About

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, through:

● activities and presentations within schools 

● community beach clean-ups 

● kayaking and snorkelling experiences 

● marine ecosystem field trips and engagements with citizen science.

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. Since the late 1990s, New Zealand Association for Environmental Education (NZAEE) coordinated the event though its nationwide network, and since 2019, MERC has been working alongside NZAEE to deliver Auckland events, and manage the overall brand. Custodianship passed more formally onto MERC for the 2023 event.

While NZAEE’s name will no longer be on the Seaweek Logo, it will still remain involved by supporting groups and educators with Seaweek events throughout the motu, as part of its aim to connect and inspire educators, ākonga and communities to learn, collaborate and take action for the environment.

Learn more about what we do via our Seaweek Snapshot Report 2021 & 2022 Snapshot Report