Auckland becomes internationally recognised 'city of music'

Wednesday, 1 November 2017

Crowds enjoy Auckland City Limits in 2016. Auckland Council says seven out of 10 residents have attended a music event in the last three years.

Auckland is now an international music capital of the world.

On Wednesday United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) director general Irina Bokova announced in Paris that Auckland had joined the ranks of 18 cities including Glasgow and Adelaide as a Unesco city of music.

Former Split Enz member Mike Chunn says the focus this will bring to the city's creative sector is reason to celebrate.

Auckland Council and the Government are also working together in a bid to get the city's volcanic cones recognised as UNESCO World Heritage sites

Unesco's Creative Cities Network was established in 2004 to promote co-operation between cities that identified creativity as a factor for sustainable urban development. Auckland will join 116 members from 180 countries around the world covering seven creative fields.

* Auckland seeks to become a 'city of music'

* Dunedin: The return of New Zealand's first city

* Kiwi bach wins Unesco award**

Auckland Council applied to Unesco with Recorded Music NZ and APRA as music sector partners accompanied by a letter from mayor Phil Goff.

Recorded Music manager Mark Roach who was the project leader said it was a bit like winning an election and the hard work was only just beginning.

'There will be changes for the music scene. Perhaps not radical change, but certainly change for the better,' Roach said.

Changes like paying better attention to Auckland's grassroots venues, which were 'the research and development labs' of any music eco-system, protecting and preserving Auckland's music heritage for future generations, improving Auckland's liveability and attraction through a thriving music scene, and celebrating its unique sounds and musicians, he said.

The next move would be to formulate policies with council and creative sector stakeholders, and work out what outcomes and milestones needed to be achieved, he said.

Former Split Enz member Mike Chunn said the focus this would bring to the city's creative sector was reason to celebrate.

'Now at last there is an environment for the creative and imaginative pursuits of citizens to be fostered, developed and celebrated,' Chunn said.

Auckland had already proven it responded well to sports events, he said.

In 2016 Auckland Council adopted an arts and culture strategic plan to promote growth in the industry.

Auckland Council said seven out of 10 Aucklanders had attended a music event in the last three years, and the city had more than 18,000 residents working in the field.

New Zealand already has a Unesco creative city with Dunedin recognised for its literature, not music.