Things to do  |  4 Apr 2025

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Party with your pooch, learn to sew and take part in an iNaturalist workshop. Here's your guide to the weekend in Christchurch.

iNaturalist 102 Workshop – Next Level

Ready to take your citizen efforts to the next level using the iNaturalist NZ - Mātaki Taiao app? Come along to this iNaturalist workshop! Led by Jon Sullivan, the workshop covers how to create and manage projects within iNaturalist NZ, how to download data and use it to tell important stories, engaging with the iNaturalist NZ community, and becoming an identifier.

Bring your own device with the app already installed to The Nature Lab at the Climate Action Campus, 180 Avonside Drive, at 10am Saturday. Please note this workshop is for those familiar with the app already – you need to have made at least 50 observations to be able to create a project.

Pooch Pool Parties

The eagerly anticipated Pooch Pool Parties are back! The annual doggy swim event will be split over the weekend on Saturday at Waltham Summer Pool and Sunday at Templeton Summer Pool. The Waltham session has session times depending on your pooch’s size. Small dogs (up to 46cm) can jump in from 9 – 10.30am, medium dogs (46 – 64cm) from 11am – 12.30pm, large dogs (over 64cm) from 1 – 2.30pm, and an open session with no size limit will be from 3 – 4.30pm. Templeton Summer Pool will be open to all dogs on Sunday from 10am – midday. 

No humans are allowed in the pool and there must only be one pooch per owner. Dogs must be vaccinated and well-behaved with other canines. This event is run in association with the Council Animal Management Team who will donate all proceeds to Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust. Entry to Waltham Pool’s party is $3.80 and Templeton is a gold coin donation. 

Party with your pooch at Waltham and Templeton Summer Pools

Sew a knot bag

Start your sewing journey, learn how to use a sewing machine and create a knot bag at Tūranga this weekend. A knot bag, also known as a Japanese knot bag, is a small roundish bag with two handles. Start your journey to sew a knot bag with our instructors and learn basic sewing skills through hands on experience in a relaxing environment.

These sessions will be on Saturday from 10.30am – 12.30pm and 2 – 4pm. All patterns and materials provided, no experience necessary. Please note these sessions cost $11.14. Bookings are required.

Ferrymead Night Market

Support local, immerse yourself in some Christchurch heritage and indulge in some delicious food while you’re at it at the Ferrymead Night Market. Come and have a night out, explore the park in all of its glory, catch up with friends and family, relax and enjoy local food and vendors, craft beers, stall holders, train and tram rides, live music and more.

Cash is recommended for some stalls, dogs are welcome on lead. The market will be on from 4 – 8pm Saturday at Ferrymead Heritage Park, entry is $5.

2025 UC product design showcase

How does an idea turn into a product people will actually use? Find out at the 2025 University of Canterbury School of Product Design showcase. Step into the world of design and innovation at the Tūranga display, on from 5 to 10 April.

The showcase features a diverse range of projects from graduating students in Applied Immersive Game Design, Chemical Formulation Design and Industrial Product Design. Alongside these graduate projects, the showcase also features selected work from students across all design degrees including new programs in Digital Product Design and Digital Screen.