BLOCK PARTY this Saturday October 21 from 11am-3pm around the WHOLE BLOCK of Bruce St / Dixon St / Park St / Queen Street, in Masterton, Wairarapa, the most beautiful city in Aotearoa New Zealand 2017.

What happens when a whole street block comes together and throws a party? You’re invited!
Especially when the venues and businesses are filled with an amazing diversity of talented people, who are offering an extraordinary range of over 25 fun things to do on October 21, the Saturday of Labour Day weekend, from 11am to 3pm, open to all, with many events free, and for all ages.
This is Masterton’s first ever Block Party, a free community event initiated by Aratoi Wairarapa Museum
of Art and History, carried out by the whole block, and co-presented with Our Future Masterton and Urban Dream Brokerage, with the assistance of Masterton District Council.
Pacific Island and African drumming to international musicians – cultural activities at Aratoi Museum
and the Our Future Masterton Hub to shearing at the Wool Shed – printmaking on manhole covers to a
historical tour around the block – a Steampunk exhibition at King Street Artworks to two photography-
as-story projects – an art sale and book sale to games & balloons & bubbles & competitions & face-
painting for kids – this is a party that pools together the Masterton community.
The event is part of Aratoi’s on-going community outreach and the Our Future Masterton’s programme
to see the community’s ideas and talents contribute to the future planning of the Masterton CBD.
ACTIVITIES AROUND THE BLOCK:
FREE BLOCK TOUR – Hear some amazing stories as you join Gareth Winter from Wairarapa Archive for a
walk around the block. Tours start: 12 and 1:30 (approx 1 hr). Limited places, so please register at
Aratoi, Tel 370 0001, open 10am-4:30 / info@aratoi.co.nz.
We hope to print the pavement around the block with original stencil designs by Fab Lab Masterton
and Te Pātukituki, so enjoy your steps.
ARATOI LIVE & MUSEUM CAFÉ – Soulful music with reggae vibes by Hemi Walker (1pm) who has played
at Tora Tora Tora, Gladstonebury and other venues around NZ. Aldo Pinelli (2pm) hails from Argentina,
but is in town at NZ Pacific Studio – he fuses classical, Celtic, folk and progressive rock. Drop-in
printmaking with Te Manawa museum educator Pip Steel, Tina Finn’s enchanting stories exhibition, and
coffee and enticing homemade treats in the museum from Entice Café.
QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK – Members of Masterton Brass Band play in Band Rotunda (Noon). Friends of
QE Park invite everyone to discover the grounds & surrounds with a Park Discovery Hunt for the family
(10-1pm). Pick up forms from the Island Bridge or Aratoi & return to Bridge for small prizes. Miniature
Train runs all day, if weather good. Play music under the trees, for all ages, with Jonáš Koukl, a music
therapist from the Czech Republic, who will bring instruments for joy and harmony (11-2). Rides $1.
Lake House Cafe Face painting (11:30-1:30) & colouring competition – the winner receives a kids’ meal.
WOOL SHED & JUBILEE FIREHOUSE – A great chance to see shearing up close, and to see the expansion of
the National Museum of Sheep and Shearing too. The beautiful Firehouse is open, as always. 11-3
BAHA’U’LLAH BICENTENARY – Celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah at Masterton
Education Centre, 22 Dixon St, with a community art activity that celebrates unity in diversity. 12-3.
GUESS HOW MANY BALLOONS are in the Honda and win a Honda sports bag and cap for the closest to
the correct number of balloons at Southey Honda. 11-1
PARK STREET ART SALE – Artists from Masterton Art Club will offer their original work for sale (cash only)
— paintings, prints, and more at this one-day sale at 5 Park St, the old Whaiora building, kindly offered
for the Block Party by Southey Honda. JK Food Truck will offer home-cooked fare out front! 11-3.
PAVEMENT PRINTING – Make your own printed T-shirts & tote bags from manhole covers & plates.
Masterton Art Club will bring rollers, inks, paper, shirts & bags. For all ages. Starts at 5 Park St.
MASTERTON & ME – A PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTARY Anna Rutherford wants to hear people’s
stories of Masterton and to make portraits. At WBS, corner of Park/Queen Streets. 11-3.
ISLAND DRUMMING – Drum and dance with the Pacific Island Cultural Group in the Library Square,
beside the library, and if it’s raining, we’ll drum & dance at Aratoi. For ages 5+. 12-3. The café next door,
Taste Café, is offering some extra baked treats for the party.
BOOKS, CHINA, AND 2-1 SPECIALS at the Library – Did you know that Changchun is Masterton’s Sister
City in China and that Clivia is that city’s flower? Clivia is blooming by the Masterton District Library, and
there will be a book sale & two-for-one specials for DVDs and Hot Picks. 9:30-1.
AFRICAN DRUMMING on Queen Street, courtesy of Sacred Art Tattoo and Piercing.
FREE BALLOONS & BUBBLES to be festive, thanks to Festival Hire. 9-12.
THAI BBQ – Gorgeous smells of Pork BBQ and Sticky Rice will waft down Queen St from Thai Arroy Maak –
enjoy milky ice tea & old-fashioned ice coffee & if fine weather, coconut ice-cream in a bun. From 11am.
INTERACTIVE POTTERY for all ages with Sam Ludden, view master carving by Wayne Pitau and Carl
Rongonui, and Our Future Masterton Community Hub Pop-up at Te Pātukituki, 15 Queen St. 11-3.
STEAMPUNK exhibition – ‘Precognition’ and arts workshop at King Street Artworks, 10-3.
STEP INTO A WET SUIT – rain or shine! O2 Dive N Surf wakeboards, water-skis, kneeboards, tow ropes.
WAIRARAPA FARMERS’ MARKET – Live music. Scarecrows. Colouring games. Christmas decorations. 9-1