New ‘Talks and Tours’ days announced for 2025
The team behind the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival, in conjunction with the New Zealand Maritime Museum and the Moana Auckland Festival, are delighted to announce a program of ‘Wooden Boat Talks and Tours’ on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 March 2025.
The Festival in 2024. Photo / Suellen Hurling
The offerings will delight and intrigue those with an interest in maritime history and the story of Auckland’s connection with the water’s edge.
The two-day speaker series includes topics such as the building of waka, navigation, women at sea, history, environmental and sustainability topics, and boat building.
Some of Auckland’s most notable classic boats will be available in the Viaduct for tours, including Ngataki - who will be home from the Australian Wooden Boat Festival (see more below).
The new event follows in the footsteps of last year’s hugely successful Auckland Wooden Boat Festival which attracted more than 160 boats and 11,000 visitors in its first year. The next major Auckland Wooden Boat Festival itself will be held in 2026.
The Auckland Wooden Boat Festival and the ‘Talks and Tours’ event is part of Moana Auckland – New Zealand’s Ocean Festival. It is organised by members of the Tino Rawa Trust with the support of Perpetual Guardian, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and the New Zealand Maritime Museum to tell the story of Auckland’s maritime history from the early days of settlement through to today.
Ngataki makes epic trip to Hobart
Ngataki is one of five New Zealand boats on display at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart, Tasmania this February.
Ngataki (1931) is the one of the country’s most famous wooden boats, and was the subject of South Sea Vagabonds - Johnny Wray’s biographical account of losing his job in the Great Depression, building the boat, and sailing it to and from New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
The New Zealand boat and classic dinghy display in Hobart is organised by the Tino Rawa Trust with a large contingent of New Zealand classic boat supporters expected to be in attendance.
The other boats are the Logan oil launch Otira (1902), a Frostbite (1946), a P-Class (1934) and a Silver Fern (1937) plus a collection of Logan Bros tools (1880+) on loan from Keith Logan.
The New Zealand Maritime Museum is hosting a special Aotearoa New Zealand activation taking place in the Pacific Seafarers Precinct.
Will we see you in Hobart, 7-10 February? If not, follow us on our social media channels for updates close to the time.
For the 2025 Australian Wooden Boat Festival programme, click here - and follow our channels for more info as the time gets closer.