the giant weta at the generator build space in Reno Nevada, August 2016

The Giant Weta goes to Burning Man

After a few weeks at sea, the Weta arrived on American soil and has been at the Generator Art and Build space in Reno, Nevada to start the final phase of the build part of the project before heading to Black Rock City. It’s not long until 40+ New Zealanders gather together on the playa of Burning Man, showcasing their art installation to the world in all its flame-shooting glory! …

Thank you very much for your kind donation!

Thank you! Gracias! Merci! Danke schön! Thank you in so many ways – with your help, we raised US$7,757.00 (close to NZ$11,000) to help build the Weta and ship her to Black Rock City, Nevada and back! Your support and your help is greatly appreciated by The Giant Weta crew – thank you for being a patron of our art project! It fills our hearts with joy. The team are …

Crowdfunding Campaign Countdown!

We only have a few days left on our crowdfunding campaign and less than three weeks until we ship! Weta HQ in Auckland has been a hive of activity with the crew valiantly navigating the logistics of making art in New Zealand to ship 6,500 miles across the Pacific to Black Rock City! Have a look at our team in action: Alongside the welders and the grinders are the humming …

What’s your weta story?

Remember when you felt something crawling on your neck and it was a weta? Or that time your cat brought one inside just for you? Watch our team talking about their hilarious, and seemingly at times, terrifying first encounters with a weta!

Weta World News: 9 May 2016

Fossil records from the Triassic period taken in Queensland, Australia show that weta have changed little in 190 million years; and weta of the Deinacrida genus, which The Giant Weta is based on, are some of the world’s most ancient species still living today. We’re doing some pretty interesting things with this prehistoric insect! The Giant Weta Project leader, Hippathy, and Art lead, Andrew, went to The Auckland Zoo to learn more about …

The Giant Weta Crowdfunding campaign

The project is all go, or should we say, Indiegogo! Help The Giant Weta get to Burning Man and Kiwiburn through our Crowdfunding page, now live! Please donate as much or as little as you can, and please share the page with your friends. By supporting this project you are supporting an ever evolving ecosystem of artists in Auckland. We hope that this project shows people what is possible, providing …

Welcome to The Giant Weta build space

Auckland Burners found a fantastic space to build the Weta, as well as being a year-round home for collective projects; a gathering place for burners to share ideas and learn! The official launch of the space and the Giant Weta crowd-funding campaign is 7.30pm on 20 April at 113 Valley Rd, Mt Eden. Facebook invitation here.        

Auckland Decompression

This is also going to be the first fundrasing event for Auckland Burners project at Burning Man 2106: The Giant Weta. You’re not going to want to miss this! The 2016 Auckland Burners Decompression theme is Y.M.C.A. (Yesterday’s Muck Cooked Again) – what costume ideas does this inspire? It’s all food for thought! Sports meets food meets the Village People in this round of our pot luck. From egg and …