Akaroa Hosts Seaweek Events

Akaroa Hosts Seaweek Events
(3rd to 11th March 2018)

Seaweek has become a regular annual fixture on the Akaroa events calendar and 2018 is absolutely no exception. The theme of the 2018 Seaweek is “Toiora te Moana – Toiora te Tangata – Healthy Seas, Healthy People”.

A broad range of events is planned for Akaroa Seaweek to offer something of interest to everyone, young and old, residents and non-residents.

The Akaroa District Promotions & Department of Conservation Art Competition will run again this year, offering the opportunity to aspiring artists from 5 years upwards to enter by submitting a sea-themed drawing. The winners will have their work laminated for display at Bully Hayes Restaurant. First prize winners in each category will join local Field Officers on the DoC boat for a trip on Akaroa Harbour, followed by a delicious fish and chip dinner from Akaroa Fish & Chips. Runners up will receive a prize kindly donated by the Little River Gallery.

Recreational fishing rules can change over time and to help keep up to date the Ministry For Primary Industries Info trailer will be located on the main Beach Road waterfront on Saturday 3rd & 10th March, 10.00am to the early afternoon. This offers a good opportunity to talk informally to the Field Officer and ask questions.

It may be routine to see Hector’s dolphins in Akaroa Harbour, but this is only because we’re lucky enough to live near a dolphin hotspot! As part of our Seaweek programme this year, we are very excited hold a talk by our local Hector’s Dolphin researchers. They will talk on Hector’s dolphin research at Banks Peninsula and the new discoveries and future direction of their research. Join the talk at 5.30pm on Sunday 4th March at the Akaroa Boat Shed.

New Zealanders are renowned for their desire to explore the world and are great at it. A hero to Akaroa is Frank Worsley, who captained the Endurance during Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. However his is best remembered for navigating the expedition party to safety after the Endurance was crushed by ice floes in the Weddell Sea.

Come along to A Tale of Two Worsleys: Two adventures, a century apart, a wonderful talk on Worsley’s life and achievements; celestial navigational techniques; new adventurers who retraced Worsley’s footsteps; and a family legacy that has continued into modern times. The talk will take place at The Gaiety in Akaroa on Tuesday 6th March at 6.30pm.

Perfectly tying in with the Worsley talk, the Akaroa museum has refreshed their Frank Worsley exhibition, ‘Salute to Adventure’ and it will be open again in time for Seaweek, and can be visited daily 10.30am-4.30pm.

In the centre of the Pacific Ocean gyre researchers found more plastic than plankton. The movie A Plastic Ocean documents the newest science, proving how plastics, once they enter the oceans, break up into small particulates that enter the food chain where they attract toxins like a magnet. A Plastic Ocean will be screened at the Akaroa Cinema on Thursday 8th March at 5.30pm, followed by a short Q&A session. Each movie goer will receive an Akaroa jute bag with thanks to the sponsorship from the The Akaroa Marine Protection Society. Spot prizes from various business will also be given out through the night.

Pohatu Penguins are offering again this year three special 3.5 hour kayaking tours on Saturday 10th March, to view the amazing wildlife and beautiful scenery in the Pohatu Marine Reserve. Kayaking experience is not necessary as tours are accompanied by experienced guides and tours will operate only in safe sea conditions. 50% of proceeds from each trip will go the Yellow-eyed penguin trust.

On Sunday 11th March, Akaroa Dolphins are running a special Akaroa Dolphins Free Family Cruise, for families to explore the dramatic volcanic formations, learn about the marine reserve, and meet the wonderful wildlife, including the playful and unique Hector’s dolphin.

And if all this activity is not enough, special discount tours are being offered by Black Cat Cruises during Seaweek. All the details of events can be found on: www.seaweek.org.nz and www.akaroa.com/seaweek-akaroa

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