Auckland Harbour Bridge to light up for Matariki

Thursday, 28 June 2018

A light show on the Auckland Harbour Bridge will tell the story of Te Kawerau a Maki for Matariki, or Maori New Year. (Photo of test on June 28.)

Auckland's Harbour Bridge will come alive for Matariki with a light and music show celebrating the tangata whenua of Waitākere.

West Auckland iwi Te Kawerau a Maki, as the host iwi for Matariki Festival, has collaborated with the Vector Lights project for the show.

The bridge will be lit up to tell the story of the iwi's ancestor, Maki, who conquered and settled Waitākere in the 1600s.

It will also reflect the importance of the iwi's role as kaitiaki, or guardians of the land, Vector said.

**READ MORE:

The bridge has previously lit up to mark Pride Week and Anzac Day.

* Harbour Bridge to shine in celebration of light

* How they make it: changing the Harbour Bridge's lights

Vector is lighting up Auckland Harbour bridge to celebrate Matariki 2018. (Photo of test on June 28.)

* Bridge to become $10m brighter**

The light show will begin on Sunday July 1, then run every Friday and Saturday night until July 21.

It starts at 6pm and will run until midnight.

The harbour bridge was fitted with $10 million worth of lights in December 2017.

It is covered with about 90,000 LED pixels and 100 spotlights, which are illuminated to celebrate days of significance, such as Auckland Anniversary Day and Anzac Day.

The energy from the lights come from nearly 250 solar panels installed nearby.

Vector suggests Aucklanders watch the lights from Little Shoal Bay in Northcote, the Bayswater Marina, Mt Victoria or Queens Parade in Devonport, Bastion Point, the Auckland Waterfront, Harbour View Beach Reserve on the Te Atatū Peninsula, Sentinel Beach in Herne Bay, or Mt Eden.

A livestream of the light show can be found here.