A proposal was unveiled yesterday for a Weta Workshop-designed rugby-themed sculpture to grace the city, somewhere, In Time For The Rugby World Cup.
The sculpture is highly symbolic, with the DomPost providing a list of all the symbolism, but what does the sculpture most resemble?
If you're a pedestrian, sometimes it seems as though you're the last to be considered. Other modes of transport get all the big bucks while we get to stumble along on our own, catching our heels on the cobblestones and dodging the seemingly interminable earthworks.
So it's nice to see that there's a dedicated Cycling and Walking journey planner from the Greater Wellington Regional Council
Imagine our delight to find that this weekend there is a jousting carnival in Upper Hutt.
Harcourt Park, Saturday and Sunday 10th and 11th January, Upper Hutt.
As they said in days of yore, be there or be-eth square.
Wellington has secured the rights to host the 2011 Tae Kwon Do (or Taekwondo, Taekwan-Do, or other variations, depending on where you look) World Champs. New Zealand finished 3rd at the 2007 World Champs (note, link is to a PDF of the medals table), and, with the sport thriving in NZ, the home team is expected to do well with the next event on home turf.
In an effort to encourage people to leave their cars at home, Greater Wellington has announced that from July 1 this year, bikes can ride on trains for free. At the moment, travelling by rail with your bike will cost you another adult fare. Sounds like a good idea to us.
Here's a bit of fun to be had - the Star Boating Club in conjunction with Wellington Girls College, Queen Margaret's College and Wellington College, is holding a 20 hour Row-A-Thon to raise funds for the current season of races, regattas & camps. It takes place at the Reading Complex Foyer (Courtney Place) between 6pm Friday February 22 (TONIGHT!!), and Noon Saturday.
The “Finance Company Implosion” has seen several name changes for our beloved Basin Reserve over the past few months. It is now known officially as the Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve and the ground improvements continue at good pace.
It may come as somewhat of a surprise to you to discover that Wellington has a pro-wrestling circuit. However, now you know, you really must come along to Halloween Howl II on Saturday October 27. It starts at 7.30pm so you'll be out in time to attend other Halloween shindigs, and damn, it's men in tights.
This is a cry for help!
Can someone out there leave ideas, suggestions and even actual locations for those people, of a rugby following tendency, that wish to watch the Monday morning pool games.
Within the Wellington CBD we mean.
The games tend to start around 6am and the Wellingtonista has discovered that most 'rugby-type' venues aren't opening until their normal time of 7am due to licensing restrictions.
An unanticipated great result in Melbourne on Saturday night has kept the Phoenix in the hunt for early scalps and, perhaps more importantly, given them another warm-up game to prepare for the forthcoming A-League campaign.
f you're stuck for something to do next Monday night, you could do worse than to head to Porirua Park for the final of Wellington's premier one grade schoolboy rugby competition. The match is to be played between Mana College and Wellington College. As detailed in a story in the Dom Post, Mana has made a dramatic rise through the grades after starting the year in premier two and being promoted mid-season, and to have made it to the final is nigh-on miraculous.
The first Wellington Phoenix home pre-season game has been moved for the second time. Originally announced for the Basin Reserve, at some point it was switched to Newtown Park and now, according to the official site it has been moved to Westpac Stadium due to “concerns that Newtown Park would not have the capacity to cope with the big crowd expected.” Sunday at 2.00pm is kick-off time and the tickets are only $10 (and free for under 16s).
So tonight I messed up with giving people their lane assignments, which probably means that it's possible that ClickSuite might have thought that they'd won their round, and Clemenger might have thought that they'd lost theirs (oh who are we kidding, Clemenger would never think that, and that's why we love them), but as it turns out, it was Bowltron who were the winners on the night.
Gah. If the stories we're hearing tonight are true, then we are ... underwhelmed.
Seriously, Black Star Wellington was the bomb.
And even Wellington City or Wellington FC were better options.
But ... "Phoenix"?
Ah well.
So, perhaps the most drawn out sports decision ever to be made by an Australasian sporting body has finally been confirmed, and a Wellington bid has won the right field a team in Australia's A-League soccer competition.
Now all they need is a name (oh, and some players, and a home ground, but let's not mention that).
Kia ora St John’s whānau, I hope you’re keeping warm, as we feel the brink of snow! This Sunday we unpack the next two priorities of our Vision Refresh: Priority 5 – Discipleship: A Distinctive Community that Integrates Newcomers into Meaningful Pathways of Growth Priority 6 – Tradition and Innovation: Authenticity over Trend Our St J’s Kids and youth will start at 10am in the St John’s Centre in their peer groups. And then they will come across to the church so we can all celebrate the meal of Communion together. After the service we will all share morning tea and coffee in the St John’s Centre. And we have our final Souper Sunday of the winter season (see details below). If you can’t gather in the city, and you want to join the worship service via Zoom, here is the link to access the live-stream: Link to Zoom Service If using your phone: dial 04 886 0026 (Meeting ID: 370 260 759#, Passcode: 1560107#) This is the link to the printable Service Sheet: Printable Service Sheet OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT... SOUPER SUNDAY Souper Sunday is this Sunday (9th August). This will be the last Souper Sunday for the Winter. Please join us after morning tea for delicious hot soup. No charge but we would appreciate something small to have with our tea/coffee after soup. Thank you for your contribution. CREATION CARE Come and join in this tree planting with a team from Church on the afternoon of Sunday 9th August. Tawatawa Reserve in Owhiro Bay Meet at the Tawatawa sign board and map, just up the hill from the car park on Murchison Street. Please dress warmly, bring strong footwear that can get muddy, and gardening gloves if you have them. If rained off we will postpone to the 16th of August. PRESBYTERY GATHERING Twice a year, Presbytery Central holds their Gathering. We’re looking forward to gathering again as Presbytery Central on 15th August 2026, this time exploring what it means to be Presbyterian in today’s world. Centred on the theme Cooperation – working together, this Gathering will celebrate our shared identity, tell stories of collaboration from around the Presbytery, and consider how we can faithfully serve God’s mission together in Central New Zealand. We are honoured to welcome Right Rev Peter Dunn, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, as our keynote speaker. Peter will reflect on the strengths of our Presbyterian tradition and the opportunities before us as we seek to be churches that are connected, discerning, and hopeful. Throughout the day we’ll hear inspiring stories of cooperation between congregations, ministries, and communities, before concluding with a panel conversation featuring Peter, Rev Erin Pendreigh, and Rev Allister Lane, exploring what it means to be Presbyterian today and where God may be leading us next. Join us at St Alban’s, Palmerston North, from 10:30am on Saturday 15 August 2026, for a day of worship, encouragement, conversation, and vision as we reflect on Our Story. Our Calling. Our Future. Whether you’ve been part of the Presbyterian Church for decades or are newer to our community, this Gathering is an opportunity to reconnect, learn from one another, and be inspired for the journey ahead. Details and Registration SCOTS FOUNDERS SERVICE On Sunday 23rd August, 4pm we host the annual Founders Service with all our friends from the Scots College community. You are welcome to come and be part of this worship, as we celebrate the vision of those who started the Church Schools and for the enduring legacy of Christian influence in our city. RECITAL: ROSE LIGHT & GABRIEL BAIRD Monday, 24 August at 7:30pm at St Michael’s Anglican Church in Kelburn for a spectacular evening of chamber music. Rose studied violin in Wellington at the NZ School of Music prior to moving to Austria, returns for this recital alongside pianist Gabriel Baird. Time: Doors open at 7:00pm | Concert begins at 7:30pm Tickets: $35 Adult / $25 CSC & Under 24 (Cash sales may be available at the door) https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/rose-light-gabriel-baird-recital-wellington/wellington St Johns Church Camp is back! (Only happens every second year!) Join us 18–20 Sept at Forest Lakes, Ōtaki for two nights of faith, fun, connection, and relaxation. Expect: worship, Bible reflections, great chats, games, fully catered meals, awesome company, and unforgettable moments (including Dave Wood’s legendary bonfire). Take a break from the busyness of life, grow deeper in your faith, and connect with your church whānau. Don’t miss it! You can now register HERE Church Camp OFFICE HOURS St John’s Office is closed on Mondays. All functions of the office will be available the other working days of the week. Check out more of what’s happening at St John’s on the website: https://www.stjohnsinthecity.org.nz/upcoming-events The St John’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/St-Johns-In-The-City-Wellington-197057586974092/ The Facebook group created as a safe space just for our St J’s Whānau: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18qCo6CmJP/?mibextid=wwXIfr Mā te wā Allister
Above: Action from the Wellington Centurions v Whanganui match last year, with the Centurions winning 41-0 at the Hutt Rec. The two sides meet at Cooks Gardens tomorrow in the Centurions’ first game of the year and Whanganui’s last before the Heartland Championship gets underway next weekend. Photo: Kinetic Images. By Scott MacLean & Steven...
