Step inside the iconic Percy Vos Boat Shed and see traditional boatbuilding come alive as part of the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival. Fully restored to its former glory, this historic space honours the craftsmanship behind many of Aotearoa New Zealand’s finest wooden vessels, preserving these skills as a living tribute to this legacy. Enjoy live demonstrations of Māori and Pacific waka building alongside traditional wooden boatbuilding.
Experience Māori and Pacific waka building as a living tradition and witness the final stages of a waka hourua being created by master carvers, canoe craftsmen, and artists. Connect with the stories, skills, ancient trans-Pacific knowledge, and contemporary innovations woven into its making. And discover how this vessel is being prepared for its journey to a museum in Berlin, linking Pacific navigation and art with audiences around the world. Click here to find out more about Pou Kapua Creations Trust.
Witness the New Zealand Traditional Boat Building School build a Kauri Clinker Frostbite dinghy live on site. See traditional boatbuilding techniques up close, meet the builders, learn about the incredible stories of this iconic shed and find out what courses and events are coming to the Vos Shed in 2026.
The name ‘Percy Vos’ is synonymous with skill, craftsmanship and innovative boat design. Many of Aotearoa’s finest vessels were built there; the last place in the country to build wooden boats. Following a major two-year restoration project, the boatbuilding shed is now under the care of the New Zealand Maritime Museum. Come and hear about Percy Vos the man and his shed, what it takes to preserve a heritage building and its future role in preserving the craftmanship of wooden boatbuilding.