Wellington Heritage Festival

12/10/2026

Celebrating two iconic figures in Aotearoa's rainbow history! 🌈

Discover more about the remarkable legacies of Carmen Rupe and Georgina Beyer through these special presentations, part of this year's Wellington Heritage Festival! 💐

Wellington Heritage Festival at Te Matapihi

12/10/2026

Looking for a new way to discover a Pōneke icon? Here's your chance! 🌟 Make sure to book your spot for Wellington Cable Car: Unlocked 🔓

09/10/2026

🗺️ NEW BLOG POST: Pōneke Focus Weekend 🗺️

Looking for something fun to do this Labour Weekend? 👀

We're kicking off the 2026 Wellington Heritage Festival in Pōneke from 24th-26th October, with a fantastic range of events celebrating our city's rich history and heritage!

From historic walking tours and beautiful heritage buildings to behind-the-scenes experiences and fascinating local stories, there's plenty to discover across Wellington City over the long weekend.

In our latest blog post, Alice Houston-Page highlights just some of the exciting events taking place as we kick off this year's Festival, helping you plan your heritage adventures and make the most of Labour Weekend.

📖 Read the full article here: https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/blog/wellington-focus-weekend/

✨ Keep an eye out for our upcoming Focus Weekend blogs, as we explore more of the Greater Wellington region!

07/10/2026

05/10/2026

📜 NEW BLOG POST: The Thistle Inn: Then and Now 📜

Did you know the Thistle Inn is Pōneke’s oldest pub, first opening in 1840?

In our latest blog post, Alice Houston-Page takes a closer look at this much loved Wellington landmark, exploring its fascinating history and how the surrounding landscape has changed over the past 186 years.

Featuring historic photographs from the Alexander Turnbull Library, alongside a glimpse of the Thistle Inn today. It’s a fascinating look at one of Wellington’s enduring heritage places.

📖 Read the full article here: https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/blog/the-thistle-inn-then-and-now/

18/09/2026

JUST OVER A MONTH TO GO! 🌿

The 2026 Wellington Heritage Festival is right around the corner! 🤩

From 24 October - 15 November, explore 160+ events celebrating the people, places and stories of Te Upoko-o-te-Ika-a-Māui (Greater Wellington). 🎞️

Join a heritage walk, visit historic places, hear local stories, explore exhibitions and much more! 💫

With events across Pōneke, Porirua, the Kāpiti Coast, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and the Wairarapa, there’s plenty happening across the region this Festival.

🔎 Start planning your itinerary and explore the full programme:
https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/events/

14/09/2026

Step behind the velvet curtain and explore one of the city’s most beloved performance spaces. The Opera House is opening it's doors for an intimate tour.

02/09/2026

🌿 Events for the 2026 Wellington Heritage Festival are now live!

This year, discover 160+ events happening across Te Upoko-o-te-Ika-a-Māui, the Greater Wellington region. Experience the people, places and stories that continue to shape our region, with mana whenua, organisations, community groups, and individuals coming together to share our heritage.

🕰️ The Festival runs from 24 October to 15 November 2026, with events happening across Pōneke, Porirua, the Kāpiti Coast, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and the Wairarapa.

Many of this year’s events are accessible, low-cost or free, but some have limited spaces, so be sure to get in early!

🔎 Explore the full programme: https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/events/

This is all made possible by our 2026 sponsors: Kāpiti Coast District Council, Wellington City Council,Historic Places Wellington, Pub Charity Limited, Rotary Clubs of Greater Wellington, Hutt City Council, Community Organisations Grants Scheme (COGS), Eastern & Central Community Trust, Wikimedia Aotearoa New Zealand, Trust House Foundation, and Hiamo.

Discover events celebrating the people, places, and stories of Te Upoko-o-te-Ika / the Wellington Region during October & November 2026!

28/08/2026

27/08/2026

🍴 NEW BLOG POST: Capital of Kai at Wellington Museum 🍴

With Capital of Kai closing on 6 September, now is your last chance to visit this fascinating exhibition at Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho (Wellington Museum).

Exploring how Pōneke became the “Capital of Kai”, the exhibition traces Wellington’s changing food scene over the past 100 years and the people behind it.

In our latest blog post, Alice Houston-Page takes a closer look at Capital of Kai, sharing some of the fascinating stories she discovered along the way.

📖 Read the full article here: https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/blog/wellington-museum's-capital-of-kai/