Whānau Day: Kua hoki mai te koekoeā – The koekoeā has returned
Ka ako mō te Kōanga mā ngā mahi utukore pai mō te whānau, arā, ngā awheawhe me ngā whakaari.
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Learn about kōanga with free family-friendly activities, workshops, and performances.
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Find accessibility information for the Deaf community below. |
Sat 11 Oct 2025, 10.00am to 2.00pm
Rongomaraeroa, the marae; Te Taiao | Nature; Bush City; and Toi Art
Free, with museum entry
Young whānau, tamariki aged 2–12 years old
Bookable NZSL session from 10.30am–11.30am, more information below.
Kua hoki mai te koekoeā! The koekoeā has returned!
Join us for a day of free activities for tamariki, celebrating the return of kōanga. Watch kapa haka performances, make your own crafts, get your face painted and learn about the manu and plants that signal spring has arrived.
A full schedule can be found below.
Kua hoki mai te koekoeā refers to the koekoeā, or the long-tailed cuckoo returning being a sign that spring is coming, as it is a migratory manu.
Bookable NZSL session, 10.30am–11.30am
A free, bookable session for Deaf tamariki and their whānau led by a Deaf facilitator, with NZSL Interpreters. 18 places available.
To book your places, please email publicprogrammes@tepapa.govt.nz
Watch our NZSL information video by clicking on the ‘NZSL’ button above.
Schedule
Taonga Tēpu with Piata
10.00am–02.00pm; Te Taiao | Nature, Level 2
Drop by to learn about the manu that return in kōanga.
Leaf exploration station with Leon
10.00am–02.00pm; Bush City Kiosk, Level 2
Look, feel and create with native leaves. Go on a leaf finding trail in Bush City.
Kitemaking with Kohai and Mary-Jane
10.00am–02.00pm; Treehouse, Te Taiao | Nature, Level 2
Create your own mini kites to play with in the winds of kōanga.
Kōanga facepainting with Daizy Designs
10.00am–01.30pm; Backyard, Te Taiao | Nature, Level 2
Free facepainting of kōanga-inspired designs.
Kapa Haka performance
11.10am–11.30am; Rongomaraeroa, Level 4
Kapa Haka performance by Ngāti Pōneke Young Māori Club – Juniors.
Kapa Haka workshops
Workshop 1:
11.40am–12.00pm; Rongomaraeroa, the marae, Level 4Waiata ā-ringawith Ngāti Pōneke Young Māori Club.
Workshop 2:
12.10pm–12.30pm; Rongomaraeroa, the marae, Level 4Hakawith Ngāti Pōneke Young Māori Club.
Kemu corner
12.45pm–02.00pm; Rongomaraeroa, the marae, Level 4
Play board games or colour your own seasonal artwork in this relaxed whānau area.
Whānau Day Ngahuru, 2025. Photo by Jo Moore. Te Papa (262368)