SCA Auckland- Barony of Ildhafn

24/08/2026

Have you noticed someone and their good deeds to our fair Barony, Canton or Hamlet?

Have you noticed someones fighting skill?

Have you noticed someones work in A&S?

Then have you considered recomending them for an award?

In the SCA, we like to recognise people for achievement in various fields, such as Arts and Sciences, Combat, or Service.

The Crown of Lochac grants various awards; Canon Lore lists those held by citizens of the City of Ildhafn, Cluain and Hareby - you can see a list the populace who have awards at https://canon.lochac.sca.org/branch.php?id=21

(if you see that someone doesn't have an award and you consider them worthy there's a "Recommend Someone" on the far right)

As well as awards being made by the King and Queen, the Barony of Ildhafn has orders, membership of which is awarded by the Baron and Baroness of Ildhafn to give particular local recognition to a deserving person. you can find out more here: https://ildhafn.lochac.sca.org/awards-2/

You can nominate someone for an order by emailing the Baronesses!

Image: the Flower of Ildhafn - awarded to those who reside in Ildhafn who have performed and inspired, it passed on to a new recipient each time it is awarded.

22/08/2026

Exciting news!!

Their Royal Majesties King Aonghus and Queen Ginevra will be attending Spring Camp at Braythwayte Manor, held over Labour Weekend 23rd to 26th October in Rotorua.

This is a relaxed camping event where the rhythm of life slows down and things happen at a natural pace. At the heart of the encampment is the kitchen and bakery where everything is cooked over fire in a wonderful medieval-style setting. The event is fully catered with generous helpings of delicious medieval food prepared with love.

Everyone makes a real effort to keep all mundane items out of sight in the main camp which creates a beautiful authentic atmosphere. This year the Bird House coffee shop will be preparing the Turkish coffees over open flame too!

There will be fighting and archery happening in addition to all of the A&S projects and classes.

Classes will include glass work, 16th Century Costume, and Holtzlattentashen (slat bags) by Mistress Rowan.

Their Majesties will be elevating THL Melissa Wijffels to the Order of the Laurel.

So, bring your music, projects and/or weapons and join us for 3 wonderful days at Spring Camp in the verdant lands of Cluain.

You can book here: [https://cluain.lochac.sca.org/node/392](https://cluain.lochac.sca.org/node/392)


Looking forward to your company, Ed and Bess. (Posted on behalf of)

You can attend the event without your parents or legal guardians, but you need a Nominated Caregiver (an adult on site who is willing to be responsible for you in case of emergency).

22/08/2026

Good Gentles,
Our monthly Tournaments for September will be held at the Minerva Scout Hall (563 Pakuranga Road) in Howick, Auckland, on Sunday 13th September.

All are welcome! This is a great opportunity to meet the SCA if you're curious as it's a low key gathering in a public space.

The rough schedule is as follows: ENTER 9am - Hall will be open for setup/arrivals.
10am - 12pm - Heavy Tournament & Training/Pickups afterwards.
12 - 1pm - Shared Lunch (bring a plate!).
1 - 3 pm - Fencing Tournament & Training/Pickups afterwards.
3pm - Pack up/quick clean.

Aim to be out by 4.

Hope to see you all there!

(Photo for attention, the herring is unlikely to make an appearance at this coming Tournament)

Photo Credit: Eleanor Hall

21/08/2026

This September, the Ildhafn Arts & Sciences Collegium returns to Camp Sladdin, Clevedon, Auckland (18-20 September) for a weekend of learning, creativity, and fellowship.

Whether you're keen to attend classes, work on your own projects, or simply spend time with fellow artisans and enthusiasts, the Collegium offers a welcoming environment to explore new skills and share knowledge. Classes will run throughout the weekend, with opportunities for hands-on learning, discussion, and collaboration.

Fully catered and self-catering options are available. We're also seeking instructors, so if you have a skill, craft, or topic you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you.

Join us for a weekend of inspiration, learning, and making at Ildhafn Arts & Sciences Collegium 2026!

Find out more and book here: https://ildhafn.lochac.sca.org/2026/08/09/ildhafn-arts-and-science-collegium/

Image: Roman de la Rose Reference: NLW MS 5016D f. 28r (Author at writing desk)

19/08/2026

Each year, many of us gather at Braythwayte Manor in Rotorua for events where meals for 80 to 120 people are prepared almost entirely using wood fires.

These gatherings may represent some of the largest wood-fire-only cooking events in the Known World. The remarkable cooking facilities and techniques used at Braythwayte Manor were recently highlighted in the August 2026 edition of What's in the Pot, the magazine of the Lochac Cooks Guild the article 'Wood Fire Cooking for 100' was written by By Melissa Wijffels, Rose le Taillor, Nathanael d’Avranches, Chantelle Gerrard, Mærwynn æt Mædwe, Llewelyn ap Dafydd, William de Cameron, Bess Braythwayte, and Edward Braythwayte.

Curious to learn more? Read the article and discover the work of the Lochac Cooks Guild via the link below.

https://cooks.lochac.sca.org/newsletters/

If you're interested in experiencing food at Braythwayte Manor first hand - bookings are open for Spring Camp (Friday 23 October - Monday 26th October) in Rotorua see the link to find out more about Spring Camp.

https://cluain.lochac.sca.org/node/393


Photo credit: Eleanor Hall

17/08/2026

Greetings!
Would you like Ildhafn to be seen as a welcoming place, attracting and retaining new folk? Are you happy chatting to people at public events and encouraging their involvement?
Our Hospitaller is responsible for the encouragement and empowerment of newcomers in the group, from being a welcoming presence to fielding enquiries from the website, social media, etc. It can also involve the housing and administration of the Hire/loaner Garb (though this may be delegated to a deputy).
So, if you have the following skills, consider becoming our next Hospitaller and help us grow.
Key requirements:
You will need to be a current SCA member, 18 years or older
Reliable and responsive access to email and internet
Ability to keep on top of a variety of related administrative tasks
You may not think that you are the right person for this job, but if your friends forward you a copy of this notice, pay attention to them! And if you know someone who you think would be good in the job, do them (and all of us) a favour - ask them to apply.
Key elements of the job:
a keen and fresh enthusiasm for recruitment and retention
a sunny disposition, a positive outlook and good communication skills
a willingness to be responsible for the encouragement and empowerment of newcomers as a member of the SCA
You don't have to do everything yourself - know that you will be well supported by your Kingdom and other Officers in this role.
You'll find more detailed information about this role in the Officer Job Descriptions Document at https://seneschal.lochac.sca.org/resources
Please send your applications by 31 August 2026 to [email protected] with a courtesy copy to [email protected]
Please include your membership number, mundane and SCA names, any relevant experience, and your general experience in the SCA - as well as outlining why you think you'd be suitable in the role and any fabulous ideas you have.
If you would like to know more about the job, or to discuss how you see yourself taking it forward, I would love to hear from you!
Yours in Service,
Lady Trudie Beata Ollyfe Griffen
New Officer Progress:
Applications Opened

Don’t miss the Hospitaller’s handbook and other recruitment-related articles, posters, videos and graphic resources on the Lochac Hospitaller website.

09/08/2026

The Ildhafn Arts and Science Collegium event is scheduled for
18-20 September
At Camp Sladdin, Clevedon.

This event will take the form of a non-garbed event with classes running sequentially in one of the halls, while the other hall is available for doing personal projects or completing what you started in the sessions. There is no obligation to attend any of the classes and you can just work on your own projects in a social environment (plus, if you are struggling, my experiences to date indicate that there is likely someone with more experience who would be more than willing to give a hand or offer advice). Some classes will be subject to separate koha to the instructor to cover their materials (as determined by them).
Fully catered options available (will be simpler meals to keep cost down and prevent people having to spend too long in the kitchen), but can self-cater if preferred (details on booking form, but staying for two nights with meals is $85 for adult SCA members)

The classes on offer have not been finalised yet and are subject to instructor availability. If you feel interested in delivering a class, please feel free to engage and we can explore options, classes don’t just have to be about creating a physical item but could include giving a presentation/talk on a particular subject instead. The current list of classes that I am tracking is as follows:

Leatherbound hardback book binding – Baroness Isabell
Gorget making – Baron Inigo
Introduction to period hand stitches – Baroness Eleanor
How to know what a good source and what to look for – Mistress Christine
Introduction to knot tying – Gruffydd
Singing for beginners – Mistress Christine
There is also the potential for a practical cooking session on offer on a one on one basis, from planning to service. This will involve some engagement and planning prior to the event so if interested in exploring this option, please reach out and I will put you in touch (depending on food selected it might work to supplement one of the meals).

For the evening it is intended to make one hall available for anyone wishing to do singing/dancing and the other for board games, etc. There will also be a group discussion/brainstorming session to gather ideas about barony-wide projects that people might be considering to allow for alignment and efficiency (if we have four people all separately planning to make new tents for example).

Bookings are available now, and if you are willing to deliver a class, either contact the steward/A&S officer directly at [email protected] or please mention when you book. Booking link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSco2ww-1V7T5Ietxm_ECnUoz86Za1VJzwqF0-QVBMhnS2Rl9A/viewform

Yours aye

Gruffydd

Event Timing: 18 - 20th September 2026 (Site opens from 5pm, and closes 3pm) Event Address: Camp Sladdin, 30 Thorps Quarry Road, Clevedon, Auckland. Contact us at: [email protected] For full event, the catering will start on Saturday morning, however there are a large number of local ta...

07/07/2026

Come one and all to the Ildhafn Winter Event – celebrating our Baronial Anniversary!

Join us for a weekend of friendship, celebration, and connection as we mark another year of the Barony of Ildhafn.
Date:
Event opens 9am Saturday 25th and closes 3pm Sunday 26th July 2026 but Site opens 6pm the Evening of the 24th for those who wish to stay to be on site first thing Saturday.

Location:
Schlaepher Park, 41C Ostrich Farm Road, Pukekohe.

The event will open on Saturday morning and close on Sunday afternoon, with the site opening on Friday evening for those who wish to arrive early and stay the night.

The focus of this event is connection. As the cooler weather of winter encourages us indoors, we invite everyone to reconnect with old friends, meet new people, and strengthen the bonds that make our community so special. With a wide variety of activities planned, this is also the perfect opportunity to try something new—or even attend your very first event.

Whether you enjoy learning, creating, fighting, feasting, or simply spending time with good company, you'll find something to enjoy throughout the weekend.
Both tenting and bunk accommodation are available, although bunk spaces are limited. A range of catering options will also be available.

We look forward to celebrating this special anniversary with you and hope to see you there!

Winter Event 7 April 2026 3 June 2026 Event / Upcoming Date: Event opens 9am Saturday 25th and closes 3pm Sunday 26th July 2026 but Site opens 6pm the Evening of the 24th for those who wish to stay to be on site first thing Saturday. Location: Schlaepher Park,  41C Ostrich Farm Road, Pukekohe.  Ar...

30/06/2026

For the recent Dumpling Feast in the Canton of Cluain we saw the opening of 金火港口 (jin huo gangkou, treasure fire harbour) aka The Bank of Ildhafn for the event.

Below is a reproduction of a bank note from the Tang Dynasty (618-907AD), used to certify a deposit coins with the bank. The text on the note details the punishment for forgery and the amount of money that was deposited.

The issuing bank (or, later, the government) would stamp them to help prevent forgery- this was done by the Baronesses during the opening of the Dumpling Feast using a stamp carved from Olive wood by TH Lady Melissa Wijffles.

The bank notes were modified from the origional by TH Lord Nathanael d'Avranches to have varying denominations.

29/06/2026

Today Mistress Christine Bess Duvant (Chantelle Gerrard) had the opportunity to talk to RNZ Radio New Zealand about the SCA in Auckland in NZ in general!

Grab your shades and a pack of gum, because it's time for our Monday afternoon clubbing session. Each week we visit a club or society around the country. If you have one that you think Emile should join, then please do get in touch. 2101 on text or [email protected]. This week Emile is joined by....