Creative Writing Workshop at Gizzy Local
Here’s your chance to have your story published! All you need is an imagination and a love of storytelling. At this Creative Writing workshop with published author, Aimee Milne, you will learn the basics of fiction writing and how to plot a story. By the end of your workshop you will have a story ready to be professionally edited and published for Gizzy Local readers to enjoy.
Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 July, 9am to 12pm.
Caters to ages 11-14
Cost is $60. Limited spaces available
Email aimee_milne@hotmail.com to book your spot.
Events 4 All
Two weeks of activities that will keep your kids safe and having fun. They're based at Awapuni School and schedule a variety of activities across the two weeks to keep the young’ens entertained and to make sure there’s something for everyone. You provide a bag lunch and they have breakfast, morning and afternoon teas sorted.
Caters for ages 5-14. Cost is $60 per day.
Tōnui Collab
Tōnui Collab invite 7-13 year olds to create, construct, test and prototype at their four 1-day workshops, held 9am - 3pm each day, at Lawson Field Theatre (next to GDC on Fitzherbert Street). Their workshops encourage children to explore the diversity of STEMM - science, technology, engineering, mathematics and mātauranga Māori through the experimentation and creation of animation, engineering, game development, robotics, coding, virtual reality and more!
Monday 15 July: Game Development
Tamariki will play some retro arcade style games with us and then start designing and building their own retro arcade-style game. The workshop will cover game narrative, block-based coding, character creation and UX design.
Tuesday 16 July: Robotics
Tamariki will experiment with VEX IQ robotics. They will build and compete with their robotic creations, collaboratively problem solving to design and construct different robots.
Wednesday 17 July: Virtual Reality
Tamariki will explore a range of different Virtual Reality experiences and experiment with creating a VR experience of their own. The workshop will cover concepts of UX design, storytelling and 3D content creation.
Thursday 18 July: Digital Art
Tamariki will experiment with digital art app Procreate to create a contemporary digital art piece.
Caters for 7-13 year-olds. Cost is $50 per day.
For more info, contact admin@tonuicollab.com
Gisborne Gymnastics Club
During the school holidays, the Gymnastics Club offer unstructured play and activity sessions, and Preschool Open Gym (Fridays only). The location is the Stihl Shop Sports Centre (537 Aberdeen Road). See timetable for offerings.
Caters to ages: 5-14 (except Friday morning Preschool Open Gym which is preschool ages only).
Cost is $20 for all sessions.
Book in or find more information here: https://gisbornegymnastics.com/holiday-program
Pinehollow
Jacquie and the team offer the chance to get up close and personal with her gentle animals. Their holiday programme is open Monday - Friday, 8-19 July from 9 am - 3:30. They are located at 2424 Matawai Road but they have limited spaces in a van for pick-up and drop-off at the Tav Restaurant. (Pick-up is at 8:50am and drop-off is at 4pm.) Participants need to wear appropriate footwear (gumboots or closed-toed shoes), warm clothes and a jacket, and bring a spare change of clothes, lunch, and water.
Caters to ages 5+. Cost is $65 for the day.
Email pinehollowridingschool@gmail.com to register. Payments are via bank transfer (acct: Pine Hollow 06-0637-0264724-00). For more info, including booking and cancellation policy, ring Jacquie on 0277491629, email (above) or message her on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverviewtreks
Arty Farty School Holiday Programme
Kidz Creation Stationz present the Arty Farty School Holiday Program where they nurture children’s self-expression through art, music, dance and drama. All activities are based at Te Hapara School Hall at 31 Mill Rd, Gisborne Monday through Friday, 8-19 July from 9am-4pm. They have options for half day or full day bookings.
Caters ages 5 - 10 year-olds.
Cost is $30 for a half day or $50 for full day bookings.
Book via Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kidscreationstationz. For more information, email kidscreationstationz@gmail.com or ring 021 045 8113.
July School Holiday Origami Workshops for Children
School Holiday Origami Workshops are happening again during the 1st week of the school holidays! Each class will attempt 2 - 3 different origami creations. (Creations on the photos are examples.) See the class schedule below to find the right class for your child. All materials are supplied. Sessions are held at Te Hapara School (31 Mill Road). Caregivers are welcome to stay or can drop/pick-up.
Caters to ages 5+. Cost is $15 each for a class.
Enroll by texting Mutsuko at 0220443717. Provide your name, your child's name and school year, and date(s) you would like to book in. Maximum capacity of 5 people per class.
Year 1-3 | Wed 10 July & Thurs 11 July 9:30-11:00
Year 4-6 | Wed 10 July & Thurs 11 July 11:30-13:00
Year 7 + | Fri 12 July 9:30-11:00
Tairāwhiti Museum
During the first week of the holidays, Tairāwhiti Museum offer daily activities for your young ones, inspired by the art of Dr Sandy Adsett’s current exhibition, Toi Koru. Spaces are limited, so pre-booking and payment at the museum is essential. All children must be accompanied by an adult during the duration of the workshop.
Caters to ages 5-12. Cost is $5 per child ($10 per child for the clay workshops).
Monday 8 July: Driftwood Art
Create a bright and colourful organic driftwood wall artwork.
10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm
Tuesday 9 July: Clay workshop
Make your own clay artwork with ceramic artist Fiona Bryant.
10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm (*$10 per child)
Wednesday 10 July: Abstract Art
Make a funky mixed media abstract artwork
10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm
Thursday 11 July: Clay workshop
Make your own clay artwork with ceramic artist Fiona Bryant
10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm (*$10 per child)
Friday 12 July: Circle Art
Paint a beautiful circle painting containing Kōwhaiwhai patterns
10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm
The Y Oscar Winter Holiday Programme
A variety of fun activities every day, from 8-19 July at YMCA Oscar House - 153 Disraeli Street. From trips to the Kiwa Pools and the cinema to baking and arts and crafts, there’s sure to be something for everyone! See what’s on each day on their calendar of activities here: https://ymcagisborne.org.nz/oscar/#holiday-programme
Caters to ages 5-13. Costs are from $45 per day with options to add on Breakfast Club and Aftercare Programmes ($10 each).
For more info, contact Max at maxharaki@ymcagisborne.nz or ring 06 867 9259
Find registration form here.
Comet Swimming Club Holiday Programmes
30-min swimming lessons with an instructor held at Elgin School Pool. During the school holidays is the perfect time to boost your little one’s confidence in the water.
Week 1 (Monday 8 - Friday 12 July) -- $60
Caters to 3+ years.
Cost is $60 for all the daily lessons for the week.
Book or find more information by email: comet.libbyd@gmail.com or by phone: 0274 156 728
BubbleWrap Fun Fun Days
This school holidays, BubbleWrap Fun are putting on 2 indoor Fun Days at the Gisborne Showgrounds Event Centre. Enjoy bouncy castles and fun play for all ages, with an under 5’s and soft play areas, as well as ponies. Book your tickets in advance online for your 2.5 hour window of fun (they won’t be offering door sales).
Cost is free for little ones under 6 months, $15 for ages 6 months - 12 years and $8.50 for 13+ and adults (and less if you get the presale tickets).
Book your tickets and find more info here.
HB Williams Memorial Library (all events are free)
The Gisborne Library have heaps to do during the school holidays. They’re holding their regular weekly activities like He Kākano and Te Pihinga that run throughout the year, alongside the holiday reading challenge and Matariki activities that you can do anytime you’re in the library, as well as other special events, there’s something to enrich and entertain everyone during the break!
Tuesdays, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: He Kākano
Fun sing-along and read for under twos.
Every Tuesday @ 10.30am.
Thursdays, July 4, 11, 18, 25: Te Pihinga
Fun sing-along and read for 2-5 year olds. Every Thursday @ 10.30am.
Monday July 8: Dominoes fall down
Help the children’s team build a track of dominoes. See how many we can line up before they all fall down. Suitable for all the family.
Wednesday July 10: Paper Flower Bouquet
Crafting for the kids. Come and make a paper flower bouquet to keep as a center piece for the dinner table or to give away to someone special. Suitable for all the family.
Friday July 12: Balloon Character
Come and make a balloon character with the children’s team. Whatever you can imagine you can create. Suitable for all the family.
Monday July 15: Build a bridge
Kids how good are your engineering skills? Work as a team or as an individual to build a bridge using cardboard, newspaper and cellotape. See how much weight your bridge can hold. Spot prizes up for grabs. Suitable for all the family.
Wednesday July 17: All about the books
Today we’re making books! Zines, mini books, concertina books, comic strips the choice is yours. Suitable for all the family.
Friday July 19: Tōnui Collab STEMM Workshop
Join the team from Tōnui Collab for a fun STEMM workshop. Suitable for ages 7+. 20 spots only, register on the morning by phoning 867 6709 from 9am to secure your spot.
School Holidays July 6 – 21: Matariki Star Hunt
Find the clues and solve the Matariki proverb to go in the draw to win a Matariki prize pack. Pick up a star hunt sheet from the children’s area. Suitable for all the family.
School Holidays July 6 – 21: Winter Reading Challenge
Read for two hours, tell us about the book you read and go into the draw to win a prize it’s that easy. Pick up a challenge form from the children’s area from July 6. For ages 0 – 17 years.
Eastwoodhill Arboretum
The folks at Eastwoodhill Arboretum have two Creative Kids Days to entertain and inspire the kiddies. These drop-in style workshops are free to partake in but please book in advance with Rosie, as spaces are limited. Contact Rosie on 06 863 9003 or rosie@eastwoodhill.org.nz. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Caters for ages 5-12. Cost of the normal arboretum entry fees apply: Adults $15, Seniors $12, under 16’s $2.
Wed 10 July - Build your own bird feeders
Drop in between 10am - 1pm to build your own bird feeder.
Wed 17 July - Decorate your own Wood Pixie house doors
Drop in between 10am - 1pm to decorate your own Wood Pixie house door.