Hello, my dear Frankies!

It's your last chance to help grow the Frankie fam and earn a free coffee from the legends at OHA! Remember to scroll to the end of the newsletter, copy your unique link, and send it to all your friends and fam!

We've also been having a little discussion this week about making a slight change to our newsletter! We're thinking of changing the Local Getaways section to more of an Arts and Culture section. It would still include local getaways, but also a place to share news and events from the local arts and culture scene.

Of course, this newsletter is for YOU, so we want you guys to have a say!

Take a look at this week's feature - The Franklin Arts Festival exhibition Frankly Small - and take a vote on what you prefer! Just local getaways, or arts and culture too?!

What do you prefer? Local getaways only Arts and culture (including local getaways)

We'd love your input in growing the newsletter, so we definitely want to know what you think! And remember - you can send us all the inside tips on local events, businesses you love, and any other local gossip!

Just reply to this email!

R. and the Frankie Team xx

Anti-social social groups for teens

Not every teen is into rugby or basketball (I sure as hell wasn’t! 😉).

And even the rugby-mad kids want other outlets and people in their lives too.

But how hard is it to make friends and join groups when you're a teenager?! Most of us probably remember what it felt like to be that teenager who didn’t quite fit in - and it’s so easy for teens to feel isolated.

That’s why I’ve loved spotting all these little groups popping up as I’ve been curating Franklin’s weekly events. Spaces designed for teens to connect, make friends, get creative, and just be themselves, without the pressure of school or sports.

So if you’ve got a young person who’d rather roll dice, paint, craft, or hang out over a board game than chase a ball down a field, here are some of the awesome groups around Franklin they might want to check out.

✨ The Anti-Social Social Club for Teens - Pukekohe Library​
Despite the name, this one’s very welcoming. Designed for ages 12-18, it’s a safe and inclusive space where introverts, extroverts, and everyone in between can just…be. Each Wednesday during term-time there’ll be chill activities - from crafts to games. Last week? Designing and making stickers. Yes please.

🎨 Y Studio - Waiuku Library​
If your teen’s got creative flair (or just wants to try something new), Y Studio is where it’s at. Every Thursday (term-time) from 3.30-4.30pm, Hariata from Franklin Arts Centre helps high schoolers explore different art mediums and ideas. It’s all about experimenting, making cool stuff, and maybe even surprising yourself. Drop-in, no booking needed.

🎭 Waiuku Youth Theatre — “Murder at the Kentish”​
Calling all drama lovers! The Waiuku Theatre is handing the spotlight over to teens with their upcoming show Murder at the Kentish. They’re looking for 13-19 year olds to take on everything from production management and marketing to acting, backstage crew, and front of house. The cool part? Apart from a small group of adult mentors, the entire show will be run by teens!

Interested? Email president@waiukutheatre.com for details on auditions and how to get involved.

🐉 Dungeons & Dragons Campaign - Pukekohe Library​
Roll the dice, dodge the monsters, and step into the gritty world of Falconis. This fortnightly Thursday campaign (4–5.30pm) welcomes both seasoned players and total beginners. Teens can join a guild, battle the ruthless Falconeers, and definitely make some new friends in the process! Registration is essential, so flick a message to franklinoutreach@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz to save a spot.

🎲 Monday Board Game Nights - Otakumart, Pukekohe​
Every Monday from 6pm, Otakumart opens the doors for board gamers of all levels. Bring your own favourites or dive into their collection - think strategy, card games, and everything in between. Chill vibes, good company, and free entry make it a great low-key night out.

🃏 Collectors Guild Games Night - Waiuku​
On Wednesday 27th August, the Collectors Guild (with Cheeky Parrot Games) is hosting an epic board and card game night. Julia from Cheeky Parrot will be teaching some of their most popular games - and there’s even a prize up for grabs. It’s $10 per person, but that’s a small price for bragging rights if you win. Collectors Guild also run regular game nights, so keep an eye on their socials for more info!

💡 The takeaway?​
​Franklin’s slowly building a beautiful little patchwork of spaces where teens can find their people - no whistle, no scoreboard, no pressure!

Just creativity, connection, and a chance to hang out with others their age. So if your teen’s been craving something different, maybe one of these groups is exactly the place they’ve been waiting for.

📢📢 Calling all business owners! Build an email list you actually use (and love!) 💌

You have a great business, right?!

And you *know* you have so much potential to grow and reach more people and help more people...if only you could connect with them somehow.

If you have an email list collecting dust somewhere in the great internet ether, Louise Deed from InDeed We Can Marketing has exactly what you need.

Her 6-week Email Nurture Program is designed for B2B consultants and creatives who want to finally send emails that feel good to write and good to read - no second-guessing, no tech headaches, no waking up at 2 am stressing “is this too salesy?”.

You’ll learn how to:​
✨ Plan 90 days of emails that sound just like you (not an ai-bot trying to be human) and build real relationships with your clients and readers.
✨ Build simple automations that keep your list warm without feeling pushy
✨ Stay visible in inboxes with healthy habits and designs that work (no more relegation to the spam folder!)
✨ Know exactly what’s working (and what’s not) so you can keep growing

The Email Nurture Program is a great balance of learning, co-working with an expert, and a good healthy dose of personal cheerleading from Louise! AND lifetime access to all the materials so you can revisit any time.

So! If you’re ready to turn your email list into a client-attracting, relationship-building machine (without spending hours staring at that blinking cursor), this is the moment to jump in.

📅 Starts September 1 – Only 4 spots left
👉 Find out more & book here​

💌 And follow Louise here!​

*Sponsored post*

🏄‍♂️ Surfs up!

✨ Look Up!

🌑✨ Black Moon Magic

Get outside on Saturday night to check out the Black Moon - the third new moon in a season with four.

With no moonlight to wash things out, it’s for sure the best time to look up and see the Milky Way stretching across the night sky. Find a dark spot away from town lights, let your eyes adjust, and you’ll spot billions of stars, glowing nebulae, and maybe even the Magellanic Clouds if you’re lucky! ✨

🍓🍵The best strawberry matchas in Franklin

Gem is our resident matcha fanatic. Anything and everything matcha and she's in heaven. Matcha ice cream, matcha coffee, matcha… toothpaste? (Can you get that yet?!). So while we got all our amazing Frankie fam (that's YOU GUYS!) to nominate your favourite matchas around town, there was only one person qualified to do the taste test.

Why strawberry matcha? While plain matcha can be an acquired taste, strawberry matcha is the gateway sip. A perfect blend of fruity, sweet strawberry, with the earthiness of the green tea.

And here’s what Gem found!

☕ The gateway one: Z Strawberry Matcha​
We all know Z is full of surprises. We've come to expect decent coffee and pies, sure, but strawberry matcha? Turns out, it’s not half bad. The strawberry element is tart and sweet with actual pulpy bits (a huge win for Gem). The matcha, though, is quite sweet, almost like a milkshake, which means the earthy green tea flavour gets a little lost. But hear us out: just as a mocha can lure you into loving a strong long black, this sweet, creamy sip could easily be your first step toward becoming a true matcha convert.

🍨 The fun one: TooSmart Korean Shop​
This is less “cup of tea” and more “ice cream party.” Gem loves the matcha ice cream you can get at this store - proper Japanese matcha! So adding a box of strawberry milk just seemed logical. Creamy matcha ice cream blended with strawberry milk, poured over a cup packed with ice. (Pro tip: ditch at least half the ice first or you’ll run out of room fast.) The result? A lightly sweet, dessert-y shake that’s heaven if you’re a strawberry milk lover. Honestly, half the joy is in making it at the counter, like a DIY treat with a Korean twist.

📸 The Instagram one: Your Local Coffee​
Deep green matcha, bright strawberry syrup, and a perfectly chilled, but not over-iced (IYKYK) glass. This is hands-down the most photogenic strawberry matcha in Franklin. Luckily, it tastes as good as it looks: fresh, sweet without being cloying, and the right balance of green tea and berry. One for the feed and the tastebuds.

🌿 The polished one: Glow Restaurant & Bar​
Now this is where matcha lovers will swoon. Glow uses ceremonial-grade matcha for that smooth, silky, and full-bodied taste without any of that powdery texture some matchas are known to have. The strawberry isn’t too sweet or overpowering; it blends perfectly, letting the matcha shine. This was Gem’s absolute favourite of the lot - subtle, balanced, beautiful.

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Got a favourite matcha that isn't mentioned here? Reply and let us now which ones to try next!

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

Staying close to home this week - Frankly Small Closing Weekend

🎨 Frankly Small, Big Impact

Something a little different has been happening in Pukekohe this month - and it’s your last chance to see it this weekend!

The Franklin Arts Festival has gone in a new direction this year with Frankly Small - an exhibition of tiny-but-mighty works. Every piece is no bigger than 30cm, but the creativity on show is huge. There are hundreds of NZ artists showcasing their tiny (but gorgeous!) pieces of art - everything from paintings to ceramics, textiles to photography, glass to mixed media.

My personal fave - the framed ceramic mushroom. But honestly there are so many amazing pieces to look at - all so different and thought-provoking.

📍 Where: NZ Steel Gallery, Franklin Arts Centre, 12 Massey Ave, Pukekohe
🗓️ When: Now until Saturday 23 August
⏰ Hours: 9.30am–4.30pm (Mon–Fri), final day Sat 23 Aug, 9.30am–1pm
💰 Entry: Koha

✨ Highlights:

• Mini masterpieces for sale - unless marked NFS, you can take one home (the perfect way to start your very own art collection).
• Schools Showcase - local students’ work brightening the foyer of Franklin: The Centre.
• Size rules - 2D and 3D works max 300mm, proving good things really do come in small packages.

Whether you’re an art lover, a curious local, or just looking for something a little different this weekend, pop in - you're bound to find a small treasure with a big story.

Thurday

🍹 Cocktail Happy Hour​
Little Ed Pukekohe, 6–7pm
All your favourite cocktails at Little Ed, just a little bit cheaper — the perfect way to kick off your Thursday night!

📚 Y Studio (Teens Art Group)​
Waiuku & Pukekohe Libraries, 3:30–4:30pm (term time)
An after-school art group for high schoolers (13+). Drop in and explore different creative projects with Hariata, no booking required.

🧠 Quiz Night​
Blue Ox Babe, 7pm
Round up the crew for a night of fun trivia at Blue Ox Babe every Thursday.

📖 Tongan Language Week Storytime​
Franklin: The Centre (12 Massey Ave, Pukekohe), 12:30–1pm
A fun storytime session with Tongan stories, rhymes, songs, and dancing — perfect for tamariki building language and literacy skills.

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Friday

🎶 DJ Martina Mak​
Little Ed, from 7pm
An electrifying blend of disco, funk, R&B, hip-hop, and Latin grooves guaranteed to keep the dancefloor moving all night.

🌮 Fernando’s Tacos Shop Opening​
4/2 Dominion Road, Tuakau, 11am–8pm
The long-awaited opening! Authentic Mexican street food with fresh, bold flavours and fiesta vibes.

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Saturday

🥂 Bottomless Lunch​
Little Ed, 11:30am–3pm
A Saturday afternoon of great food, endless drinks, and good vibes with your crew.

🎧 Tonez Def Live​
Little Ed, from 7pm
An eclectic, high-energy music set mixing rock, house, techno, disco, funk, DnB and more.

👩‍💻 Coding Makerspace​
Pukekohe Library, 9:30–11:30am
Learn to code your own games in Scratch or Python. Suitable for ages 7+ (BYO device recommended).

🧵 Heart Macramé Workshop​
64 Queen St, Waiuku, 12:30–2:30pm
Discover the meditative art of macramé and create your own piece in this soulful fibre workshop. Book here​

🇵🇭 Buwan ng Wika – Filipino Language Month Celebration​
Franklin: The Centre, 12 Massey Ave, Pukekohe, 1:45–3pm
Celebrate Filipino culture with vibrant performances, authentic food, and community fun — free for all to attend.

🎬 NZ Mountain Film Festival – Award Winners​
50 Belgium St, Waiuku, from 9am
Five award-winning adventure and environmental films screened locally. Tickets $15–25, door sales $20.

🥖 Sourdough Workshop​
Your Local Bakery, 7b Glasgow Rd, Pukekohe, 11am–3pm
Learn to bake your own sourdough loaf step by step, complete with starter, flour, tools, and bread to take home. ($90 pp)

🧶 Shorthand Family Craft Studio​
Old Graham’s Beach Schoolhouse, 10am–2pm
A treasure trove of locally handmade pottery, jewellery, photography, quilts, and crafts — worth the road trip!

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Sunday

🎶 Sunday Roast & Live Music​
Little Ed, all day
Tuck into a Sunday roast while enjoying live tunes from The Shed Shakers in a chilled atmosphere.

🌞 Pukekohe Market​
Pukekohe Park Raceway, 8am
Browse fresh produce, handmade crafts, antiques, collectibles, and enjoy food trucks, live music, and bargains. More info​

🛍️ Waiuku Sunday Market​
9 Kitchener Rd, Waiuku, 8am–1pm
A bustling local market with artisan goods, vintage finds, baked treats, music, coffee, and family fun.

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monday

🃏 Board Game Night​
Otakumart, from 6pm
Bring your favourite games or try something new at this relaxed weekly board game evening. Free entry, all welcome.

📝 Quiz Night​
Appetite, 7pm
Grab some mates and join in the weekly Monday quiz night — laughs, trivia, and plenty of fun.

🎶 UkuPella New Singers Intake​
Belgium St, Waiuku, from 9am
Join Franklin’s award-winning women’s a cappella group and see if you’re the perfect harmony match.

🍕 Pizza & Margarita Night​
Pizzata Deli, 6:30pm ($40 pp)
All-you-can-eat Margherita pizza plus a classic Margarita cocktail, with a live cocktail-making demo. Book here​

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Tuesday

🎨 Painting Club​
Franklin Arts Centre, 6–8pm (term time)
A relaxed club for local artists — bring whatever you’re working on and enjoy creative company.

🌸 Crafting Tuesday​
Botanical on Bowen, 10am–2pm (winter only)
Bring your crafts and enjoy a cosy day making in a beautiful setting.

💼 TNG Business Networking​
Town Mouse, 9–10pm
Join the Pukekohe chapter of The Networking Group for connections and collaborations. Two free visits for new attendees.

🐶 International Dog Day Sausage Sizzle​
Mitre10 Mega, Pukekohe, 12–2pm
Celebrate Dog Day with free sausages and puppy cuddles.

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Wednesday

👥 Anti-Social Social Club (Teens)​
Pukekohe Library, 3:30pm
A safe and inclusive space for teens to hang out, make friends, and join fun activities every Wednesday afternoon.

🎲 Games Night with Cheeky Parrot Games​
The Collectors Guild, 21 Queen St, Waiuku, 8:30am
Play board and card games with Julia from Cheeky Parrot Games — prize giveaways included. $10 per person.

🎤 Comedy Pub Quiz​
The Village Bar, Patumahoe, from 7pm
Join Quizmaster Jim for a fun midweek comedy pub quiz. Free to play, bookings recommended.

🎶 Beats by Bingo​
Little Ed, 7:30–9:30pm ($15)
Not your average bingo — play, sing along, and win prizes in this lively music-meets-bingo night. Ticket includes a drink.

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Word Scramble answer: Strawberry Matcha

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

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