Heritage on the Menu at This Year’s Auckland Heritage Festival.

This year’s theme, Tastes of Tāmaki: A Heritage Feast, centres our celebrations on the history and heritage of food and beverage in Auckland. Food is a universal language that tells rich stories of migration, resilience, innovation, and manaakitanga (hospitality). It connects us to our past and reflects who we are today.

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

They’re part of Auckland Council’s Auckland Heritage Festival, which runs from 26 September – 11 October. 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.

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Open for business: 1970s Ponsonby exhibition

Photographer Louise Lonsdale-Cooper turned her lens on Ponsonby Road’s 1970s streetscape, documenting the early shops and the characters that once did business on this iconic road.

Recognise anyone or any of the shops in these photos? Add your memories at the exhibition by posting a note beside the images.

Venue
Studio One Toi Tū, 1 Ponsonby Road

Date
Mon 28 Sep to Wed 7 Oct, 10am–5pm
Saturday: 10am–4pm | Sunday: Closed

Free Entry – just come along

PONSONBY PRESENTS

1970s Ponsonby exhibition: Meet the photographer

Meet and chat with former Elam student and photographer Louise Lonsdale-Cooper.

As an arts student with no car, Louise often found herself walking back and forth across Bradford Street and Cowie Street in Parnell over to Ponsonby Road and into the city centre. This meant it was often storefront windows, ajar doors and street scenes that were captured by Louise’s camera lens.

In this informal session, Louise will share stories about her creative process, including her use of an Olympus OM1 camera gifted by her uncle.

She will also discuss her distinct darkroom methods, such as developing film with Promicrol, a chemical uncommon among her contemporaries.

Venue
Studio One Toi Tū, 1 Ponsonby Road

Date
Tue 29 Sept 2026, 11am-12pm

Entry
Free – no need to book, just come along

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Bully beef, biscuits and bullets: the food of WW1

What was the food that the soldiers of the First World War endured and sometimes enjoyed? A look at some of the staple food dished up to the men and women who went off to fight for King and Country – and how communities back in Auckland, including Ponsonby, supported them from afar.
A presentation covering examples of the daily fare, a couple of actual recipes, and anecdotes from personal accounts of those who served. Presented by historian Raymond Butler..

Venue
Studio One Toi Tu, 1 Ponsonby Road

Date & Time
Tue 29 Sep, 6–7.30pm

Entry
Free

Please register your place online – bookings required

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Hudson and Halls: The Food of Love

Hudson & Halls: The Food of Love is more than just a love story – it’s the story of two men who helped shift New Zealand’s attitudes toward homosexuality.

It’s also the story of international flavours arriving in Aotearoa and the early rise of Pacific‑influenced, Asian‑style cooking.

This talk celebrates their cooking and television legacy, bringing to life the nostalgia of the 1980s, when their dinner parties were legendary and their home was the place to be for New Zealand’s social set. Most importantly, it offers an intimate record of two ordinary lives that, together in the heat and humour of the kitchen, became extraordinary.

Presented by bestselling New Zealand author Joanne Drayton.

Date
Wed 30 Sep 2026, 6–7.30pm

Venue
Studio One Toi Tū, 1 Ponsonby Road

Entry
Free

Please register your place online – bookings required

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Auckland’s Post-War Polio Outbreaks

The late 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s were a time of anxiety for Auckland communities as polio outbreaks repeatedly disrupted daily life. The highly contagious virus led to the closure of schools, public pools and movie theatres across the region.

In this presentation, Dr Brian McDonnell will share details of how families and hospitals coped with restrictions such as quarantines, the strains placed on healthcare workers and facilities, and the eventual arrival of life-saving vaccines

Venue
Studio One Toi Tū, 1, Ponsonby Road

Date
Thu 1 Oct, 6–7.30pm

Entry
Free

Book your place online now – bookings required

BOOK HERE

PONSONBY PRESENTS

The Long Track to the CRL

Over more than a century, Auckland’s passenger rail system has evolved from its early steam-powered origins into a modern electric network.
In this illustrated presentation, Dr Brian McDonnell tracks that fascinating journey, highlighting the key milestones, shifting public transport demands, geographical constraints and political decisions that shaped the region’s tracks.
The talk culminates in a look at the decade-long City Rail Link project, exploring how this major underground connection could transform travel across the city.

Venue
Studio One Toi Tu, 1 Ponsonby Road

Date & Time
Mon 5 Oct, 6–7.30pm

Entry
Free

Please register your place online – bookings required

BOOK HERE

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Pasifika Guided Heritage Walk

Join Auckland’s popular Samoan duo Mua Pua and Sofi Pua on a guided walk inside Studio One and along Ponsonby Road, sharing stories of Pasifika life, culture and the favourite food spots in 70’s and 80’s Ponsonby.

Venue
Meet at Studio One Toi Tū, 1, Ponsonby Road

Date
Sun 4 Oct, 10am–12pm

Entry
Free

Please book your place online – bookings required

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Heritage Food Tour of Ponsonby

Discover Ponsonby Road’s food heritage on a guided walk celebrating the migrants, makers and communities who shaped this iconic neighbourhood.

Over three flavour‑packed hours, visit historic buildings, hidden laneways and the stories of the people and businesses that transformed Ponsonby from a working‑class suburb into a cultural hub.

Enjoy tastings inspired by diverse food traditions – from Kiwi favourites and immigrant family recipes to modern creations – while meeting passionate owner‑operators and hearing tales of reinvention.
Organiser: The Big Foody

Venue
Meet your guide outside 309 Ponsonby Road (ASB Bank)

Date & Time
Sat 3 Oct, 11pm–2pm

Entry
Cost $125/person

Please book your place online – bookings essential

Book here

All enquiries for this food tour should be directed to The Big Foody.
Email: Elle Armon-Jones at elle@thebigfoody.com

PONSONBY PRESENTS

Ponsonby Heritage Kōrero

Come join Ponsonby locals for a kōrero (discussion) about the early years of Ponsonby.

Recall memories of school life at Beresford School through to life in Ponsonby today. Hear stories about the old fish and chips shops along Ponsonby Road, and enjoy a relaxed kōrero about historical Ponsonby.

Remember to bring along your own photos and stories to share in the group discussion. See you there!

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

Date & Time
Tue 6 Oct, 11am–12pm

Entry
Free

Book your place online now – bookings required