Public
lectures
in Aotearoa

Upcoming talks at universities and institutions across Aotearoa. Free and ticketed events.

Today

AMI: The 2026 Hochstetter Lecture

Join Dr Pilar Villamor for the annual Hochstetter Lecture, as she reviews 25 years of trenching active faults in volcanic environments and how a scientist's perspective on tectonics close to volcanoes changed through that time.

Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland

Thin Ice 2026 **POSTPONED**

Royal Society presents an urgent update on climate change.

Royal Society Te Apārangi, Wellington

Tomorrow

Future Environments Thought Leadership × Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People

Future Environments Thought Leadership session, in partnership with Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People, focused on accessible and inclusive design in

Auckland University of Technology, Auckland FREE

Building Back Better: 15 Years of Earthquake Engineering Lessons from Christchurch

Explore 15 years of earthquake engineering lessons from Christchurch.

University of Canterbury, Christchurch FREE

Thursday 23 April

2026 WSBG Climate Festival Fortnight

2026 WSBG Climate Festival Fortnight at Victoria University

Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington

Global Tensions, Local Perspectives: Diaspora Communities in Uncertain Times

Panel discussion on diaspora communities navigating global tensions.

NZ Institute of International Affairs, Wellington

Webinar - God Defend New Zealand: Defence Modernisation for the Information Age

Webinar discussing NZ's $12B defence commitment and modernisation needs, featuring Major General John Howard and Sir Rod Drury.

The New Zealand Initiative, Wellington

Fast Forward 2026: Transcolonisation!

Fast Forward 2026: Transcolonisation!

Eventbrite NZ FREE

Friday 24 April

Tamariki Time: Slow Burn – Ahi Tāmau

Tamariki Time workshop at Te Papa, making nature picture frames.

Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington

Arguing about morphemes

Victoria University hosts linguistics seminar on arguing about morphemes.

Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington FREE

Sunday 26 April

Distinguished Lecture: The Brain in Pain — New Frontiers in Chronic Pain Research

Dr Jane Smith discusses new frontiers in chronic pain research at a Distinguished Lecture.

University of Otago, Dunedin FREE

Tuesday 28 April

Te Reo o te Ao Tawhito: The Language of the Old

An evening exploring the pauku's journey, history, and cultural significance at Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland

New Zealand's Space Future: From Rocket Lab to National Strategy

Exploring New Zealand's space future with Rocket Lab and national strategy.

University of Canterbury, Christchurch FREE

NZIIA Akl Branch AGM 2026 + presentation on NZ’s Trade Policy During an Era of Geoeconomics and Global Conflict

NZIIA's Catherine Grant Makokera presents on New Zealand's trade policy in a changing world.

NZ Institute of International Affairs, Wellington

Prompt Poets Society: April's Tools - AI Engineering Auckland

The cogs of AI progress keep a turning! Join us as we discuss the latest and greatest with our April 2026 Prompt Poets Society.

Meetup, Auckland FREE

Thursday 30 April

Great graduates speaker series: We counsel, we don't cancel

Discussing disability as a cultural lens rather than a problem.

Auckland University of Technology, Auckland FREE

The Enabling Technology of Photonics

This talk will present an overview of the enabling technology of photonics and the interplay between basic science and innovation.

University of Auckland, Auckland FREE

Aviation Conversations

Panel discussion on aerial mapping technology at MOTAT.

MOTAT, Auckland

Friday 1 May

Is there situational irony in satire?

Dr Stephen Skalicky explores situational irony in satire.

Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington FREE

Open late

ArtSpace hosts late-night gallery events with Aotearoa Art Fair.

Artspace Aotearoa, Auckland FREE

Secrets of the Southern Ocean: Otago's Deep-Sea Research Programme

Otago's Deep-Sea Research Programme explores the Southern Ocean mysteries.

University of Otago, Dunedin FREE

Saturday 2 May

Unlocking the Collection: Behind the Scenes Tour

Explore MOTAT's collection in an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour.

MOTAT, Auckland

Te Tiriti Workshops: Listening attentively

Te Papa hosts Te Tiriti workshops focusing on attentive listening.

Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington

In Conversation: The State of New Zealand Fiction

Discussion on the state of New Zealand fiction with authors.

Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, Auckland FREE

Sunday 3 May

Canterbury Water: Ecology, Irrigation, and the Future of Our Freshwater

Canterbury Water explores ecology, irrigation, and freshwater future.

University of Canterbury, Christchurch FREE

Curator's tour at Aotearoa Art Fair

Assistant Curator Matthew Hanson leads a tour of the Aotearoa Art Fair.

Artspace Aotearoa, Auckland FREE

Tuesday 5 May

A Day in the Life of an Archaeologist

Digging into the past, excavating new information and challenging misconceptions is all in a day's work of a museum archaeologist.

Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland

Wednesday 6 May

Equity in Health: Progress and Challenges for Māori Wellbeing

Dr John Smith discusses progress and challenges in Māori wellbeing through equity in health.

University of Otago, Dunedin FREE

Thursday 7 May

Curator talk – Standing tall: a century of the Clock Tower

Curator discusses the history and significance of Auckland's Clock Tower.

University of Auckland, Auckland FREE

The Fall of Saigon - 50 years on

Former diplomat Frank Wilson discusses the fall of Saigon's impact on NZ and beyond.

NZ Institute of International Affairs, Wellington

Friday 8 May

Tamariki Time: Sharing stories in NZSL

Interactive session for children to learn NZSL.

Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington

In Focus: The image that moves me with Selina Ershadi and Nova Paul

Selina Ershadi and Nova Paul lead a one-day workshop for early career artists interested in moving image making.

Artspace Aotearoa, Auckland FREE

Saturday 9 May

Women & Non-binary Artist Hui: Cyanotype Workshop

Cyanotype workshop led by Lulu for women and non-binary artists.

Studio One Toi Tū, Auckland FREE

NZ Podcasting Summit

NZ Podcasting Summit for industry professionals.

Auckland University of Technology, Auckland FREE

Screening: Sign of the Times – The Story of New Zealand’s Visual Language

Screening of a documentary on NZ sign language.

Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington

Kaitohu Director’s exhibition tour

Kaitohu Director Ruth Buchanan tours The Blue Dome exhibition.

Artspace Aotearoa, Auckland FREE

Monday 11 May

Everything but the medicine - A doctor's tale

Lucy O'Hagan reads from her memoir about medical experiences.

Massey University

Wednesday 13 May

NZIIA AGM and Annual Lecture 2026

NZIIA AGM followed by Hon Todd McClay's annual lecture on international affairs.

NZ Institute of International Affairs, Wellington

2026 Alice Griffin Shakespeare Lecture

Shakespeare as Reviser: The Merry Wives of Windsor

University of Auckland, Auckland FREE

Thursday 14 May

Speech-language therapists can talk you into anything

Professor Clare McCann discusses speech-language therapy.

University of Auckland, Auckland FREE

Inaugural Lecture by Professor Jonathan Barrett

Professor Jonathan Barrett on human rights in taxation and commercial law.

Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington

Thursday 21 May

Celebrate 50 years Bachelor of Social Work | 1976–1985

Massey University commemorates 50 years of Bachelor of Social Work.

Massey University

It’s the little things that count: lessons in metabolism, academia and life

Professor Jennifer Miles-Chan discusses metabolism and academic insights.

University of Auckland, Auckland FREE

Wednesday 3 June

Tā: Siapo as a Living Practice

Explore siapo-making as a living Samoan practice through talanoa.

Studio One Toi Tū, Auckland

Thursday 4 June

Siva Mo Lou Soifua Manuia

Explore Siva Samoa movements for cultural and physical well-being.

Studio One Toi Tū, Auckland FREE

Mamalu – A Lineage Embodied

Explore Samoan female tattooing as cultural knowledge.

Studio One Toi Tū, Auckland FREE

Deep dive: Lecture by Mahdis Azarmandi

Mahdis Azarmandi lectures on Iran's war and peace issues through Peace and Conflict Studies.

Artspace Aotearoa, Auckland FREE

Wednesday 17 June

This Thinking Life: Indigeneity and AI webinar

Webinar on Indigeneity and AI hosted by Massey University

Massey University

Thursday 18 June

This Thinking Life: Indigenous psychologies, psychology and Te Tiriti

Explore indigenous psychologies in the context of Te Tiriti.

Massey University

Wednesday 24 June

This Thinking Life: AI and communication

Explore the impact of AI on communication at Massey University.

Massey University

Thursday 25 June

This Thinking Life: Voting and elections in ancient Rome

Explore voting and elections in ancient Rome at Massey.

Massey University

Film screening of fugue notes

Screening of Selina Ershadi's 'Fugue Notes' post-remastering.

Artspace Aotearoa, Auckland FREE

Wednesday 1 July

This Thinking Life: Rethinking ‘normal’ – the neurodivergent life

Explore rethinking 'normal' from a neurodivergent perspective at Massey University.

Massey University

Thursday 2 July

This Thinking Life: Generative AI, contaminated information and rhubarb

Explore generative AI, misinformation, and more in this Massey lecture.

Massey University

Evacuation Tapes, a reading by Ruth Buchanan

Ruth Buchanan presents 'Evacuation Tapes' at ArtSpace.

Artspace Aotearoa, Auckland FREE

Wednesday 8 July

This Thinking Life: Challenging the patriarchy? A reassessment through the lens of ancient women

Reassessing the patriarchy through ancient women's perspectives.

Massey University

Thursday 9 July

This Thinking Life: Sounds historical

Explore the sounds of history in this lecture at Massey University.

Massey University

Saturday 11 July

Kintsugi Workshop

Public Record workshop on Kintsugi, modernized mending technique.

Public Record, Wellington