Events

NGĀ ART, based in the historic Masonic building at 18 Herschel Street, Ngāruawāhia, is a vibrant hub for cultural and creative activity – proudly leading some of the town’s most significant community arts and cultural events.

Here are a few of the upcoming events at NGĀ ART:

Ngaruawahia Christmas Tree Festival

NGĀ ART is proud to present the first ever Ngāruawāhia Christmas Tree Festival, a vibrant, inclusive celebration of creativity, connection, and community spirit. Supported by the Creative Communities Scheme, this event invites children, youth, adults, kaumātua, schools, businesses, and community groups to design and decorate themed Christmas trees for public exhibition. 

From 5 – 19 December, NGĀ ART will be transformed into a magical indoor forest featuring over 40 full-sized trees and 20 mini trees, each uniquely crafted to reflect the identity, imagination, and festive spirit of its creators. Tree themes range from traditional Christmas and Kiwiana to recycled materials and personal hobbies, with a special category for NGA Tiny Trees. 

The festival coincides with the NGĀ ART End of Year Market, a series of Christmas workshops, and other festive events, creating a joyful hub of activity for all ages. Participating schools will collaborate with NGĀ ART to create trees that represent their kura, while local clubs, businesses, and whānau are encouraged to enter trees that showcase their values and creativity. 

Opening Night will align with the Night Market, and prizes will be awarded for creativity, sustainability, and community spirit. Entry is free, and all trees will be displayed in the lodge at NGĀ ART. 

This event aims to foster pride, collaboration, and artistic engagement across generations, establishing a new tradition that celebrates whānau, culture, and the spirit of Christmas in Ngāruawāhia. 

Are you keen to get involved? We need trees, so please get creating!!! Here is the link to register your tree now:  Ngāruawāhia Christmas Tree Festival – Tree Registration Form 2025 – Fill out form

Te Pō Mārama – Matariki ki NGĀ ART

Opening Night – 26th of June 2025 at 6pm.

Exhibition open from Friday 27th of June to Friday 4th of July 2025.

Join us for Te Pō Mārama – Matariki ki NGĀ ART, a glowing celebration of how creativity, and mātauranga Māori connect our community.

This community-led exhibition and event series invites you into a luminous world where art meets the stars — honouring Matariki through collaborative creations shaped in our intentional classes and workshops throughout the months leading up to the opening.

In a unique glow-in-the-dark setting, you’ll experience powerful artworks inspired by the whetū of Matariki — especially Tupu-ā-rangi, Waitī, and Waitā — each representing key elements of te taiao (the natural world), from ngahere to freshwater and saltwater ecosystems.

Through this event, we bring together tamariki, rangatahi, pakeke and kaumātua to reflect, connect, and celebrate the Māori New Year through the lens of art, storytelling, and sustainability. Visitors will also be able to see our community’s collaborative art pieces using upcycled materials — a creative response to the values of regeneration and renewal.

Opening Times:

26 Jun Thur – 6pm to 9pm opening event
27 Jun Fri – 10am to 4pm
28 Jun Sat – 1pm – 4pm
29 Jun Sun – 1pm – 4pm
30-Jun Mon 10am – 8pm
1-Jul Tues 10am-8pm
2-Jul Wed 10am-8pm
3-Jul Thurs 10am-5pm
4-Jul Fri 10am-2pm

Location: Te Whare Toi o Ngāruawāhia (NGĀ ART), 18 Herschel Street, Ngāruawāhia

Entry: Koha (all donations will support future creative community events)

Art encourages community cohesion and reduces isolation. It makes us aware of the world around us and how we influence and react to each other. The value of art in society is too great to quantify. It not only proves who we are, but it educates us about our past and where we are today as a species.

EJAZ KHAN

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