Why We Love Welly (#2)
I think it’s safe to say this year has been off to a tumultuous start in many ways. From the events and conflicts in the wider world, to their effects here in Aotearoa. Then, add some catastrophic weather events on top of it all! It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the state of the world at the moment and with many of us feeling more comfortable staying close to home and hunkering down, it’s more important than ever to appreciate and celebrate our little city.
With last week's weather events affecting many homes, lives and businesses across Wellington, our hearts go out to all of those who were impacted. However, it’s at times like these that our little community here in Te Whanganui-a-Tara really comes together. With local cafes flooding, we saw Wellingtonians lending a hand to help these business owners get back on their feet. Whakamaru & the Wellington City Mission provided shelter and kai for anyone in need and we saw how our city can come together and offer support when it matters the most.
So, with Wellington still recovering from these extreme weather events, we thought it was the perfect time to share some aroha for our little city. From the small businesses at the heart of it all, to the exciting events coming up in the next month, this is Why We Love Welly…
Support Local
With areas like Newtown, Berhampore and Island Bay suffering major flooding and storm damage last week, we wanted to shout out some of the local businesses at the heart of these Welly suburbs. With some of these businesses closed indefinitely due to the storm damage, and many remaining open but still recovering, they could definitely use a bit of love right now. So, if you’re looking for a spot to grab a coffee, a bite to eat or do some retail therapy, look no further…
Parla - Island Bay
One of our favourite spots in Island Bay, the gorgeous Parla was hit hard last week and will be closed indefinitely as they recover. In the meantime, you can support them by purchasing a Mosaic Venues voucher (Here) which can be used when they re-open. Or, pop into one of their other lovely eateries, Ombra, Kisa or Mr Go’s.
Bebemos - Newtown
If you’re looking for a delicious meal, some happy hour cocktails or live music, Bebemos is the spot! Pop in for a $5 taco on Taco Tuesday, enjoy a happy hour drink any weekday (3pm-5pm) or live music on Friday evenings.
Creeps Record Parlour - Newtown
Creeps Record Parlour is one of Wellington’s favourite record stores, offering everything from second-hand and vintage vinyl to cassettes, CD’s and new vinyl. This treasured Newtown spot was impacted by the floods last week, which saw many locals lending a hand to mop and salvage the water damaged goods. If you’re looking for a gift for a music-lover in your life or searching for your favourite album on vinyl, pop into Creeps when they re-open, their selection is fantastic.
The Blue Belle Cafe - Island Bay
If you’ve spent any time in Island Bay, you’ll be familiar with The Blue Belle Cafe. They’re the hospo heart of this suburb, offering a range of counter food, a great brunch/lunch menu and the best butter chicken pie in the city! They showed their support last week by offering coffee and scones to emergency workers, a great reminder of how our community comes together in tough times.
Baobab Cafe - Newtown
Baobab is one of Newtown’s most beloved spots and they showed their love for the community last week offering free coffee and food to emergency workers, nurses and flood victims. This cafe always has tasty counter food, great coffee and many cosy spots to sit and enjoy some Newtown people watching.
Gramercy Bakery - Berhampore
We popped into Gramercy for our weekly Support Local video earlier this month and enjoyed some delicious coffee and freshly baked goodies. This spot is perfect for a Saturday brunch, with sunny tables outside to enjoy some excellent dog-watching.
Events (May)
Despite everything, Wellingtonians are still showing up for local events, with a sold out stadium for the Warriors game over the weekend and The Flight of The Conchords shows at Meow Nui selling out in record time - we love to see it! It’s always nice to have an event in the calendar to look forward to and the month of May in Te Whanganui-a-Tara has a plethora of great options…
New Zealand International Comedy Festival
(1st - 24th May)
The timing couldn’t be better for the NZ International Comedy Festival to come to town, I think we could all use an evening of laughter! With 150+ comedians performing across Auckland and Wellington, there’s something for everyone. This festival takes over the city next month, with plenty of venues getting involved from The Opera House, BATS Theatre and Hannah Playhouse to The Fringe Bar and San Fran.
Learn More & Buy Tickets Here
& Juliet The Musical
St James Theatre (9th - 24th May)
This pop music reimagining of Shakespare’s Romeo & Juliet is one of the biggest theatre productions coming to Wellington this year. With a comedic, high-energy take on a classic love story, incredible costumes and choreography, this sounds like the must-see event of 2026!
Learn More & Buy Tickets Here
NZ Art Show
TSB Arena & Shed 6 (29th - 31st May)
We are big fans of The NZ Art Show, with Bella’s 9 years of exhibiting bringing us back every year! Along with supporting our resident artist, we love seeing all the incredible local talent from the 300+ artists showcasing their work over King’s Birthday weekend. With over 4,000 original pieces, everything from painting and photography to sculpture and installations, there is so much to see!
Learn More & Buy Tickets Here
Wellington Film Society
Embassy Theatre
If you love the cinema experience, the Wellington Film Society provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy a movie every week at one of our most beloved cinemas, The Embassy. This non-profit film club has been running for 75+ years and allows members to see a different film each week for an annual fee of $120. Their line-up focuses on independent, classic and international films, exposing you to movies you may never have heard of, and providing you with something to look forward to on a Monday evening.