Free events helping protect the natural world
by Patagonia Tahuna Queenstown
At Patagonia, we believe in using business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. When we opened our first store in Aotearoa in January 2024 - Patagonia Tahuna Queenstown - we set out to create more than just a retail space. We envisioned a community hub. A place where people could gather, share knowledge, take action, and build deeper relationships with the environments that sustain us.
Our mission is simple: we’re in business to save our home planet. And that starts by protecting what’s right outside our doors. In Aotearoa, that means standing up for the mana of water. From alpine streams and deep lakes to coastal estuaries and ocean breaks, our salt-and freshwater ecosystems are under intense pressure. As anglers, surfers, skiers, and everyday lovers of wild places, we see sport as a bridge to environmental protection. Because when you spend time in a place, you’re more likely to fight for it.
That’s why the events we host at Patagonia Tāhuna are grounded in connection; to sport, to place, and to purpose. A few weeks ago, we held a Wash Party in store and across the road at Washatipu Laundromat, where we re-waterproof 62 shells ahead of winter, ate pizza and boogied to DJ JBOO. It was simple, useful, and full of good yarns - people learning how to care for their gear and keep it in use for another season (or ten).
This winter, we’re running a Fly Fishing Series designed to support local anglers and protect the rivers we rely on. Kicking off with Lake Fishing 101 hosted by Shelen Boyes, we’ll also be joined by legendary guide Jeff Forsee for a Saltwater Fly Night, plus two casting clinics with the Patagonia Fly Fishing team. These gatherings are about more than improving your cast - they’re about building a community that’s informed, connected, and ready to stand up for freshwater health.
Because here’s the truth: the more time we spend outside, the more we notice when something’s off. Low flows. Silted beds. Vanishing fish. When you care, you act, and these events are about gaining tools and community to help preserve and restore te taiao.
Our events are free, low-key, and open to all. Each one is an invitation to learn, share, and get involved in protecting the natural world.
Visit us in store or head to patagonia.co.nz/pages/patagonia-queenstown to see what’s on and sign up for our newsletter. See you soon!
