Sat 14 and Sun 15 March, 10am - 5pm | Free
Enjoy a handpicked selection of short films celebrating life on the water, from the craft of boat and waka building to stories of restoration, adventure, and racing.
Screenings will take place in the New Zealand Maritime Museum Studio, with films playing on loop throughout the weekend. Drop in anytime, no bookings required.
The Mangawhai Daring Trust is dedicated to preserving the beautiful two-masted schooner Daring. After being beached in 1865, the vessel has found a permanent home in Mangawhai, where ongoing restoration work honours its remarkable maritime history. Filmed for The Daring Trust.
Duration: 10 minutes
Two short films exploring the legacy of steam ships in New Zealand, featuring Daldy: 90 Years On and Loading Briquettes. Filmed for the William C Daldy Preservation Society, these films offer a glimpse into the history, engineering, and ongoing care of New Zealand’s steam-powered maritime heritage.
Duration: 5 minutes
Take a short tour through New Zealand’s vibrant classic boating scene, from the Classic Yacht Regatta to gatherings and events around the country. Filmed by Hummingbird Productions.
Duration: 3 minutes 20 seconds
What's involved in maintaining wooden boats and heritage vessels? Take a look behind the scenes with the New Zealand Maritime Museum Vessel Maintenance crew.
Duration: 3 minutes 30 seconds
A collection of films that bring to life classic yacht racing, recreation, and the passionate community that keeps these vessels sailing, often racing on the Waitematā Harbour and beyond. Filmed by Hummingbird Productions.
Duration: 6 minutes 30 seconds
Filmed just weeks before his passing, Sir Hector Busby reflects on his life’s work in celestial navigation and waka carving. In this moving short film, he considers the legacy of this knowledge and who will carry it forward for future generations. Filmed by Loading Docs.
Duration: 7 minutes 57 seconds
Journey across the Pacific, retracing the legendary voyages of Kupe. Ancient navigation techniques are revived through rituals and ceremonies. Witness the construction of a traditional waka, from forest to sea. Filmed by: Nimrod Films Production
Duration: 13 minutes 40 seconds
Te Toki Waka Hourua is helping revitalise the ancient art of Pacific wayfinding, keeping traditional waka culture and navigational knowledge alive across the Pacific. In this film, Taylor Aumua joins the crew on a fundraising sail supporting an upcoming training voyage. Filmed by Tagata Pasifika.
Duration: 3 minutes 20 seconds
On, 23 June, 2024 and in a stunning ceremony, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei launched Te Kawau on to our ancestral waters of the Waitematā. I poho kawau a Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei i te whakamānutanga waka taua. This is the first time in nearly a quarter of a century that Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has a ceremonial waka designed to showcase the deep connection to our ancestral moana (ocean) Te Waitematā and reaffirm Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei as not only tangata whenua (people of the land) but also tangata moana (people of the ocean). Filmed for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
Duration: 13 minutes 36 seconds
Classic Yacht Charitable Trust, Hummingbird Productions, Loading Docs, New Zealand Maritime Museum, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Nimrod Films Production, Tagata Pasifika, The Daring Trust, Tino Rawa Trust, Toroa Steam Ship Preservation Society, William C Daldy Preservation Society.