Ellen Melville Centre

Ellen Melville Centre We are a Community Centre located in Auckland’s City Centre. Supported by: Auckland Council and the Waitematā Local Board

⚽️🌍 LIVE FOOTBALL AT THE COMMUNITY CENTRE! 🌍⚽️Join us for two exciting FIFA World Cup match screenings on our big projec...
11/06/2026

⚽️🌍 LIVE FOOTBALL AT THE COMMUNITY CENTRE! 🌍⚽️
Join us for two exciting FIFA World Cup match screenings on our big projector screen right here in the lounge! 🙌

📅 New Zealand vs Iran
🗓 Tuesday 16 June
⏰ 1:00 pm

📅 New Zealand vs Egypt
🗓 Monday 22 June
⏰ 1:00 pm

🎉 Free entry – open to everyone!

Bring your friends, family, and team spirit and come cheer on your side in a fun, welcoming atmosphere.

Whether you’re backing the All Whites or supporting from abroad, we’d love to see you there! 💚

📍 Community Centre Lounge
📺 Big screen • Great vibes • Good company
👉 Tag your mates and come support your team!

Nau mai, haere mai - VENDOR CALL ✨Vendor bookings are now open!!! We particularly encourage Māori &Pasifika makers, whil...
11/06/2026

Nau mai, haere mai - VENDOR CALL ✨
Vendor bookings are now open!!!

We particularly encourage Māori &Pasifika makers, while warmly welcoming creatives from all backgrounds to join us in celebrating Matariki.

Held indoors at the historic Women’s Pioneer Hall, the Celestial Matariki Market brings together artists, designers, makers & small businesses from across Aotearoa for a warm, whānau-friendly celebration .

Bookings via www.celestialcorner.shop - Celestial Corner
Come along & celebrate whakapapa, creativity & connection with us this Matariki Festival 💫

Warmly welcome to our June Transglobal Music Session!We are seriously excited about this one as we are welcoming Rob Tho...
09/06/2026

Warmly welcome to our June Transglobal Music Session!

We are seriously excited about this one as we are welcoming Rob Thorne as our guest. This will special one!

Internationally renowned Māori anthropologist, taonga pūoro musician, and award-winning composer, Rob Thorne (Ngāti Tumutumu, Tainui) has been at the forefront of the revival and renaissance of traditional Māori instruments for over 25 years. Blending tradition with innovation, Thorne’s work crosses orchestral, electronic, jazz, and free improvisation, leading to solo and collaborative performances around the world.

Come and join us on Sunday 21 June, 2-4 pm, Ellen Melville Centre

Transglobal Music Sessions 2026

💃🌮🎶 THIS SATURDAY! 🎶🌮💃Get ready for a colourful celebration of culture, community & connection at Carnaval Latino Auckla...
08/06/2026

💃🌮🎶 THIS SATURDAY! 🎶🌮💃

Get ready for a colourful celebration of culture, community & connection at Carnaval Latino Auckland Market!

Join us as the vibrant cultures of Latin America come alive through delicious food, music, dance, art and community.

🌮 Authentic Latin American street food
🎶 Live music & folkloric dance performances
🎨 Local artists, makers & small businesses
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly activities
🐾 Pet-friendly atmosphere
❤️ A welcoming community vibe for everyone

Carnaval Latino has become a much-loved monthly event, bringing together people from across Auckland to celebrate the rich traditions, flavours, creativity & diversity of Latin America. With visitors regularly staying for hours to soak up the atmosphere, it's easy to see why this market continues to grow!

Whether you're discovering Latin American culture for the first time or reconnecting with familiar traditions, there's something for everyone.

📍 Freyberg Square & Helen Clark Lounge
📅 Saturday 13 June
⏰ 10am - 3pm
🎟 FREE entry

Bring your whānau, your friends, your curiosity & your appetite!

Let's dance, eat, connect & celebrate together ❤️

❤️ Looking back at the wonderful WECARE FESTIVAL in April!Despite the weather sending everyone indoors, over 500 people ...
08/06/2026

❤️ Looking back at the wonderful WECARE FESTIVAL in April!

Despite the weather sending everyone indoors, over 500 people came together for a day filled with games, creativity, performances, food, laughter, conversations & connection. With the help of around 70 volunteers & community groups, the festival explored the theme "What is Love?" through kindness, hospitality, storytelling, shared meals & creating spaces where everyone felt welcome and valued.

One of the best things about WeCare is that the spirit of the festival doesn't end after one day. It continues every week through PLAY N BELONG - a relaxed community gathering where people of all ages & backgrounds can meet, play, chat & connect.

🌟 What to Expect:
♟️ Classic board games, cultural games & outdoor favourites
🤝 A safe, relaxed space to meet others & belong
☕ Friendly conversations & community connection
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All ages welcome - bring the kids, grandparents, whānau & friends!

📍 Helen Clark Lounge 2 Freyberg Place
📅 Every Sunday
⏰ 11am – 1pm

Come as you are - there's a place for everyone. ❤️

📸 Photos: Leela Bhai

✂️🎶📝 Glue sticks, song lyrics, unexpected poems & good company...These photos are from May's wonderfully groovy edition ...
02/06/2026

✂️🎶📝 Glue sticks, song lyrics, unexpected poems & good company...

These photos are from May's wonderfully groovy edition of Oh No Poetry Collective -Poetry Nights, where a mix of new & returning faces gathered to write, chat, create & play. Together we cut up song lyrics, experimented with words, shared ideas & discovered that poetry can emerge from the most unexpected places.

One of the best things about OH NO! is that there is no right way to participate. You can write, share, listen, laugh, make new friends, test out an idea or simply enjoy being in a room full of creative people.

Whether you're a seasoned poet, an occasional journal scribbler, a spoken word enthusiast or someone who thinks they "don't write poetry" (yet), you're welcome here!!!

📅 Thursday 11 June
📍 Betty Wark Room, Ellen Melville Centre
⏰ 7pm - 9pm
💸 Free - just turn up!

Expect playful writing prompts, creative exercises, conversation, inspiration & an optional open mic for those who'd like to share.

Bring a POSTCARD, notebook, bring a friend, bring some snacks to share if you'd like & come see where the words take you.

✨ What a beautiful way to start the day. ✨Last Friday, our CreativeMornings/Auckland community gathered once again for c...
02/06/2026

✨ What a beautiful way to start the day. ✨

Last Friday, our CreativeMornings/Auckland community gathered once again for coffee, conversation, connection & creative inspiration.

The lounge was filled with creatives from all walks of life, sharing stories, making new friends, swapping contact details & finding common ground. There was a genuine sense of openness & generosity in the room, reminding us why these gatherings continue to be so special.

A huge thank you to our guest speaker, Amita Kala (), whose heartfelt & deeply personal kōrero explored identity, creativity, community & the importance of showing up for the things that matter most. One line in particular stayed with many of us "The world needs our passion projects."

As the founder of & a creative whose work spans art, writing, food, music & community-building, Amita shared an inspiring reminder that creativity has the power to connect people, build belonging & create meaningful change.

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors, attendees also enjoyed fresh coffee, tea, breakfast, fruit a& sparkling drinks, the perfect accompaniment to a room bubbling with ideas & inspiration.

If you've been curious about Creative Mornings, this is your sign to join us! CreativeMornings is a free monthly gathering for anyone, just bring your curiosity.

☕ Free breakfast
🎤 Inspiring speakers
🤝 Meaningful connections
💡 Fresh ideas

Join us at the next CreativeMornings Auckland event 26 June -
https://creativemornings.com/cities/akl

✨ Join us for a special Philippines Independence Day celebration! ✨Auckland Libraries warmly invites you to the launch o...
27/05/2026

✨ Join us for a special Philippines Independence Day celebration! ✨

Auckland Libraries warmly invites you to the launch of Among Kinabuhi sa Aotearoa: Filipino Lives in Aotearoa - a powerful new publication edited by Marc Conaco & authored by Vivien Beduya. 🇵🇭📚

Together, we’ll celebrate the stories, voices, creativity & community of Filipinos in Aotearoa through speeches, readings, kai & connection.

🗓 Friday 12 June
🕕 6pm for a 6:30pm start
📍 Women’s Pioneer Hall, Ellen Melville Centre,
2 Freyberg Place, Auckland Central

This beautiful collection shares the lived experiences of 14 Filipino artists, academics, organisers and community leaders building connection, solidarity and belonging here in Aotearoa.

Featuring contributors including AM Leal Rodriguez, Donna Dacuno, Hannah Pia Baral, Jess Granada, Keziah Sarmiento, Dr. Lovely Dizon, Marianne Infante, Max Santiago, Nina Gabriella Santos & many more.

Books available on the night for $32.

Come celebrate storytelling, diaspora, culture & community with us 💛

✨ CreativeMornings/Auckland presents: AMITA KALA ✨Join us for an inspiring morning with - a dynamic South Asian creativ...
25/05/2026

✨ CreativeMornings/Auckland presents: AMITA KALA ✨

Join us for an inspiring morning with - a dynamic South Asian creative whose work spans art, writing, DJing, hosting, modelling, food & community-building.

As the founder & creative force behind , Amita has created a vibrant movement dedicated to connecting, uplifting & empowering the South Asian diaspora across Aotearoa through music, culture, food, storytelling & shared experiences. 🌶️🏡🪔

Born in South Africa & of third-generation Gujarati heritage, Amita brings a powerful perspective on identity, creativity, intersectionality & the importance of creating spaces where communities can feel seen, celebrated & connected.

📍 Helen Clark Lounge, EMC
📅 THIS Friday 29 May '26
⏰ 8 - 9:30am
🎟 FREE

Come along for coffee, conversation & connection as part of our CREATE speaker series.

Huge thanks to our supporters:


Image credit: Abigail Dell’Avo

A warm thank you to everyone attending our Transglobal Music Session yesterday - it was lovely spending the afternoon wi...
18/05/2026

A warm thank you to everyone attending our Transglobal Music Session yesterday - it was lovely spending the afternoon with you all, sharing music.
We learnt a beautiful waiata, a song from the Solomon Islands, sang a round and a groovy a capella song. Last but not least we learnt a song from Iran and experienced the magnificent daf (Iranian frame drum).

We were sad that the wonderful Hinekoia couldn't be there but are looking forward to welcoming her in the future!

Thank you Foundation North and Ellen Melville Centre for making these free sessions possible! 🙏

Address

2 Freyberg Place
Auckland
1010

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+6493792030

Website

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