Book in for Wellington Heritage Festival events at Parliament
Last updated: 01 October 2025As part of the Wellington Heritage Festival 2025, New Zealand Parliament will be hosting two different events. These are a great way to learn more about the history of the iconic Parliamentary precinct. As part of the wider Heritage Festival programme, these events are open to everyone, so book in quick to secure a spot, and invite your friends and whānau along to explore the history through these exciting sessions!
Join us to celebrate Wellington Heritage Festival with an insightful look at the history and stories of our historic Māori Affairs Committee Room, Matangireia.
Hear from Ellen Andersen, Director Kaiwhakahaere Tautiaki Taonga me Kaupapa Māori at Heritage New Zealand, about how Matangireia came about as a "place for Māori at Parliament" over a century ago, and how the stories and role of the room have evolved over time.
In 2022, a large-scale conservation project of the room was led by Matangireia to commemorate 100 years since the opening of the room, so this event will also give attendees an insight into how heritage is preserved over time, and what is involved in ensuring historic spaces can remain cared for and in use for the future.
Event times
Friday 24 October, 1.30-2.30pm, at New Zealand Parliament (Booking required)
Friday 31 October, 1.30pm-2.30pm, at New Zealand Parliament (Booking required)
Join us for a behind the scenes look at what makes a parliamentary precinct work, and how it evolves over time to meet the changing needs of our democracy.
Hear from Dave Wills, Manager of Parliament's Buildings Project Management Office, about how he and his team are future-proofing the Parliamentary Precinct to ensure it is a resilient and sustainable home for the seat of our democracy now and into the future. Learn about how we ensure heritage buildings evolve to meet modern parliamentary needs, the plans for the future of the Parliamentary Precinct, and how previous earthquake strengthening and resilience projects are holding up over time.
This event will also include a tour of the Parliament buildings with Dave, from a heritage perspective.
Event details
Friday 7 November, 10am-12pm, at New Zealand Parliament (Booking required)
