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Local art, hormone smarts, and markets under the stars 🖼️💪✨
Published 7 days ago • 8 min read
Hello, my dear Frankies!
After chatting about Franklin’s amazing creators last week, it feels like perfect timing to shine a light on the Franklin Arts Trail!
I wandered the trail last year, and honestly, the best part was meeting the lovely local artists quietly creating masterpieces just down the road - hidden away in garages, sheds, and studios you probably drive past every day. It’s a bit like peeking through windows into another world ♥
There’s such a huge variety too. Painters, weavers, sculpturists, mixed media...we even ended up at Scott's Steelworkz, exploring through sections of little steel letters and shapes (a dollar each, if memory serves!) to make our own mini outdoor murals.
Scroll down for all the details on this once-a-year chance to explore Franklin’s incredible artists and craftmakers - and if you’ve got a favourite local legend we should feature next, we’d love to hear from you!
R. and the Frankie Team xx
Featuring community news, groups, events, people, places and businesses. The very best of Franklin
Discover the Franklin Arts Trail: A Creative Journey This Labour Weekend
This Labour Weekend (25–27 October 2025), the Franklin region ✨transforms✨ into a dynamic open-studio playground as artists open their doors, studios, and galleries across the district.
The Franklin Arts Trail, now an annual fixture on Auckland’s creative calendar, invites everyone - from curious first-time art lovers to seasoned collectors - to wander, pause, and engage with the artistic heartbeat of our region.
What’s the Trail All About?
The cool thing about the art trail is that it's all about connection - connecting people with artists, with the land, building a community of artists and art-lovers.
The idea is simple but powerful: a map of studios, galleries and creative spaces is released, and visitors plot their own route. Wander down back roads, drop into private studios, chat with makers in their creative element, and perhaps take home something new.
The event is entirely free to attend. And it’s not just about viewing - many artists welcome sales, commissions, or simply conversation.
Beautiful pieces featuring wallpaper and bugs by Jane Thorne
Spotlight Artists & Highlights
The diversity of art forms on show is one of the Trail’s strengths. A few standouts:
Glenys Duff (Taraire Croft Handwovens) - Forty years in weaving, working with locally dyed yarns in merino, silk, mohair and more.
Lisa Bate Studio - Working in kiln-cast glass and mixed media, Lisa’s glass sculptures explore form, repetition and movement.
Altered State Gallery - Sculptures from repurposed materials, combining weird and wonderful everyday objects into forms new and unexpected.
Annette Piercy - Beautiful pottery homewares - art you can weave into your everyday life. Visit her studio to discover the entire artistic process.
WaiArt Collective - A group practice doing everything from collage to gel print and more - a chance to see creative exchange in action.
Artisans Alcove - A community-led initiative supported by Waiuku Family Support, featuring local artisans and makers in a gallery setting.
And many, many more! Painters, weavers, ceramicists, watercolourists, textile artists, sculptors, photographers and mixed-media creators sprinkled all across Franklin!
Download the map early.Use the official trail map to plan your route - some studios are in remote or rural settings.
Give yourself time. Previous years' participants report that you could spend a full weekend exploring them all.
Call ahead if needed. Some studios are open by appointment, especially for glass, fibre, or sculptural works.
Support local. Buying art, commissioning work, or simply spreading the word helps sustain these creative voices.
Mix your stopovers. Take in the landscape as much as the art - our little corner of the world has rural charm and natural settings that you can't find anywhere else! And it's all part of the experience ♥
The Franklin Arts Trail isn’t just a day out - it’s a rare chance to peek inside the creative worlds tucked away down our own back roads. You can meet the artists, see how the work is made, and maybe even start (or add to!) your own art collection with pieces that carry real local stories.
Buying art directly from the maker means you’re supporting a neighbour, not a factory. And it’s a reminder that art isn’t something distant or fancy - it’s the colour and texture that make our homes and our lives feel alive. Whether you come home with a new painting, a hand-woven scarf, or just some inspiration to dust off your own paintbrush, you’ll walk away with something beautiful.
Unscramble the letters above to find the Franklin-related phrase! Answer at the bottom of the newsletter!
💪 Coach Rosie & the Lean Body: Perimenopause Edition
Frankies, let’s be honest - perimenopause can feel like your body’s gone rogue.
One minute you’re fine, the next you’re wide awake at 2am, sweating through your sheets, and wondering why your jeans suddenly have a vendetta against you.
This is the stage where hormones start shifting quietly (or not so quietly), and what used to work - eating less, moving more - suddenly… doesn’t.
That’s exactly why Coach Rosie created the Lean Body: Perimenopause Edition - a 6-week reset designed to help you understand what’s going on in your body and actually work with it.
Instead of random “just push through it” advice, you’ll get:
🔥 Fat loss without the misery - Full personalised nutrition guide and simple but delicious meal plans to fuel your life AND fat loss.
🌙 Better sleep, steadier moods, and more energy - from learning what your hormones need (and when they need it).
💗 A deeper sense of control - thanks to weekly info sessions where Rosie breaks down what’s really happening behind the scenes: hormones, metabolism, stress, and how it all ties together.
Each week builds your knowledge, confidence, and results - so by the end, you won’t just feel different, you’ll understand why.
With Coach Rosie, perimenopause doesn’t have to be confusing, chaotic, or defeating - it can be the moment you finally become the boss of your own body again.
🙋♀️ IHC’s volunteer friendship programmeis about making a positive change in the life of a person with an intellectual disability and gaining a new friend in the process. Are you interested in walking, knitting or visiting the library with a friend? If you would like to play a part in the life of a person with an intellectual disability, please contact Brigit.bowron@ihc.org.nz
☕ Have you read Coffee News this week? - Pick up a copy in your favourite café or scan the QR code to read on your device
📚 Rural Youth and Adult Literacy Trust - Struggling with reading or writing? Or know someone who is? The Rural Youth and Adult Literacy Trust offers free, one-on-one coaching for teens and adults across New Zealand — especially those living rurally or in isolated areas.
We also welcome new volunteers to join our team and help others discover the joy of reading. 📞 0800 891 339 📧 admin@adultliteracy.ac.nz 🌐 www.adultliteracy.ac.nz
👉 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 Cocktail Happy Hour Little Ed | 6–7 pm All your favourites, just a little bit cheaper!
🎨 After School Art Club Franklin Arts Centre | 3.15–4.15 pm For intermediate kids and up — experiment with paint and print techniques to create layered artworks on MDF board. Boards supplied by Waiuku Zero Waste Community Workshop. Tickets
🎭 This Murder Was Staged (Opening Weekend!) Pukekohe Performing Arts | Thursday – Sunday A hilarious backstage mystery — when the director drops dead mid-performance, everyone’s a suspect! Full-length play with intermission, suitable for all ages. Tickets
🎤 Quiz Trivia Night Blue Ox Babe | 7 pm Test your general-knowledge skills with a pint in hand at this fun weekly quiz.
🎨 Y Studio – Teen Art Club Waiuku Library | 3.30–4.30 pm Drop-in after-school art club for ages 13+. Explore mediums and creative projects with facilitator Hariata.
Friday
🍔 Pukekohe Evening Kai Markets 1 Roulston Carpark | 4.30–8.30 pm Family-friendly night market with Thai, Vietnamese, hotdogs, rolls, desserts & more. Info
🎬 Paerata Rise Movie Night Under the Stars Paerata Rise Reserve | 7.45 pm Grab a blanket and settle in for a free community movie night under the stars! Food and drinks available at Rise & Shine Café nearby.
🎧 Martina Mak DJ Set Little Ed | from 8 pm Kick off your weekend with top tunes and remixes.
Saturday
🧒 Coding Makerspace Pukekohe Library | 9.30–11.30 am Create games in Scratch or Python — perfect for ages 7+ (BYO device).
🌽 Karaka Market Karaka Learning Centre | 9–12.30 pm 75+ stalls with food, coffee, pony rides, live music, and boutique crafts — a slice of country in the city!
🍷 Sip, Savour & Socialise Lake Hill Estate Bombay | Afternoon Enjoy a relaxing afternoon of food, wine, and conversation while soaking up the views.
🌅 Waiuku Twilight Market (NEW!) Waiuku | 2–9 pm Big new community event with market stalls, food, live music, a talent quest & summer vibes galore.
🎸 Head Rush Live Band Ed Street Bar Pukekohe | 9.30 pm–12.30 am Live music til late — dance your heart out!
🎶 Danny’s on Deck Little Ed | from 7 pm Favourite house music & remixes all night.
Sunday
☕ Your Sunday Coffee Run Your Local Coffee | 7 am Join the 7 or 10 km run/walk, then cool off with a coffee and contrast therapy session at The Wellness Club. Info
🎯 Open Game Day at W.A.R W.A.R Airsoft | 8.30 am–3 pm All welcome — hire gear available. Book online & join the battle!
🏑 Croquet Come & Try Open Day Pukekohe Croquet Club | 1–4 pm Fun, low-impact activity for all ages — just bring flat-soled shoes. More info
🎬 Downton Abbey – Zonta Fundraiser Pukekohe Cinema 3 | 3 pm Finale movie screening supporting Zonta South Auckland projects for women & girls. $25 tickets with raffles. Info
🛍️ Franklin Market at Pukekohe Park Raceway Pukekohe Park | 8 am Big weekly market with food trucks, crafts & live music. Link
monday
📚 Poetry & Prose Lovers Meet-Up Franklin Arts Centre Caterpillar Café | 10–11 am Share your favourite poems or prose — all languages welcome. Info
✈️ Pukekohe Travel Cruise & Travel Expo Franklin Club Inc | 4–6.45 pm Meet travel consultants and cruise partners, plan your next adventure & explore tours and journeys. Register
🧠 Quiz Night at Appetite Appetite | 7 pm Start your week with fun trivia and a laugh.
🎲 Monday Board Game Night Otakumart | from 6 pm Relax and play your favourite games (or discover new ones) in a laid-back community setting.
Tuesday
🍕 Exploring Sangiovese + Pizza Night Pizzata Deli Pukekohe | 6.30 pm A wine-tasting journey through Italy’s beloved red — 8 wines + pizzas with expert Nikolai Siimes. Tickets
🎨 Painting Club Franklin Arts Centre | 6–8 pm Bring your own project and enjoy two hours of painting and art chat with locals (term time only).
🏃♀️ STRIDE TRIBE Run Club Waiuku | 6 pm Free 3 km walk/run for all levels — fun vibes and good company. DM @janaisdunnfitness for details.
🧘♀️ Hatha Yoga with Maureen Waiuku Lions Hall | 9.30 am Gentle Hatha yoga for mobility and mindfulness. More info
Wednesday
💦 Be Water Safe! Waiuku Library | 11 am Learn essential water safety tips and skills to keep yourself and your whānau safe in and around the water.
👩🎤 Comedy Quiz Night The Village Bar Patumahoe | Evening Join quiz master Jim for a hilarious pub quiz every Wednesday. Free to play — book on 09 236 3571.
👥 Anti-Social Social Club for Teens Pukekohe Library | 3.30 pm Inclusive after-school hang-out for teens of all types — activities, friends & fun every week.
🧘♂️ Vinyasa Yoga with Nigel Waiuku Lions Club Hall | 6.30 pm Evening flow class to unwind and re-energise. More info
Word Scramble answer: Watercolour
p.s. If someone awesome sent you this email and you want to subscribe yourself, sign up here 👉 dearfrankie.co.nz
"Think Waiuku + surrounds are boring? You haven't signed up for Dear Frankie yet!"
Find out what's going on in town this week - the fun way! 💥
*NEW FREE LOCAL NEWSLETTER!* Covering Franklin's community gatherings, gigs and events, job postings, digital farmers market, weekend getaways, local stories and more...all delivered straight to your inbox for free! New editions every Thursday at 9:16 am. Subscribe free! 👇
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