Overview
Mark your calendars: February 2024 will be a big month for Auckland. For the first time, Auckland is hosting the Moana Auckland Ocean Festival, a month-long celebration of the sea, with a huge number of events taking place in and around the water.
Nine events are already on the Moana Auckland program, including the annual Auckland Boat Show, the Z Manu World Champs — where the search for 'best water bomb' takes place — the New Zealand Millennium Cup superyacht regatta, Sculpture on the Gulf, the Wooden Boat Festival and the Harbour Classic, a 14-mile yacht race across the harbour. Most of the events on the schedule will be free to attend.
The Hyundai Marine Sports Centre will be set up in Ōrākei as a hub for events involving smaller boats and waka ama. One of these events will be Splash Landing, where families can hang out at Okahu Bay, try out a new skill and learn about the ocean surrounding Tāmaki Makaurau.
Te Wero Island, on the eastern side of Auckland's Viaduct, will act as the central hub for all things Moana Auckland come February 2024. It will provide a space for Aucklanders to indulge in culinary marine-themed treats and marvel at the luxurious super yachts surrounding the area.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the local government agency behind Moana Auckland, hopes the month-long event will highlight Auckland's "vibrant marine sector". To complement this, Moana Auckland will host several networking events, including The Ocean Women 5, highlighting achievements made by women in the marine industry.
Thant Zin Oo
Moana Auckland will take place from Saturday, February 24-Sunday, March 24. For updates on the festival's events, keep an eye on the Moana Auckland website.