AWBF guests from across the Pacific share their unique maritime stories through captivating demonstrations, interactive workshops and engaging displays.
- Outdoors
- Wheelchair accessible
- Concrete ground surface and grass at Parliament Lawns
- No seating
- No toilets (all access toilets located 150m at Waterside Pavilion)
Upeti Block Rubbings with Michel Tuffery
Head of Kings Pier
Fri 7 & Mon 10 10:00-16:00, Sat 8 & Sun 9 10:00-17:00
Free. Book on site. Come and join the fun!
Renowned Aotearoa / New Zealand artist Michel Tuffery will guide you in mark-making during this hands-on workshop. Using rubbings from a traditional Sāmoan Upeti woodblock carved by Michel, you’ll craft a unique piece to take home—designed to be fun for everyone!
Pasifika Weaving Workshops & Demos
Parliament House Lawns
Fri 7, Sat 8 & Sun 9 11:00-12:00, 12:30-13:30 & 14:00-15:00
Free 1 hour workshops. Book on site. Come and join the fun!
Join Pasifika weavers Seve Faleupolu (Samoa), Sionemaletau Falemaka (Niue), and Keren Ruki (Māori) as they showcase diverse weaving techniques from Aotearoa / New Zealand and the Pacific, using both natural and artificial materials. Make your own woven object to take home.
Pacific Adventurers
Head of Kings Pier
Fri 7 to Sun 9 10:00-17:00 & Mon 10 February 10:00-16:00
If you’re passionate about small wooden boats and big Pacific swells, be sure to meet record-holding adventurers Tom Robinson and Thor F. Jensen. You’ll find equipment and memorabilia from their wild adventures, daring tales and copies of Thor’s books at their stall.
Tino Rawa Trust
Head of Kings Pier
Fri 7 to Sun 9 10:00-17:00 & Mon 10 February 10:00-16:00
Founded in 2007, the Tino Rawa Trust is committed to preserving Aotearoa / New Zealand’s classic yacht and launch heritage. The Trust focuses on conserving and restoring historically significant vessels, often employing traditional boatbuilding techniques and materials. In March 2024, it played a pivotal role in delivering the inaugural Auckland Wooden Boat Festival.
New Zealand Maritime Museum - Hui Te Ananuia Tangaroa
Head of Kings Pier
Fri 7 to Sun 9 10:00-17:00 & Mon 10 February 10:00-16:00
Join the korerō (conversation) with adventurers and storytellers as they explore Aotearoa / New Zealand’s voyaging history. Discover the ancient art of Pacific navigation, the significance of first encounters, and the diverse narratives that have shaped the nation. This relaxed discussion invites you to drop by anytime and immerse yourself in the stories of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, the vast Pacific Ocean that unites us all.
Te Fare Iamanaha - Musée de Tahiti et des Îles
Head of Kings Pier
Fri 7 to Sun 9 10:00-17:00 & Mon 10 February 10:00-16:00
Te Fare Iamanaha – Musée de Tahiti et des Îles is the primary museum of French Polynesia, established in 1974 and completely rebuilt between 2019 and 2023. With over 18,000 items, the museum’s collections include ethnographic objects, archaeological artefacts, fine arts, photographs, and archives related to the contact period.
Le Musée maritime de Nouvelle-Calédonie
Head of Kings Pier
Fri 7 to Sun 9 10:00-17:00 & Mon 10 February 10:00-16:00
Celebrating 26 years, the museum houses 7,000 archaeological objects and a preservation lab. Highlights include artefacts from the 18th-century Lapérouse expedition, a 14 metre wooden rudder from the Roanoke ore carrier, the original light from the Amédée lighthouse, and relics from the 1846 wreck of the Seine corvette, New Caledonia’s first European shipwreck.
Pacific Traditions Society
Head of Kings Pier
Fri 7 to Sun 9 10:00-17:00 & Mon 10 February 10:00-16:00
The Pacific Traditions Society (PTS), founded in 1988 by Dr Marianne (Mimi) George and Dr David Lewis, supports teaching youth cultural knowledge about the ocean while on the ocean and partnering with modern science students and allies. PTS believes that ancient wisdom about the ocean, climate, and biodiversity, developed over millennia of voyaging in Oceania, is crucial for sustainable living and cultural survival.
