City Gallery: Civic Square: John Pule will be in the gallery to talk about his exhibition Hauaga, 1pm, July 31. The Nita Gini Collection: Laura Lysaght, from June 26. Cerisse Palalagi: Motunei, Deane Gallery, to September 12. Hauaga (arrivals) is John Pule’s first solo show, and has drawn international interest. The works displayed show Pule’s strengths as a poet as well as a painter, to September 12. Ready to Roll, with Kushana Bush, Eddie Clemens, Elliott Collins, Matt Hunt, Richard Maloy, Campbell Patterson, Layla Rudneva-Mackay and Zina Swanson, to September 12.
Museum of Wellington City & Sea: Queens Wharf: The Making of the Word Witch, original illustrations by David Elliot from Margaret Mahy’s book The Word Witch, to August 1. Sampler Season 2010: Six weeks of literary talks, kids’ Saturdays, and live music every Sunday afternoon, to August 1. Re-Telling Tales – Strike 1913 War on the Wharves.
New Zealand Police Museum: Exhibition – Telling the Real Life Stories of Policing in Aotearoa, Tuesday - Saturday, 10am-5pm, closed public holidays.
Pataka Museum: Double Vision: When artists collaborate, showcases new work by 16 artists who have chosen to join forces with their romantic partner, spouse or close friends, to make innovative contemporary art as a team, to September 12.
Portrait Gallery: Shed 11: Kin, contemporary photographers look to immediate family, and Personals, Richard Brimer catches turning points and life-changing moments, July 29-September 12.
Reserve Bank Museum: 2 The Tce: Our financial and economic history.
Te Papa: Taranaki Wharf: Blood, Earth and Fire: Whangai, Whenua, Ahi Ka – the human impact on New Zealand. Toi Te Papa: Art of the Nation. Tangata o le Moana: The Story of Pacific People in NZ. The Scots in NZ. A Loss, Again – Ronnie van Hout. Colossal Squid Exhibition. Corals: Hidden beauties of the deep. The 1111 Origami Maui’s Dolphin exhibition.. NZ at Venice Biennale 2009: Judy Millar and Francis Upritchard, 10am-5pm, daily; 10am-8pm, Thu.
TheNewDowse: 45 Laings Rd, Lower Hutt: Sugercraft competition and exhibition, sugar-craft experts from across the country use cake as their canvas, 11am-5pm, July 31, and 10am-4pm, August 1. Liquid Dreams, six New Zealand painters present a fresh approach to the medium of watercolour, to September 26. Under Construction, artists Joanna Langford, Fiona Connor, Karin van Roosmalen, Douglas Bagnall, and A.D. Schierning respond to notions of space, location, and environment, to September 26. Bill Viola: The Messenger, to Jul 11. John Lake: Crude Futures, to 25 July.