Aotearoa-New Zealand’s first ever Seaweed Festival is now live with a diverse programme of events released today. Seaweed Fest 2025 will celebrate the underwater forests of Te Whanganui-a-Tara with events happening across Wellington from the 1st to the 9th of March.
The festival is a collaborative effort across partner organisations, scientists, artists and business with a shared vision and passion for connecting people to rimurimu - the collective name for seaweeds. The festival aims to encourage an appreciation for these underwater forests, whether it’s through a community snorkel, at an art installation or even by flavouring your local gin. The confirmed programme of events for Seaweed Fest 2025 is now live at: https://www.loverimurimu.org/festival
This boutique festival will include over 30 different seaweed-themed events including; seaweed tattoo ‘flash’ day, edible seaweed tastings, behind the scenes tours of Te Papa seaweed collections, expert talks, a mystery movie night at the Roxy, seaweed film and photography exhibitions and a special Sea Shanty sing-along to close out the festival.
“Internationally we have seen successful seaweed festivals across the globe that have helped to grow people’s understanding, and connect local communities to seaweed forests via the arts, science education and community events. Now it’s our turn! We hope to see the same success here, whilst raising the profile of the Love Rimurimu Project and the need for seaweed restoration work. The festival events programme is intended to provide multiple different ways for everyone to get to know and fall in love with rimurimu” says Zoe Studd, Co- Founder/Executive Director of the Mountains to Sea Wellington Trust, and the Love Rimurimu project lead.
Long term funders of the programme Clare began support for restoration efforts in 2021, Alice Montague, CEO at Clare Foundation is excited to see the festival come to life.
“Seaweed Fest gives everyday kiwis the chance to really learn about the vital role seaweed plays in the marine ecosystem in a fun, informative, hands-on way. We’re proud to be a supporter of Love Rimurimu as they bring the wonderful world of seaweed to life during the Festival.”
Love Rimurimu is a programme of Mountains To Sea Wellington Trust, and began as an education programme in 2020 before evolving into an active restoration project. Last year over 1200 young ‘kelpings’ were planted out into Wellington Harbour through the efforts of the project - with more planned in 2025. There are hundreds of diverse seaweed species in Wellington and this festival brings their beauty to the surface. Many of the events are free and happening across Wellington city.
