From the organisers of Verb Wellington and The Spinoff comes The Garden Party, a new summer festival celebrating talks, food and music in Pōneke. The event will be spread across two days (20–21 February, 2021) at Wellington Botanic Garden's Soundshell, and invites friends and whānau to gather for a program of fascinating talks and performances.

The Spinoff's Leonie Hayden will be talking with musicians Church & AP and Ria Hall; Welly On a Plate's Beth Brash will sit down with cookbook writer Annabel Langbein; Witi Ihimaera's new book Navigating The Stars will be performed in a special reading with live music; and festival host and comedian Tessa Waters will keep everyone on their toes.

Elsewhere, Toby Morris and Toby Manhire (also of The Spinoff) will host a quiz full of fun questions for the whole family, a tiny stage will host intimate performances with top Aotearoa poets, booksellers Vic Books will be on site with the fresh reads being discussed across the festival, and the Bad Bitches of Wellington will host an hour-long walk around the gardens and cemetery while detailing historical bad bitches.

For some sustenance between chats there'll be Paekākāriki Pops with a range of real fruit popsicles and handmade dumpling makers Mao & Co. Attendees are also welcome bring their own picnic and alcohol.