The Auckland Family History Expo is in its twelfth year and is being held Friday 9-11 October.
This year, the NZSG has committed to expanding the Expo and has secured a new venue at King’s College. This heritage venue offers significantly more space for exhibitors and attendees, improved parking, and convenient access to public transport. It also allows for additional workshops and breakout sessions alongside our three established seminar streams, and provides a refreshed and more fitting presentation for the Expo.
With the new venue we are confident we will attract more people. Rather than just a genealogy event, the Expo provides access to a highly engaged audience interested in legacy, family, and intergenerational connection. We usually attract an audience of around 1000 people over the three days and are hopeful to grow that.
We are seeking the usual family history/genealogy/whakapapa topics based on:
Research and methodology; Case studies; Immigration; DNA; ethics; writing and publishing; sources, resources and tools; newspapers, websites; Oral history, museums, libraries and archives etc.
And also interested those that can share stories of Aotearoa New Zealand’s diverse population: Māori and our many migrant communities: UK and Ireland, Europe, Scandinavia, US, Pasifika, China, Korean, Japan, India, Africa, Pakistan etc.
As this year’s Expo sits within Auckland Heritage Festival, an Expression of Interest to deliver a talk or workshop that links in with the Heritage theme this year would also be considered:
The 2026 Theme: “Tastes of Tāmaki: A Heritage Feast”
For the first time in the festival’s history, we are centring our celebrations on food and beverage.
Honouring our Foundations: Tangata Whenua and the Land
Well before the onset of modern trade, tangata whenua harnessed the fertile volcanic terrain of this region, shaping it into vast and productive landscapes. This year’s theme is an opportunity to honour the sophisticated agricultural heritage of Māori, from the extensive māra kai (gardens) that yielded kūmara, taro, and hue (gourd), to the rich mahinga kai (food gathering) provided by our two harbours and many wetlands. Understanding the traditional practices of cultivation and the deep spiritual connection to the land is essential to telling the full story of our region’s heritage.
The Legacy of Migrant Market Gardens
This theme is also inspired by the foundational role of early migrant settlers and their market gardens. These gardens were more than just plots of land; they were the lifeblood of our growing city, bringing new flavours, techniques, and communities to Auckland. From the fertile soils of Māngere and Avondale to the hidden orchards of our inner suburbs, “Tastes of Tāmaki: A Heritage Feast” explores how what we eat and drink has shaped our cultural identity.
Why this theme?
Food is a universal language. It tells stories of migration, resilience, innovation, and manaakitanga (hospitality). We are incredibly excited about the variety of possibilities this brings—think heritage cooking demonstrations, walking tours of the Ōtuataua Stonefields (Ihumātao) and other significant mana whenua agricultural sites, historical brewery tours, talks on the evolution of our cafe culture, or guided walks through former market garden sites.
Please specify if your proposal is beginners, intermediate, advanced or suitable for anyone – and whether it’s a talk or a workshop (or can be turned into either). Duration should be 40 minutes with 10 minutes allowed for Q&A. We would also be interested in topics that could be covered in 20 minutes.
Please consider offering a topic for this year’s Expo. Any EOIs not used for this year’s Expo will be considered for the 2027 Expo.
If you are also interested in sponsoring, donating raffle prizes, and/or exhibiting, then please do let us know.
Please submit your Expression of Interest to: AFHExpo2026@genealogy.org.nz