2025 Programme

Welcome to our 2025 Breathe Tekapo programme. Each activity, workshop or keynote has been carefully considered to take you on a journey of learning and discovery. Each one is available to book through our ticketing partner, Eventbrite. Clicking the link below will take you there and give you the ability to buy tickets.


Friday 16th May


  • Everyone is invited to join us for the official welcome to Breathe Tekapo (free event). It’s a chance to meet fellow festival goers, hear more about this wonderful event and get further information on activities you’re booked on to.

    Join us at Dark Sky Project from 5.00pm to meet our team and collect your Breathe Tekapo tote bag. The official welcome will take place at 5.30pm and conclude by 6.00pm.

Location: Dark Sky Project
Timings:
Friday 16 May, 5.00pm - 6.00pm

Tickets: FREE

  • Bob is a seasoned adventurer with a wealth of experience exploring the globe. He has spent countless summers trekking, mountain biking, sea kayaking, rafting, and canyoning across diverse landscapes. His passion for adventure led him to compete on the world Adventure Racing circuit, culminating in a triumphant victory at 2017 World Adventure Racing Championships in the United States with Team Seagate.

    Combining his adventurous spirit with business, Bob founded Wanaka based, guiding company, Best Foot Forward NZ with his partner Cat Pattison in 2017. This bespoke owner/operator company enables clients to realise their own adventure dreams by offering comprehensive training, guided trips, and immersive experiences.Bob knows how to push the limits of human endurance and resilience thanks to a lifetime pursuing adventurous escapades in the outdoors. He has an absolute treasure trove of entertaining and eye-watering stories to share and the biggest challenge will be choosing which ones to tell.

Location: Tekapo Community Hall
Timings:
Friday 16 May, 7.00pm - 8.00pm

Tickets: Early Bird $36 Standard $40

  • The 90-minute guided stargazing experience includes:
    - 30 mins naked eye stargazing: Let us guide you through the stars and constellations of the night sky.
    - 45 mins deep sky viewing: Use our telescopes to explore star clusters, nebulae or planets (visibility dependent).
    - 15 mins casual time: Gather around a fire bowl, toast marshmallows, and relax. This is a great time to ask questions, chat, or listen to star stories from your guide.
    Additional perks:
    - Comfortable seats and blankets
    - A cup of hot chocolate for each guest.
    - One family/group photo under the stars.
    - A reusable Chameleon Stargazing coffee cup as a souvenir.
    - Plenty of marshmallows

Location: 70 Andrew Don Drive
Timings:
Friday 16 May, 9pm - 10.30pm

Tickets: Early Bird $95, Standard $99 (All proceeds go to a local mental health charity)


Saturday 17th May

  • Penny Wilson is a yoga teacher and wellness facilitator who lives and breathes the joy of nature, food and adventure. A committee member of the Breathe Tekapo team, Penny is passionate about creating spaces for people to connect fully to their deep sense of value and purpose. Her business, Tekapo Wellness, offers yoga classes, workshops, retreats and back-country adventures that are warm, relaxed, accessible and designed to equip you with tools and frameworks for a greater sense of wellbeing.

    Welcome in the day with gentle movement and positive affirmations in this nourishing flow yoga class. With stunning views of the lake and the mountains, we draw inspiration and strength from the beauty of creation. No yoga experience needed, just an openness to move and breathe with nature and start your day fresh and invigorated.

Location: Lake Tekapo Powerboat & Waterski Club
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 7.00am - 8.00am

Tickets: Early Bird $18 Standard $20

  • Meet at the boat ramp in front of the Lake Tekapo Power Boat & Water Ski Club on Lakeside Drive. Join local cold water immersion enthusiasts, including Breathe Tekapo team members.

    Watch the sunrise together and be invigorated by the pristine, crystal-clear water of Lake Tekapo. All persons participating in the alpine plunge do so at their own risk. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you are a capable swimmer and can handle being exposed to the cold temperatures and varying conditions of the lake, everyone is responsible for their own safety. Please come in your togs and bring a towel and warm layers for afterwards.

    A plunge is not recommended for anyone with a medical condition and we suggest seeking medical advice before participating.

Location: Lake Tekapo Powerboat & Waterski Club
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 8.30am - 9.00am

Tickets: FREE

  • Kate's love of somatic therapy began with her experiencing the goodness of yoga in her early 20s. With close to 30 years' experience, it is an integral part of her life. More than a movement practice, yoga is a vehicle for making meaningful connections and honouring oneself. Kate trained with the International Yoga Teachers Association and shares hatha yoga incorporating postures, breathing and spiritual insight.

Location: Tekapo Community Hall
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 7.00am - 8.00am

Tickets: Standard $20

  • Join Peter Langlands (Wild Capture Foraging) and Jackie Phillips (Wild Cuisine NZ) on a foraging workshop where you will learn how to incorporate healthy and easily accessible wild foods into everyday life. You will be guided on a tour of how to correctly identify local species of edible plants, herbs, berries/fruit and fungi. Peter and Jackie will also share their knowledge of why foraging is good for you, including some medicinal features of wild foods. Pre Prepared wild foods will be available for you to sample the unique flavours of the Mackenzie.

    Peter Langlands, BSc Zoology, DipSci Ecology, is well-established as an expert of foraging in Aotearoa New Zealand. In collaboration with Penguin New Zealand he has published a detailed field guide "Foraging New Zealand" (April 2024) outlining over 250 top foragable wild foods. Peter is an MPI licensed forager who supplies many highly regarded restaurants such as Amisfield, Inati, Flock Hill and Gatherings.

    Jackie Phillips is Peter's partner who enjoys experimenting with utilising wild foods in everyday cooking. A qualified librarian with inherited interest in botany, Jackie's research skills are useful in discovering new wild foods to add to the comprehensive database that Peter has compiled. Jackie will complete a BA majoring in psychology through Massey University this year, with a vision of establishing a retreat merging the health benefits of foraging with life coaching.

Location: Tekapo School Library
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 10.00am - 12noon

Tickets: Early Bird $31.50 Standard $35

  • The session at Breathe Tekapo will be a bite sized version of Dave's Calm Under Pressure workshop. The 2 hour session will include a series of mini lectures alongside practical mental skills work and will encompass the following:
    - Establishing clear mindset themes. identifying limiting patterns of behaviour and using mindset them to help ingrain new patterns (rewire subconscious state)
    - Reacting vs Responding and the different brain regions involved and how to implement a simple 5 step method that allows you to work in the gap between stimulus and response
    - Breathing mechanics exercises to get better access to the primary muscles of breathing and improve overall breathing capacity - it's incredible how many people are breathing incorrectly and people tend to love this session.
    - Practical breathing flow element to elicit calm, activate the parasympathetic nervous system and as a means of training to balance your nervous system over time.

Location: Tekapo Community Hall
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 10.00am - 12.00pm

Tickets: Early Bird $112.50 Standard $125

  • A second chance to register at the event and get any further information you need for the weekend ahead.

Location: Tekapo School
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 9.00am - 9.30am

Tickets: FREE

  • In her downtime Julie is a passionate tramper and cold water dipper, proud grandmother, and dog + beach walker and lover. Julie will share with you a range of tools and strategies utilised in positive psychology with practises that can help facilitate the pursuing of our best lived life.

    Julie is a NZ trained, qualified and registered Consultant Clinical Psychologist. Her clinical interest is now and in the areas of loss, grief, resilience and adaptation to adversity, through education, inspiration and exploring with clients the numerous strategies within the field of Positive Psychology.

    In 2017, Julie's life changed dramatically with the deaths of her husband, Paul, and 27 year old son Sam just 16 days later. This fuelled in Julie a passion for resilience psychology, as she worked to accept and adjust to the double bereavement. She authored a book, ‘Grief on the Run,’ published in 2021 where explored the application of the NZ Mental Health Foundation’s 5 Ways to Wellbeing Model to significant adversity through her own grief.

Location: Godley Conference Room
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 12pm - 1.30pm

Tickets: Early Bird $36 Standard $40

  • OWN BIKES AND THOSE WANTING BIKE HIRE WELCOME.

    BeSpoke Bike Tours can create an itinerary for you to experience and enjoy the stark beauty of the Mackenzie Region by bicycle. Absorb the stunning views of the Southern Alps and the breathtaking aqua blue glacial lakes alongside the hugely knowledgeable local guides.

    The Bespoke Bikes team will meet you at their base in Simpson Lane their shuttle will transport you towards Burkes Pass to Dog Kennel Corner. You will then head off on your bikes and ride the 15km back to Tekapo on the newly formed track taking in the autumnal colours and Mackenzie vista. Please come prepared in exercise gear with a water bottle and snacksYou will then head off on your bikes and ride the 15km back to Tekapo on the newly formed track taking in the autumnal colours and Mackenzie vista. Please come prepared in exercise gear with a water bottle and snacks

Location: 8 Simpson Lane
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 1pm

Tickets: Early Bird $79 (Hardtail), $99 (E-Bike), Standard $85 (Hardtail), $105 (E-Bike)

  • OWN BIKES ONLY ON THIS RIDE.

    BeSpoke Bike Tours can create an itinerary for you to experience and enjoy the stark beauty of the Mackenzie Region by bicycle. Absorb the stunning views of the Southern Alps and the breathtaking aqua blue glacial lakes alongside the hugely knowledgeable local guides.

    The Bespoke Bikes team will meet you at their base in Simpson Lane their shuttle will transport you towards Burkes Pass to Dog Kennel Corner. You will then head off on your bikes and ride the 15km back to Tekapo on the newly formed track taking in the autumnal colours and Mackenzie vista. Please come prepared in exercise gear with a water bottle and snacks

Location: 8 Simpson Lane
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 11am

Tickets: Standard $30

  • Kate is a wellbeing practitioner specialising in somatic practices such as Qoya and yoga as well as body-based trauma therapy. She supports people to thrive with physiological tools that optimise nervous system regulation. Kate runs yoga and Qoya sessions, has hosted retreats for a decade, supports private clients and facilitates group therapy. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Counselling studies to further support people to live well.

    Qoya is a holistic journey for women incorporating the wisdom of yoga, the freedom of dance & the wildness of finding joy in your body. It is a movement practice to empower women. The ethos of Qoya is that through our body’s movement we access the wisdom of our heart and soul. Through intention setting, breath awareness, movement, ritual & community connection, we learn to trust the physical sensation of truth in our bodies.

    A Qoya gathering features Circling - your body to embrace fluidity, Heart Opening – moving from your heart, Hip Embodiment – feminine movement, Yoga – moving in reverence, Shadow Contrast – honouring the wholeness of you, Shaking – a powerful release, Choreographed Dance - for sheer fun, Free Dance – authentic expression, Sharing – women being heard in a brave space, Stretching and final Relaxation – integrating your Qoya journey through stillness.

Location: Tekapo Community Hall
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 2pm - 3.30pm

Tickets: Early Bird $27 Standard $30

  • In this session, we’ll explore the science and psychology behind effective goal setting and how it can serve as a catalyst for personal growth and achievement. By learning how to set clear, meaningful, and achievable goals, you’ll gain tools to foster motivation, overcome obstacles, and build resilience. We will explore how we can use journalling as a tool to reflect, reframe and refocus on your goals and share a variety of journalling methods and techniques in this interactive workshop. Thank you to Petronella's Petronella's Gallery and Bookstore for supporting and providing each attendee with their own journal as a keepsake. Whether you're seeking professional success, emotional well-being, or personal fulfillment, this workshop will guide you in crafting a roadmap that aligns with your values and defining what success is for you. Let’s embark on a journey to turn your vision into action and your goals into reality.

    Penny Wilson is a yoga teacher and wellness facilitator who lives and breathes the joy of nature, food and adventure. Her business, Tekapo Wellness, offers yoga classes, workshops, retreats and back-country adventures that are warm, relaxed and accessible and designed to equip you with tools and frameworks for a greater sense of wellbeing.

    Dr. Michelle McCarthy is an experienced clinical psychologist and facilitator. With over 20 years of clinical experience, she has dedicated her career to stress management, anxiety treatment, and fostering psychological wellness. Throughout her extensive professional journey, Michelle has worked in various settings which include, providing treatment and support to individuals facing mental health challenges as well as delivering leadership and wellbeing workshops to organisations.

Location: Godley Conference Room
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 3pm - 4.30pm

Tickets: Early Bird $36 Standard $40

  • The Ferment Kitchen
    Fermentation is an ancient alchemy that humans have always experimented with and benefitted from. Geraldine from The Ferment Kitchen has made it her mission to share how simple, easy and fun it is to create these delicious superfoods at home. She aims to demystify the process and inspire confidence in this incredible art. In this interactive class we cover how to care for your sourdough starter so it can thrive for years to come. I will share how to bake simple, delicious no-knead bread and pizza dough. We will also discuss baking and lots of tips and tricks to ensure your success. My aim is to share just how simple sourdough can be! This class includes printed recipes, taste testers and your own starter bug.

Location: Morelea Lakeside
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 1.00pm - 2.30pm

Tickets: Early Bird $36 Standard $40

  • Leigh Marsden is a qualified Hatha Yoga teacher with additional certification in Breathwork. She is the Trauma-Informed Yoga facilitator for the South Canterbury region. Leigh offers 9 classes every week in Geraldine and Timaru. www.leighmarsdenyoga.com

    Leigh looks forward to welcoming participants into 90 minutes of deep restoration, including gentle breathwork, floor-based yoga, meditation, with a relaxing sound bath to finish. Suitable for all levels of practice.

Location: Tekapo School Library
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 7pm - 8.30pm

Tickets: Early Bird $18 Standard $20

  • Co-founder of the Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience and Coping With Loss, Denise lectures at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, has been an award-winning lecturer at leading European business school, IE University, Madrid, and leads the only accredited Diploma in Wellbeing Science in Australia and NZ where participants describe her as ‘a rockstar at facilitating’ and her work as ‘life-changing’. Her work focuses on human sustainability and how organisations can make work better for the people who work there.

    Denise is a recovering pessimist who shares with audiences the resilience skills she has gathered over a lifetime of keeping her own head above water. She has earned a Masters and PhD in resilience and wellbeing, and worked with the field’s thought leaders all around the world. For Denise, resilience skills are big flippers that counteract the heavyweight belt of pessimism and help her kick to the surface. These skills, her Irish sense of humour, disarming honesty and deep love of people are what make her work special. Impatient for change and wanting better lives for us all, Denise will share the strategies she sees making the biggest difference for people, challenge how you're thinking about the future, and sharpen your focus on how to protect what matters most in your life.

Location: Tekapo Community Centre
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 5pm - 6.30pm

Tickets: Early Bird $58.50 Standard $65

  • The Ferment Kitchen
    Fermentation is an ancient alchemy that humans have always experimented with and benefitted from. Geraldine from The Ferment Kitchen has made it her mission to share how simple, easy and fun it is to create these delicious superfoods at home. She aims to demystify the process and inspire confidence in this incredible art.

    If you've always wanted to try your hand at fermenting but not known where to start, then this class is for you.
    We will take a tour of four delicious ferments that are simple and fast to create.
    Brine pickle carrot sticks - delicious to dip in hummus as a probiotic, nutrient dense snack
    Caspian Sea yoghurt - a decadent heirloom yoghurt rich in beneficial strains of bacteria (starters will be available for $20)
    Fermented mustard - punchy and fun to play with the flavour profiles
    Fermented drinks - I'll share a variety of probiotic drinks you can make without having to maintain any starter bugs
    This class will include a printed recipe card and taste testers.

Location: Morelea Lakeside
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 4.00pm - 5.30pm

Tickets: Early Bird $36 Standard $40

  • The tour takes place in two parts; The guided portion of the tour focuses on the stars, planets and galaxies using telescopes with a unique combination of astronomy and stories passed down from the ancestors of the first people of Aotearoa. If the weather is not suitable for outdoor stargazing you will experience a customised virtual reality tour of the Lake Tekapo night skies! The second half of the tour is where it really gets magical! The Breathe Tekapo tour will enjoy exclusive use of a hot pool as you lie back with the help of a floating hammock to ensure ultimate relaxation and easy sky viewing. Feel like you're floating among the stars as you explore the wonders of the night skies.

    Please ensure you bring with you swimming attire and towel with you alongside warm clothes for after the soak in the stars.

Location: Tekapo Springs
Timings:
Saturday 17 May, 8.45pm - 10.15pm

Tickets: Early Bird $120 Standard $129


Sunday 18th May


  • Alicia Mabey is a Mum of five and health and wellness coach who has developed the one-stop online 'Complete Wellness’ platform, coaches 1-on-1 clients and groups, delivers motivational presentations and designed hundreds of running and exercise programmes.

    Her passion is educating and motivating others for preventive care, so they have the best chance of living a long and fulfilling life. Irrelevant to your current level of fitness, Alicia will motivate you through a fun low-impact workout where we focus on balance, flexibility strength and a little bit of cardio in a supportive environment.

    No equipment is needed, just bring a drink bottle and an attitude become motivated and educated on ways to move and KEEP moving!

Location: Tekapo Community Hall
Timings:
Sunday 18 May, 8am - 9am

Tickets: Early Bird $18 Standard $20

  • Susan Allen has been teaching meditation for over 20 years. Her primary interest in meditation is how the practice can transform our lives. The only measure of our progress in meditation is our conduct in the world. Susan is highly skilled at offering personalised instruction within a group setting and teaching how to bring the principles of meditation off the cushion into everyday life.

    In this 2 hour workshop Susan Allen will introduce the practice of meditation. Meditation is a practice where you can deepen your understanding of how the mind works; through the practice we learn practical techniques to calm and quieten the mind as well as develop insights that bring freedom by reducing reactivity and learning to operate more from an interconnected field of awareness. This workshop will be a combination of de-mystifying and explaining the context of meditation in our lives. You will leave with a clear, structured practice that you will be excited and inspired to take home with you.

Location: Tekapo School Library
Timings:
Sunday 18 May, 9am - 11am

Tickets: Early Bird $31.50 Standard $35

  • Meet at the boat ramp in front of the Lake Tekapo Power Boat & Water Ski Club on Lakeside Drive. Join local cold water immersion enthusiasts, including Breathe Tekapo team members.

    Watch the sunrise together and be invigorated by the pristine, crystal-clear water of Lake Tekapo. All persons participating in the alpine plunge do so at their own risk. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you are a capable swimmer and can handle being exposed to the cold temperatures and varying conditions of the lake, everyone is responsible for their own safety. Please come in your togs and bring a towel and warm layers for afterwards.

    A plunge is not recommended for anyone with a medical condition and we suggest seeking medical advice before participating.

Location: Lake Tekapo Powerboat & Waterski Club
Timings:
Saturday 18 May, 8.30am - 9.00am

Tickets: FREE - Included in your Breathe Ticket

  • TJ is part of the committed group of volunteers from Tekapo Trails, a group of outdoor enthusiasts whose goal is to link the region's beautiful existing but short trails to form a connected network of dual purpose trails.

    Tekapo Trails looks to share trail knowledge with locals and visitors, to strengthen community connections through developing outdoor recreational opportunities by way of trails.

    Join TJ for an easy going walk exploring some of the lesser known tracks in Tekapo with beautiful views in all directions.

Location: Tekapo Cemetery Carpark, Mistake Drive
Timings:
Sunday 18 May, 9am - 11am

Tickets: FREE

  • In her downtime Julie is a passionate tramper and cold water dipper, proud grandmother, and dog + beach walker and lover. Julie will share with you a range of tools and strategies utilised in positive psychology with practises that can help facilitate the pursuing of our best lived life.

    Julie is a NZ trained, qualified and registered Consultant Clinical Psychologist. Her clinical interest is now and in the areas of loss, grief, resilience and adaptation to adversity, through education, inspiration and exploring with clients the numerous strategies within the field of Positive Psychology.

    In 2017, Julie's life changed dramatically with the deaths of her husband, Paul, and 27 year old son Sam just 16 days later. This fuelled in Julie a passion for resilience psychology, as she worked to accept and adjust to the double bereavement. She authored a book, ‘Grief on the Run,’ published in 2021 where explored the application of the NZ Mental Health Foundation’s 5 Ways to Wellbeing Model to significant adversity through her own grief.

Location: Godley Conference Room
Timings:
Sunday 18 May, 11am - 12.30pm

Tickets: Early Bird $36 Standard $40

  • Bevan Smith is founder, and owner of Riverstone Kitchen restaurant, opening Riverstone Kitchen in 2006 and quickly making a name for himself winning Cuisine’s prestigious Restaurant of the Year Award in 2010. Riverstone’s focus on local suppliers and its large production gardens has helped redefine seasonal dining in rural New Zealand. He is passionate about showcasing the best produce on offer and is a strong advocate of locally-sourced and sustainable options.

    Join Bevan from Riverstone Kitchen as he demonstrates how to make his favourite hot smoked salmon dish alongside a seasonal salad and seared squid with Asian greens. The session will include an informal Q and A with our MC and you will gain insight on all Bevan's top tips and insights from his journey owning Riverstone Kitchen for the past 18 years. The Taste of Riverstone will be sure to inspire and entertain all home cooks!

Location: Tekapo Community Hall
Timings:
Sunday 18 May, 11.00am - 1pm

Tickets: Early Bird $72 Standard $80

  • Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd to reflect and find serenity alongside live music as gentle blessings, specifically to communicate ease, comfort & presence, with no religious orientation. This is an exclusive opportunity for Breathe Tekapo attendees. As this will be a private event, those attending are asked to be present for the duration of the session to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone. If you would like to take this opportunity to embrace time reflecting in one of the most iconic churches in New Zealand, a koha to thank the church and support the meaningful work of the choir would be greatly appreciated (cash and eftpos accepted).

    Please arrive 10 minutes ahead of the session beginning, as the door will close on the hour. This will allow you time to enter the church and become comfortable and fully present in this tranquil space.

    Koha ($20 would be appreciated)

Location: Church of the Good Shepherd
Timings:
Saturday 18 May, 11am - 11.30am

Tickets: $20 Koha - to be made on the day

  • Everyone is invited to join us as we come together to officially conclude the weekend’s events. We will take time to reflect on our learnings, inspiration gained and new discoveries as we celebrate our wellness journey.

    Join us on the lawn in front of Dark Sky Project where we will gather as a team followed by lunch at a nearby cafe.

Location: Front Lawn of Dark Sky Project
Timings:
Saturday 18 May, 2pm - 2.30pm

Tickets: FREE