Hello, my dear Frankies!
Big news - we’re about to hit a huge milestone for our little newsletter: 1,000 subscribers! Plus another 1000 across social media!
We started this as a way to share cool events with our friends and whānau, and it grew…fast. Along the way, we've realised it’s also the perfect place to spotlight our beautiful local businesses, creators, events, and everyday legends. There aren’t many ways to get your name out there, and we see hardworking locals hustling every day - so we love shouting them out ♥
When we hit the big 1,000, we want to celebrate properly. We’re thinking giveaways, a scavenger hunt, maybe a Franklin-inspired bingo card…but what would you love to see? Cast your vote in the poll and help us plan the party! 🎉
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OK, we're going to get planning - make sure you forward this to anyone you think would love to be in the know, so we can grow the Frankie fam and start this party already! And if someone cool sent this to you - sign up for yourself here!
R. and the Frankie Team xx
Rusty Studs: Waiuku’s no-rules car day with big heart (and bigger engines)
If you like the smell of petrol, the thrill of a good rummage, and the sound of a V8 snarling before breakfast, block out your Saturday! Rusty Studs is back with their Car Show & Swap Meet at 30 Constable Road, Waiuku - a full-noise market-meets-motors day from 7:00am-2:00pm.
Expect food and coffee, live demos, show-car spot prizes, and aisles of parts and treasures you didn’t know you needed (until you’re clutching them like a dragon with shiny things).
How Rusty Studs started
Rusty Studs isn’t a formal “club.” No fees, no affiliations - just a social crew of Waiuku mates who wanted a laid-back way to celebrate the machines they love and the community around them. The tongue-in-cheek name is a nod to the many “rusty nuts” found in hot-rodding circles…so they went one better: Rusty Studs. That relaxed, mates-first ethos still powers the show today.
What you’ll find on the day
- The Car Show: Roll in, show off, yarn with fellow tinkerers. There are three $100 show-car draws through the morning (8am, 9am, 10am) - but your car has to be present to win. Show-car drivers get free entry to the swap/market area.
- The Swap Meet & Market: Rows of bits, bobs, panels and period goodies. Sellers and trade/market stands can enter from Friday afternoon, with overnight camping Friday (for sellers/stands). Public parking is free. Under-13s are free.
- Live Demos & Atmosphere: From V8 & Harley-powered chainsaw log-sawing (yes, really) to other crowd-pleasers popping off across the day. Food and coffee on site.
Handy details
- When/where: Sat 8 Nov 2025, 7:00am-2:00pm, 30 Constable Rd, Waiuku.
- Money stuff: It’s cash only at the gate (general admission $10; show-car drivers free; under-13s free). Public parking is free.
- Coming to sell? Gates for sellers open Friday afternoon; camping Friday night (sellers/stands only).
Frankie’s field notes (to max your day)
- Arrive early for the sweetest swap-meet scores and the best car-park cruise-in moments.
- Bring small notes (cash only), a reusable tote, and a phone torch for peering into boxes of mystery parts.
- Show car? Keep it on site during the morning to be eligible for those spot-draws.
- Family-friendly: Under-13s are free, there’s food/coffee, and the demos are crowd-stoppers!
Read more details here! 🛠️
stipale
Unscramble the letters above to find the Franklin-related phrase! Answer at the bottom of the newsletter!
The Wellness Club presents: Pals & Pilates (for Gumboot Friday)
This Friday night, The Wellness Club is doing what they do best - bringing people together for movement, mahi, and loving community vibes ♥
This week, their evening event, Pals & Pilates, is a golden-hour mat session (gumboots welcome!) followed by cheese and crackers from The Host and icy-cold Pals as the sun sets over Pukekohe Racetrack. It’s fun with a purpose: every dollar goes straight to I Am Hope to fund free counselling for our rangatahi. 💛
We love The Wellness Club because they walk the talk: inclusive, local, and all-in on making wellness accessible to everyone in the community. This event reflects everything they work towards - movement that feels good, connection that lasts, and a community impact you can be proud of ♥
Details: Friday 7 November, 6:00-7:30 PM, Pukekohe Racetrack
Tickets: Make a $20+ donation via the Givealittle link (100% to I Am Hope)
Bring: Your pals, your gumboots, and your best sunset smile
Check it out here! And follow the amazing The Wellness Club here!
Gumboots on. Spirits up. Pilates with purpose. Powered by The Wellness Club.
⚽ Kids’ FREE Summer Fun Football (ages 4-14) - Drury Sports Complex (Victoria St, entry via Bremner Rd), 5–6pm.
Casual small-sided games; no fees or registration - just turn up with water and shin pads! Check out more info here!
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👉 Want a featured note on the notice board? - Simply book your feature here, or just send us a quick email and we'll help you out!
Thursday
🍹 Thursday Cocktail Happy Hour
Little Ed, 6–7pm
All your favourites, just a little bit cheaper!
🎨 Y Studio (after-school art, ages 13+)
Waiuku Library, 3:30–4:30pm
Drop-in creative club exploring different art mediums and ideas; no booking needed.
🧠 Quiz Night
Blue Ox Babe, 7pm
Gather your crew for trivia, laughs, and bragging rights.
🍱 Food Trucks @ Pukekohe Park
Pukekohe Park Country Racetrack, 4:30–8:30pm
Eclectic international street food at competitive prices. www.franklinmarkets.com
Friday
☕ Friday Browsers Book Chat
Waiuku Library, 10:30–11:30am
Cuppa + friendly chat about what you’ve been reading, watching, or listening to.
🐟 Franklin Mud Marlin Competition (weigh-in)
Aka Aka Hall, 3pm
Catch koi carp, bring them for daily weigh-in, win prizes; juniors & seniors. Winners announced Sunday with a sausage sizzle.
🧦 Pals & Pilates for Gumboot Friday (fundraiser)
Location TBC, 6–7:30pm
40-min mat session in gumboots + cheese, crackers & Pals; donate $20+ via Givealittle to support I Am Hope.
🚚 Food Trucks @ Roulston Street
Roulston Street Carpark, 4:30–8:30pm
Street-food lineup with favourites from around the world. www.franklinmarkets.com
🎉 DJ Martina Mak
Little Ed, 7–11pm
Crowd favourite spinning disco, funk, R&B, hip-hop and Latin grooves to pack the dancefloor all night.
Saturday
👾 Coding Makerspace (ages 7+)
Pukekohe Library, 9:30–11:30am
Make games in Scratch or Python; BYO device recommended.
🚗 Rusty Studs Swap-Meet, Car Show & Market
Constable Rd, Waiuku (opposite Medical Centre), from 7am
Cars, parts, stalls and shine—full petrolhead fun. More details: http://rustystuds.co.nz/events/
🏋️ Strongman Workshop
Counties Fitness (151 Manukau Rd, Pukekohe), 9–11am
Learn log & axle clean/press, sandbag carry, stone-over-bar; limited spots - book ahead.
🛍️ Karaka Markets
113 Harbourside Dr (Karaka Learning Centre Hall), 9am–12:30pm
75+ stalls inside and out—food, coffee, pony rides, face painting, live music; bring cash.
🌼 Build Your Own Flower Press
Waiuku Library with Waiuku Zero Waste, 1–3pm
Hands-on DIY using upcycled materials; decorate with recycled paint. Get your tickets!
🔬 Microscopic Freshwater Ecosystems—Talk
Steel Gallery, Franklin Arts Centre, 10:30am
Biologist Chloe Senn on the tiny creatures that reveal river health through science and art. More info!
🧸 Kids’ Toy & Clothing Sale
Buckland Hall, 12–4pm
Buy/sell good-condition kids’ gear; table hire available. Info/booking: www.bucklandhall.nz/toy-sale
🌙 Waiuku Twilight Markets (Guy Fawkes vibes)
9 Kitchener Rd, Waiuku, 3–9pm
Music, masks and market mayhem for the whole whānau.
🎶 “Magnificat in the Land of the Long White Cloud”
Franklin Community Choir at St Patricks Catholic Church, Pukekohe, 2pm
Cash-door tickets: Adults/Seniors $25, Students $15, younger children free. More info here!
🎧 DJ Veritas
Little Ed, 7–11pm
Local DJ/producer/vocalist bringing serious flavour and good-times energy to Little Ed.
Sunday
🌅 Glow & Flow Pilates (with coffee & goodies)
Pukekohe East Rd (tennis courts), 9–11am
40-min Pilates fusion, coffee cart, snacks by Daily Goods, goodie bags + spot prizes. Get your tickets!
🐄 Crafty Cows Market (13th birthday!)
Pollok Town Hall, 10am–2pm
100% handcrafted stalls, coffee, chats and local makers.
🏰 Matakawau Hall Free Family Day
2615 Awhitu Rd, 10am–3pm
Obstacle course, 5 escape rooms, bouncy castles, games, free sausage sizzle & more. All the info!
💍 Castaways Wedding Open Day
Castaways, 11am–2pm
Meet vendors, sample ideas, get inspired for your big day. More info here
🎯 W.A.R. Open Game Day (Airsoft—Guy Fawkes theme)
58 Bird Rd, Otaua (Waiuku), from 10am
CS:GO-style missions, bonfire & fireworks after 4pm; hire gear available. Book now!
🚴♀️ Counties Cycle Classic
Otaua Hall base; rego 8am, races from 9:45am
15km circuit with multiple distance options; stunning countryside laps.
🛒 Franklin Market @ Pukekohe Park
Pukekohe Park Raceway, from 8am
UpMarket mix of produce, crafts, food trucks and live music. More info!
monday
🧘♀️ Yoga + Coffee at the Park
Seddon Park (next to Your Local Coffee Roasters, 3a West St, Pukekohe), 6:15am
Iyengar-style session with Wendy; class includes a coffee. Tickets here!
🧠 Monday Quiz Night
Appetite, 7pm
A cheerful start-of-week quiz—teams, tunes and prizes.
🎲 Monday Board Game Night
Otakumart, from 6pm
Chill evening of tabletop fun; BYO games or pick from the shelf. Free entry.
Tuesday
🤝 Empower November: Serve Before You Sell
Little Batch Wax Co HQ, 11am
Marketing with heart: 80/20 serve-then-sell framework + 100+ content ideas; Tickets right here!
🎨 Painting Club (term time)
Franklin Arts Centre, 6–8pm
Two focused hours to work on your piece and connect with other artists.
🏃♀️ STRIDE TRIBE Run Club (all levels)
Waiuku with Janais Dunn Fitness, 6pm
Walk or run 3km; community vibes, zero pressure—bring a friend. Check it out here!
🧘 Hatha Yoga with Maureen (Yoga Collective)
Waiuku Lions Hall, 9:30am
Gentle strength and mobility session.
🧠 Tuesday Quiz Night
Ed Street (27 Edinburgh St), evening
Fun quiz and prizes with a lively crowd.
Wednesday
⚽ Kids’ FREE Summer Fun Football (ages 4–14)
Drury Sports Complex (Victoria St, entry via Bremner Rd), 5–6pm
Casual small-sided games; no fees or registration—just turn up with water and shin pads. Check it out!
🦇 Pekapeka (Bat) Walk
Location TBC, 7pm
Listen with bat detectors and spot these tiny taonga after dusk. Tickets sell out fast!
🏓 Pickleball Open Day
Waiuku College (New Gym), 6–9pm
All-weather social pickleball; paddles and beginner coaching provided.
🍺 Quiz Night @ Malt N Steel
Malt N Steel, 7pm
Teams of 2–8; prizes to be won—book a table!
😂 Comedy Quiz Night
The Village Bar, Patumahoe, evening
Free to play; call 09 236 3571 to book.
🧘 Vinyasa Yoga with Nigel (Yoga Collective)
Waiuku Lions Club Hall, 6:30pm
Flow-style practice to move, breathe and reset mid-week.
🧠 Wednesday Quiz Night
Ed Street (27 Edinburgh St), evening
Mid-week trivia fix with plenty of prizes.
Word Scramble answer: Pilates
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