Ōtautahi Christchurch Festival of Archaeology

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and Christchurch Archaeology Project bring you the Ōtautahi Festival Archaeology on 10 May 2025 at Te Whare Waiutuutu Kate Sheppard House.

This will be a FREE outside event for families celebrating our national Archaeology Week and will run from 11am-3pm Have a go at excavation, sorting, and assembling broken china. Take part in archaeology themed art activities. Learn about and examine real artefacts, including a moa bone. There will be professional archaeologists on hand to answer your questions so bring along something you’ve found in your backyard or find out how you can become an archaeologist.

Bonus: complete your archaeologist passport and you’ll have the chance to create your own Festival of Archaeology badge with Canterbury Museum.

Thanks to our stall holders and partners: Canterbury Museum, Pūtaringamotu Riccarton House & Bush, Te Ūaka The Lyttelton Museum, Underground Overground Archaeology,  Ngāi Tahu Kā Huru Manu and the Department of Conservation.

N.B. While the outside archaeology events are free, entry to Kate Sheppard House museum (11am-3pm) is $15 for adults, $7.50 gold cards/students and community cards and free to children. The New Zealand Portrait Gallery exhibition, Background Matters, is free to enter.

Carparking in UC Arts carpark is free in the weekends.

Photo credit HNZPT