Takapuna Winter Lights has become an iconic destination event for the North Shore, and it's happening once again later this month in Takapuna. It’s a wonderful event, with something for the whole family, including out-of-this world light sculptures, performances, music and more.
The 2024 event was so good it won two awards over the past 12 months. These were a New Zealand Events Association Award for the ‘Best New Zealand Community or Not-for-Profit event over 3000 people’, and contributed to the Takapuna Beach Business Association winning the ‘Excellence in Community Contribution Award’ in the 2 Degrees Auckland Business Excellence Awards (North/West) for its range of events and community initiatives.
Takapuna Winter Lights will once again take place in Waiwharariki Anzac Square, the town plaza, as well as Hurstmere Road and Hurstmere Green. The event is set to once again captivate and inspire visitors with a dazzling display of art and culture.
A core event organisation team of Terence Harpur (Takapuna Beach Business Association), as well as lighting and event gurus Dan Move and Angus Muir, have been working on the event for the last year – following on from the hugely successful 2024 event that ‘broke the motorway’ due to massive crowds coming, causing traffic jams on the motorway and surrounding streets.
Event producer/manager Dan Move also performs the same important role for the very popular Luma Light Festival in Queenstown. He has travelled the world setting up such light festival events, including Vivid Sydney, Jerusalem Light Festival, London Light Festival, and iLight Singapore, to name just a few. Wherever Dan is, it lights up! He and his team have won awards for their work. Dan is once again working with renowned light artist Angus Muir to ensure Takapuna Winter Lights 2025 is spectacular.
“The organisation is a massive undertaking,” explained Terence Harpur when we caught up with him in Takapuna during June. “It’s huge, from fundraising and sponsorships, to designing and building installations, to performance creation and traffic management plans. It’s very rewarding and we absolutely love seeing the joy and wonder the event creates for our community. We’re expanding the event area for 2025 to give everyone more space and enjoy the impressive installations.”
Ticketed FREE Session times
“Last year NZTA complained we ‘broke the motorway’ so this year we are introducing ticketed session times, increasing signage and traffic management, hoping to alleviate the traffic issues to make it easier for all. Parking will still be limited so we are encouraging people to come early and catch public transport when possible.
“We also suggest booking a restaurant and taking advantage of the range of wonderful eateries we have in Takapuna. Over 100 places to eat and drink – so make the most of the night and grab some dinner/drinks before or after enjoying the event. Our advice is plan in advance, and book, to avoid disappoint.”
Explaining the introduction of ticketed session times, Terence Harpur was keen to make it very clear that the event is still totally free to attend.
“Due to the massive demand we had last year we need to ticket the event in 2025 and have people come to the event in a session time. These session times are 5-7pm, 7pm-8.30pm and 8.30-10pm. This will help spread the crowd out during each evening and across the four nights of the event, creating a more enjoyable experience for everyone. The event is also cashless, so people need to bring an eftpos/credit card.”
New installations for 2025
“We have lots of brand new installations coming to Takapuna Winter Lights. A super exciting piece is called 'Filament’,
a large-scale laser-mapped/ kinetic art piece with an immersive quadraphonic sound system that will take over Potters Park.
“We also have a new extra-large installation of ‘UV Spaghetti’, which is very interactive and very Instagrammable. ‘Cosmic Grove’ and ‘Field of Light’ will also be amazing photo-taking opportunities, as well as our playful ‘Pop’ piece.”
“Also very exciting is our local Māori Story piece, where we have worked with a local kaumātua Danny Te Rakai Watson, on a local story. This highlights the connection with our whenua and the need to protect it. It is an immersive piece, set up in a large tree, creating a thought-provoking and moving piece for everyone to enjoy.”
We are thrilled to announce that Spark and Spotify will host a multi-sensory experience, giving everyone access to a vibrant silent disco event. Check out the Takapuna Winter Lights socials for more information closer to the event.
Local schools part of the entertainment
Terence Harpur adds that Takapuna Winter Lights is thrilled to once again be partnering with local schools to bring their artwork (school's projection piece), music (emerging talent stage) and performance (dance performances during the event) each night.
“We have so much local young talent, and we love providing a platform for them to showcase their skills to a large audience. It enhances the vibrancy of the event.”
SHINE programme for those with disabilities
For a second year, Takapuna Winter Lights will also include the SHINE programme. SHINE at Takapuna Winter Lights 2025 includes special personal tours for groups of young people with disabilities during an early opening of the festival. This allows them to enjoy the event before the rush of the crowds arrive, and is a very heartwarming tour to be part of.
Thank you to the funders and sponsors
Takapuna Winter Lights Festival is made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Takapuna Beach Business Association, Auckland Council, AMD and Go Media. Special thank you to all funders and sponsors who make this event possible.
Takapuna Winter Lights Festival 2025 – on nightly from 24 July until 27 July (Thursday to Sunday), from 5pm to 10pm. Waiwharariki Anzac Square, Central Takapuna.
Admission is free, please book session times via event website: winterlights.nz
Takapuna Winter Lights at a glance:-
Visit: winterlights.nz
