Hello, my dear Frankies!

I have two things to tell you today!

Number one: There are just two more weeks left to get yourself a FREE coffee from the beautiful souls at OHA cafe! It's pretty easy!

Scroll to the end of this newsletter and copy the little referral link
Paste the link into a message or email and send to all your local friends and fam!
When three friends sign up, you get a free coffee!

Number two: If there's one part of today's email you check out, make sure it's the Food and Drink section! It was such a magical part of our week, and if you love the idea of a Mediterranean feast on a lazy Sunday, it could be a magical part of your week too!

Hope you all have a gorgeous, gorgeous week, and let us know any tips or stories you have about our cool corner of the world!

R. and the Frankie team xx

*Featuring community news, groups, events, people, places and businesses. The very best of Franklin*

Let’s give Pukekohe Hospital the glow-up it deserves 💜

If you’ve been around this area for a while, you’ve probably got a memory that leads back to Pukekohe Hospital.

Maybe it’s where you were born.
Maybe it’s where you first held your baby.
Maybe it’s where you've visited someone you love at life's most important moments.

One of my favourite memories is sitting in the warm winter sunshine with my sister and her prem baby, watching the sheep in the paddock in front of her room. It was such a beautiful and peaceful place to come to terms with the craziness of being a new mum.

And it's true - for more than 70 years, Pukekohe Hospital has been at the heart of our community, welcoming are new babies and helping everyone who needs it. So it's not surprising the hospital - and the birthing suites in particualr - are looking a little...well…tired.

And while the staff are still delivering incredible care every day, the spaces themselves just don’t reflect the warmth and dignity every family deserves in those life-changing moments.

That’s why the amazing Campbell Tyson Chartered Accountants have teamed up with the Middlemore Foundation to change that.

Their mission: raise $100,000 to give the two birthing suites a much-needed facelift. Fresh paint, updated fittings, creating a space as special as the moments it holds.

How they’re raising the funds (and how you can jump in!)

🍪 Frozen Cookie Dough – This is their first delicious step in the campaign. For just $12, you get a pack of 13 frozen “cookie nuggets” made with real butter. Bake them straight from the freezer and - voilà - you have

Order yours here: Grab your cookies

🧠 Quiz Night – Early 2026 – The big-ticket fundraiser! Think brain-busting questions, raffles, auctions, and community laughs. Campbell Tyson is also looking for donations of prizes - so if your business can help, drop them a line at team@ct.co.nz.

💌 Donate Directly – Not a cookie fan? (We won’t tell.) You can donate straight to their fundraising page: Donate Now

And follow Campbell Tyson to stay up to date with the fundraiser!

This is the kind of project that makes us love our little corner of the world. Local people, coming together and making a tangible difference for families yet to walk through those hospital doors.

*Celebrating all the businesses, artists, creators and crafters we have here in Franklin ♥* **Nominate your favourites here**

Frankie Favourite: Shorthand Family Craft Studio

Tucked away in the beautifully renovated old Graham’s Beach schoolhouse, Shorthand Family Craft Studio is the kind of place you visit “just for a look” and somehow leave with your arms full of treasures.

Run by the wonderfully talented Robyn Short, a well-known, award-winning photographer and lifelong crafter, alongside her sister and her five (!) creative daughters, Fiona, Katherine, Rosemary, Emily and Sally, the shop is a celebration of handmade artistry in every form. With backgrounds in fine art, architecture, photography and more, each family member brings their own style and skill to the table, so you’ll find an ever-changing collection of beautiful, one-of-a-kind creations.

Think:
🎨 Hand-thrown pottery you’ll want to use every day (or just display and admire).
🖼️ Photography prints that capture the beauty of our local corner of the world.
🧶 Baby clothes and booties so sweet you’ll wish they came in grown-up sizes (when you see the bright cord onesies - you'll know what I mean!)
💍 Jewellery that feels like a little piece of art you can wear (I haven't stopped thinking about that asymmetrical pair of crystal earrings).
👘 Quilts, paintings, puffer jackets (these are so gorgeous!), felted pieces, beautiful preserves and more - each made with so much love ♥

Whether you’re after a thoughtful gift, a piece to brighten your home, or something special “just because,” Shorthand Crafts is pure joy to explore.

📍 Open every 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month (open this weekend!!). Trust us: it’s worth the road trip!

Follow Shorthand Crafts on Instagram for all the latest!

🏄‍♂️ Surfs up!

✨ Look Up!

Rare six-planet parade!

Starting this week, six planets - Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune - will sweep in a graceful arc across the early-morning sky. The brightest - Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn - will shine clearly to the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune will need binoculars or a small telescope.

Find a spot with a wide, clear horizon, look north after dark, and you could spot at least four of our neighbouring worlds sparkling in the night.

*Highlighting all the happenings in the local food and drink scene!*

Your next market-day Mediterranean feast

Sometimes, you stumble across magic where you least expect it. At the Waiuku Sunday Market, that magic smells like warm bread, tastes like creamy hummus, and comes from a little Turkish food stall run by the ever-smiling Tahsin Ozturk from My Kebab Waiuku.

Tahsin serves up authentic Turkish specialities made from treasured family recipes, each one bursting with flavour and a little touch of home. The best way to experience it? Gather a few friends, order a mix of everything, and turn it into an impromptu Mediterranean feast on a lazy Sunday.

Our Frankie feast picks:

A packet of freshly made pita bread
Stuffed olives (the blue cheese ones are 👌👌 perfection)
Hummus - we’re obsessed with the Moroccan hummus and jalapeño aioli, but taste them all and choose your favourites
A few (ok, hundreds) of dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) - especially good dunked in that jalapeño aioli
Fresh, herby tabouli
A sweet finish of traditional Turkish delight and golden, flaky baklava that melts in your mouth

Add a bag of fresh apples and oranges from the produce stall, a silky coffee from OHA cafe, and you’ve got yourself a market-day Mediterranean picnic that’s pure magic.

We really can't emphasise this enough - don’t just walk past - stop, taste, and let Tahsin’s cooking take you somewhere sunny and hot and full of magic.

magsahr hebac

Unscramble the letters above to find the Franklin-related phrase! Answer at the bottom of the newsletter!

*Weekend exploring, family adventures, couples getaways...all within 99km of Franklin!*

🌿 Nikau Caves & Glowworms ✨

Just 45 minutes south of Waiuku, down winding country roads and through rolling limestone hills, you’ll find one of Franklin’s best-kept secrets: Nikau Caves.

This isn’t your average tourist cave walk. And it's not Waitomo Caves (as much as we love Waitomo, Nikau are even more stunning and private!).

You’ll wade through an underground stream, climb over rocks, and duck under ceilings - all to reach the real magic: a pitch-black cavern lit only by thousands of glowworms twinkling like a galaxy.

It’s wet, it’s muddy, and it’s absolutely magical. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and prepare for an unforgettable underground adventure.

💡 Frankie tip: Warm up after your caving mission with coffee and cake at the Nikau Café, nestled right next door and filled with local art, native bush views, and fresh baking.

📍 Waikaretu Valley, 45 min from Waiuku
🌟 Bookings essential (they run guided tours only!)
🔗 nikaucave.co.nz

*There's a lot going on in Franklin if you know where to look! And remember to* *submit your event for free!*

Thursday

🍹 Thursday Cocktail Happy Hour
Little Ed, Thursday 6–7 PM
All your favourite cocktails for a little bit less — the perfect start to your Thursday night.

🖌️ Y Studio – Creative After-School Group
Waiuku Library & Pukekohe Library, Thursdays 3.30–4.30 PM (term time)
High schoolers can explore different art mediums, learn creative thinking skills, and work on projects in this drop-in creative space. Ages 13+.

🛍️ Luna Bites Night Market
Navigation Homes Stadium, 5–9 PM
Pukekohe’s first Luna Bites market! Street eats, bubble tea, viral bakes, desserts & more. Free entry, family-friendly. More info

🎲 Quiz Trivia Night at Blue Ox Babe
Blue Ox Babe, 7 PM
A classic night of trivia, laughs, and a chance to show off your random knowledge.

⚱️ Fun & Social Pottery Workshop
19 Market St W, Pokeno, 6–8 PM
A stress-free, creative pottery evening — perfect for all skill levels. $55 adults / $40 kids. Book here

🐉 Dungeons & Dragons – Adventurers Wanted
Pukekohe Library, Thursdays fortnightly, 4–5.30 PM
Join a gritty, dark Falconis campaign. Beginners and experienced players welcome — registration required: franklinoutreach@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

🎤 Mental Health, Mental Wealth – Shane Cameron
Aka Aka Hall, Waiuku, 6 PM
An inspiring evening with former pro boxer Shane Cameron on mental resilience. Includes steak & bun dinner. $20pp.
Event link

Friday

💻 DIY Social Media Workshop
Pukekohe, 10 AM–1 PM
Plan a month of content in 3 hours — designed for small business owners who DIY their socials. $50 (first timers $25).

🍴 Pokeno Food Truck Fest
Outside Pokeno School, 5–8 PM
Street food, sweet treats, and a night off cooking for the whole whānau. Event link

🖋️ Poetry Evening
Pukekohe Library, 6–7.30 PM
Open mic poetry — share your work or a favourite piece. No experience needed.
Event link

🎤 Live DJ – NPeezy
Little Ed, from 7 PM
High-energy house, garage, and bass beats to kick off your weekend.

🎸 TAXI Live at the Kentish
Kentish Hotel, from 9 PM
A big night of live music at a Waiuku classic.

Saturday

🎮 Coding Makerspace
Pukekohe Library, 9.30–11.30 AM
Make your own games in Scratch or Python — beginners welcome, ages 7+. BYO device if possible.

🛍️ Shorthand Family Craft Studio Open Day
Grahams Beach (renovated schoolhouse), 10 AM–2 PM
A creative treasure trove of pottery, paintings, photography, baby clothes, jewellery, quilts & more by Robyn Short, her sister, and five talented daughters.

🛍️ Ararimu Winter Market
Ararimu Community Hall, 10 AM
A cosy community market with local stalls and winter vibes.

🛍️ Moon Bloom Markets at Spookers
833 Kingseat Rd, Kingseat, 1–9 PM
End of winter celebration with whimsical vendors, food, and magic. Event link

🍽️ Saturday Bottomless Lunch
Little Ed, Saturday 11.30 AM–3 PM
Good food, (bottomless) drinks, and great company for your weekend crew.

🎶 DJ Saii Funkin at Little Ed
Little Ed, 7 PM
Disco, funky house, and smooth grooves to keep you moving all night.

🎶 Happy Fish Band Live
Ed Street Bar, Pukekohe, from 9.30 PM
High-energy live music to keep you dancing late into the night.

🎶 Beats by Bingo – 80s Night
Bracu Estate, Bombay, 6 PM
Five rounds of musical bingo, dinner included, and 80s dress-up encouraged. $59pp.

Sunday

🏉 All Blacks Live at Appetite
Appetite, 9.10 AM
Watch the match with breakfast martinis, bloody marys, coffee, and a hearty brekkie.

🛍️ Waiuku Sunday Market
9 Kitchener Rd, Waiuku, Sundays 8 AM–1 PM
Artisan goods, handmade crafts, vintage finds, and great coffee in the heart of Waiuku.

🛍️ Pukekohe Market
Pukekohe Park Raceway, Sundays 8 AM–12 PM
Homegrown produce, crafts, antiques, collectables, and street food.
Event link

🛍️ Waiau Pa Central Market
571 Waiau Pa Rd, Waiau Pa, from 9 AM
Crafts, artisan foods, live music, and a great community atmosphere.

🍽️ Sunday All-Day Roast & Live Music
Little Ed, from 12 PM
Enjoy a hearty roast with toe-tapping tunes from The Shed Shakers — rockabilly, country classics, and cheeky charm.

monday

🍹 Pizza & Margarita Night
Pizzata Deli, Pukekohe, Monday 25 August, 6.30 PM
All-you-can-eat margherita pizza plus a classic margarita — with a live cocktail-making demo. $40pp.
Book here

📝 Monday Quiz Night at Appetite
Appetite, Mondays 7 PM
Test your general knowledge and have a laugh over drinks.

🎲 Board Game Evening
Otakumart, Mondays from 6 PM
Bring your own games or play from the collection — everyone welcome, free entry.

Tuesday

🎤 Comedy Quiz Night
The Village Bar, Patumahoe, 7 PM
Join quizmaster Jim for a free comedy pub quiz — call 09 236 3571 to book.

🎨 Painting Club
Franklin Arts Centre, Tuesdays 6–8 PM (term time)
Two hours of dedicated painting time — bring your project and connect with local artists.

Wednesday

📚 Full Circle – Jenny-May Clarkson
Franklin: The Centre, Pukekohe, 6–7 PM
The Silver Fern great shares her memoir and journey of reconnection to te ao Māori. (Event currently at capacity.)

🧩 Anti-Social Social Club for Teens
Pukekohe Library, Wednesdays 3.30 PM
A safe, inclusive space for teens to hang out, join activities, or just chill.

🎨 Wallpaper Design Trends Night
Resene Colorshop, Pukekohe, 5.30–7.30 PM
Discover the latest wallpaper trends and application tips at this free DIY-friendly event.

Word Scramble answer: Grahams Beach

Did you get it?! Now get yourself a FREE coffee by referring three mates with this magical link!