Have you considered whether cardboard is able to float? This will be a key question for the 15 teams taking part in the inaugural Onehunga Cardboard Boat Regatta, as part of the 2021 Onehunga Festival.

 A free family event, the Festival is an action-packed day with a wide variety of entertainment and activities celebrating the forecast excellent summer weather. It’s taking place this Saturday 27 February, from 10.30am to 3.00pm at Onehunga Bay Reserve on Beachcroft Avenue

 There will be amusements to suit all ages including a jump slide, cannonball blaster, water rollers, climbing wall, mobile farmyard, pony rides, face painting and balloon twisting.

 The eclectic entertainment line-up includes high energy jazz band Auckland City Scoundrels who will bring funky renditions of songs we all know and love, Onehunga local one-man-band extraordinaire, Josh Leys and Cook Island dance troupe, Anuanua.

 Onehunga Bites pop-up eatery, is the main food offering at the Festival and will serve a range of delicious food options from some of Onehunga’s best eateries in affordable $6 portions.

 Brand new to this year’s Festival, the Cardboard Boat Regatta being hosted by the Aotea Sea Scouts, will give wannabe sailors who see themselves in the next America’s Cup squad the opportunity to sail their cardboard boats across the lagoon! Prizes will be awarded for the “Fastest crossing”, “Best looking boat” and “Best sinking”. 

Onehunga Business Association Event Manager Angela Corbett says “Onehunga’s town centre is open for business and ready to welcome those that attend the Onehunga Festival.  This popular community event has many great attractions – free amusements, diverse entertainment, food, retail and community stalls, offering something for the whole family to enjoy.  The first ever Cardboard Boat Regatta will certainly add a new and exciting dimension to the event.”

The Onehunga Festival is proudly bought to you by the Onehunga Business Association, the Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board, Four Winds Foundation, Transpower, Mercury, Auckland Transport, The Trusts Community Fund, Green Gorilla and Ray White Epsom’s Suzanne Thomas. 

The Festival receives support from Onehunga Community Patrol, Onehunga Community News, The 312 Hub, Jackson Industries, Dress Smart, Eco Matters, Auckland Council and YMCA Raise Up Onehunga.

To find out more see www.onehunga.net.nz/onehunga-festival.