Sat. 28 February – Sun. 8 March 2026
Event plan and fantastic moana links and resources.
Our local focus will be “Connect with our Moana” – exploring what lives in and around our local moana here in Timaru, and encouraging our community to connect with it both recreationally and educationally throughout the nine-day Seaweek.
We are grateful for Prime Port who is sponsoring the marketing of this community event!!
What is Seaweek?
Seaweek is an annual event that was first held in New Zealand in 1992. It was introduced to educate New Zealanders about the sea and how to reduce pollution and protect the marine environment. Seaweek is coordinated nationally by a team at Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre (MERC). Seaweek events are diverse and designed to be inclusive of all ages.
For more about Seaweek’s kaupapa, check out the Seaweek Facebook page or head to www.seaweek.org.nz
Seaweek Timetable for Timaru
Thank you to the community groups and businesses for their support in hosting events!!
Saturday 28th Feb 9.30am – 3.00pm – Experience Waka Ama at Caroline Bay
Together Te Aitarakihi Marae a Iwi and Waitaha Paddling Club are hosting a waka ama experience. They will have 4 V6 (six-seater) waka on the water, each guided by experienced crew, creating a safe and supportive environment. All ages and skills welcome. Life jackets and paddles supplied. Weather permitting. Enquires contact kiaora@teaitarakihi.co.nz
Sunday 1st March 7am – 8am – Beach Yoga and Meditation
Join Trudi and Deanna for a sunrise yoga and meditation practice on the beach. Allow the sounds of the ocean to guide you inward. Suitable for beginners. Bring a mat if you have one, or we will have some for you to borrow. Please pre book via roamandrestore@gmail.com and bring $10 cash. Weather dependent – cancelation will be advised via email.
Sunday 1st March 10am – 2pm – Children’s Day at Caroline Bay (Eco Centre)
Come down to Caroline Bay for a FREE day of fun celebrating your tamariki for Children’s Day! Enjoy lots of activities and displays from local organisations, including the Eco Centre. We’ll be celebrating Sea Week with interactive games and hands-on education. Don’t forget to pick up your Sea Week Activities Challenge while you’re there!
Tuesday 3rd March 7pm – Seaweek Eco Talk @ Eco Centre
We’re excited to welcome 3 local speakers: Marijke Bakker from Penguins First Timaru, sharing insights into our local little blue penguins; Kennedy Lange from Environment Canterbury, speaking about tuna (eels); and Keely Kroening from the South Canterbury Museum, who will guide us through the incredible biodiversity of our local rocky shores.
Wednesday 4th March 10.30am – Multicultural Aoraki Coffee Group Wellbeing Beach Walk
This is a great way to meet new people, practice conversational English, and connect with our ocean. Meet at the volleyball court / carpark on Marine Drive at 10.30 for a beach walk, followed by a cuppa at Multicultural Aoraki, 14 Butler Street. Anyone welcome!
Thursday 5th March 7pm – Eco Youth @ the SC Eco Centre
If you’re in high school and care about the environment we live in, come along, get involved, and help look after our moana this Seaweek. Eco Youth meets monthly and even has camps! Questions to Chris Konings biodiversity@scecocentre.org.nz
Saturday 7th March 1pm – iNaturalist Bioblitz at Waitarakao Rocky Shore (SC Museum)
Together we will find, identify and photograph as many plants, invertebrates and animals as possible. We’ll be using the free iNaturalist app. No smartphone? No problem – we can help document your finds. Children are welcome with family supervision. South Canterbury Museum will provide basic ID charts. Please bring a container (a white ice cream container is best) to collect and examine organisms.
Sunday 8th March 7am – 8am – Beach Yoga and Meditation
Join Trudi and Deanna for a sunrise yoga and meditation practice on the beach. Allow the sounds of the ocean to guide you inward. Suitable for beginners. Bring a mat if you have one, or we will have some for you to borrow. Please pre book via roamandrestore@gmail.com and bring $10 cash. Weather dependent – cancelation will be advised via email.
Sunday 8th March 1pm – Our Waitarakao Beach cleanup (Our Waitarakao, Environment Canterbury)
All week
Timaru District Libraries displays / story time
Timaru, Geraldine and Temuka Libraries are sharing their love of the moana with beautiful displays and story time. During Seaweek find yourself a moana inspired book to read.
Seaweek activities challenge (Eco Centre)
Visit the Eco Centre team at Children’s Day to get your activity sheet or it will be available to download from our website in time for Seaweek.
Wuhoo Timaru – 50 Free Ways to Explore Our Seas and Shores
There are so many ways to find free fun along our Districts coastline. Here are 50 free activities to celebrate Seaweek, offering wildlife encounters, beach explorations, nature trails, citizen science projects, and playful nature activities for all ages. From tamariki to grandparents, classrooms to tourists, there’s something here for everyone to connect with the moana and our marine world!
Coordinator Contact
Alice Brice at the Eco Centre
Email admin@scecocentre.org.nz
Phone 0273228177
For specific event questions contact the event host.
Links and Resources
To help in the classroom or for personal use
Seaweek website Resources and ideas. Teaching tools including their Ocean Literacy Educators Guide.
Young Ocean Explorers Schools check out their 21 day challenge and amazing videos / resources.
iNaturalist project for Waitarakao iNaturalist project at Waitarakao / Washdyke Lagoon. Anything you add to iNaturalist (Citizen Science) in this area will be added to this project.
Sustainable Coastlines “We bring people together to reduce plastic pollution and other litter to protect the moana we all love. We inspire change through beach clean-ups, education, and litter data collection.”
Marine Metre Squared Citizen Science Established in 2013 by the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre – University of Otago, the Marine Metre² project was developed to encourage communities to get involved in monitoring and protecting the seashore and the many species that call it home.
NZ Marine Studies Centre Resources The NZ Marine Studies Centre produces a range of resources to support our programmes and research activities. Some of these, such as our marine life database, can be used online. Others may be downloaded. These materials may be reproduced for educational purposes, but please ensure you say where they have come from. We also have a selection of books and other publications for purchase.
Earth Sciences New Zealand NIWA’s educational resources and scientific data are tools for young people to learn about science.
Mahika Kai – Let’s go on a kai moana hunt! How could you pretend you’re hunting for kai (food) at the CPlay playground?
Our local Kai Moana Story Wuhoo Timaru brings you local resources and information
Marine Stewardship Council Explore ocean-themed education resources aligned with the New Zealand curriculum suitable for Years 7-10, including ocean lesson plans, videos, fact sheets, games, and activities.
Biosecurity Education Modules Help our Year 5-8 learners in Aotearoa understand the role they play in protecting our coastlines, while gaining important knowledge and skills from the education for sustainability (EfS) pedagogy and supporting the key competencies and overall vision as stated in the New Zealand Curriculum.
DOC Protecting our Marine World Links to the New Zealand Curriculum at levels 1-4, but can be adapted for use at various levels. The unit is based on an integrated, inquiry learning process. It contains teaching and learning material to support a unit of work that is grounded in Environmental Education for Sustainability (EEfS) / Conservation education themes, and incorporates aspects of Te Ao Māori (a Māori worldview).
Project Jonah Includes a range of free downloadable activities and short videos for teaching about marine mammals.