Auckland's much-loved Heritage Festival is back for its 22nd year, running from Saturday 26 September through to Sunday 11 October, with more than 150 free and low-cost events spread across the region.
This year's theme, Tastes of Tāmaki: A Heritage Feast, puts food at the centre of the storytelling, tracing Auckland's culinary history from the original māra of mana whenua through to the traditions immigrant communities brought with them, and the fusion foods that grew from that mix.
Why Food Makes for Such Rich Storytelling
Mayor Wayne Brown said food offers a particularly compelling way to explore the city's past.
"Food brings people together and tells us a lot about who we are as a city," Brown said. "Auckland's history is shaped by generations of people who have grown, gathered, traded, cooked and shared food from across the world."
Auckland Council Heritage Manager Noel Reardon expanded on why the theme carries deeper significance than simply celebrating meals.
"Food is much more than what we eat. It connects us to whenua, whānau, culture and community," Reardon said.
He said this year's programme will explore everything from historic gardens and orchards to markets, fishing communities and family food traditions passed down through generations.
A Genuinely Wide-Ranging Programme
While food is the featured theme for 2026, Reardon was clear the festival still covers plenty of other angles on Auckland's heritage, meaning there's a genuinely broad mix of events on offer beyond just culinary history.
Here's a taste of what's happening across the region:
Central Auckland
- An illustrated talk on the history of Italian gastronomy at Studio One Toi Tū, Ponsonby
- An exhibition of New Zealand heritage recipe books in Parnell
- A city centre tour focused on history, architecture and engineering
- An immersive, sensory storytelling experience exploring heritage and kai at Te Wharekura, Quay Street
North Auckland
- A look at the archaeology and history of Māori gardening through The Māra kai of Te Haukapua in Devonport
- A visit to Couldrey House to learn its surprising connection to Edmonds, one of New Zealand's most iconic baking brands
South Auckland
- A guided hīkoi at Ōtuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve, Ihumātao
- A session with heritage specialist Cara Francesco exploring how a wartime factory in Pukekohe helped feed US forces across the Pacific during WWII
- A tour of the Swaminarayan Temple in Papatoetoe, including a traditional vegetarian meal alongside its Kiwi-Indian history and architecture
East Auckland
- A heritage setting at Howick's Bell House featuring specialty food, handmade goods and seasonal produce
- A walking tour of Howick's historic town centre
- A celebration of Colombian migrant heritage and flavours at Glen Innes Library
West Auckland
- A look at New Zealand's "beloved and bizarre" historic cookbooks with comedian Te Radar
- An exploration of the history behind West Auckland's gardens and orchards
- Kai stories, whakapapa and community history at Kai West
- A hands-on beeswax wrap-making session at Arataki Visitor Centre
A Genuine Mix of Formats
Beyond talks and tours, the festival includes hands-on workshops, performances and walking experiences, meaning there's something suited to different interests, whether that's a quiet gallery talk, an active hīkoi, or a shared meal steeped in cultural history.
Where to Find the Full Programme
With well over 150 events across such a wide geographic spread, planning ahead is worthwhile. The complete programme is available at heritagefestival.co.nz, allowing Aucklanders to map out which events best match their interests and location.
Why This Festival Matters
For a city as culturally diverse as Auckland, an event built around food heritage offers something genuinely valuable: a way to understand the layered history behind the meals, markets and traditions many Aucklanders may interact with daily without knowing their origins. From centuries-old Māori gardening practices to WWII-era wartime food production and more recent migrant culinary traditions, this year's Heritage Festival positions food not just as something to enjoy, but as a lens for understanding how the city itself came to be.
This article is based on a media release issued by Auckland Council.
