Art Exhibition Opening 7-9 pm Thur 30 JanCo-hosted with Fiordland Arts Charitable Trust, our annual Te Anau Waitangi Festival multimedia arts exhibition 'Taonga tuku iho | Treasures of our heritage'. Opening 7-9 pm. Entries close 27 Jan. Exhibition runs to 9 Feb. Contact fiordlandartshub@gmail.com for more information or to RSVP to the opening. Download entry forms and T&Cs at the bottom of this page.
Te Anau Waitangi FESTIVAL 2025 Events
From January 30 to February 9, our community will be at the heart of a distinctive, community-inspired cultural experience to honour the signing of one of our nation's founding documents, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and celebrate our shared history. This year’s theme for Te Anau Waitangi Festival, Taonga tuku iho | Treasures of our heritage, reflects the precious gifts—tangible and intangible — handed down to us from our ancestors or tūpuna. These treasures connect us to our past and guide our future.
Te Anau Waitangi Festival displays you can view in your own time from January 30:
Tiriti Code Cracker competition for tamariki in conjunction with ‘Te Tiriti – Ruapuke, June 1840’ exhibition at FNP Visitors Centre. Prize Draw - Win a family trip with Fiordland Historic Cruises on board Faith
Different NZ flags on main street power poles in Te Anau and Manapōuri
Children's Story Walk in Te Anau Memorial Gardens
New Zealand book display at Te Anau Library featuring history, art, culture and te reo Māori story books
Te Tiriti o Waitangi window display at 26 Town Centre featuring art by tamariki from Southern Stars Early Childhood Centre and Te Anau School
Art by tamariki from Mararoa and Te Anau schools at in the Wapiti Cafe
KITE and kēmu DAY 12-3 pm sat 1 febCo-hosted with Fiordland Outdoor Playgroup and supported by Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group for Te Anau Waitangi Festival. Fly a kite and play traditional māori games (kēmu) at Te Anau Rugby Grounds. Face painting, craft and BBQ and refreshments available. Gold coin donation appreciated.
'Moana 2' screening @ 1 pm thur 6 FebIn collaboration with Fiordland Cinema, this year's special matinee screening for Te Anau Waitangi Festival 2025 is Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical 'Moana 2'. This is a FREE event but bookings via this page are required (not via the cinema). CLICK FOR MORE INFO AND TO BOOK.
Te Tiriti—Ruapuke, June 1840 OPENing @ 5 PM Thur 6 febA brand-new exhibition curated especially for Southlanders and brought to you by Te Kupeka Tiaki Taoka | Southern Regional Collections Trust with the support of the four Murihiku Papatipu Rūnanga for Te Anau Waitangi Festival. Co-hosted by the Department of Conservation at Fiordland National Park Visitors Centre. Opening includes supper. This is a FREE event. RSVP not required. Runs through February.
Ngāi Tahu in the Southern Alps with Nic Low @ 6 pm Thur 6 febNic Low (Ngāi Tahu) is the author of the best-selling Uprising: Walking the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Nic spent years talking to Ngāi Tahu historians, scholars and elders about the iwi’s history in the mountains, then retraced more than a dozen old Māori routes across the Alps on foot, in a bid to bring those histories to life. Join him for a lively account of his walking and climbing expeditions, and why it’s possible to see history rather than wilderness when we look at the peaks. This is a FREE event however bookings are essential. CLICK FOR MORE INFO AND TO BOOK.
'We Were Dangerous' screening @ 8 pm thur 6 febIn collaboration with Fiordland Cinema, this year's NZ feature film screening for Te Anau Waitangi Festival is 'We Were Dangerous'. This is a FREE event but bookings via this page are required (not via Fiordland Cinema). CLICK FOR MORE INFO AND TO BOOK.
Ukulele and waiata wānanga with Niccolo piccolo 3:45-4:45 pm Thur 6 + fri 7 febTamariki/children are invited to join Niccolo Piccolo (with acclaimed musicians Nicola Mitchell and Michael Muggeridge) for a ukulele and waiata wānanga at Lakeside Church as part of Te Anau Waitangi Festival. Learn to play and sing an original Niccolo Piccolo waiata or two on the ukuelele. On 8 February perform live on the festival stage at Lions Park. This is a FREE event but places are limited and registration is essentional. Recommended for ages 7 and up. CLICK FOR MORE INFO AND TO BOOK.
Ngāi Tahu in the Southern Alps with Nic Low @ Fiordland College @ 1:30 pm Fri Feb 7Nic Low (Ngāi Tahu) is the author of the best-selling Uprising: Walking the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Nic spent years talking to Ngāi Tahu historians, scholars and elders about the iwi’s history in the mountains, then retraced more than a dozen old Māori routes across the Alps on foot, in a bid to bring those histories to life. Join him for a lively account of his walking and climbing expeditions, and why it’s possible to see history rather than wilderness when we look at the peaks. Co-hosted with Fiordland College at the school gymnasium for Te Anau Waitangi Festival. This FREE event is for school-aged tamariki and rangatahi ages 10 and up.
NICCOLO PICCOLO PERFORMANCE for TAMARIKI, Te ANAU CLUB 1:30 PM FRI 7 FEBGet ready for an action-packed, musical adventure with Niccolo Piccolo, Nicola Mitchell, an award-winning folk/country artist, with musician Michael Muggeridge, bringing her passion for te ao Māori to tamariki through colourful songs and storytelling. This interactive experience is designed to ignite curiosity and a love for te reo Māori and Tikanga, with heaps of opportunities for tamariki to participate. Perfect for school-aged tamariki years 0-3. The show is filled with original waiata made for little kiwi and also features some familiar kapa haka favourites! Tamariki will be arriving with their teachers. Home schooled children welcome. This event is FREE.
Te Anau Waitangi Festival Concert @ Lions Park 11-3 pm sat 8 febOur big Te Anau Waitangi Festival concert at Lions Park is back! Live entertainment featuring Ngā Herenga Waka (Waihōpai), Te Anau School Kapa Haka, music from Top of the Hour (Ōtepoti Dunedin), Niccolo Piccolo (Pōneke Wellington), plus heaps of kai/food including hāngi, history and info about Te Tiriti o Waitangi, mahi toi (art), giant sandpit and water slide for the tamariki! This is a FREE event.
jam session at the 'Cliff with sonny Tonihi + Te Ukaipo Rangihau from 5-7 pm sat 8 febJoin our magnificent Te Anau Waitangi Festival MC, Matua Sonny, and kapa haka performer and teacher, Matua Te Ukaipo Rangihau, for a fun-fuelled jam session and wahi waiata (sing-along) at Te Anau's popular Redcliff Cafe.
Lake Cruise and Caves journey with The Mitchell Twins and Nic low 8-10:45 am Sun 9 febHistoric lake cruise on board the MV Luminosa with RealNZ on Te Ana-au / Lake Te Anau to Aurora Caves at the foot of the Te Puhi-a-Noa (the Murchison Mountains). This special Te Anau Waitangi Festival cruise is donated by RealNZ to our community and includes a journey into the glowworm caves, talk by Nic low and live performance by The Mitchelle Twins. This is a FREE event but bookings are essential. CLICK FOR MORE INFO AND TO BOOK.
Waka Ama experience 11-3 pm sun 9 febA favourite for Te Anau Waitangi Festival! Have-a-go waka experience with Te Piritahi a Rua Waka Ama (from Waihōpai Invercargill) with opportunities to register a crew for races at 2 pm. Weather dependent.
Mōkihi raft float Little Lake Te Anau 11 am sun 9 febSomething for our youngest tamariki! As part of Te Anau Waitangi Festival preparations we have been running special mōkihi/raft making workshops in partnership with Te Anau Library and Southland District Libriaries. The mōkihi/raft float is taking place on Little Lake Te Anau. It's not too late for the little ones to make a mōkihi for the day.
Te Tiriti—Ruapuke, June 1840 Thur 6 Feb to Fri 28 FebA brand-new exhibition curated especially for Southlanders and brought to you by Te Kupeka Tiaki Taoka | Southern Regional Collections Trust with the support of the four Murihiku Papatipu Rūnanga for Te Anau Waitangi Festival.. Co-hosted by the Department of Conservation at Fiordland National Park Visitors Centre. Runs through February during VC opening hours. School visits encouraged. FREE entry.
