Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

Moana Auckland, New Zealand's Ocean Festival announced to be annual event

by Aucklandnz.com 8 Nov 2023 14:42 PST
Day 3 - Auckland Boat Show - March 23, 2023 © Chris Cameron

Aucklanders and visitors are in for a festival like no other when the inaugural Moana Auckland, New Zealand’s Ocean Festival, launches in February next year.

In a first for the region, the 30-day festival from 24 February – 24 March will celebrate Tamaki Makaurau Auckland’s love affair with the ocean through a range of events and activities both on and off the water.

Te Wero Island in the Viaduct will be the main festival hub and promises to be entertainment central for the whole family - from live music to marvelling at classic boats to enjoying some of Auckland’s delicious food offerings, Moana Auckland will have something for everyone.

Tataki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) Chief Executive Nick Hill says Moana Auckland signals a change in direction for events that TAU delivers in Tamaki Makaurau and made possible with the support of incredible partners.

“Firstly, I’d like to acknowledge the immense support of Ngati Whatua Orakei, the host iwi for Moana Auckland and all the event partners who believe in the direction for major events in Tamaki Makaurau,” Hill says.

“This festival is the start of a new approach for Tataki Auckland Unlimited that’s been 18 months in the making. The focus now is on anchor and home-grown events, with Moana Auckland a prime example of intentionally shaping an events portfolio that gives Aucklanders something to look forward to throughout the year.”

“Tataki Auckland Unlimited continues to explore viable alternative revenue streams to support our activities. The events landscape has changed – it costs more to put on an event and competition from other regions and Australia is real, so we are very aware that we cannot deliver events the way we used to.

“Moana Auckland signals a change, and we want to encourage Aucklanders and visitors to the region to enjoy this special festival and highlight Auckland’s vibrant marine sector and innovation hub as the place to do business and start a career,” Hill says.

Over 40% of New Zealand’s Marine industry companies are based in Auckland – supporting the $3 billion NZ Marine industry including $800 million in exports.*

So far, nine events are confirmed to be part of the festival including the Auckland Boat Show, Z Manu World Champs, New Zealand Millennium Cup superyacht regatta, Sculpture on the Gulf, inaugural Wooden Boat Festival, Harbour Classic and a satellite hub at the Hyundai Marine Sports Centre in Orakei for small boats and waka ama events.

Moana Auckland promises to be an ocean festival of firsts and will celebrate innovation, offer learn to sail opportunities, champion sustainability and a lot of fun on and off the water. Most of the events will be free to attend.

Festivalgoers are encouraged to remember their sunhats and sunscreen and get in quick by checking the websites for the events they want to attend, including details about the cost for any ticketed events.

For details about all the events, please www.aucklandnz.com/moana

*Statistics supplied by NZ Marine

Related Articles

2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 2
Final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage A thrilling second day of racing at the 2025 Santa Maria Cup saw the final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage. Posted today at 4:47 am
SailGP to Kick Off Summer in New York
With this Weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix An unforgettable weekend of high-speed, close-to-shore racing and world-class entertainment will take place this weekend when the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix takes place in front of the most famous skyline in the world. Posted on 5 Jun
Scandinavian Gold Cup at Sopot, Poland Day 1
A slow start with very little wind The Scandinavian Gold Cup opened Thursday in Sopot, Poland, with seven 5.5 Metres competing for this historic and iconic trophy that dates back to 1922. Unfortunately, there was not enough wind to even complete one race. Posted on 5 Jun
Brooklyn kids launch 7 ft boats they built by hand
Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our boat-building students Brooklyn Boatworks, a local nonprofit that teaches NYC public school students—mostly from underserved communities—to build and launch their own wooden sailboats from 3 sheets of plywood, a set of plans, and tools. Posted on 5 Jun
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 3
A six-hour bake on the water Veteran and multi-Olympic race officer Sulis was clear at the morning briefing, "Our priority is to get three races for the 49er so they can progress to the gold fleet." Posted on 5 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 3
Platoon Aviation turn up the heat but don't dent American Magic Quantum Racing's lead After a disappointing first regatta of the season when they finished in an uncharacteristic last position in Saint-Tropez, the fortunes of the German flagged 2023 52 SUPER SERIES overall champions Platoon Aviation seem to have turned for the better. Posted on 5 Jun
Diverse international fleet for 5th AEGEAN 600
The race start is a little over 1 month away In a sign that this newest of the world's 600-mile classic offshore races has reached maturity, organizers from the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club are pleased to announce yet another large international fleet will be assembled for the 2025 AEGEAN 600. Posted on 5 Jun
Newport International Boat Show joins Sail Newport
Premier northeast boat show donates $5,000 to community efforts The Newport International Boat Show, presented by BankNewport announced today its continued involvement in supporting Sail Newport to aid in a shared dedication to attract new boaters to a lifetime of making memories on the water. Posted on 5 Jun
Sinclair Championship Preview
Noroton Yacht Club (NYC) at the center of thriving Women's Sailing Program Up to a dozen of the country's top women sailing teams will come to the Noroton Yacht Club (NYC) again to compete in the 2025 Susan Widmann Sinclair Women's Championship June 13th-15th. Posted on 5 Jun
America's Cup: Another sponsor signs for Italians
Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team and will accompany it as an official sponsor for the duration of the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 5 Jun
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_SY BOTTOMC-Tech 2020 Tubes 728x90 BOTTOMHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range