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As spring arrives, Wellington begins to defrost, flowers burst into bloom, and our city comes alive with more to explore. This September, Spring Festival | Te Wā o te Kōanga 2026 invites you to rediscover Wellington Gardens Ngā Māra o Pōneke through a month-long festival celebrating the many ways Wellington experiences spring. Throughout September you'll find much-loved open days, guided walks, talks, and experiences across Wellington Gardens, alongside new collaborations with Verb Readers & Writers Festival and Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, connecting the Botanic Garden with the garden of knowledge. Our 2026 programme also welcomes the Ahikaea, a major new series of free events bringing together voices from Aotearoa and the Pacific to celebrate kōanga through culture, creativity, and connection. Haere mai, piri mai. Come join us, rain or shine, for a spring season of free events, experiences, and discoveries at Wellington Gardens Ngā Māra o Pōneke.
Pairidaēza, Paradise is a walled gardenDawn to dusk, Tues 1 Sept - Wed 30 SeptMain Garden, Botanic Garden Ki Paekākā
Yarragaa Dawn to dusk, Tues 1 Sept - Wed 30 SeptAustralian Garden, Botanic Garden Ki Paekākā
Spring Floral Display Accessible Self-Drive Tour10am-3pm, Mon–Fri, 1-4 Sept, and 7-11 SeptFounders Entrance, Botanic Garden ki Paekākā
Ona Mou Atu LeaDawn to dusk, Tues 1 Sept - Sat 12 SeptDisplay Gardem, Botanic Garden Ki Paekākā
Botanical Insights: Unravelling photosynthesis12.15pm-1.30pm, Thurs 3 SeptTreehouse Seminar Room, Botanic Garden Ki Paekākā
e tipu e rea6pm-7pm, Fri 4 SeptSoundshell, Botanic Garden Ki Paekākā
Guided walk: Spring Flora 11am-12.30pm,Sat 5 SeptFounders' Entrance, Botanic Garden ki Paekākā
Pollination in Motion | Te Āhua o te Haenga10am-2pm Sat 12 SeptDiscovery Garden Te Kaapuia o Te Waoku, Botanic Garden ki Paekākā
Mama Pou's Kahoas' Workshop1pm-3pm, Sat 12 SeptTreehouse Seminar Room, Botanic Garden Ki Paekākā
Guided walk: The garden you might not know 1.30pm-3pm, Sat 12 SeptCable Car Lookout, Botanic Garden Ki Paekākā
Bee in The CityDawn to dusk, Sat 14 Sept - Sun 8 NovBotanic Garden Ki Paekākā
He Mahi Māra - A Kōanga Suite6pm-7pm, Thurs 17 SeptSoundshell, Botanic Garden Ki Paekākā
Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand: Kaiwhakaataata Māra | Garden Performers9.30am-3pm, Sat 19 SeptDisplay Garden, Botanic Garden Ki Paekākā
Rā Tūwhera ki Ōtari | Ōtari Open Day10am–2pm, Sat 19 SeptŌtari-Wilton’s Bush
Meke vula: embodiment, memory and the moon - An iTaukei-Aotearoa perspective1pm-2pm, Sat 19 SeptTreehouse Seminar Room, Botanic Garden Ki Paekākā
Guided walk: Cutting your coat according to the plant1.30pm-3pm, Sat 26 SeptFounders' Entrance, Botanic Garden Ki Paekākā
Spring Festival Te Wā o te Kōanga Presents: Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui x Friends of the Wellington Botanic Garden5.30pm-6.40pm, Fri 25 SeptTe Matapihi ki te Ao Nui
Guided walk: Back to the Future1.30pm-3pm, Sat 26 SeptCable Car Lookout, Botanic Garden Ki Paekākā
Verb Wellington: The Wild Ones10am-12noon, Sun 27 SeptDiscovery Garden Te Kaapuia o Te Waoku
Discovery Day: Kōanga | Spring10am-2pm, Wed 30 SeptDiscovery Garden Te Kaapuia o Te Waoku, Botanic Garden Ki Paekākā
calendar-icon Created with Sketch. Tue 1 Sept - Fri 11 Sept
calendar-icon Created with Sketch. Tue 1 Sept - Wed 30 Sept
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