Te Hokinga mai ā te Tuna, Return of the Eel fest

Kia ora e te whānau
Join us on Sunday 27th September 2026 11am - 3pm at the Bethells Cafe for a special event to welcome the tuna (eel) back to the Waitākere awa.
The return of tuna to our awa is both a tohu (symbol) of kōanga (spring) and the cyclical succession of generations - ka mua, ka muri. By honouring tuna, we acknowledge our deep connection to te taiao (the natural world) and our responsibilities to care for our awa - Waitākere. We encourage everyone to join and be a part of this special annual occasion!
🌱 Spring seedling sale (bring cash)
🌱 Seed swap (bring your spare seeds)
🍔 Food and coffee at the Cafe
🎲 Games for the tamariki
🧵 Workshops for all
🐚 Procession of the tuna (eel)
🎸 Cafe live music (after the procession)
To round off the celebrations, at, there will be a communal procession, highlighting the life-cycle of the tuna. Accompanied by music and dance, a large tuna (constructed like a Chinese dragon) will be carried by the adults down to the beach, symbolising the departure of the older generation.