Seaweek – Kaupapa Moana – is New Zealand’s annual national week celebrating the sea.
Seaweek is an opportunity for all ages to discover the many ways that our lives are connected to the sea. In March every year, we encourage and promote events and community action projects to inspire and enable this connection.
Seaweek is coordinated nationally by Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre (MERC) and is made possible through the work of a large network of volunteers with support from a wide range of individuals, groups, businesses and organisations. We’re grateful for the collaborative work which enables us to offer and promote opportunities which inspire kiwis to take time to connect with the sea.
Seaweek History
Seaweek has been a regular fixture in Aotearoa New Zealand for over 30 years. It was first held by the Marine Education Society of Australasia in 1992. From the late 1990s through to 2019, New Zealand Association for Environmental Education (NZAEE) coordinated the event through its nationwide network. In 2019 MERC started to work alongside NZAEE to deliver Seaweek and in 2023 custodianship was more formally passed onto MERC. Each year, Seaweek collaborates with a wide range of groups across Aotearoa New Zealand to organise a variety of accessible opportunities for all to immerse themselves in the marine environment and learn about the ocean. Seaweek hopes to inspire people to engage with nature, explore the ocean and develop a deep sense of connection to our environment so that all are inspired and empowered to be kaitiaki.