The Graze Wine Bar chef is creating and serving the dinner at Everybody Eats-LTD in Te Aro on Thursday 29 October. All ticket proceeds will support Kaibosh’s work collecting surplus food and getting it to community organisations.

The charity, founded in Wellington in 2008, reports redistributing around 75 tonnes of food a month across its regional operation. That figure covers its wider service area, including the Hutt Valley, Kāpiti and Horowhenua, not Wellington city alone.

From hubs in Wellington, Petone and Paraparaumu, teams collect food donated by businesses and volunteers sort and check it before it is packed for community partners to collect. The food goes through organisations such as foodbanks, community centres, youth programmes and services supporting older people and new parents.

Everybody Eats is also named in Kaibosh’s published 2024/25 community-partner list, alongside Wellington organisations including DCM, the Compassion Centre and Newtown Community & Cultural Centre.

At the dinner, guests will receive clues to a fictional murder, with actors revealing further information between courses. The challenge is to identify the killer, motive and means. Costumes are optional, with a prize for the best dressed.

Doors open at 6pm, the mystery begins at 6.30pm and the evening is scheduled to finish at 9pm. It is for people aged 16 and over, and dietary requirements can be catered for. Drinks, including non-alcoholic options, are purchased separately.

The venue is upstairs at Level 1, 60 Dixon Street and has no lift.

Individual tickets are listed at $127.46 including the booking fee. A table of four is $470.09 and a table of six is $704.86, also including fees. Ticket selections were still being offered on Thursday morning; current availability can be checked through the event’s Humanitix booking page.

These founding members are Squirrel, Nora Kebab, The Villa Cafe, Nicolini’s Restaurant, Masala Cafe & Bar, Addley Painters & Decorators, Barberside and All About Catering.

Together, they give the directory a practical local start, with mortgage advice, hospitality, catering, painting and decorating, and barber services represented.

Squirrel is a mortgage broking, saving and investing business with Wellington advisers helping people compare home loan options. Its local team works with first-home buyers, existing homeowners and property investors, with advice on finding and structuring home loans.

Nora Kebab serves Turkish food from its Upper Hutt and Wellington CBD locations, with dine-in, takeaway and delivery options. Its menu includes kebabs, wraps, iskenders, salads and grilled meals.

The Villa Cafe is based in a 100-year-old villa in the heart of Ngaio village. It is a sunny local cafe offering coffee, tea and food, with off-street parking and a dog-friendly setting.

Nicolini’s Restaurant is one of Wellington’s long-running Italian restaurants, now based on Blair Street after many years on Courtenay Place. The restaurant is known for traditional Italian food, group dining and a warm Wellington dining experience.

Masala Cafe & Bar is an Indian restaurant on Allen Street in Te Aro, offering lunch, dinner, online ordering and catering. The restaurant serves a wide range of Indian dishes and caters for both small meals and larger functions.

Addley Painters & Decorators works across Wellington, the Hutt Valley and Kāpiti, offering painting, decorating and renovation services. The business handles interior and exterior work, including homes, kitchens, bathrooms, laundries and timber restoration.

Barberside provides barber services in Porirua and Upper Hutt, including haircuts, beard trims and shaving. The business serves local customers looking for practical, regular grooming services.

All About Catering is based in Wadestown and provides catering across Wellington and the wider region. Its menus cover morning and afternoon teas, lunches, canapés, corporate catering and functions.

Wellington News would like to thank these eight founding members for coming on board at the start of the Wellington Business Directory and helping to build a useful local resource for readers.

The directory will continue to grow as more Wellington businesses are added.