Skip to main content

It’s all fun and games at this year’s Auckland Heritage Festival.

2025 marks the 75 th anniversary of the Empire Games, and we’re commemorating the milestone with Auckland at Play. Join us as we celebrate the enduring spirit of sports and recreation that makes our city so special.

You’ll find all Ponsonby-based events are listed below.

They’re part of Auckland Council’s Auckland Heritage Festival, which runs from Saturday September 20 to Sunday October 5. Visit heritagefestival.co.nz for a full list of events across the city or pick up a printed programme from your local Auckland Council library.

Bookings are open from 9:30am, Wednesday 20 August.

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Soka Samoa Stories

Join the Pua family for a week-long celebration of their rich sporting heritage – spanning four generations and five countries.

From 20th to 26th September, discover a diverse programme of events including an art exhibition, sports history walk, multimedia presentations, and inspiring guest speakers. Together, they honour their ancestors (tupuga / tupuna) and share deeply personal stories that connect sport, culture, and identity.

Explore the full event line-up listed below.

Venue
Studio One Toi Tū, 1 Ponsonby Road

Date
From 20th to 26th September

All events are free.  Note that some require registration to attend – as indicated below.

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Soka Samoa Stories:
Official Lunchtime Opening

Join us for the official opening of Soka Samoa Stories. This event marks the beginning of a week-long celebration featuring exhibitions, sports history walks, presentations, and guest speakers – honouring the spirit of Aiga Whānau Pua (family) and Alofa Aroha Agape (love) in support of a just Aotearoa New Zealand.

Venue
Studio One Toi Tū

Date
Sat 20 Sep, 12pm-2pm

Entry
Free

Please register to let us know you’re coming

REGISTER HERE

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Soka Samoa Stories:
Guided PASIFIKA Heritage Walk

Join us for a guided walk through sporting history led by Aiga Pua (of the Pua family), as they share stories of their family’s sporting past alongside tales of Tāmaki Makaurau’s historical sporting events, significant incidents, and a celebration of Polynesian sporting heroes.

Starting Point
Meet outside Studio One Toi Tu, 1 Ponsonby Road

Date & Time
Sun 21 Sep, 10am – 11.30am

Entry
Free

Book your place online now – bookings are essential

BOOK HERE

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Soka Samoa Stories:
O OE IA OE You Be You

Come and experience an inspiring Samoan family story at the O OE IA OE “You Be You” presentation, celebrating the Aiga Pua Sports Family.
You’ll see personal images and art that honour the family’s heritage, culture, and identity.
It’s a wonderful opportunity for all of us to celebrate our family heritage, strength, the beauty of being true to ourselves, how we see the world, and the difference we make just by being ourselves “YOU be YOU!”

Date
Sun 21 Sep, 12pm – 2pm

Venue
Studio One Toi Tū

Entry
Free

No need to book – just come along!

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Soka Samoa Stories:
He kokonga whare e kitea, he kokonga ngākau e kore e kitea

Hidden in plain sight: what secrets are revealed when we interrogate our landscape? What insights are revealed about the cultural pathways that make us unique? Heritage is more than what is seen in this talk presented by Pita Turei.

Venue
Studio One Toi Tū, 1, Ponsonby Road

Date
Mon 22 Sep, 7pm – 8.30pm

Entry
Free

Book your place online now – bookings are essential

BOOK HERE

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Soka Samoa Stories:
Multimedia Presentation

Sports brings families together and builds stronger communities. Come and listen to fascinating stories from Aiga Pua – a continuation of the Soka Samoa Stories project that honours their heritage, culture, and identity. This event offers a diverse multimedia presentation.

Venue
Studio One Toi Tu, 1 Ponsonby Road

Date & Time
Tue 23 Sep, 7-9pm

Entry
Free

No need to book – just come along!

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Soka Samoa Stories:
Ponsonby Rugby Club

Join us for an evening exploring the legacy of Ponsonby Rugby Club – an institution woven into the Ponsonby community since 1874.
For over 150 years, the club has played a key role in fostering rugby talent and building strong community ties and local pride. From grassroots fundraising and wartime support to the contributions of the Pasifika community, the club’s history reflects a powerful story of connection and resilience. Journalist Paul Neazor will share insights into the club’s role in shaping and supporting the Ponsonby community.
This talk is part of the “Soka Samoa Stories” series of events.

Venue
Studio One Toi Tū, 1, Ponsonby Road

Date
Wed 24 Sep, 6.30pm – 8.00pm

Entry
Free

Book your place online now – bookings are essential

REGISTER HERE

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Soka Samoa Stories:
Poetry to Hip Hop Multimedia Presentation

Join us for an inspiring evening with the intergenerational Pua family. They’ll share stories through the power of poetry and express themselves with the energy of hip hop, celebrating culture, identity, and hope.

Venue
Studio One Toi Tu, 1 Ponsonby Road

Date & Time
Thu 25 Sep, 7-9pm

Entry
Free

No need to book – just come along!

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Rosary Rally & the Catholic Exhibition

Take a journey back to the 1950s and explore two major celebrations of Auckland’s Catholic community: the Rosary Rally and the Catholic Exhibition. Despite attracting thousands of participants at the time, these events remain relatively unknown today. With the aid of captivating archival photographs, Dr Brian McDonnell will rediscover the spirit of these major gatherings.

Venue
Studio One Toi Tū, Room 10, 1 Ponsonby Rd

Date & Time
Thu 25 Sep, 6pm – 7.30pm

Entry
Free

Book your place online now – bookings are essential

REGISTER HERE

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Aucklanders at Play: Images from the Early 20th Century

Discover how Aucklanders spent their leisure time in the early 20th century. This talk features a selection of historical photographs from the wonderful Auckland Library collection, showcasing popular recreational activities and locations from the first half of the century.

Venue
Studio One Toi Tū, 1, Ponsonby Road

Date
Thu 2 Oct, 6pm – 7.30pm

Entry
Free

Book your place online now – bookings are essential

REGISTER HERE

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Guided Heritage Walk of Ponsonby, with Edward Bennett

Join us on a popular guided tour of Ponsonby where we’ll uncover the stories that make this area unique. Walk through the charming streets of Three Lamps and St Marys Bay, while learning about the area’s rich architectural heritage and social history.

Hear intriguing tales of local personalities and delve into the area’s scandals, secrets, and curiosities. Whether you’re a visitor, new resident or a long-time local, prepare to be amazed by the stories and hidden gems of Ponsonby.

Starting Point
Meet outside the old Ponsonby Post Office, 1–3 St Marys Road, Ponsonby

Walk Dates
Sat 20 Sep: 10am – 12pm
Sat 27 Sep: 10am – 12pm  
Sat 4 Oct:  10am – 12pm

Entry
Free

Book your place online now – bookings are essential

BOOK HERE - Sat 20 SepBOOK HERE - Sat 27 SepBOOK HERE - Sat 4 Oct

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Out & Proud – Images of LGBTQ Events on Ponsonby Road in the 80s and 90s

Celebrate the courageous spirit and lively culture of Ponsonby’s queer community in the 1980s and 1990s. This exhibition showcases a time of daring self-expression and activism. Through photographs and artifacts, “Out & Proud” looks back at the community organisations, events and nightlife scene, and honours a community that helped shape Ponsonby into the suburb that now shines with Pride. Curated by Historian Edward Bennett.

Venue
Studio One Toi Tū

Dates
Runs from Mon 29 Sep through to Sun 4 Oct

Entry
Free

No need to book – just come along!

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Leys Institute at Play Exhibition

An exhibition showcasing a collection of historical photographs taken during the early years of the Leys Institute in Ponsonby. The images centre around this year’s festival theme of play and sport, capturing moments of leisure, community gatherings, and physical activities that reflect the social life of the time. Curated by the team at Leys Little Library

Venue
Studio One Toi Tū

Dates
Runs from Mon 29 Sep through to Sun 4 Oct

Entry
Free

No need to book – just come along!