On the last friday of each month Waiheke Local will review the upcoming events for the month ahead, and so we have put together a list of the major events happening in March and this coming month is turning out to be a very busy one. Please let us know if your event is not listed and we will be more then happy to include it. A full list of the events over the next few months can also be viewed on our events page. Let’s get started.
March 1st
1. Waiheke Round Island 100km Relay
The Waiheke Round Island Relay is a 100km relay event, which can also be run as a solo 60km ultramarathon. With dawn start and dusk finish, this is an individual Ultra or a team event in which members circumnavigate Waiheke Island’s trails and headlands, including Man O’War Bay and Matiatia Bay and all points in between.
Event Name: Waiheke Round Island 100km Relay
Event Date: Saturday 1st March
Event Organiser: Synergy Sports Events
Event Website: Event Facebook Page
March 2nd
1. Onetangi Beach Races
Coming up this Sunday is one of Waiheke Island’s most iconic events, the annual Onetangi Beach Races. It’s a popular day for both locals and visitors to the island; the event is free to attend, provides good entertainment and a great day out for the family. Along with the horse races are the tractor race, the wheelbarrow race, and the popular Sealegs races. Other events of the day include Sandcastle competition, and The Big Dig for the children (come dressed as a pirate to win more prizes), as well as Tug-of-War and much, much more.
Event Name: Onetangi Beach Races
Event Date: Sunday 2nd March – 10am – 3pm
Event Organiser: Onetangi Beach Races
Event Website: Onetangi Beach Races
March 8th
1. Jazz by the Sea
A new summer event supported by the local board. Jazz by the Sea will feature local jazz voclaist Briar Ross accompanied by John Mackay (Canada/Waiheke) on keyboards Chris Orange on bass and some great guests. So it’s a local event for locals and visitors.
The venue will be the grass reserve at little Oneroa beach. Bring a picnic and enjoy the sunset, music and views. Have a swim cook something on the BBQ and chill out. The beach is easy to access and on a bus route and walking distance form Oneroa. Plenty of parking. Briar and her band wil be doing a selection of jazz standards some well known and some more unusual.
Event Name: Jazz by the Sea
Event Date: Saturday 8th March – 5pm – 8pm
Event Location: Little Oneroa Beach
Event Organiser: Briar Ross Quartet
Event Website: Waiheke Jazz and Blues
Admission: Free
2. Love your coast
As part of Seaweek 2014 Sustainable Coastlines is coordinating Love your Coast Waiheke Island, a large-scale education and beach clean-up project. From 3 to 7 March 2014 we’re working with schools, community groups and businesses, delivering our proven educational presentation and working hands on to clean-up this epic stretch of coastline.
On Saturday 8 March the project culminates with a huge public event day with clean-ups at locations all around the island. We would love you to be involved. We’re looking for volunteers to join the clean-up effort and for boats to ferry volunteers to hard-to-access beaches.
From 8am – 2pm, volunteers are asked to meet our team at any of our three Event Stations to register and pick-up rubbish sacks and gloves. Free lunch packs for the first 150 to turn up, so get in quick! Look for our big blue flags. Meeting points are:
– Ostend Market, Belgium Street, Ostend.
– Matiatia Information Centre, Matiatia Wharf.
– Kennedy Point Wharf, Donald Bruce Road, Kennedy Point.
Following the clean-up all are invited to come together from 5pm at The Bay, 10 Ocean View Rd, Matiatia, to celebrate the day and week’s activities with food and entertainment. Epic spot-prizes will be up for grabs, including tickets to the Waiheke Jazz Festival where we’ll unveil an artwork made from the rubbish that you help us collect!
Event Name: Love your Coast
Event Date: Saturday 8th March – 8am – 2pm
Event Location: The Bay at Matiatia
Event Organiser: Sustainable Coastlines
Event Website: Sustainable Coastlines
Admission: Free
March 9th
1. International Women’s Day
A fun-filled market celebrating the creativity and success of Waiheke women. Delicious food, art, stalls and much more. A family fundraising event for Living Without Violence (Waiheke Network) Inc, a com minute agency providing support to children youth and adults impacted by family violence and abuse.
Event Name: International Women’s Day – Women’s Work Market
Event Date: Sunday 9th March – 9am – 2pm
Event Location: Morra Hall
Event Organiser: Living without violence
Event Website: Living without Violence
Admission: Free
March 22nd
1. Seaweek Community Guided Snorkel Day
Can you find a pipe fish? Explore the local marine environment with experienced snorkel guides. Free Snorkel gear hire. Register on the day.
Event Name: Seaweek Community Guided Snorkel Day
Event Date: Saturday 22nd March – 10am – 2pm
Event Location: Enclosure Bay
Event Organiser: Seaweek
Event Website: www.emr.org.nz
Admission: Free
2. Dressed Up, Back Porch Blues
Wellington based Laura Collins and the Back Porch Blues Band will be dishin’ up some dressed up, back porch blues. You can expect a little Etta James, some Bonnie Raitt, some Muddy Waters and many more favourites, a whole lot of cheek, some fine playing and a dressed up, toe-tapping, good old southern time on the back porch. Tickets $20 on the door, pre-bookings recommended – please contact Zoe or Andrew on 09 372 7461, BYO snacks and drinks, we’ll supply the good time!
Event Name: Dressed Up, Back Porch Blues
Event Date: Saturday 22nd March – 7.30pm – 11pm
Event Location: Rocky Bay Hall
Event Organiser: Laura Collins
Event Website: www.lauracollins.co.nz
Admission: $20 on the door
March 29th
1. Waiheke Vintage Festival
The artisan Winegrowers of Waiheke Island will be holding a nine day long Vintage festival. This is timed to ensure the public have as many opportunities as possible to see or participate in grapes being picking and wine being made.
There will be events held at sixteen different vineyards during the Festival week ranging from Opera and Jazz, to grape crushing and technical wine making tours. There will be buses running between the vineyards all week and the restaurants will be serving the finest food available. Vineyards will open their doors and share with the public their products, expertise and methodology. The vineyards will offer an experience that anyone with an appreciation of wine will enjoy, but also one that will entice people with little knowledge of wine to explore our beautiful Island and its offerings.
Event Name: Waiheke Vintage Festival
Event Date: Saturday 29th March – 6th April
Event Location: Various Locations
Event Organiser: Winegrowers of Waiheke
Event Website: www.waihekevintagefestival.co.nz
Admission: View website for details
