DevNet 2026 – Conference Fieldtrip Schedules

Wednesday 2nd December, 2.30pm – 4.30pm

Parliament tour guides will guide us through an “Introduction to Parliament” tour. Bringing you into the heart of New Zealand’s democracy, this tour is a great way to get a general introduction to Aotearoa New Zealand’s parliamentary process, the architecture and history of parliamentary buildings, and how New Zealanders have their say in Parliament.

We will start walking down from Kelburn to Parliament at 2.30, go through security screening at 3.15 and start our tour at 3.30. The tour is one hour long.

We have been advised that, because of the changes that elections in early November could bring, this tour could be moved to a different time and/or a different date during the conference, or even cancelled. We ask for your patience if this ends up being the case. This situation has also affected their capacity to facilitate this tour at a time that doesn’t overlap with other elements of our conference programme.

Thursday 3^rd December, 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm

He Tohu and stories of cooperation and exchange

We will walk from the conference venue at 2:00 pm to the National Library in Thorndon-Wellington, and the tour will start at 2:30 pm. This visit offers an introduction to two constitutional documents that shape Aotearoa New Zealand’s history and to related taonga or significant materials from the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa. The focus will be on whakawhanaungatanga, the process of forging relationships between people. It will examine the partnerships that have emerged across borders and within New Zealand, whether through trade and collaborative exchange, cultural engagement, or migration and settlement.  

Thursday 3^rd December, 2.00 pm -3.30 pm

Our friends at Kaicycle, one of Wellington’s most renowned urban farms and composting schemes, will give us a tour of their farm. This productive learning space gives our local community the chance to learn about food production, challenge the way they think about food, explore the links between nutrition, health, and the way that food is produced, and think critically about the relationship of the food system to global issues such as freshwater pollution, climate change, and soil degradation.

We will be driven from the conference venue at 2:00 pm to Newtown-Wellington, and start our tour at 2:30 pm. The tour is one hour long. 

Saturday 5^th December (Post-conference fieldtrips)

10.00am- 12.00 noon

Just minutes from Wellington city, this fully fenced ecosanctuary is home to many of Aotearoa New Zealand’s rarest wildlife, including birds, reptiles, fish and insects thriving in a regenerating forest. After more than two decades of work, this groundbreaking conservation project has changed Wellington by bringing back native wildlife to the city and is currently influencing approaches to conservation around Aotearoa New Zealand and the world. Their tour guides will show us the highlights of the ecosanctuary and talk to us about their collaborative whole-of-catchment restoration initiative, Kia Mouriora Te Kaiwharawhara / Sanctuary to Sea.

We will be driven from the conference venue at 10:00 am and start our tour at 10:30 am. The tour will end around 12.00 noon, but you are welcome to stay at Zealandia to continue exploring and enjoying.

Saturday 5^th December (Post-conference fieldtrips)

10.00am – 11.30am

Te Papa is New Zealand’s national museum, renowned for being bicultural, scholarly, innovative, and fun. Their tour guides will show us the highlights of the museum’s Māori collections, their Tangata o le Moana exhibit about the story of Pacific people in New Zealand, and their Passports exhibit, about the stories of people who migrated to New Zealand over the last 200 years.

Participants are to arrive at the venue (Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa – 55 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011) by 10:15 am. The tour begins at 10:30 am and ends around 11:30. Participants are welcome to explore other sections of the museum at the end of the tour.