Port brings summer of festivals to Auckland’s waterfront. SeePort Concert & Fireworks, Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival and Lantern Festival
Ports of Auckland welcomes back a new look SeePort for 2021, along with bringing other summer events to the waterfront.
Ports of Auckland cornerstone community event, SeePort will look different in 2021. As a result of COVID-19 impacts, the regular three-day festival will be condensed into a one night only concert and fireworks – the SeePort Concert & Fireworks. The evenings line-up will be fully loaded with local talent, including the renowned Auckland Symphony Orchestra, crowd-favourite White Chapel Jak, culminating with Sweet Mix Kids and some of the best fireworks in town!
This Auckland Anniversary Weekend, Ports of Auckland invites Aucklanders to Captain Cook Wharf for the SeePort Concert & Fireworks on Sunday 31 January 2021 to celebrate Auckland's birthday with a bang.
The port will also host and welcome other iconic Auckland events, Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival and the Lantern Festival to the waterfront to round out a summer of festivals on the wharves. The port also welcomes SeePort principal partner, the Royal New Zealand Navy for an open day and tours of the HMNZS MANAWANUI for the first time in Auckland.
It's important for the city and her port to be able to flex and work together to best support the people of Auckland. Flexing the port's operational footprint, balancing supply chain demands, and public access is challenging. While Aucklanders need an effective port that can deliver the goods they need and want, they also need a space that can be utilised by the public.
SeePort Concert & Fireworks is one of the events taking place as part of Summernova Festival, an events and activations festival series developed by Auckland Unlimited to wrap around the 36th America's Cup presented by Prada.
Steve Armitage, General Manager Destination at Auckland Unlimited, says: "It's fantastic to have SeePort join an already impressive line-up of Summernova events, reinforcing that Auckland is the place to be this summer. We also appreciate Ports of Auckland agreeing to allow the popular Tāmaki Herenga Waka and Lantern cultural festivals to take place on the wharves – adding their unique flavour to Auckland's vibrant waterfront."
The completion of the port's five-storey car handling facility allows for Captain Cook and Marsden wharves to be opened for public during the lower freight and vehicle import seasons. When freight volumes are in peak, or when cruise ships are in port it's vital the port can utilise the wharves to do its core job as a lifeline utility, supporting the city's growth.
CEO Tony Gibson said "The implementation of the port's 30-year master plan means Aucklanders will be able to use their port for recreational activities more."
"We're very happy to support Auckland's cultural events and celebrate our diversity this summer" he said.
Summer on the port:
- Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival: Saturday 23 January 2021 10am – 10pm
- Royal New Zealand Navy HMNZS MANAWANUI open day and NZDF displays: Sunday 31 January 2021, 10am – 4pm
- Ports of Auckland SeePort Concert & Fireworks: Sunday 31 January 2021, 4pm to late
- Lantern Festival: Thursday 25 – Sunday 28 February 2021 – new to the waterfront!
To learn more about SeePort, visit www.seeport.co.nz. For information on Summernova head to summernova.co.nz and check back for updates as more events are added.
SeePort and the Summernova events will be delivered in line with Government COVID-19 guidelines and advice at the time of the event period. Ports of Auckland and Auckland Unlimited are monitoring the COVID-19 situation and will respond to any changing circumstances, as required.
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For further information contact:
Morgan MacFadyen
Communications Advisor
M: +6421 0267 1949
E: [email protected]
