Wild Dunedin-Ōtepoti Mohoao: Huarere/Weather, April 19-28
- Read feature: Changing the weather
This year, Wild Dunedin-Ōtepoti Mohoao, New Zealand’s Festival of Nature, is focusing on the weather, its wicked ways and its more benign offerings.
The festival covers many aspects of how climate and weather affect our environment and wellbeing.
Speakers at the festival will look at food production and supply during adverse spells of weather, why clouds are essential for the sustainability of Orokonui Ecosanctuary, recollect storms in Otago Harbour and during early sea journeys, talk about minimising fire risk by careful planting, and Ōtepoti’s ever-changing weather and cloudscapes.
Visit wilddunedin.nz for more information about this year’s events.
Here is just a small sample of what is planned:
FRIDAY, APRIL 19
• 7x7 Wild Talks - Seven expert speakers each present a 7min talk on weather, dipping into science, arts and culture.
Tūhura Otago Museum, 6pm-7.30pm. Free.
SATURDAY, APRIL 20
• Orokonui Cloud Forest Tour: Find out why clouds are critical for Orokonui on a forest tour with botanist Taylor Davies-Colley.
Orokonui Ecosanctuary, 10am-12pm.
• Gardening with Climate Change: A talk and a walk with Fiona Eadie pondering gardening in a changing climate. Finishes with a tasting of Sandymount Gin. Larnach Castle, 2pm-4.30pm.
• A Change in the Weather: Climate scientist Prof Tim Naish on how the Antarctic ice sheets respond to climate change.
Tūhura Otago Museum, Saturday, April 20, 3pm-4pm. Free.
SUNDAY, APRIL 21
Harbour Pilots, Large Ships & Storms: Former harbour pilot on board MV Sootychaser venturing into one of the most dangerous places for a large ship on Otago Harbour.
Port to Port, Port Chalmers, 10am-11am.
MONDAY, APRIL 22
Rainwater Papermaking: Create paper using rainwater and wastepaper with artist Lesa Hepburn.
Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 10.15am-11.15am & 11.30am-12.30pm.
Wild Journey Across Ocean Waves: An immersive theatrical gallery experience exploring the impact weather had on early sea voyages.
Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, 10.30am-11am & 1pm-1.30pm.
TUESDAY, APRIL 23
Growing our own food in a changing climate: Jason Ross, Rory Harding and Sue Novell.
Dunedin Public Library, 6-8pm.
WEDNESDAY 24
Weather Craft: Make a paper sun and sun wind chimes.
Mosgiel Library, 11am-12pm.
FRIDAY APRIL 26
WEATHER DAY
Howling hurricanes, towering tornadoes, mighty monsoons ... explore the wilder side of the weather with talks, activities and demonstrations.
Tūhura Otago Museum 10am-5pm. Free.
SATURDAY 27
Writing Wild Weather: Sensory writing workshop inspired by the weather with Michelle Elvy and David Eggleton, then Boundless: Imagining Weather readings 3-5pm.
Pilot’s Cottage, Aramoana Spit, 12pm-5pm.
