New Zealand’s First Seaweed Festival Set to Make Waves in Wellington
Following the end of the Homegrown music festival, a brand-new event is emerging in the capital—New Zealand’s first-ever Seaweed Festival, celebrating the underwater forests of Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Organized by Love Rimurimu, a project under Mountains to Sea Wellington, the festival will take place across Wellington from March 1–9, 2025.
Festival organizer Zoe Studd promises an exciting and diverse program, with over 30 seaweed-themed events planned. Highlights include:
- A seaweed tattoo ‘flash’ day
- Edible seaweed tastings
- Behind-the-scenes tours of Te Papa’s seaweed collections
- Expert talks on seaweed and marine ecosystems
- A mystery movie night at the Roxy Cinema
- Seaweed film and photography exhibitions
- A sea shanty sing-along to close the festival
Studd hopes the festival will raise awareness about seaweed’s ecological importance while also strengthening community connections through art, science education, and cultural events.
"Internationally, seaweed festivals have successfully brought people closer to these vital marine forests. Now, it’s our turn," Studd said.
With thousands expected to attend, the Seaweed Festival aims to become a permanent fixture in Wellington’s event calendar, potentially taking over the role once held by Homegrown.
“This could be the new festival,” Studd remarked. "We hope people will fall in love with rimurimu and support seaweed restoration efforts."
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