The 2018 New Zealand Festival has some events, Kupe sparks a week-long celebration of our place in the Pacific.
Opening night
As dusk falls, join a cast of thousands on Wellington’s stunning waterfront for the once-in-a-lifetime 2018 New Zealand Festival opening night event, Kupe.
Inspired by the arrival in Aotearoa of great navigator and explorer Kupe, this free, whānau-friendly spectacular is part one of A waka odyssey and a landmark celebration of our shared voyaging history. Be a part of history in the making, welcoming a majestic fleet of waka hourua (traditional double-hulled sailing canoes) and their fearless crew, as they sail across the waters of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington Harbour – a moving finale to their months-long journey from Samoa, the Cook Islands and around New Zealand.
Then let the sounds of the Pacific surround you in this theatrical extravaganza featuring performers, a mass choir, a thousand-strong haka and a musical score by Warren Maxwell (Trinity Roots, Little Bushman).
Kupe Landing: Petone Family Day
Join friends and whānau, old and new, for a day of music, food and waka fun on the Petone Foreshore, part two of A waka odyssey. Stand on the beach where the great Pacific explorer Kupe stood more than 700 years ago. Watch a magnificent fleet of waka hourua (traditional double-hulled sailing canoes) and waka taua (war canoes) sail up to shore, as we continue the celebration of waka voyaging and our place in the Pacific.
With the waka landing on the beach, Moana fans and their families can get up close and climb on board. Meet the navigators and their crew and find out more about their journeys, and about star navigation. The party continues all afternoon with live music, DJs, cultural performances, food stalls and more.
- 12.30pm Waka Parade
- 1.30pm Kohatu ceremony
- From 2pm Stage entertainment
- 6.30pm Event closes
Kupe Dreaming
This is a series of community events and activities, that include:
- Ka Tito Au: Kupe’s heroic journey
- Brass in the bay
- Voyaging across the Pacific
- Pacific Explorers and Navigation, Hīnātore, Te Papa
- Back-of-house Waka Taonga Tours, Te Papa
- Māori Highlights Tour
- Pacific Ocean - Pacific Climate Conference
- Oceans in peril
Keep an eye on this page as more events are added.
Related content
This article gives an introduction to the many resources on the hubs covering the celestial sphere and the star compass, discover how to navigate by stars, the Moon, the Sun, ocean swells and bird life. Read about waka hourua – the double-hulled canoes used for such voyages – and about the waka revival in New Zealand.
This article and accompanying video has information on the revival on Māori astronomy, critical to successful waka navigation.
See these related events, A waka odyssey, Voyaging across the Pacific, Celestial navigation with Piripi Smith and Oceans in peril.
Useful links
Go here to download a great teacher resources kit designed to accompany A waka odyssey.
Listen to this RNZ interview Anna Marbrook and Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr.
Hear New Zealand Festival Director Shelagh Magadza share details in this RNZ Morning Report interview.
See video and images about this project in this news article from Stuff.
