Sponge Day

Brought to you with the support of Coastal People Southern Skies and the Otago University Biochemistry Department

Join us at Tūhura as we kick off Seaweek – Kaupapa Moana with a splash and celebrate our beloved sea sponges! Discover the hidden superpowers of some of Aotearoa’s most overlooked animals.

Dive into a day of exciting, sea-themed activities, including face painting, sponge throwing and a free screening of the SpongeBob SquarePants movie. There'll be something for everyone.

Explore the secrets of sponges, cancer-beating medicines, enormous Antarctic assemblages, and how these simple animals can help us track down moose, whales and maybe even the Loch Ness monster!

Get up close and personal with sea creatures at the Aquavan, learn from world-leading sponge experts, and discover the sponges hiding in local lakes and creeks and on seashores near you.

Schedule:
10am – 3pm: Aquavan | Free
11am – 2pm: Discover Sponges With Otago Scientists | Free
12pm: Sea Stories on the Seashore: Story Time for Tots | Free
1pm: Sea Sponges, Sea Shanties and Songs for Silly Sailors, led by Roseanna Gamlen-Greene | Free
1.30pm: The Spongebob Squarepants Movie | Free
2pm: Expert Talk | Free

10am – 3pm, Sunday 10 March
Atrium Level 1 and Beautiful Science Gallery
Free