On The Record: 150 Years of the Oamaru Mail 19 Apr 2026 As community newspapers disappear across the motu, our local paper reaches an extraordinary milestone: 150 years. This exhibition celebrates the people behind the pages, the craft of making a newspaper, and the vital role independent local media plays in our communities. Waitaki Museum, 60 Thames Street, 9400 Tagged as: , Exhibitions & festivals, Waitaki Museum
The Sea That Carries Us: Threads of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa 20 Apr 2026 The Sea That Carries Us: Threads of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa reflects an ongoing kaupapa, initiated through TAUAKI Tapa sessions facilitated by Ebonie Fifita at the Ōamaru Pacific Island Trust. Pacific textiles from the Waitaki Museum collection, accompanied by a ngatu donated by ŌPIT, will be reactivated and honoured, fostering opportunities for connection and care. Forrester Gallery, 9 Thames Street Ōamaru 9400, 9400 Tagged as: , Exhibitions & festivals, Music & arts, Forrester Gallery
Visible Collection Galleries 20 Apr 2026 The Visible Collection Galleries represent an innovative model for presenting the Forrester Gallery’s collection of over 2500 taoka, increasing accessibility while fostering deeper public engagement. Regularly refreshed displays, curated by gallery staff, will provide unique opportunities to encounter art from te rohe o Waitaki and across Aotearoa. Forrester Gallery, 9 Thames Street Ōamaru, 9400 Tagged as: , Exhibitions & festivals, Music & arts, Forrester Gallery
Paemanu: Kārakaraka Toi 20 Apr 2026 Echoing the waterways of Te Waipounamu, this collaborative exhibition by Paemanu Ngāi Tahu Contemporary Visual Arts emerged from a journey along Waitaki awa. First shown at The Queensland Gallery of Modern Art in Meanjin Brisbane at The Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, it returns home. Forrester Gallery, 9 Thames Street Ōamaru 9400, 9400 Tagged as: , Exhibitions & festivals, Music & arts, Forrester Gallery
The Waitaki Tartan 20 Apr 2026 The Waitaki Tartan (2025), by Rod and Sue McLean, is a narrative borne from a desire to create a tangible textile legacy connecting the past, present and future of te rohe o Waitaki. Installed in the gallery’s atrium, the tartan reflects strong connections between craft and community. Forrester Gallery, 9 Thames Street Ōamaru 9400, 9400 Tagged as: , Exhibitions & festivals, Music & arts, Forrester Gallery
Karanga i te Hoa - Phone a Friend 20 Apr 2026 Like a creative potluck of sorts, a selection of artists living and working in te rohe o Waitaki were asked to contribute to a group show alongside a guest artist of their choosing. Emphasising the role of community, the artists were asked to consider collectivism and community collaboration within their creative practices. Forrester Gallery, 9 Thames Street Ōamaru 9444, 9400 Tagged as: , Exhibitions & festivals, Music & arts, Forrester Gallery
Oamaru Book Chat 21 Apr 2026 Come along to discuss your latest reads and get a sneak peek at our brand-new books! Oamaru Public Library, 62 Thames St, 7 more dates Tagged as: , Community & culture
In Conversation With Trent Dalton 21 Apr 2026 IN CONVERSATION WITH TRENT DALTONYour Exclusive Author Event in Three Weeks.IN JUST THREE WEEKS: Join bestselling Australian author Trent Dalton live as he discusses his brilliant new novel, Gravity Let Me Go! Tagged as: , Talks & workshops, Community & culture
Rock Tenors, Anthems Reloaded Tour - Oamaru Opera House 24 Apr 2026 Ōamaru, brace yourself—The Rock Tenors are back to unleash a seismic surge of power, nostalgia, and pure ‘ROCK’manship as they detonate their electrifying new show at the Oamaru Opera House!Whether you're a die-hard rocker or a first-time Tenors fan, this is your chance to witness the ultimate fusion of vocal mastery and rock spectacle.ANTHEMS WILL RISE. THE ROCK TENORS ARE RELOADED Oamaru Opera House, 94 Thames Street, Oamaru 9400 Tagged as: , Theatre & performing arts