Seaweek is an opportunity for all ages to discover the many ways that our lives are connected to the sea. Seaweek comprises a wide range of events, activities, opportunities, competitions and calls to action.
In March every year, educators across Aotearoa encourage and promote events and community action projects to inspire and enable this connection, through:
- activities and presentations within schools
- community beach clean-ups
- kayaking and snorkeling experiences
- marine ecosystem field trips and engagements with citizen science
Seaweek is Aotearoa New Zealand’s annual national week about the sea. Coordinated nationally by Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre (MERC), it focuses on learning from the sea. The goal is to draw attention to the ecosystem which makes up 93% of Aotearoa New Zealand’s territory and covers 71% of the planet and highlight how important it is to all our lives, no matter how near or far we are from it!
To see what is happening in your region for Seaweek 2025 – check out the Seaweek What’s On pages. More information will be added closer to the time.
Below are just a few examples of some of the many events that are on:
- Resources for educators: Ocean education in the classroom (Online, 12 February) free webinar for teachers, educators and parents of intermediate-level students.
- Look out for a snorkel event, such as run by Experiencing Marine Reserves here: www.mountainstosea.org.nz/emr
- Seaweed Fest 2025 (Wellington, 1 March) celebrate our underwater forests with a wide range of events.
- Annual ‘Farewell to the Godwits’ Ceremony 2025 (Christchurch, 1 Mar) come along to Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai to wish the Godwits a safe return to their breeding grounds in Alaska.
- LEARNZ Exploring seaweed restoration and cultural connections (Online, 3 March launch) travel to Te Upoko-o-te-Ika-a-Māui, the Wellington region, to explore the vital role of rimurimu in marine ecosystems and the importance of seaweed restoration.
- Seaweek Science Talk (Nelson, 4 Mar) Saving our Seas: Marine Restoration in Aotearoa with Dr Al Alder, marine ecologist in Cawthron’s restoration ecology team.
- Planet Ocean: Understanding the influence of climate on ocean communities (Online, 6 March) free webinar for secondary students from across Australia and New Zealand to hear from three marine scientists researching the impacts of climate change on our ocean communities.
For more information: www.seaweek.org.nz or follow them on Facebook.
Related content
This very useful article lists a selection of unit plans and other teacher support materials for Seaweek that we have grouped under a range of possible teaching topics.
The Hub has extensive marine related resources. Visit the topic Oceans and use the filters to find activities, activities and media for curriculum levels and strands.
Living World – The rocky shore lists Science Learning Hub resources for teachers related to the rocky shore in the Living World strand of the New Zealand Curriculum.
We also have two downloadable professional development webinars; Seaweek 2015 with a focus on the nature of science and teacher ideas and Seaweek 2016 with a focus on marine content and planning.
Explore the Sustainable Seas Challenge and their ecosystem-based management (EBM) system in this article and activity.
Find out more about the amazing godwits in the articles Flight of the godwit and Tracking godwits, then follow up with the activity Tracking E7 – a very special godwit.
