Wellington Heritage Festival

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/

20/08/2026

🕰️ Become a Friend or Member of the Wellington Heritage Festival! 🚂

Friends and Members receive a full week of exclusive early access to the 2026 Festival programme from tomorrow, Friday 21 August.

With many events selling out quickly, it’s a great way to get in early and plan your Festival experience, while supporting the Wellington Heritage Festival.

It’s now easier than ever to join! Sign up through our online form, with automatic renewal options available. No more PDFs!

🗝️ Unlock early access: https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/friends/

13/08/2026

🍔 NEW BLOG POST: Historic Chapman-Taylor’s Burger Wellington 🍔

As part of Burger Wellington, Alice Houston-Page visits Chapman-Taylor’s Cafe & Inn at 113 Molesworth Street, Wellington to try their Ayam What I Am burger and explore the fascinating history of the historic building it calls home.

Originally built in 1912 by renowned New Zealand architect James Walter Chapman-Taylor, the building is now a Category 1 Historic Place and one of the few surviving examples of his early commercial work.

In our latest blog post, Alice takes us inside Chapman-Taylor’s Cafe & Inn, exploring the history of this unique building and the story behind the restored venue.

📖 Read the full article here: https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/blog/historic-chapman-taylor's-burger-wellington/

Image credits: © Daniel McClymont / © Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

06/08/2026

📖 NEW BLOG POST 📖

Join us as Alice Houston-Page reflects on attending Chinese Footprints: A Walking Tour of Wellington's History, led by Lynette Shum.

In our latest blog post, Alice shares her experience exploring the history of Wellington's Chinese community and the stories that have helped shape Pōneke.

From historic association buildings to Wellington's former Chinatown, the tour reveals a fascinating history hidden in plain sight.

🔗 Read the full article here: https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/blog/chinese-footprints-walking-tour/

31/07/2026

🕰️ The Countdown Is On!

We’re getting closer to unveiling the 2026 Wellington Heritage Festival programme, and we can’t wait to share this year’s exciting lineup of events across the Wellington region.

💬 Have you attended the festival before? We’d love to hear your stories in the comments below!

Stay tuned, the full programme will be announced soon...

22/07/2026

🕰️ Last Chance For On-Time Event Applications!

Have an idea for an event? There's still time to be part of Wellington Heritage Festival 2026.

Submit your event by 10pm on Friday 31 July to be included in our 2026 online programme. Applications submitted after 31 July are still welcome but will incur a late application fee.

Whether you're planning a guided walk, exhibition, talk, performance or community celebration, we'd love to hear from you.

📅 Festival dates: 24 October - 15 November 2026
🔗 Find out more and apply: https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/form/application/

03/07/2026

📚 A New Chapter in Wairarapa’s History!

Congratulations to Dr Claire Hills on the publication of Heritage and Horizon: 180 Years of Wairarapa Catholic History.

Published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Wairarapa’s first resident Catholic priest, Father Antoine Halbwachs, this beautifully illustrated book explores 180 years of Catholic history in the region.

From the celebration of the first Mass in 1845 through to the modern-day Catholic Parish of the Wairarapa, it traces the people, churches, schools and communities that have shaped Catholic life across generations.

Heritage and Horizon also highlights the many cultural communities that have contributed to the region’s history, including Māori, French Marist, Irish and Polish communities, alongside later migrants and refugees who enriched Wairarapa’s Catholic community.

We congratulate Claire on this wonderful contribution to preserving and sharing Wairarapa’s heritage.

30/06/2026

🌈 NEW BLOG POST: The Presence of Pōneke in HNZPT's Rainbow List 🌈

As part of Pride Month, we're excited to share the third and final blog post in our special series celebrating people, places, and organisations who help preserve and share Aotearoa's rainbow heritage.

Today, we're shining a spotlight on Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga's Rainbow List and the important work it does uncovering and sharing the stories of Aotearoa's rainbow communities through places of historical significance. From its beginnings in 2020, the Rainbow List has continued to grow, helping ensure these stories are recognised and remembered.

In our latest blog post, Alice Houston-Page takes a closer look at the Rainbow List, how it came to be, and some of the fascinating stories behind Wellington's listed sites. 🏳️‍🌈

Read the full article here: https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/blog/hnzpt's-rainbow-list/

📷 Images © Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga