A Day of International Celebrations of our Ocean
World Ocean Day 2025 was the second year of a multi-year action theme: Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate. The UN World Oceans Day theme was Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us. This day provided opportunities to be a part of a growing movement for a more sustainable society and a healthy blue planet.
In Aotearoa several events were held to celebrate this special day and build connection to the sea.
World Ocean Day at MERC, Auckland
This World Ocean Day we held the first event of our Ngā Kōrero III series, supported by UNESCO, at Sir Peter Blake MERC in the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve. This series is focused on bringing Ocean Literacy Principles to life through in-person and online events focused on each of the seven Principles.
On World Ocean Day we focused on Ocean Literacy Principle 2: The Ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the Earth. We began the day with a geology and upper intertidal walk along the sandstone and mudstone cliffs discovering the roles erosion and sedimentation play in shaping our coastline. We got an up-close look at bio-eroding species in the rock pools learning about how their activities can change the surface of the rocks. After a fantastic lunch spread we set out again for activities including:
A bigger picture view of differential erosion shaping coastal headlands and bays while paddleboarding
Searching the sandy beach on a scavenger hunt, learning about and identifying different molluscs whose shells break down to become part of soft sediments
Exploring how moving sediments change the topography of the earth and water flow with AUT's AR sandbox
Viewing plankton and creating plankton designs from clay to test how rapidly they sink, connecting this idea to how certain sediments are formed on the sea floor
Learning about different rock types found along our coasts and making edible sedimentary rocks
We ended the day with a sunset swim, soaking in the beauty of the day, the location, and the people with gratitude for the time together.
Kaikōura Whale Festival at Fyffe House, Kaikōura
The Great Kaikōura Whale Count with Kaikōura Ocean Research Institute celebrated World Ocean Day with a festival as a part of their annual whale count. It was a wonderful day for all our community and whanau, attendees walked away with crafts and information to digest and action in order to care for our ocean. This fantastic KORI event was supported through Seaweek by Foundation North. Some activities included:
Conservation Kids New Zealand (CKNZ) provided resources to conduct beach surveys and species identification, which took participants onto the beach next to Fyffe House to identify what they could find, this was enjoyed by both children and adults, many were amazed at all the species that were found.
Sperm whale researchers provided information and pictures about our local resident sperm whales. There has been a notable decline in sperm whales off Kaikōura over the years and we wanted to connect people to the individual locals. Many people were keen to hear how many whales had been spotted so far as part of the GKWC and we had new volunteer spotters sign up on the day.
In addition, KORI and Fyffe House had information on local shorebirds, invertebrates, fishes, sea turtles and marine mammals, including books to read and sea bird leaflets to take away for colouring. There was even a life size whale tail, which definitely put things into perspective for a few little five-year-olds!
A staff member from Encounter Kaikōura, set up an array of Seaweek arts and crafts for kids and adults young at heart to complete.
Te Korowai ō te tai o Marokura provided information about the initiative to have Kaikōura recognised with World Heritage Status. As they say "Kaikōura is a place of Outstanding Universal Value. Kaikōura is an incredible place that is multidimensional unlike any other place in the world. From a 360-degree spherical perspective from the earth core, the tectonic plate boundary, the makeup of our mountains, our sky (both night and day), our land, our ocean (from the surface to the deepest depths of the canyon), the ocean floor and back to what lies beneath to the core." This gave a good insight into the importance of our ocean and how we need to admire and respect it.
In the afternoon, The Mayfair, our local community theatre also held a special screening of 'Ocean' the latest David Attenborough film, which was close to sold out.
