Coming up...

Watch this space for info about our next events and displays.

 

If you have an idea for something mathsy you'd love to see or collab with us for, let us know! 

You can read what sorts of things we've got up to previously below.

Mathateca Logic Puzzle Workshops
Mathapoetica: Mathematical Poetry Workshop

 

Join us at the CWEA on Sunday 3rd August for an exciting three-hour workshop exploring the poetry of mathematics and the maths of poetry. All backgrounds and levels of experience are welcome, from maths-phobic poets to mathematicians who’ve never seen a sonnet!

 

Delivered in collaboration with the Canterbury Poets’ Collective.

Mathateca Logic Puzzle Workshops
Exercise Your Brain with Logic Puzzles!

 

Join us on Level 4 at Tūranga, Christchurch's Central Library on the last Sunday of every month from 3:00pm - 4:30pm for our free logic puzzle workshops delivered by New Zealand's top puzzle solver, James McGowan.

 

Whether you're new to logic puzzles or looking to sharpen your skills, come along to train your brain and have a good time!  

Join Mathateca at the Festival of Women and Girls in Science banner

Join us at Tūranga from 10am-3pm Saturday 15th February for an inspiring and hands-on STEM festival perfect for scientists aged 5-15 and their whānau.

 

Mathateca will be running our 3D printing exhibition, delivered in collaboration with Christchurch City Libraries.

Mathateca Logic Puzzle Workshops
Tabletop Tūranga - a free boardgame festival for Canterbury

 

Join friends old and new for a weekend of tabletop gaming at Christchurch's Central Library. All welcome, from seasoned gamers to those who are brand new to the hobby. Mathateca will be running the maths of Hex activity on Saturday 7th and the maths of Mancala on Sunday 8th, with round robin tournaments in the afternoons both days to test your skills.

🗓️ Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th June, 2025
📍Tūranga, 60 Cathedral Square

Pi Day: Calculating Pi From Scratch

Calling one-and-all to attempt to calculate as many digits of pi as we can, using nothing but paper and pencil.

Can we beat Matt Parker's 2024 attempt?

On Saturday March 15 2025, number enthusiasts in Christchurch are gathering in the Rātā Building, rooms 222/223, University of Canterbury to try to calculate as many digits of pi as we can by hand. 

If you can do long division (or are willing to learn) then you have the required skills to participate. Come along, and bring your friends!

The event runs between noon - 5pm; turn up anytime.

There will be a short presentation at 1:30pm about pi.

 

Mathateca is proud to support this valiant calculation effort for the 2025 International Day of Mathematics.

Past events

Explore the Mathematical Game of Hex 

 

Mathateca's inaugural event was on Saturday 18th February 2023. With a focus on showing the playful side of maths, we delivered an all-day drop in session at Tūranga on the two player abstract strategy game "Hex" devised by designer Piet Hein in the 1940s and popularised by mathematician John Nash.

 

The morning of Hex Day was focussed on helping library visitors learn how to play the game. This was followed by public talk by Dr Ross Atkins at 2pm discussing the history and mathematics of the game, and the day concluded with an opportunity to test out your strategy with a round-robin tournament.

 

People sitting around tables playing Hex.The top three players of the Hex tournament holding their Hex board prizes.A display of books about mathematical games.

 

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We thank Christchurch City Libraries for making the laser cut boards we used at the event. These are now available on the coffee tables of Auahatanga | Level 4 Tūranga to drop in and try your hand at.

You can also try your hand at Ross's Hex puzzles against an AI here: www.gustygames.co.nz/games/hex

 

Check out Rata's blog post and Mathematical Games book list on the Christchurch City Libraries website for more information about Hex.

 

https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/blogs/post/explore-the-mathematical-game-of-hex-at-turanga

 

Explore the Mathematical Game of Hex posterPublic talk: The Game of Hex poster