Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington is transforming its architecture and design school into an immersive visual arts sanctuary for CubaDupa festival‑goers on 28–29 March, called Whanga—The Cove.

Born from a new creative partnership between the University and the CubaDupa crew, Whanga promises to surprise, soothe, and spark your senses. Step inside and you’ll find sculptural installations, ambient soundscapes, hands‑on creative activities, screenings of poetry, and animated short films—all nestled within an indoor forest, complete with living trees. You can even pull up a chair and ask a real‑life philosopher your deepest (or weirdest) questions about existence.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Nic Smith says the project demonstrates the University’s creative impact and commitment to the city: “CubaDupa thrives on imagination and bold ideas, and this partnership allows our University to contribute something truly special to Wellington.”

Professor Rawinia Higgins (Tūhoe), Deputy Vice-Chancellor—Māori and Kaitiakitanga, says Whanga embodies the spirit of manaaki and connection.

“Whanga means a cove or sanctuary in te reo Māori. Whanga showcases the incredible creative talent emerging from our university, and we’re proud to extend our manaaki to the city as part of this iconic Wellington festival. We’re inviting everyone to step off the busy streets and take a moment of calm inside the multisensory world being crafted by our students, staff, researchers, and alumni,” she says.

CubaDupa Festival Director Bianca Bailey says the partnership is adding something truly special to this year’s festival.

“We’re thrilled to have Victoria University on board. Whanga—The Cove brings a whole new dimension to CubaDupa—a space that’s imaginative, welcoming, and a little bit magical. It’s the perfect example of how CubaDupa thrives when the city’s creative community comes together.”

Visitors will be greeted by Whispers from Te Ngahere, a serene, uplifting installation made from paper that has been inspired by the wind in the trees. Created by exhibition designer Vioula Said, with the help of a team of design students, the work interprets the subtle pulse of the ngahere (forest) into a gentle spatial experience that sets the tone for everything inside.

The partnership also spills out into the festival streets, with CubaDupa’s Glover Park Stage taking on a fresh identity as the Vic Uni Glover Park Stage, spotlighting rising talent from the New Zealand School of Music and alumni performers throughout the weekend.

Whanga—The Cove will be open throughout the festival at the heart of the CubaDupa precinct. If you need a breather, a moment of wonder, or a burst of creative energy — the cove awaits.

Event details

Whanga—The Cove

Te Aro Campus, Victoria University of Wellington,
139 Vivian Street, Te Aro, Wellington

12pm—5pm, Saturday 28 March
11am—5pm, Sunday 29 March

Free entry

Programme highlights

• Whispers from Te Ngahere, by Vioula Said and students: Inspired by the forest that threads through Wellington’s hills, gullies, and town belt, this sculpture looks to translate the wind’s subtle rhythms in the foliage into a spatial experience of quiet creativity. Built entirely by hand from translucent paper, the work reflects both sustainability and experimentation and will include an element of public participation for visitors to contribute to the evolving piece.
• Ngāherehere Matihik—Digital Forest, by Simon Ray and Tanya Ruka: A living pathway winds through the space, constructed from real trees and foliage. Acting as both sculpture and wayfinding system, it creates a mini-forest within the city while guiding visitors to each activation. Video elements along the path add to the sense of discovery. The pathway installation gives visitors a forest experience with glimpses of landscape, river and forest canopy, abstracted natural elements combined with living trees and plants, shifting light and pockets of sound as they move between different artworks.
• Be a Tree, by Kevin Romond: A playful, mind‑bending moment where visitors encounter their reflection—only to realise they’re seeing themselves as a tree. This breakout zone encourages people to step beyond their human viewpoint and into the natural world.
• The City Generator—An interactive celebration of Pōneke: Artist and architectural graduate Arden Callagher investigates how communities can become active agents in shaping the spaces they call home. Get hands-on with this interactive activation designed for the whole whānau—explore a scale model of the city, and start a conversation with a stranger about what makes this place home. Your voice, our city, a playground.
• Shhhhh, by Byron Mallett: Delicate 3D‑printed vines hang overhead, responding to the behaviour of the crowd. When the room falls silent, flowers open and light up—rewarding stillness in the midst of CubaDupa’s energy.
• Ask a Philosopher, led by Simon Keller and Jesse Spafford: In a quiet clearing, a salon is reconstructed. The philosopher is in. Here, the public can ask real-life philosophers anything—from the profound (“Does God exist?”) to the wonderfully mundane (“Is it okay to cut my toenails in public?”). The activation creates a salon of ideas where curiosity is celebrated.
• Synaesthetic Sanctuary, by William Shaw: This graduate-created work translates the soundscape of Aotearoa’s native birds into a stunning series of audio‑visual pieces, offering festivalgoers a meditative, multisensory experience.
• Screen Art—Student Showcase: We’re showcasing student-made film, animation, visual effects, and experimental work, including highlights from the Poetry Film Festival, the Master of Fine Arts, and the Master of Design Technology programmes. Films range from narrative shorts to animations and interactive digital pieces.
• Zinemaking: Come chill out in the DIY zine zone, complete with all the materials you need to make your own zine, collage or art. Or get inspired by the zines made by our local community, available for your reading pleasure. You can even drop your hard-earned $ into the Zine Vending Machine and get your hands on some limited editions!
• Temporary Tattoos and Photobooth: Festival-goers will be offered free temporary tattoos, and a self-service photobooth invites visitors to capture their Whanga moments with friends.

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