Hello, my dear Frankies!

I am so excited about Waiuku’s very first wellness event - The Stretch Collective’s Sunday Stretch Event! I’ve been chatting with the organiser, Danniella Bell, and seriously…how is she this impressive?! Two businesses, putting on a whole wellness event, and she’s still in her early twenties? Absolutely unhinged (in the best way). ✨

She’s got that rare mix of hustle AND heart that makes Franklin feel like its own little universe of legends, so I’m locking in a full feature interview with her for next week - you’re going to love her story!

And the vibes don’t stop at wellness - Franklin is also serving up so many fun ways to get creative and try something new. There are workshops popping up everywhere, and it’s giving big “remember art class at school?” energy. Like…why did we ever stop making stuff just because it’s fun? Why did we collectively decide creativity was only for kids and Pinterest mums with glue guns? Not on my watch! 😌🎨

So this is your gentle nudge to pick a workshop, bring a friend, make something slightly wonky and wonderful, and remember you’re allowed to create purely for the joy of it.

Let’s do that again.

R. and The Frankie Team xx

Waiuku’s Wellness Era: The Big Sunday Reset 🧘‍♀️✨

Waiuku has been quietly building a new identity for a while now: early-morning gym crews, recovery devotees who own more foam rollers than cutlery (guilty! 🙋‍♀️), massage tables booked out weeks ahead, and a growing little ecosystem of people who care so much about moving well and feeling good 💜

And now Danniella Bell from The Stretch Collective is giving us all something to get up early on a Sunday for: Sunday Stretch Sessions: The Wellness Event Edit, happening Saturday 1 March, 9:00–11:30am at 41 Belgium Street.

It’s not just “a stretch class with a cute name.” It’s probably one of the first truly big wellness events we’ve held in town - and it’s a perfect example of what’s changing here! A little powerhouse of health, wellness, and community-led movement 💜

A Waiuku wellness lineup that actually slaps

What makes this event feel special is the way it brings together so many of Waiuku’s best local health and wellness players in one room (and one very well-thought-out morning):

• ​RXFitness 235​
• ​DB Remedial Massage​
• ​The Stretch Collective​
• ​Recovery Lane​
• ​The Whyte Connection​

On their own, each of these businesses has been helping locals move better, recover smarter, and feel more like themselves again. Together? It’s an “all bases covered” kind of collaboration: recovery, relaxation, strength support, nervous system calm - the whole body, not just the highlight reel!

Event organiser Danniella Bell (yes, that Danniella - 22, unstoppable, and somehow running on pure organisation and audacity - come back next week to read our interview with her!) told me the idea came from seeing what’s possible elsewhere and thinking…why not here?

“I did one last year in the city and loved it! Coordinating events is one of my favorite things, so I wanted to do one locally.”

Bringing “big city” energy to small-town Waiuku

There’s something deliciously rebellious about staging a polished wellness event in a town where we’re used to driving to Auckland for the good stuff. Danniella’s not pretending this is about being fancy - it’s about possibility.

“That everyone gets something out of it, big or small. I also want to start bringing the things (like events) that you see in the big city to our small town! There is so much potential here that isn't being used - so to spark that would be pretty cool.”

And that’s the exciting part - this isn't just a one-off event, but a spark. A signal flare that says, we can do things like this here!

The schedule: stretch, activate, recover (repeat forever)

The morning is built like a proper recovery arc:

1. Guided stretch session with Danniella Bell - the kind that makes you realise you’ve been carrying your stress in your hips since 2017.
2. Muscle activation class with Emily Julian (CrossFit athlete) - less “gentle vibes,” more “wake your body up properly.”
3. Contrast therapy at Recovery Lane - because nothing says “Sunday reset” like feeling your nervous system reboot in real time.

And the event is also welcoming some big exciting names in health and fitness: LSKD, Emily Julian, and Clean Collective - which adds that extra layer of “wait… this is happening in Waiuku?”

What Danniella wants you to leave with

If you’re wondering what the goal is beyond the obvious (feeling better, moving better, probably walking taller on the way out), Danniella put it in one word:

“Inspired!”

Inspired in the real way - to take care of yourself, to try something new, to remember that your body isn’t just something that gets you from one task to the next.

Sunday Stretch Sessions: The Wellness Event Edit​
📍 41 Belgium Street, Waiuku
🗓 Saturday 1 March
⏰ 9:00am – 11:30am
💰 $25 • online payment • spaces available buy tickets here!​

nayuns cethrts

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

🎨✨ Franklin Workshop Diary

If your calendar’s been a bit same-same lately, these workshops are the perfect shake-up!

Franklin is absolutely delivering. We’ve got a stack of workshops coming up - the perfect chance to learn a new skill, meet some lovely locals, and leave with something you actually made (or at the very least, a good story and a full tummy).

Here’s what’s on the calendar so you can lock in a date and become mysteriously talented by next week!

Thu 12 Feb​
🏺 Vase-making Workshop (Hunua)​
Sweetgum Cottage & Garden, Hunua • 6:30pm–9:30pm
Hand-build your own decorative vase with Bex from R Ceramics in a dreamy garden setting. Includes materials + firing. $99pp tickets here!​

Sat 14 Feb​
🕯️ Candle & Room Spray Workshop (Pukekohe)​
Little Batch Wax Co., 152 Manukau Road • 10:00am–12:30pm
Make a 220g soy candle + 100g room/linen spray, with drinks and grazing while it sets. Book your place here!​

Sat 14 Feb​
🌸 Silk Gauze Flower Workshop (Pukekohe)​
Pukekohe Library, 12 Massey Ave • 11:00am–1:00pm
Create a peony for Lunar New Year with Ms Dou Zhi Ying (one of Auckland’s few masters of traditional Chinese silk mesh flowers). Free, 16+ Registration via Franklinoutreach@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or more info!​

Sat 14 Feb​
🏮📚 Horse Lantern Making + Lunar New Year Storytime (Pukekohe)​
Pukekohe Library, 12 Massey Ave • 10:30am–11:30am
Pop in for Lunar New Year storytime with HueyNi (10:30am), then stick around to make your own horse lantern to take home (11:00am). Free, ages 5+ Check it out!​

Mon 16 Feb, Sat 1 Mar, Mon 16 Mar​
🎨 Kids Pottery Workshop (Pukekohe)​
Franklin Arts Centre (Weta Workshop Room), 12 Massey Ave • 3:30pm–5:00pm
After-school clay + paint session for ages 4+. Take home unfired, or add $15 for firing/glazing. $30

Tue 17 Feb, Sat 14 Mar​
🍽️🏺 Pottery & Lunch (Pukekohe)​
Ed Street, 27 Edinburgh Street • 11:00am–3:00pm
Relaxed adult pottery workshop with Madison North Cowper + a beverage + a meal. Includes materials, firing + glazing. $160 - tickets here!​

Sat 28 Feb​
🎨🌊 Dabble in Driftwood Art (Awhitu / Pollok)​
Pollok Arts & Crafts Co-op, 2141 Awhitu Road • 10:30am–1:30pm
Create your own driftwood artwork (materials supplied or bring your own). Adults only, max 6. $60 - Tickets: 027 700 3097 • lyndajaneart@gmail.com

Thu 5 Mar​
🏠 Lil’ House-making Workshop (Waiuku)​
The Stable Light Gallery, 40 Queen Street • 6:30pm–9:30pm
Build a charming little ceramic house with Bex from R Ceramics (beginner-friendly, includes firing). $99pp - tickets here!​

Sat 14 Mar​
🎨 Rock, Paper, Stamp! Printmaking Session (Pukekohe)​
Franklin Arts Centre (Foyer), 12 Massey Ave • 10:00am–12:00pm
Drop in for a hands-on stamp printmaking session with artist Rose Meyer — make artworks + greeting cards inspired by the volcanic layers beneath Franklin. Free, all welcome, drop-in. More info!​

Thursday

🍸 Thursday Cocktail Happy Hour Little Ed, 6–7pm All your favourites, just a little bit cheaper!

🧠 Quiz Trivia Night Blue Ox Babe, 7pm Bring your smartest mate (or your loudest guesser) and settle in for trivia.

🚚 Thursday Night Food Trucks Pukekohe Park Country Racetrack, 4:30–8:30pm Street food feast with an eclectic mix (Thai, Mexican, Indian, hangi, gourmet burgers + more) at competitive prices.

🌿 Free Beeswax Wraps + Bokashi Compost Workshop 4 Hamilton Drive, Waiuku, 10am Learn low-waste kitchen swaps and composting magic. Check it out!​

🏎️ D1NZ Drift Beast Display 125 Manukau Road, Pukekohe, 3:30pm A drift machine display for the car nerds (and the car-curious). More info!​

🏺 Vase Making Workshop (R Ceramics) Sweetgum Cottage & Garden (2495 Hunua Road), 6:30–9:30pm Hand-build your own decorative vase with Bex, then it’s fired + glazed for you to collect later. Tickets here!​

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Friday

🎶 Kingston Calling Presents UB40 - Navigation Homes Stadium, 3:15pm Big singalong energy incoming. More info!​

🏁 D1NZ 2026 Championship: Round 3 (Location via event link), 10am Drifting all day (bring earplugs if you’re delicate). Check it out here!​

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Saturday

🛍️ Tuakau Community Market Central Park (Corner of George St & Jellicoe Ave), 9am–1pm Your Saturday wander: stalls, snacks, and “I definitely came for one thing” energy.

🏎️ Forever Taadow Meremere Dragway, 9am A full-send kind of day for motorsport lovers. Check it out!​

🥕 Karaka Market Karaka Market, 9am Stock up on goodies and enjoy a proper local market morning.

🌸 Delrian Gardens Open Day Delrian Gardens, 10am–5pm Free entry — stroll, breathe, pretend you live in a romance novel.

🏮 Horse Lantern Making + Storytime (Lunar New Year) Pukekohe Library (12 Massey Avenue), 10:30–11:30am Storytime first, then lantern making (limited spaces, first come). Ages 5+, free. More info!​

🧵 Silk Gauze Flower Workshop (Lunar New Year) Pukekohe Library (12 Massey Avenue), 11am–1pm Create a peony with traditional silk mesh techniques (16+, free, registration required). More info here!​

🚂 Celebrate Love: Glenbrook Vintage Railway Trips Departures from Waiuku/Glenbrook/Pukekohe (various times) Choose your adventure: special Valentine-themed trips to places like Tokoroa, Matamata or Rotorua. Book here!​

🛍️ Moon Bloom Markets 833 Kingseat Road, Karaka, 2–8pm A magical handmade/alternative market: crystals, cosplay, candles, art, jewellery, curiosities and more.

🏁 Round Four: Hampton Downs Hampton Downs Racetrack, 8am Motorsports morning = coffee in one hand, adrenaline in the other.

🎶 Live Music with Dan Harris (Valentine’s Menu) Portside Bar (Kentish), 6–9pm Dinner + live music = easy date night win.

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Sunday

🧺 Franklin Market Pukekohe Park Raceway, 8am Produce, crafts, antiques, food trucks, live music, car boot stalls — the full Sunday market universe.

🏫 Paerata Rise Markets: Valentine’s Edition Paerata School, 9am–1pm Food, crafts, plants, produce and all your favourite local stalls.

🎣 Sunday Sessions with Happy Fish 78 Nelson Street, Pukekohe, 6pm Sunday wind-down drinks + tunes. Check it out​

🏃‍♀️ STRIDE TRIBE Run Club (Waiuku) 21 Martyn Street, 5pm Free, fun, pressure-free 3km — walk or run, all welcome. Follow here!​

🔫 Open Airsoft Game Day 58 Bird Road, 8:30am Full outdoor game day for the tactical weekend warriors. More info​

🧘‍♀️ Coffee, Pilates + Contrast Therapy Your Local Coffee Roasters Brew Bar & Roastery (Manukau Road), 7–9am Pilates + sauna/cold plunge rounds + coffee. Buy tickets here!​

🎼 Symphony Through the Senses 473 Whiriwhiri Road, 3pm A sensory experience-style event (arrive ready to be transported). Book now!​

🏁 Waiuku Dirt Track Points Meeting #6 Cnr Hill Road & Eastern Drain Road, 10am Racing, dust, and proper grassroots track vibes. More here!​

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monday

🍞 Good Food, Bright Minds (School Kids Breakfast) Cafe Queen (Waiuku) + Sanctuary Retreat, 7–9am Weekly during school term. A nourishing brekky collab to help Waiuku kids start the day strong.

🧠 Quiz Night Appetite, 7pm Monday night laughs + trivia battles.

🧠 Quiz Night The Good Home (65 Edinburgh Street, Pukekohe), 7pm Booking recommended — come early, claim a good table.

🏃 The Wellness Run Club Your Local Coffee (Manukau Road), 5:45am 5km loop, all levels welcome — sunrise miles then caffeine.

🎲 Board Game Night Otakumart, 6pm Free entry, bring your own games or borrow from the collection

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Tuesday

🎨 Painting Club Franklin Arts Centre, 6–8pm Bring whatever you’re working on for two hours of focused painting time (term time only).

🏃‍♀️ STRIDE TRIBE Run Club (Waiuku) 21 Martyn Street, 7pm Free, fun, pressure-free 3km — walk or run, all welcome. Follow here!​

🧠 Quiz Night Ed Street (27 Edinburgh Street), (time not listed) Prizes + pub trivia chaos.

🃏 Magic: The Gathering Commander 12 Massey Avenue, Pukekohe, 3:30pm Commander crew — shuffle up and cause mischief.

📚 Inclusive Storytime Waiuku Library (10 King Street), 10:30am Inclusive, welcoming storytime session. More info!​

🏺 Pottery + Lunch Ed Street Bar (Pukekohe), 11am–3pm Handmake vessels (mugs, vases, teaware) and settle in for a long lunch situation. Buy tickets here!​

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Wednesday

🍻 Malt N Steel Quiz Night Malt N Steel, 7pm Teams of 2–8, prizes to be won — book ahead.

😂 Comedy Quiz Night The Village Bar (Patumahoe), (time not listed) Comedy pub quiz with quiz master Jim — free to play, call 09 236 3571 to book.

🧠 Quiz Night Ed Street (27 Edinburgh Street), (time not listed) Midweek trivia + prizes.

🏃‍♂️ Ed Street Bar Run Club Ed Street Bar, 5:30pm 2.5km or 5km options, spot prizes, and bar menu discounts after.

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Word Scramble answer: Sunday stretch

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