Stargazing with Good Heavens
2025-11-23 21:30 - 23:00, 2025-12-07 21:30 - 23:00, 2025-12-14 21:30 - 23:00, 2026-01-11 21:30 - 23:00, 2026-01-25 21:30 - 23:00, 2026-02-08 21:30 - 23:00, 2026-03-08 21:00 - 22:30, 2026-03-22 20:30 - 22:00 (Pacific/Auckland) | Medlands Beach, Oruawharo Bay, 0991, New Zealand
Did you know that Aotea Great Barrier is a Dark Sky Sanctuary? It is a fantastic place for stargazing!

The Good Heavens team offer seaside group stargazing experiences. Passionate and local Good Heavens guides will illuminate you on the magical display above and share astronomical facts and stellar stories. They bring a telescope, binoculars and good cheer. So lean back comfortably in a moon chair to look up and see the thousands of stars visible in a Dark Sky Sanctuary.

Other dates and private experiences available.
Cost: $65 child/$130 adult
Location is Medlands Beach, exact location tbc upon booking.
More info: https://goodheavens.co.nz/

Aotea Kauri Survey - Community Info Session
2025-11-26 17:00 - 18:30 | Claris Conference Centre
Aotea kauri survey to begin in Summer 2025/2026
A community meeting will be held at the Claris Conference Centre to discuss this project on Wednesday, November 26, at 5:00 p.m.
A survey of kauri health will soon begin on Aotea, Great Barrier Island, to determine the extent of both
the soil-borne pathogen Phytophthora agathidicida, the causal agent of kauri dieback disease, and
symptomatic kauri.
Phytophthora agathidicida was first detected on Aotea in 1972 and is current distribution on the island
is patchy. It is not known to be present in the Northern area of Te Paparahi. DOC has conducted various
tree health assessments and soil testing over the years. In 2020, the Auckland Council conducted aerial
surveillance from helicopters, followed by ground-truthing.
The survey is being done in partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Ngāti Rehua
Ngātiwai Ki Aotea Trust. It will include the forested area of Aotea, encompassing Auckland Council,
Public Conservation Land, and contiguous private properties, who will be contacted directly soon.
To understand kauri health at a population level across Aotea, this project will combine mapping of the
kauri population from aerial imagery and data from field surveys. Recent learnings from the 2021
Waitākere Survey and 2024 Hūnua Survey will be used to inform the survey design.
Randomly selected kauri totaling 540 will be surveyed for their health and have soil samples collected
for laboratory analysis. The random selection of 540 trees will give us a baseline prevalence of tree
health and pathogen presence or absence at a landscape scale. This will create a cohort of monitored
trees that can be consistently re-measured to understand change in tree health.
This survey will inform future management decisions in kauri forests on Aotea, protecting them for
future generations.

Spectacular by Nature Exhibition
2025-11-28 10:00 - 2025-12-10 17:00 | Aotea Arts & History Village, 80 Hector Sanderson Road, Claris, 0991
Spectacular by Nature @ the Aotea Arts and History Village on the 28th November to 10th December

Garden Tour 2025
2025-11-29 09:00 - 17:00 | Claris Sports Club, 19 Whangaparapara Road, Claris, Great Barrier Island, New Zealand
Welcome to the Aotea Great Barrier Island Garden Tour Adventure
In 2025, the Totara, Kauri, Rewa and Nikau Garden Tours will be on Saturday Welcome to the Aotea Great Barrier Island Garden Tour Adventure
In 2025, the Totara, Kauri, Rewa and Nikau Garden Tours will be on Saturday 29th of November.
Bookings are open! Check out the details here
This is a unique opportunity to view a variety of residential gardens on the Island. The guided tours will enable you to visit charming cottage gardens, to see spectacular coastal panoramas and experience the hidden native flora and birdlife. The ticket includes tour transportation, a scrumptious Morning Tea and a charming Devonshire Afternoon Tea.
The Garden Tour is a major fundraiser for the Great Barrier Island Community Health Trust, enabling it to purchase equipment for use on the Island. The event involves many 100’s of hours of community volunteer time and energy and the participant feedback has been outstanding. It has become a very popular event, national and international celebrities who have participated in the past tours, quote that it is ‘a must-do event’ for every keen adventurous gardener.
Our Guest Speaker in 2024 Jules Moore comments:
It was supposed to be a chance to share my experience as a gardener, landscaper and horticulturist for over 4 decades. Culminating in achieving a gold medal at the Singapore International Garden show in 2024.Instead, I was introduced to the resilience of your community, the mana of respect your community has for its bountiful nature. You harness the natural resources around you to enrich your physical and mental health. You really garden from the heart. Each garden encapsulated the soul of the gardener.
I came away with such an appreciation for the ethos you all work within. Each person I spoke to had a personal story to tell and the garden was at the heart of it. Gardening is good for the soul and your community is made up of so many beautiful souls that on reflection I came away wishing I was a part of your community.

Finding Fanny Osborne Exhibition
2025-11-30 10:00 - 2026-02-28 17:00 | Aotea Arts & History Village, 80 Hector Sanderson Road, Claris, 0991
Finding Fanny Osborne – The Opening Talk on 30th Nov 2025 with writer and curator Kate Waterhouse.

SANTA PARADE & CHRISTMAS MARKET
2025-12-06 10:00 - 14:00 | Claris Conference Centre

Night Market / Santa’s Grotto
2025-12-18 17:00 - 19:30 | Aotea Arts & History Village, 80 Hector Sanderson Road, Claris, 0991
Night Market / Santa’s Grotto @ the Aotea Arts and History Village,
Thursday 18th December 2025 5.00pm to 7.30pm

Growers & Makers Market
2025-12-20 10:00 - 14:00 | Claris Conference Centre

Show us your 'box' - Boxing Day
2025-12-26 14:00 - 18:00 | Aotea Brewing – The Village, 50A Mason Road, 0991, New Zealand
Got Christmas cardboard hanging around? Don’t throw it away, get creative.
Come on down for a special Frock Friday at the brewery and show us your box! Prizes for the best dressed box style.

My Fat Puku Pizzeria
2025-12-28 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-01-02 17:00 - 19:00 | My Fat Puku, 129 Hector Sanderson Road, Claris, Auckland, 0991, New Zealand
Pizza night at My Fat Puku 5 – 7pm (Fridays and Sundays – excludes Boxing Day)
Come and try out our exclusive Puku Brew made on site – Lager, Pale Ale, Hazy Pale Ale, Pilsner, Cider, Coffee Stout and very tasty Alcoholic Ginger beer.
Great place to chill and relax with friends and family while enjoying some yummy pizzas.
See you then!

Aotea Brewing Summer Sessions - Marmalade & Floorplay
2025-12-29 12:00 - 18:30 | Aotea Brewing – The Village, 50A Mason Road, 0991, New Zealand
The Aotea Brewing Summer Sessions are back for another year of tunes, food and drinks amongst the green.
On the 29th December we have two bands to get you moving Tamaki Makaurau based duo Marmalade followed by our own Floorplay.
Tickets via the links below.
http://www.aoteabrewing.co.nz/
OR
https://events.humanitix.com/aotea-summer-sessions
All ages event. Multi day, group and family tickets available.

West Coast Boat Tour
2026-01-02 09:00 - 15:00 | Whangaparapara Wharf, Whangaparapara Wharf, Great Barrier Island, 0991, New Zealand
Five hour boat tour departing from and returning to Whangaparapara with morning tea and lunch on board.
Subject to the weather it incorporates sightseeing in the Whangaparapara Harbour covering the history there, up to the Broken Islands and Fitzroy Harbour via Man O War passage and Kaikoura Island, incorporates a guided tour of Glenfern Sanctuary (optional extra) then lunch in a sheltered bay before returning to Whangaparapara.

New Years Eve Picnic
2026-01-02 10:00 - 18:00 | Claris Sports Club, 19 Whangaparapara Road, Claris, Great Barrier Island, New Zealand
The 2026 New Years Eve Picnic!! Fun for all the family, with stalls, food, games, Live Music, water slide & a fantastic charity auction and raffle at Claris Sports Club.
Come and join in for a full day of fun.
A Fundraiser for Aotea Family Support Group which does so much to support our island community.
Hope to see you there.

Aotea Brewing Summer Sessions - MĀ
2026-01-04 12:00 - 18:30 | Aotea Brewing – The Village, 50A Mason Road, 0991, New Zealand
Aotea Brewing Summer Sessions continue and bring in 2026 with an awesome day of sunshine, local food and drinks and amazing tunes.
We are stoked to have MĀ – an autodidact Māori musician and artist from Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
All ages event. Multi day, group and family tickets available.
www.aoteabrewing.co.nz
OR
https://events.humanitix.com/aotea-summer-sessions

Automatic 80’s Gig
2026-01-17 18:00 - 23:30 | Claris Sports Club, 19 Whangaparapara Road, Claris, Great Barrier Island, New Zealand
Automatic 80’s Gig
Live Music at the Claris Club.
Doors open 6pm onwards, tickets are available at Flicket

“A Peephole on Paradise”
2026-01-23 08:00 - 2026-02-10 17:00 | Aotea Arts & History Village, 80 Hector Sanderson Road, Claris, 0991
A Collaborative Exhibition by Peter Edmonds & Fenella Christian
@ the Aotea Arts & History Village Opening 23rd January 4pm to 6pm

Afterglow Festival 2026
2026-01-24 14:00 - 2026-01-25 00:00 | Claris Sports Club, 19 Whangaparapara Road, Claris, Great Barrier Island, New Zealand
Coming to Aotea, Great Barrier Island in 2026…..
✨ Afterglow! ✨
A brand new family friendly music festival bringing some of Aotearoa’s finest musical talent to the beautiful motu (island).
🎶 Saturday 24th January 2026 🎶
LINE UP:
Tiki Tanne
DJ Axis + MC Tiki
Black Comet
Lost Tribe Aotearoa
Floorplay
ADZ
Neski
Row-Z
Tickets on sale now from www.afterglowfestival.nz

Pot Luck Harvest Dinner
2026-02-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Medlands Community Garden
Pot luck Harvest Dinner,
10 February from 6-8pm
Oruawharo Community Gardens or adjacent Church House if wet
Bring a plate to share including at least one locally produced ingredient.
For more info and to book a place, please contact Caity on foodres@anamata.nz or ph 0212127153

'Our Family'
2026-02-13 08:00 - 2026-03-10 17:00
A Collaborative Exhibition by The Jenner whanau
@ Aotea Arts & History Village, the exhibition runs from 13th February – 10th March 2026.

Valentine's Paint & Sip
2026-02-14 18:00 - 22:00 | Barrier Social Club
Valentine’s Day Paint & Sip
Looking for something fabulous to do this Valentines? Bring a friend, lover, or yourself.
Valentines Day
6pm @ Barrier Social Club
$5.00

Stargazing with Good Heavens
2026-02-22 21:00 - 22:30 | Medlands Beach, Oruawharo Bay, 0991, New Zealand
Did you know that Aotea Great Barrier is a Dark Sky Sanctuary? It is a fantastic place for stargazing! The Good Heavens team offer seaside group stargazing experiences. Passionate and local Good Heavens guides will illuminate you on the magical display above and share astronomical facts and stellar stories. They bring a telescope, binoculars and good cheer. So lean back comfortably in a moon chair to look up and see the thousands of stars visible in a Dark Sky Sanctuary.

Other dates and private experiences available.
Cost: $65 child/$130 adult
More info: https://goodheavens.co.nz/

Aotea Ecology Festival - Te Taiao Connect
2026-03-28 | Claris Conference Centre
Te Taiao Connect – Connecting the People, Land, Sea & Sky of Aotea.
With displays and demonstrations from local conservation groups and a selection of inspiring visiting and local guest speakers. More details to come.
When: Saturday 28th March 2026
Where: Great Barrier Island Sports Club, Claris
On behalf of Aotea Ecology Vision
