Carousel slide 1 imageImage credit: The Depot.
Come along for a weekend of weaving and connection with the eclectic Manahua weavers collective as they share their skills and journey in making kete, tāniko, kākahu, and korowai. You're invited to sit, watch, chat, and learn — everyone is welcome.
Drop-in anytime between 10am–3.30pm to meet the weavers and see their work in progress. At selected times, they’ll also be offering something extra.
2pm – Whetū (star) and manu (bird) demonstrations
Drop-in and enjoy these special presentations — no booking required.
11am–12pm and again at 1.30–3.30pm: Hands-on weaving workshops. Bookings essential for these workshops – limited to 12 participants per session.
On display from 18 Oct 2025 - 31 Jan 2025 | Free with museum entry
Come along and see this stunning installation taking flight in the Maritime Museum plaza from 18 October.
First shown during Matariki 2025 at the Depot in Devonport, Whetū Manu Kono is a moving tribute to the birds of Aotearoa whose voices have been lost since human arrival. Created by creatives Brenda Railey and Abby Turbott, the installation began with the humble kono – a woven vessel of sixteen whenu – first crafted during their studies at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. From this simple form, a constellation of 55 manu (birds) emerged, each representing an extinct species, suspended in flight and seeking their whetū (star).
Every strand of harakeke has been treated as taonga – even the offcuts woven back into feathers and points of light. The result is a work that holds both grief and remembrance: honouring what has been lost while celebrating the enduring connections between land, sky, and spirit. In this space, the manu rise again – returning to the night sky, carrying with them the echo of songs we will never hear.