected to be made by the end of the year. All submissions to the consultation will soon be made public and will be available on Shape Nelson.
For Rainey, the decision on location is just the beginning – the next phase is when the creative conversation starts.
“This is an enormously exciting project for Nelson. Once the site is confirmed, we can move from debating where it goes to shaping what happens inside it.
“A community hub should reflect the community it serves. That creates a fantastic opportunity for Nelsonians to help determine the activities, services and spaces it provides — and how it can become a place where people genuinely want to gather.
“There's no question we're on a revitalisation journey at the moment and that is a positive sign of confidence, investment and progress for Nelson.”

Giving Bridge Street's old benches a new home
As part of Bridge to Better, we're replacing all the street furniture on Bridge Street. When we removed the old bench seats, we found eight were still in great shape so, rather than scrap them, we're giving them a second life across the eBus network.
Over the coming weeks, you'll see these benches pop up at: 
	•	Prices Pharmacy 
	•	Franklyn Street 
	•	132 Nayland Road 
	•	St Vincent Street, near Toi Toi Street 
	•	Halifax Street, outside Woolworths 
We've also heard from the community that a bus shelter would be handy on Vanguard Street — so we're relocating one there, outside New World.

Ake, Ake, Ake – A Forever Language
Come and join us at State Cinema for a movie night as we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
Special screening of The Lion King in Te Reo Māori // 4pm  
Whale Rider (English version) // 6pm  

Tickets // $5 
Location // State Cinema Nelson
Bring your kākahu (t-shirt) and we’ll print Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori tohu on it for you.
Buy tickets at eventfinda.co.nz

Shop the Street
WORTH A LOOK

Bridge Backpackers
A stylishly designed backpackers that was completely redesigned 
and refurbished in 2017. Bridge Backpackers offer large outdoor spaces, fun and welcoming common areas and free unlimited wifi. The dorms have secure under bed lockers, or there's options private rooms with ensuites.

Gismos
Izzy and Gray at Gizmos strive to provide a sterile, safe and hygienic body piercing service with the best quality jewellery and services. All piercings are done in internally threaded titanium, a hypoallergenic material. They even offer a service for anyone that needs help changing jewelery.

Biohoney
Biohoney is an innovative, family-owned company that value the bees and the vital part they play in the natural ecosystem. Biohoney is pure New Zealand mānuka honey, sourced locally and supplied globally. Find them in the new Bridge St Studios.

Your Civil Defence Centre's getting a new name
Civil Defence Centres are now called Emergency Assistance Centres | Te Taiwhanga Āwhina Ohotata. While the name has changed, our commitment to supporting people and communities when they need it most remains the same.
The new name better reflects what these centres provide: a place where people can access information, welfare support, practical assistance, and connections to agencies that can help during and after an emergency.

Emergency response is strongest when communities work together.
Alongside Emergency Assistance Centres, local communities can also establish their own community-led centres, creating a place for neighbours to connect, share information, check on one another, and support local recovery efforts.

Want to help your community be better prepared?
Start a conversation with your local community group, marae, residents' association, school, or neighbourhood network about how you could support one another before, during, and after an emergency.

For more information on how you can prepare for an emergency visit nelsontasmancivildefence.co.nz

A huge summer of international cricket is coming to Saxton Oval. 
Watch our New Zealand WHITEFERNS and BLACKCAPS take on Bangladesh & Sri Lanka. Tickets ON SALE NOW at NZC.NZ. Be there for all the action! 

Notice of the right to demand a poll on the electoral system
Notice is given under section 28 of the Local Electoral Act 2001 that Nelson City Council resolved on 3 September 2026 to continue to use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) electoral system for the 2028 and 2031 triennial elections.
Nelson City Council electors have the right to demand a poll on the electoral system to be used at the next two triennial general elections (2028 and 2031) for Nelson City Council.
The choice is between First Past the Post (FPP) and the Single Transferable Vote (STV) electoral systems.  Unless a poll determines otherwise, Nelson City Council will continue to use the STV electoral system.
A valid demand for a poll must be:
	•	Made in writing
	•	Signed by at least 5 percent of eligible electors of Nelson City Council. This will require a minimum of 1,933 elector signatures
	•	Every elector who signs a demand must also set out their full name and the address for which they are qualified as an elector of Nelson City Council
	•	Delivered to the Nelson City Council office, Civic house, 100 Trafalgar Street, Nelson 7010 by 5pm Friday 11 December 2026. 

Should a valid demand for a poll be received by 11 December 2026, the poll will be held no later than 28 March 2027, and will have effect for the 2028 and 2031 elections.  If the valid demand for a poll is received after 11 December 2026, then the poll will be held after 28 March 2027, and will have effect for the 2031 and 2034 elections.

Dated: 9 September 2026
Nigel Philpott, Chief Executive Nelson City Council

Mayors Message
Nelson this month hosts the Mayor and guests from the Japanese city of Miyazu as well as the Japanese Ambassador to celebrate 50 years of Nelson’s special sister city relationship with Miyazu.
Sister Cities were established by President Eisenhower to help build cultural understanding, inter-city diplomacy and peace after the horrors of World War II. Nelson’s sister city link with Miyazu is the second oldest in NZ and reflects our city’s long-term ethos of being outward looking, interested in other cultures and advocates for peace. 
The initiative came about when Nelson MP Sir Stanley Whitehead, Speaker of the NZ Parliament, visited Japan and met Miyazu MP Shigesuburo Maeo, who was also Speaker of the Japanese Diet. Miyazu shares with Nelson a similar geographic feature with our Boulder Bank and their Amanohashidate. Their ambition was to build cultural understanding, enable people-to-people exchanges and grow economic links.
We have subsequently built a love and respect for the grace and culture of the people of Miyazu and Japan. Benefits include our Miyazu Garden, student exchanges, increased trade and investment and our annual Cherry Blossom Festival. 
This month, the Ngā Aho Rau of 41 rangatahi from Nelson College and Nelson College for Girls travel to Japan to share culture and experiences. This is one of more than 30 exchanges that have occurred over the past 50 years.
Japan has also become Nelson’s most important international investor through Sumitomo Forestry and Nissui. Sumitomo Forestry has more than $1 billion invested in Nelson Pine Industries and Tasman Forestry and employs over 270 people in the region. It is a generous supporter of our Tasman Mako, St John, Adam Chamber Music Festival and Hospice. Nissui owns 50% of Sealord. Japan has also, over the past 50 years, become a key market for our apples, kiwifruit, hops, seafood, wood and dairy products.
This year’s Cherry Blossom Festival at Miyazu Garden on 26 September, from 11am to 3pm, is a special celebration of the 50 years when we will host our Japanese guests. The free event includes stalls, music and cultural performances. Nelson’s Bonsai Club have an exhibition in the Founders Heritage Park Jaycee Room from 9am to 4pm. You can also learn more about Miyazu from displays at Civic House and the Elma Turner Library.

Mayor 
Nick Smith

Proposed road closures  
Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon 
Applicant: Nelson Marlborough Traffic Management 
Event date and time: Sunday 21 February 2027

Proposed Road Closures – streets, dates and times: 
The following roads will be closed, access will be unavailable during these times, except in emergencies. 

Tāhunanui Recreation Reserve, Bisley Walk, Hounsell Circle, Beach Road (between Golf Road and Waikare Street, including intersection), Golf Road (including Centennial Road and Green Street intersections). 
Sunday 21 February 2027  
Time closed: 6am	Time open: 1.30pm

The eBus route 4 will be detoured for the duration of the closure – please see ebus.nz for further information. 
For more information and map details of proposed road closures – please visit nelson.govt.nz  
All feedback on the proposed road closures for the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon 2027  is due by 12pm Wednesday 23 September 2026. Email: road.enquiries@ncc.govt.nz

Nelson Arts Festival
HOMEGROWN CREATIVITY MEETS WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCE
22 October - 1 November 2026

Our 2026 festival programme is a joyful celebration of creativity, connection and imagination. From world-class theatre and breathtaking circus to inspiring kōrero, live music, comedy, visual arts and large-scale community celebrations, there’s something for everyone to discover.
Sometimes playful, sometimes thoughtprovoking; this year’s programme invites audiences to step away from the everyday and experience the joy of gathering together through the arts.
Opening the festival is Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking, Auckland Theatre Company’s powerful adaptation of Witi Ihimaera Smiler’s landmark work. Award-winning actors Miriama McDowell and Nī Dekkers-Reihana lead audiences on a sweeping theatrical journey through Aotearoa’s history.
Exclusive to this year’s Nelson Arts Festival, acclaimed Canadian company Machine de Cirque arrives direct from Québec for its only South Island performance. At Theatre Royal, YMCĀ, a bold new work from Atamira Dance Company and choreographer Oli Mathiesen, reimagining the iconic Village People through Māori contemporary dance and irresistible disco energy.
Our free community celebrations are bigger than ever. Experience The Big Swing Street Party, featuring the New Zealand debut of Ian Pidd’s spectacular nine-metre-high Swing, before heading to Tāhunanui Beach for The Gathering Tide, a breathtaking sunset performance bringing together up to 100 local participants.
For lovers of local stories, discover Echoes, an immersive theatre experience exploring the history of Fairfield House, and Tāhae: Stolen From the Museum, a powerful exhibition celebrating the reclamation of taonga through the work of Te Tauihu artists at Tāwera.
Music lovers can enjoy brand-new music from The Phoenix Foundation at Neudorf Vineyards, the dynamic sound of Byllie-jean, and the Māori futurism-inspired concert Ā Mua. Don’t miss award-winning comedy, immersive theatre and unforgettable family adventures as venues across Whakatū come alive over 11 inspiring days.
“From Booker Prize-winning authors and world-class circus to bold Māori storytelling and unforgettable community experiences, this ambitious 11-day festival promises unforgettable moments around every corner”

See the full programme here nelsonartsfestival.nz/events

Stronger westerlies this summer. El Niño info for boaties
By Stu Whitehouse, Nelson Harbourmaster 
If you've been out on Tasman Bay/Te Tai-o-Aorere lately, you've probably noticed the westerlies have had a bit more bite to them. You're not imagining it.
Our team has been tracking a rise in westerly wind events over the past few months, and it's part of a bigger pattern playing out across the Pacific. This is particularly important for people planning to head out in smaller boats and paddle craft as we enter spring and summer and enthusiasts (myself included) start dusting off their wetsuits. 

Why are the westerlies likely to be more frequent? 
The short answer is El Niño. 
El Niño is a natural climate pattern that starts thousands of kilometres away, in the tropical Pacific. Normally, trade winds push warm surface water westward, so it piles up around Indonesia and northern Australia. Sea levels there sit around 60 centimetres higher than off the coast of South America. 
When those trade winds weaken, that built-up warm water surges back east across the Pacific. It takes two to three months to cross the ocean, and as it moves, it shifts rainfall and storm patterns and changes weather far beyond the tropics, including here in Aotearoa. 
For Nelson, one of the flow-on effects is more frequent and sometimes stronger westerly winds, particularly into spring and over summer. 

What does this mean if you're heading out on the water? 
Westerlies can turn Tasman Bay from calm to choppy faster than many boaties expect, especially as the wind funnels down from the Whakamarama or through the Buller Gorge and across the Waimea plains. A trip that looks easy going out can be a hard, wet slog coming back in. If that combines with wind against tide conditions, then Nelson harbour entrance (the cut) and the inner harbour can become hazardous for small craft. 
“We’ve seen boaties caught out by wind that builds quickly through the late morning and early afternoon, especially a south-westerly, often stronger than forecast due to local effects Check the forecast before you leave and check it again before you head home. Plan accordingly and if in doubt, don’t go out!” 
— Nelson Harbourmaster Stu Whitehouse 

What should you check before heading out? 
A few simple checks can make the difference between a good day on the water and a call for help. 
	•	Check the marine forecast, not just the general forecast, before you launch and again before you head back in. When a south-westerly is forecast, exercise caution if heading along the coast from Nelson. Watch for cloud building over the Kahurangi Range. It's a local indicator that winds may soon strengthen significantly
	•	Ensure your boat is seaworthy, engine serviced and plenty of fresh fuel for the trip (plus spare) and yes, petrol does go off- use the old stuff in the lawnmower 
	•	Watch for a westerly building through the afternoon. Conditions can change quickly, particularly around Haulashore Island/Motu Mānuka and the entrance to Nelson Haven/Whakatū. Avoid these areas in wind against tide conditions 
	•	Tell someone your plan. Let a friend or family member know where you’re going and when you expect to be back
	•	Carry more than one way to call for help. A VHF radio or a personal locator beacon (PLB) can be a lifeline if conditions turn and cell coverage drops out or wet hands hinder operating a touch screen (try it out) 
	•	Wear your lifejacket. It only works if you’re wearing it, not packed away in a locker. Have waterproof communications attached to your lifejacket
	•	Know your limits and your boat’s limits. If the forecast looks marginal, it’s fine to wait for a better day. 

If you're caught out 
If conditions build faster than expected head for the nearest safe shelter rather than pushing on into open water. If you’re in trouble, call 111 and ask for Police, who coordinate marine search and rescue, or Maritime Radio on VHF Channel 16. Tasman Bay has a fantastic maritime response community who are there to help, so don’t wait till it’s too late to call. No judgements, we just want people to get home. 

A steady hand on a changing bay 
El Niño isn’t something we can control, but how we prepare for a day on the water is. A quick check of the forecast and a lifejacket on before you leave the wharf go a long way. 
Stay safe out there, and if you’re ever unsure, our Harbourmaster team is happy to help before you head out. Come along to our Water Safety Expo at Nelson Marina on 31 October 2026 or drop in to see us with any questions. Our new office is at 305 Akersten Street (right at the end). We have space and plans for some community education sessions that we’ll announce on our Facebook page. Our on call 24/7 HM number: 0800 NNHARB (664272).

Help our environment thrive with an Environmental Grant
Do you look after a stream, plant natives, or run trap lines in your neighbourhood? Council's Environmental Grant Programme could help you do more.
The grants support projects that protect, enhance and restore the health of Whakatū Nelson's environment. This year's priorities include wetland and stream-side restoration, pest control, protecting Significant Natural Areas, reducing erosion on farmland and forestry land, and restoring our coastal areas.
Support can be money, professional ecological advice, trapping equipment or native plants. Individuals and groups working within Nelson city boundaries can apply.
Up to $20,000 is available per project in any one year. Funds are limited, so applications for up to $5,000 are more likely to succeed. Erosion control projects are the exception and can seek more.
Applications open on 7 September 2026 and close on 5 October 2026. Site visits and assessments follow in October and November, with agreements signed in December.

Find out more by scanning the QR code or visiting 
nelson.govt.nz/environmental-grant-programme

Lifejacket rules are going nationwide! 
If you have been out on the water in Nelson in the last few years, you will know the rule. On a boat 6 metres or under, everyone wears a lifejacket. No exceptions.
That rule has been part of Nelson’s Navigation Safety Bylaw since 2019, and Tasman has the same one. Now the rest of Aotearoa New Zealand is catching up. Maritime NZ is updating the national Navigation Safety Rules (Part 91) so lifejackets must be worn on small craft everywhere in the country.
There is a good reason the rule focuses on smaller boats. Kayaks, dinghies, jet skis and small runabouts are where most boating deaths happen. Things go wrong fast, and a lifejacket you are already wearing buys you time. One stowed under a seat does not.
The national change did not happen on its own. Harbourmasters around the country, including our own team in Whakatū, have pushed for a consistent rule for years, working alongside Maritime NZ and water safety groups. As our Harbourmaster puts it: "We have seen first hand how a lifejacket changes the outcome when someone ends up in the water. A national rule means the same protection for people wherever they launch," says Stu Whitehouse Nelson Harbourmaster. 
For Nelson boaties, nothing changes. Keep doing what you are doing. Wear your lifejacket, make sure it fits, and check it before each trip. And if you head out of the region this summer, the rule now travels with you.
Find out more by scanning the QR code or visiting maritimenz.govt.nz

Councillor’s Comment
Electrification – a no-brainer for Nelson
Blink and you might miss it: Nelson's best chance to save money, cut emissions and build resilience, all at once. The electric revolution is in full swing, and last month's Electrify Nelson Expo showed people are paying attention.
The numbers stack up so clearly that the question has shifted from "why should I?" to "how do I start?" That came through in the political debate, where every candidate wanted a piece of the action. But why wait for politicians when so many of us have something to gain right now?
Households across the Nelson region spend $430,000 a day on fossil fuels. Electrifying could save the average household around $7,300 a year once the switch is made, or about $3,000 a year including up-front costs - roughly $210 million a year across the region, and more than $1 billion in net savings by 2040.
Nelson City Council is moving quickly. Our fleet now includes five full EVs, four plug-in hybrids and two hybrids. Since the eBus launched in 2023, passenger journeys have climbed from 462,000 to 963,000 a year.
We're also installing solar on council and community facilities for the purpose of community resilience: $950,000 of investment, with $620,000 from Council and $330,000 from EECA. We’re adding batteries, so the buildings can run as Civil Defence Centres in an emergency. 
The proposed Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, a nationwide initiative, would give households here access to low-cost loans. But real change starts with each of us asking where we could take advantage now, be it solar, EVs, heating, water, cooktops and more. 
Most banks now offer low-interest finance to those with a mortgage. Schemes like WorkRide help employees electrify, with tax savings as a bonus. Plug-in solar is just around the corner, and some landlords are even splitting the benefit of solar with their tenants, so it's worth asking the question.
People often ask if the grid can cope. Here's a fun fact: if a family of five swapped its electric hot water cylinder for a heat pump one, the annual energy savings would run their EV for a year.
If you’re keen to take the plunge but don’t know where to start, ask a friend, ask a neighbour, or ask your local city councillor. 
You can always contact me via email james.hodgson@ncc.govt.nz and I am more than happy to share my experience.

Councillor  James Hodgson

Te Tauihu Accessibility Expo
13 September | 10am - 3pm 
Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

For disabled and neurodivergent people, their whānau, and the people that support them to access information, support, connection and fun!
Stalls, speakers, entertainment & much more!

Meetings
Council - to hear feedback to Library, Community Hub and Civic Spaces Engagement (if required)
9am	16 Sep

Audit, Risk and Finance Committee
1pm	22 Sep

Regulatory Process Panel
9am	24 Sep

Joint Committee
9.30am	29 Sep

Note: All meetings are held in the Nelson City Council Chamber, Floor 2A, Civic House, 110 Trafalgar Street, Nelson unless stated otherwise.

A full list of meetings for 2026 are available on the Council’s website: nelson.govt.nz/1your-council/4meetings-and-agendas

Conewatch: Ongoing projects
250 Haven Road (Old 4 Seasons) Deconstruction  
End date // September 2026  
Location // 250 Haven Road   
Benefit // Waterfront Masterplan – Future Planning

Paru Paru Road Wastewater Pumping Main Renewal 
End date // October 2026  
Location // Paru Paru Road   
Benefit // Replace old sewer pipe and realignment  

Playspace Whakatū / Rutherford Playspace  
End date // November 2026 
Location // Rutherford Park   
Benefit // Destination playground 

Rutherford Street / Haven Road 
End date // November 2026  
Location // Haven Road / Rutherford Street 
Benefit // Infrastructure upgrade

St Vincent Street Infrastructure Upgrade 
End date // November 2026  
Location // St Vincent Street (from Hastings Street to Halifax Street)   
Benefit // Improve stormwater, water supply and sewer network 

Maitai Flood Improvements 
End date // November 2026  
Location // Hanby Park to Clouston Terrace   
Benefit // Flood Protection 

Haven Road & Halifax Street Intersection – Traffic Signals 
End date // November 2026  
Location // Haven Road & Halifax Street intersection   
Benefit // Improved road safety

Tāhunanui Catchment 2  
End date // December 2026   
Location // Moncrieff Avenue   
Benefit // Stormwater upgrade / Geotech improvements

Maitahi Development Sewer and Water, Stage 1 
End date // Early 2027  
Location // Maitai Valley Road  
Benefit // Improve the sewer and water supply network capacity 

Maitai Development Shared Path 
End date // Early 2027 
Location // Maitai Valley Road  
Benefit // New Shared Path to connect the development site to the city centre 

Bridge Street
End date // August 2027 
Location // Bridge Street between Collingwood and Rutherford Street   
Benefit // Infrastructure upgrade  

What's on at Nelson Public Libraries
Elma Turner Library
Hours // Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday // 9.30am – 6pm 
Wednesday // 10am – 6pm
Saturday // 10am – 4pm
Sunday // 1pm – 4pm

PaperPlay: A Mindful Collage // Wednesday 9 September // 1pm – 2.30pm
Small Time // Wednesday 9, 16, 23 September // 10.30am – 10.50am
Sew-Along Drop-in Sewing Help // Wednesday 9 September // 10.30am – 12.30pm
Library Knitters // Thursday 11, 17, 21 September & 1 October // 10am – 12pm
Cricut Basics for Beginners // Thursday 10 September // 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Device Advice // Thursday 10, 17, 24 September & 1 October // 2pm – 3pm
Bamby 3D Printing Demo // Friday 11 September // 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Tea and Talk // Friday 11, 18, 25 September & 2 October // 10am – 11.30am
Justices of the Peace // Saturday 12, 19, 26 September & 3 October // 10am – 12pm
Kōrero te reo Māori //Saturday 12 & 26 September10am - 11am
Information Session with Advance Care Planning // Saturday 12 September // 11am – 12pm
Dungeons and Dragons for Adults // Saturday 12 September // 1pm – 3.30pm
Japanese Calligraphy with Akiko Crowther // Sunday 13 September// 1.30pm – 3pm
Citizen Advice Bureau  Drop-in Advice Session // Monday 14, 21, 28 September & 5 October // 9.30am – 6pm
Community Corner: Electoral Support // Tuesday 15, 22, 29 September & 6 October // 
9.30am – 12pm
Introduction to te reo Māori // Tuesday 15 September // 12.30pm – 1.15pm
Building on the Basics: Te Reo in Practice // Wednesday 16 September //1pm – 1.45pm
Alzheimer’s Nelson Tasman Drop-in // Thursday 17 September // 10am – 11am
STEM Writers // Tuesday 22 September // 12.30pm – 3pm
Live Music Series: Suena Oro // Sunday 27 September // 2pm – 2.30pm
Community Corner – Employable // Tuesday 6 October // 12.30pm – 2.30pm

Nightingale Library Memorial 
Hours // Monday – Friday // 12pm – 4pm  
Saturday // Closed  
Sunday // 1pm – 4pm

Justices of the Peace // Friday 11, 18, 25 September & 2 October // 12pm – 2pm
Nellie Knitters // Wednesday 16, 30, Monday 21 September & Monday 5 October // 1pm – 3pm

Stoke Library
Hours // Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday // 9.30am – 5.30pm   Wednesday // 10.00am – 5.30pm   Saturday // 10am – 1pm
Sunday // Closed

Community Corner – Volunteering Drop-Ins at Stoke // Wednesday 9, 23 September & 7 October // 10am – 1pm
Device Advice //  Wednesday 9, 16, 23, 30 September, 7 October, Tuesday 15, 22 29 September & 6 October // 2pm – 3pm
Paper Play // Wednesday 9 September // 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Small Time // Friday 11, 18, 25, September // 10.30am – 10.50am
Justices of the Peace // Saturday 12, 19, 26 September & 3 October // 10am – 12pm
Stoke Bookchat // Wednesday 16 September // 5.30pm – 6.30pm

Visit our Libraries website nelsonpubliclibraries.co.nz for more information on our library events and services.

Spotlight on Whakatū Events
It’s on at a Council Venue

Saxton Oval
The Indian Food Festival // Saturday 27 September // 11am - 4pm

Saxton Stadium
Home and Garden Show 2026 // Friday 18 and Saturday 19 // 10am – 5pm, Sunday 20 September // 10am – 4pm

Trafalgar Centre
Te Tauihu Accessibility Expo //Sunday 13 September // 10am – 3pm
NZ Highland Dancer of the Year 2026 // Saturday 3 October // 9am – 5pm // Sunday 4 October // 9am – 3pm

Trafalgar Park
Tasman Mako v Bay of Plenty //Thursday 24 September // 7.10pm

1903 Square
Potters Square // Saturday 3 - Friday 9 October // 11am
Nelson Clay Week Potters Market // Saturday 3 October // 9.30am
The Bots Pots Potters Olympics // Saturday 3 October // 2pm

Founders Heritage Park
Hours // 10am – 4.30pm daily

Parent and Child Expo // Saturday 12 September // 10am – 4pm
Kintsugi Workshop with Ema Frost // Sunday 20 September // 10.30am – 12.30pm & 2pm – 4pm 
Nelson Bonsai Club Exhibition // Saturday 26 September // 9am – 4pm
Age Concern Nelson Tasman 50th Jubilee Expo & Celebration // Thursday 1 October // 10am – 3pm
Boutique Craft Market // Sunday 4 October // 10am – 2pm

Trafalgar Street Hall
Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan: Balance, Grace & Flow (8-week course) // Wednesday 2 September - Wednesday 21 October // 10.30am – 11.30am
Tai Chi and Qi Gong Fundamentals for Beginners // Wednesday 9, 16, 23, 30 September & 7 October // 9.20am – 10.20am

Melrose House
Hours // Monday // 9am – 3pm 
Tuesday - Sunday // 9am – 4pm
Public holidays // closed

Isel House and Park
Winter hours // from 26 April // 
Isel House closed 
Summer Hours // 16 October - 25 April
Sunday, Monday & Public Holidays // Closed
Tuesday – Saturday // 10am – 3pm

Pūtangitangi Greenmeadows Community Centre
An Adventure in Art // Saturday 12 September - Saturday 19 September // 10am – 4pm
Nelson Cake Decorators and Sugar Artists – An Adventure in Art // Saturday 12 September // 10am – 11.55am
Miniature Club – An Adventure in Art // Saturday 12 September // 10am – 4pm
Pastel Artists of Nelson Exhibition – An Adventure in Art // Saturday 12 September // 10am – 4pm
Art Group Nelson – An Adventure in Art // Saturday 12 September // 10am – 4pm
Spring Art Exhibition – An Adventure in Art // Saturday 12 - Sunday 13 September // 
10am – 4pm
Tasman Tellers – An Adventure in Art // Sunday 13 September // 10.30am – 11.30am
Art of Chai // Saturday 19 September // 3pm – 5pm

Museums and Galleries

Broadgreen House and Samuels Rose Gardens
Hours // Monday - Saturday // 11.30am – 3pm (last entry 2.30pm)
Sunday // 10.30am – 4pm (last entry 3.30pm)

Beyond the Canvas: Art in all its forms // Wednesday 29 April - Thursday 31 December // during opening hours

The Suter Art Gallery & Theatre
Hours // 9.30am – 4.30pm daily

Fired Forward // Saturday 9 May - Sunday 11 October // during opening hours
Stuart & Kate Newby: What song is this? // Saturday 17 June - Sunday 25 October // during opening hours
Ian Scott: Painting New Zealand //Saturday 12 September - Sunday 6 December, // during opening hours

Tāwera – The new Nelson Arts Hub
Hours // Monday – Friday // 10am – 5pm  Saturday // 10am – 2pm

Ordinary Wonders // Friday 14 August - Wednesday 16 September // during opening hours
Nelson Clay Week Exhibition // Saturday 3 - Friday 9 October // during opening hours
Pushing Clay // Saturday 3 - 24 October // during opening hours

Nelson Provincial Museum 
Hours // Weekdays // 10am – 5pm
Weekends & Public Holidays // 10am – 4.30pm  

Unravelling the Saree // Friday 28 August - Sunday 15 November // during opening hours