What's on this winter

Beyond roadside assistance, your Membership unlocks a tonne of Member Benefits that’ll make the cooler months more manageable, like up to 40% off EVENT Cinemas movie tickets, or an evening with NZ Opera.

NZ Opera brings rich stories of Aotearoa to life, while nurturing emerging stars on and off the stage. From September 5 to 20 The Monster in the Maze will entertain audiences in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The opera, in which young and community singers and players perform alongside their professional counterparts, tells a story about resistance, justice and finding power in collectivism.

Plus, from July 24 to August 9 the Royal New Zealand Ballet takes to the stage with Home, Land and Sea, presenting three intriguing ballets inspired by journeys and exploring what it means to come home.

AA Members can get a 15% discount on full-priced Adult tickets to NZ Opera, and Adult and Child tickets to Royal New Zealand Ballet productions when you book online with the unique AA promo codes.

Right now, it’s the most magical time of year in Queenstown with the return of Ayrburn’s Winter Wonderland festival.

A true mid-winter celebration, the festival will see Queenstown’s newest dining and entertainment precinct reimagined with a dusting of alpine magic until July 27. Featuring an incredible free display of Christmas lights – the largest in the Southern Hemisphere – live music performances, après ski specials and an ice skating rink, Ayrburn’s Winter Wonderland will see the precinct bustling with festivities.

Lace up your skates for a session on the rink, operating daily until July 27, then wander under the glow of the Christmas lights with a hot chocolate or mulled wine and enjoy the delectable dining options across the precinct to really make the most of the winter season. 

AA Members can now access discounted tickets to Auckland Theatre Company shows, marking the newest addition to the plethora of Member Benefits.

Based at the ASB Waterfront Theatre in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter, the company has been producing inspiring productions that celebrate the stories of Tāmaki Makaurau for more than 30 years.

There’s still plenty of theatre to enjoy in the 2025 season, including William Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece Romeo & Juliet, running from July 15 to August 9.

Reimagined as a fast-paced thriller, the play tells the aching story of young love and brutal family rivalry that is as potent today as it was when it was written more than four centuries ago.

AA Members receive a 15% discount on tickets to any Auckland Theatre Company show when booking with the AA promo code AAMEMBER.

The Department of Conservation is asking people to report sightings of fur seals or sea lions on or near roads.

DOC has teamed up with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to better understand where and why seals are turning up near roads. This information will support a national model of road-related risks for marine mammals, part of a growing science field called road ecology, which explores how roads affect the movement and behaviour of wildlife.

DOC Technical Advisor Marine Jody Wei says reporting a seal sighting will help support the research.

“Even a photo (if it’s safe) can help us map hotspots and better understand risks. This is citizen science in action!”

Using public reports, alongside existing road and habitat data, DOC and Waka Kotahi will identify areas where future road upgrades – like the seal-saving guardrails installed in Kaikōura – could help reduce risks for both wildlife and people.

The arrival of winter officially marks peak ‘Seal Silly Season’, when juvenile fur seals begin exploring the world beyond their seaside homes. And while this seasonal flurry might seem funny (with seals spotted at places like Bunnings and a KFC carpark), it highlights the need for smarter planning as native marine mammals return to historic habitats, including ones that now have busy roads running through them.

Email seeaseal@doc.govt.nz to report a sighting. 

The southern hemisphere’s boldest culinary festival returns for the 17^th year with Visa Wellington on a Plate serving up the best of the region’s food and hospitality.

From burgers and cocktails to chef collaborations and immersive experiences, the 2025 festival will run throughout August across some of the capital’s most iconic venues.

The theme for 2025 celebrates ‘Food is Love’ and pays tribute to the joy of connecting over kai.

Festival Director Beth Brash says the theme was chosen as a love letter to Wellington and the way food brings us together.

“Food is the way so many of us express love, through memorable meals, traditional family recipes handed down through generations, or a meal shared with friends.”

Between the culinary chaos of VWOAP, comes Burger Wellington – the much-loved event running from August 4 to 24 and dishing up more than 200 unique and experimental burgers.