Auckland City Council Media release

22 January 2009

It's all on in February

There's a huge month of events coming up in Auckland.

The month kicks off with the world's best sailing crews, including our own Emirates Team New Zealand, taking to the Waitemata Harbour for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.

There are plenty of great viewing spots along the bays, North Head and Bastion Point for people to catch the six daily races between Rangitoto Island and the city foreshore.

Head to the Viaduct Harbour to farewell and welcome the boats each day, grab some autographs from the sailors and enjoy daily on-shore activities and entertainment.

On Monday, 2 February there will be a special bonus in the race village, with the World Cup-winning New Zealand rugby league team signing autographs for fans, so head down and congratulate the new world champions.

Spend Waitangi Day at the beach with Waitangi Day Festival '09 (Okahu Bay, Friday, 6 February) - a free family event rich in tradition, culture, food, art and live entertainment including House of Shem, Opensouls, Tahuna Breaks, Herbs and Sons of Zion.

Wild Bean Cafe ZooMusic will keep the animals awake with four great concerts beginning on 7 February - and the Auckland Lantern Festival will light up Albert Park over the same long weekend, from 6 to 9 February.

One of Auckland's favourite and most widely attended cultural celebrations, the free festival captures the spirit of Chinese New Year celebrations with lanterns of all shapes and sizes, traditional and contemporary entertainment, and speciality food and craft stalls.

For something a little different, head to Waiheke Island until 15 February for headland Sculpture on the Gulf. See more than 20 art works in the sea, and on the cliff-edge and headlands along the two-kilometre Matiatia to Church Bay walkway.

Family favourite, the SKYCITY Starlight Symphony will provide a fantastic evening's entertainment at Auckland Domain on Saturday, 21 February. This year's feature headliner is New Zealand's own singer/songwriter Brooke Fraser - and the evening concludes with a fireworks and laser show.

The council's Music in Parks series of free concerts continues, with weekly jazz at the Auckland Domain band rotunda, three huge Telecom Summer Sounds concerts at Nixon Park, Blockhouse Bay Beach Reserve and Waiheke Island, and a host of niche musical genres is some of our city's most spectacular open spaces.

The free Movies in Parks programme also begins in February, with three great mid-week flicks at Mt Eden's Tahaki Reserve.

Bike enthusiasts can take part in the free Go by Bike Breakfast at the Viaduct on 18 February - and the kids get their turn on the 19th with the Kids' Bike Ride at Western Springs Park.

The BMW Auckland Regatta from 20 February features 15 sailing divisions over three days, racing at two of Auckland's popular eastern beaches.

The last day of the month is a big one for jazz lovers, with the Mission Bay Jazz and Blues Streetfest beachside at Selwyn Reserve - and Telecom Derby Day, which marks the start of Auckland Cup Week, which glamorously continues into March.

All of these great events are provided or sponsored by Auckland City Council.

One thing's for sure - it's all on in Auckland this summer.

Visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/events for more information about all of the events mentioned above.

ENDS

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