Experience the heritage of Auckland
Ponsonby Post Office, the first stop of Ponsonby presents: guided heritage walk with Edward Bennett.
One of the 34 remaining baches on Rangitoto Island.
Tour of the St James Theatre explores a restoration project facing many challenges.
Auckland landmark,136 Grafton Road, featured in Heritage Tour A Place of Learning.
Making a Home Accommodation for New Arrivals, hosted at the Farrington House Museum.
On now, the Auckland Heritage Festival consists of 130 free or low-cost events concluding on Sunday 13 October. Below, we’ve complied the not-to-be-missed events for architecture and history enthusiasts.
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the dawn raids on Pacific people, this year’s theme is Moana Oceania — the great connector.
*Many events have already sold out so make sure you book in advance.*
ArchitectureNow’s Auckland Heritage Festival picks:
Old Avondale
A photography exhibition featuring shops, people, buildings and scenes in Avondale.
2–9 October, various times.
Auckland’s Treasured Old Pubs
Lead by Brian McDonnell, this tour explore some still standing, and other long-gone pubs in the central city and inner suburbs with significant architecture and history.
6:00–7:30 pm on 3 October 2024
Hidden Gems of the Inner City
Edward Bennett leads a tour of lower Queen Street, exploring hidden remains of the Art Deco style in marble lobbies, 1920s lifts and mural paintings.
11:00–1:00 pm on 3–10 October 2024
Heritage Tour A Place of Learning
This tour explores 136 Grafton Road, once owned by the Methodist Theological College, later the Church of Scientology and now features art by Māori Master Carver, the late Kerry Strongman.
1:00–2:00 pm, on 4–5 and 11–12 October 2024
Tour of the St James Theatre
An opportunity to look inside the St James Theatre and hear about the challenges facing this restoration project.
2:00–2:45 pm and 3:00–3:45pm on 5 October 2024
Ponsonby presents: guided heritage walk with Edward Bennett
A tour of Ponsonby, its architectural heritage and cultural history.
10:00–12:00 pm on 5 October and 12 October 2024
Making a Home Accommodation for New Arrivals
This event at the Farrington House showcases the typical 1960s rented house, displayed with Pasifika artefacts and furnishings.
12:00–4:00pm on 12–13 October 2024
Rangitoto Island bach museum open day
Once a site of 140 holiday homes, Rangitoto Island was a go-to holiday destination in the 1920s and 1930s. The remaining baches are examples of architectural and social history in Aotearoa.
10:00–3:00 pm on 12 October 2024
The Naming of Aotearoa-New Zealand (until 1840)
Historian Phil Sai-Louie presents an illustrated talk on how the names of Aotearoa New Zealand came about, often with origins in the Pacific.
1:30–2:30pm on 13 October 2024
Visit Our Auckland to see all available events in the festival.
