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Two of Auckland’s biggest festivals will add to an
exciting summer of events on the city’s waterfront at
Ports of Auckland.
For this first time, Captain Cook
and Marsden Wharves will host the Auckland Lantern Festival,
one of the largest cultural festivals in New Zealand in
February. A month earlier, Captain Cook Wharf will host the
Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival, a 12-hour extravaganza
delivered in partnership with Mana Whenua.
Both events
are delivered by Auckland Unlimited, the region’s cultural
and economic agency, on behalf of Auckland
Council.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is looking forward
to both festivals and says the waterfront will be a
fantastic venue.
“Auckland Lantern Festival and
Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival are much loved by Aucklanders
and draw crowds of thousands every year,” he
says.
“Auckland’s beautiful waterfront is a great
venue for both events. It’s right in the heart of our city
with fantastic views of the Waitematā Harbour and Rangitoto
Island—which will make the fireworks displays a real
spectacle—and it’s close to public transport links and
the many restaurants, bars and eateries that Auckland is
known for.
“I hope Aucklanders get out and out about
this summer and enjoy the festivals and everything our
vibrant waterfront has to offer.”
Steve Armitage,
General Manager Destination Auckland Unlimited, says
cultural festivals add to the vibrancy of the events that
will light up the waterfront this summer.
“We
appreciate the Ports of Auckland agreeing to host these
festivals on the wharves. Against this unique urban
backdrop, these two colourful festivals will bring the
waterfront to life next year. It’s a natural fit and will
give festival-goers the chance to soak up the action in the
city this summer,” Armitage says.
Tony Gibson, Ports
of Auckland CEO says: “Ports of Auckland is delighted to
host these festivals and welcome the Lantern Festival onto
the port for the first time.”
“These festivals
celebrate our diversity and are popular and much-anticipated
fixtures on Auckland’s events calendar. We’re excited to
be part of bringing them to the waterfront.”
Viv
Beck, Chief Executive, Heart of the City says: “We’re
thrilled to welcome the Lantern Festival back to the heart
of our city next year. This is a significant and much-loved
event that will bring thousands of people flocking to the
downtown area and the timing is perfect.
“We’re
expecting the city to be buzzing with the America’s Cup,
and with beautiful new waterfront spaces in the area, adding
more events like this will generate even more vibrancy and
excitement. We can’t wait!”
About the
Festivals
23 January 2021 | Tāmaki Herenga Waka
Festival
Now in its fifth year, the Tāmaki Herenga
Waka Festival is an annual celebration of the rich Māori
history and culture of Tāmaki Makaurau through music, arts,
craft and storytelling. The free event will see a 12-hour
extravaganza from 10am until 10pm at Captain Cook
Wharf.
Highlights for 2021 include Waka Hourua
sailings on Waitemata Harbour, Māori marketplace, stage
performances by Trinity Roots and Maisey Rika, Rongoā
Māori, a 50m live graf art installation, kapa haka
performances and a laser and fireworks display.
The
Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival is delivered in partnership
with ngā mana whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau – the 19 iwi of
Auckland.
24 February – 28 February 2021 | Auckland
Lantern Festival
Celebrating Chinese culture and
Auckland’s Chinese communities, the Lantern Festival will
be the headline event for Chinese New Year celebrations in
February.
The festival sees the public enjoy hundreds
of elaborate handmade Chinese lanterns on display, cultural
song, music, and dance performances, craft demonstrations,
sponsor activations and competitions, retail and food
stalls, and a fireworks display.
The event will remain
a free, family-friendly event, and two public sessions each
day – lunch and dinner – will be introduced.
The
festival has previously held at Auckland Domain for the past
five years, and Albert Park prior to that. The move follows
the natural conclusion of the five-year resource consent for
the Auckland Domain and a review of a number of alternative
venues, with the move to Ports of Auckland considered the
best outcome for the festival delivery in
2021.
Auckland Lantern Festival is delivered by
Auckland Unlimited (formerly Auckland Tourism Events and
Economic Development*), on behalf of Auckland Council and in
conjunction with the Asia New Zealand
Foundation.
2020/2021 Summer on the
waterfront:
- The PRADA America’s Cup
World Series Auckland and PRADA Christmas Race: 17
December – 20 December, Waitematā
Harbour - The PRADA Cup Challenger Selection
Series: 15 January– 22 February,
Waitematā Harbour - Tāmaki Herenga Waka
Festival: Saturday 23 January, Captain Cook
Wharf - Ports of Auckland SeePort Concert
& Fireworks: Sunday 31 January, Captain Cook
Wharf - Auckland International Buskers
Festival: 29 January – 1 February,
Waterfront - Auckland Lantern Festival:
Thursday 25 February – Sunday 28 February,
Captain Cook and Marsden Wharves - Auckland
Art Fair, 24 February – 28 February, The
Cloud - The 36th America’s Cup Match
presented by PRADA, 6 March – 21 March, Waitematā
Harbour
About Auckland
Unlimited
Auckland Unlimited was formed following the
merger of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development
and Regional Facilities Auckland, and took effect as a new
organisation on 1 December
2020.
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