Don’t doomscroll! Election day and night can be exciting but stressful, no matter your political leanings. If you need a distraction from election-driven anxiety, here’s our list of other things to do on Saturday October 14 – once you’ve voted, and Aotearoa awaits the results.‍

Dance yourself into a state of ignorant bliss. 

Princess Chelsea’s Everything Is Going To Be Alright tour stops off in Paekakariki on the 14th, playing the acclaimed album of the same name in its entirety. 43 minutes of audible distraction. 

‍Channel your election anxiety into being anxious about the future of AI instead.

Each night this week at Auckland’s Basement Theatre, comedian and cool person Janaye Henry will host a special guest as part of Code & Chaos, going deep on artificial intelligence and its impact on artists and performing a show written by a machine. Guests include Chye-Ling Huang, Sam Low, Kura Turuwhenua, Jason Parker and Ahilan Karunaharan, and they say to “expect laughs, mayhem, and a healthy dose of existential dread.” Sounds like election night!‍

Ignore everything and think about Taylor Swift.

Are you ready for it? ‘It’ being election day and what is likely to be a long, drawn out coalition negotiation period. If you’d rather not, Taylor has blessed us with the ultimate distraction by releasing her The Eras Tour documentary the day before the NZ election. Thanks girlie.

Put your passion into singing.

Rally your friends – or don’t. The coin-operated karaoke booths at Westfield Newmarket are the perfect outlet to channel your angst (and your inner Aggretsuko), even if you're an introvert. Start with three songs for $7 and see how you go… May we suggest Lady Gaga ‘Just Dance’, My Chemical Romance ‘I’m Not Okay’ and No Doubt ‘I’m Just A Girl’.‍

Spend the weekend locked in a cinema with no phones.

The 24 Hour Movie Marathon is celebrating its 24th year of ‘locking’ cinephiles in a dark room to watch movies for 24 hours straight. Founded and run by friend of Ensemble Ant Timpson (he’s married to co-founder Rebecca) the marathon runs from 3pm Saturday through 3pm Sunday at the beautiful Hollywood Cinema in Avondale; they take out the seating on the ground floor for those who purchase a BYO beanbag ticket.

What can only be described as an extreme nerdfest (we say that with love) and a top secret selection of mostly genre films with the odd NZ premiere sprinkled in, is the ultimate way to shut yourself away from the real world. You can emerge, bleary eyed into the fresh air Sunday afternoon and hopefully find the government of your dreams awaiting you.

Give yourself a pedicure

Not just a toe paint, but a real-deal, set-up-a-soaking-tub-and-get-out-the-power-tools pedicure. Go to town on those callouses like you mean it! Now is also a good time to get one of those foot peeling packs and soak for an hour (while you wait for your cake to bake!). Dead skin will be shedding off you for the next two weeks, but you’ll have baby feet by sandal season! It’s the little things. 

Eat your feelings, drink (responsibly).

Get up, go out, and visit one of these newish (mostly Auckland) openings:

- Baby G – The best smash burgers now have a permanent spot at 1879 Great North Road in Avondale.

- The Ram – Sit down with a chicken or eggplant parma and a strong cocktail at this Cuba Street spot from the team behind Fred’s Sandwiches.

- By the Bottle – A lovely wine/bottle shop on Mt Eden Road.

- Stracci – Fresh handmade pasta from this Westmere spot is the perfect comfort meal for an election night at home.

- Tappo – A wine bar and shop from the team behind St Kevin’s Arcade’s Pici (it’s right next door).

- Liquid Lightning – Fancy juices and smoothies, popping up at Annabel’s in Three Lamps and open on Friday and Saturday.

‍Watch TV, preferably on streaming platforms with no ads or election cutaways.

Been wondering what Kim Cattrall did instead of And Just Like That…? Her Netflix show Glamorous is absolutely ridiculous fun that, unlike AJLT, doesn’t pretend to be anything else. Kim plays a retired supermodel who founded a beauty brand that’s now dated (honestly could be any number of multinationals around today) and her Gen Z team sets out to reinvigorate it. Best watched with edibles, although be mindful of dosage as no one wants an election night spiral…‍

Lean into the spiral and blast our Ensemble Votes playlist (songs to scream along to).

Do something positive!

Channel your frustration into productive good actioned directly and locally in your local community. It beats (or supplements) complaining.

- Clean out your wardrobe and donate to Koha Apparel

- Become a call taker for Outline’s rainbow peer support line

- Join Sustainable Coastlines in taking action against ocean pollution on your local beach.

- Pitch in at a working bee at your local urban farm.

- Buy your next lunch from an initiative that reduces food waste and offers discounted kai.  

- Share your crafting knowledge, volunteer for a mending cafe and help mend items that might otherwise be thrown away.

- Join a political party, volunteer for a candidate you do believe in, run for your local board, join the PTA, do the mahi.