Auckland Council is encouraging Aucklanders to enjoy themselves in the city centre with a range of activities to celebrate Play Week, an annual event that promotes physical activity, play and games.
Play Week is a national Sport NZ-led initiative promoting play as one of the top four ways to get active, alongside physical activity in school, active recreation, and sport.
Auckland Play Week runs from Friday 25 October until Sunday 3 November and Aucklanders are encouraged to participate. Not only does play bring with it a positive impact on physical and mental wellbeing, but it’s also a great way of connecting with others. Get amongst the fun in a way that suits you with a range of options fit for all ages; from junk play in Te Komititanga to an introductory course on Mahjong, street game design workshops, Dungeons and Dragons sessions and much more.
Eight ways to play!
Indoor play
Ellen Melville Centre for A Photographic Exhibition
Stop by the Ellen Melville Centre for A Photographic Exhibition - a multi-media window installation that invites passersby to experience the creativity of loose parts play, as seen through the eyes of school children. The images and words showcased are drawn from a single day of Junky Monkeys sessions at a Primary school, highlighting both the artistic expression and the joyful silliness inherent in junk play.
Dungeons & Dragons sessions
Or perhaps you’re keen to delve into the realm of your imagination? Embark on an adventure at the Dungeons & Dragons sessions which will take place in the Ellen Mellvile Centre. Dungeons and Dragons has seen a global resurgence in recent years so grab this opportunity to come experience what the fuss is all about and join in a game session with the master storytellers from Questbook. Designed for all ages - families and newcomers alike are welcome to come play.
You can also get your creativity flowing and come along to Isthmus Office Queen Street to join the Play Urban Design Workshop, an open studio workshop with interactive engagements to explore, test and consider what a Playfull City could look like.
Or if you’re around Silo Park, join the game designers from The Open Fort for their Street Games Design Workshop, inside Silo 6 in the Wynyard Quarter. Aimed at families and adults, they will take you through a fun game design process – designing, prototyping, playtesting and playing imaginative outdoor games using their giant kit of game props. They will provide everything you need – just bring your creativity, imagination and fun!
Outdoor Play
Myers Parks Pop Up Games and Activities
Head along to Myers Park and have a go at one of the games and activities on offer by the Pop-Up Play team. There will be a wide range of equipment such as, hoops, footballs, rackets and discs to play with. You can also explore Myers Park with the Conscious Kids team and their play session later in the week, which is focused on nature and the environment.
Mas-Wrestling and Mahjong in Freyberg Square
Try something new at Freyberg Square! Choose from a special showcase of “Mas-wrestling” – a traditional and strength-based sport where competitors pull on a wooden stick to try and unbalance their opponent or come learn Mahjong with the 1-Missing 3-Lonely Wobbly Table Mahjong Club! Their friendly, experienced sifu (teachers) will take players of all ages through the basics and teach some tips and tricks to experienced players. This wonderfully social game is a great way to make new friends and test your memory skills.
Outdoor Soccer, Games and Cycling
Play Week will also be taking over Te Komititanga Square for a full day of outdoor play activities for all ages. Jump into the mini-soccer Hungerball arena and test your skills in this fast-paced communal game of frantic footwork. Stretch your imagination with the expansive loose parts playground from Junky Monkeys and Conscious Kids. Sit down with the folks from The Open Fort at their Play Cafe and make some new friends while playing games, running around on some secret treasure hunts or buzzing as bees in their giant Bee Garden game.
You can also join the City Centre Ride ‘n’ Seek – with Biketober well underway, consider the City Centre Loop for your next bike adventure. During October, come check out the Loop and Ride ‘n’ Seek as you go! There are 5 interactive boards around the Loop where you can enter a draw to win some fantastic prizes! The City Centre loop is a 6.7km network of off-road paths and protected cycle lanes connecting you to all the city centre has to offer.
Learn about play and why it’s important
Join a panel conversation at Aotea Centre
You can also join an in-person event at Aotea Centre, Auckland Conversations – How can we make Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland a playful city?, where a panel of Play Experts will dive deeper into the topic of play, encouraging participants to imagine what it would be like if Tāmaki Makaurau was full of opportunities for play and fun, for people of all ages.
Join the conversations around play and why it’s crucial for tamariki and adults alike! You can jump online to be part of the webinar “The Urban Room” in conversation with Tim Gill, author of Urban Playground: How child-friendly planning and design can save cities, and learn how Tim's groundbreaking research shapes play and mobility for our young people and results in better cities for all.
The Auckland city centre Play Week programme is supported by Auckland Council and the city centre targeted rate and all activities and events are free to attend. For more information, visit OurAuckland.
