Auckland City Council
Media release

14 January 2010

Happy birthday Auckland – let’s celebrate!

Auckland will celebrate its birthday with a host of special events during Auckland Anniversary Weekend, the last weekend of the month.

Auckland's Viaduct Harbour is once again the heart of the action, with lots happening over the long summer weekend.

Mayor John Banks encourages Aucklanders to come down to the waterfront and help celebrate our city.

“Auckland Anniversary Weekend is always a great start to the year, and in this case a new decade. Auckland City Council is proud to be able to offer such a large and exciting programme of events during the long weekend which recognise our city’s unique natural assets and history,” says Mr Banks.

Prepare to be entertained, as festivities kick off on Friday night (29 January), with carnival rides for the kids and the first of several Auckland International Buskers Festival night shows.

The Buskers Festival continues throughout the weekend, with a huge assortment of local and international acrobats, jugglers, mimes, comedians and more coming together to create an energetic vibe on Auckland’s waterfront.

Another highlight of the long weekend is the extremely popular Auckland Seafood Festival, which takes place from Saturday to Monday (noon to 7pm) at Halsey Street Wharf. Enjoy a huge range of local delicacies from more than 20 different stalls, a wide selection of local and international wines, beer from Mac’s Brew Bar, as well as performances from local musicians, buskers, street entertainers, industry displays and competitions.

Check out the new Blue Water Black Magic exhibition at Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum; and see how Customs protects our shores on International Customs Day (Saturday).

Enjoy carnival rides and kids’ entertainment, or take part in the South American-themed Fiesta of Colours parade and dance party with some of Auckland’s top Latina performers on Sunday night, capped off with a spectacular fireworks display.

And of course on Monday, 1 February, Auckland’s birthday tradition, The Oceanbridge Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, will see thousands of marine craft take to the Waitemata to celebrate Auckland’s maritime history.

For the full programme of events happening during Auckland Anniversary Weekend, visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/events

Auckland Anniversary Weekend is provided by Auckland City Council with support from Auckland Seafood Festival, Auckland International Buskers Festival, Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum, New Zealand Customs Service, grabaseat, Youthtown, Red Bull, Wildfire Restaurant, The Radio Network and The Lion Foundation.

Note to editors:

Below is the full line up of Auckland Anniversary events

Friday, 29 January
Noon-6pm – Auckland International Buskers Festival Viaduct Harbour and other city centre venues
5pm-11pm - Carnival rides Viaduct Harbour
7.30pm-10pm - Auckland International Buskers Festival Night Show Viaduct Harbour

Saturday, 30 January
9am-5pm – Voyager NZ Maritime Museum open Voyager NZ Maritime Museum
10am-11pm – Carnival rides Viaduct Harbour
10.30am, noon, 2pm – Voyager Live: Ted Ashby sailing trips Voyager NZ Maritime Museum
11am-5pm – International Customs Day Viaduct Harbour
Noon-4pm - Kids' entertainment Viaduct Harbour
Noon-7pm – Auckland Seafood Festival Halsey Street Wharf
Noon-6pm – Auckland International Buskers Festival Viaduct Harbour and other city centre venues
1pm-5pm – Voyager Live: Fish and Ships Voyager-Halsey Street Wharf
2pm – Auckland Seafood Festival Blessing of the Fleet Halsey Street Wharf
2.30pm – Auckland Seafood Festival Slippery Pole competition Halsey Street Wharf
8pm-10pm – Auckland International Buskers Festival Night Show Viaduct Harbour

Sunday, 31 January
9am-5pm – Voyager NZ Maritime Museum open Voyager NZ Maritime Museum
10am-11pm – Carnival rides Viaduct Harbour
10.30am, noon, 2pm – Voyager Live: Ted Ashby sailing trips Voyager NZ Maritime Museum
Noon-4pm - Kids' entertainment Viaduct Harbour
Noon-7pm – Auckland International Buskers Festival Viaduct Harbour and other city centre venues
Noon-7pm – Auckland Seafood Festival Halsey Street Wharf
1pm-5pm – Voyager Live: Fish and Ships Voyager-Halsey Street Wharf
Dusk – Classic Yachts lighting display Viaduct Harbour
7.30pm-8.30pm - Fiesta of Colours parade Viaduct Harbour
8.30pm-10.30pm - Fiesta of Colours dance party Viaduct Harbour
10.30pm – Auckland Anniversary fireworks display Viaduct Harbour

Monday, 1 February
8.45am, 11.30am, 2pm – Voyager Live: Ted Ashby sailing trips Voyager NZ Maritime Museum
9am-5pm – Voyager NZ Maritime Museum open Voyager NZ Maritime Museum
9am – Tugboat parade to start line Viaduct Harbour
10am – Tugboat race begins (off North Head) Waitemata Harbour
10am - Radio-controlled yachting Viaduct Harbour, Westhaven, Smales Quarry
10am-8pm – Carnival rides Viaduct Harbour
10.30am, 1.30pm – Voyager Live: Breeze sailing trips Voyager NZ Maritime Museum
11am – Oceanbridge Auckland Anniversary Day races begin Princes Wharf/Waitemata Harbour
11am - Centreboard races Tamaki Drive, Northcote Wharf, Takapuna
11.30am - Tugboat dancing, pushing and fire fighting Viaduct harbour
11.30am-10.30pm – St Jerome’s Auckland Laneway Festival Britomart
Noon-4pm - Kids' entertainment Viaduct Harbour
Noon – Harbour Blast Orakei Wahrf
Noon-5pm – Auckland International Buskers Festival Viaduct Harbour and other city centre venues
Noon-7pm – Auckland Seafood Festival Halsey Street Wharf
1pm-5pm – Voyager Live: Fish and Ships Voyager-Halsey Street Wharf
6pm-8pm – Auckland International Buskers Festival Night Show Viaduct Harbour

ENDS

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