Lighting up the central city

Central Auckland has turned on a light display during May which the city council hopes will encourage shoppers and restaurant diners back.

It will include ribbons of colour draping from a canopy suspended above Vulcan Lane, a flock of flamingos dance on the rooftop of the City Rail

Link information centre where Elliott Street meets Victoria Street, temporary lighting installation Te Maharatanga o Ngā Wai – Te Wai Horotiu on the corner of Tāmaki Pataka Kōrero / Central City Library will remind us to remember our waterways, and a projection of waves will illuminate the Cross Street overbridge on Karangahape Road.

Co-curated by awardwinning designer Angus Muir and Barbara Holloway of Auckland Council, more than 50 light and art installations will colour-up the Viaduct Harbour, Silo Park, Britomart, Commercial Bay, Te Komititanga, Vulcan Lane, High Street district, Queen Street and many more city spaces, day and night.

City of Colour will also see city landmarks and buildings light up - from the SkyTower, The Civic, Vector Lights on the Harbour Bridge, PWC Tower and the Auckland Town Hall to Te Ara I Whiti / The Lightpath.

City of Colour is a partnership between Auckland Council and Heart of the City and other city centre partners including SkyCity, Viaduct Harbour Holdings, Britomart Group, Precinct Properties, Karangahape Road Business Association, Eke Panuku and Auckland Live.

Mayor Phil Goff says: ‘‘City of Colour will both light up our city and help kickstart the city centre’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. COVID has put us

‘‘City of Colour will both light up our city and help kickstart the city centre’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.’’

Mayor Phil Goff

all under pressure, but it has been particularly difficult for businesses located downtown.

‘‘The displays are designed to draw people into the city to experience and enjoy the lighting installations and artworks on display, and will bring increased vibrancy, colour and interest to central Auckland. It will also provide a welcome boost to businesses on the path to recovery,’’ he says.

The Council has also given CBD streets and squares cleanup, sprucing up the planters, addressing graffiti and ‘‘working with safety partners to ensure people feel safe and welcome when they return to the city centre.’’

Auckland’s city centre normally outperforms the region’s economy, but it is also known to be more sensitive to economic shocks.

Auckland Council Chief Economist Unit confirms that the lockdowns saw city centre growth fall faster than the wider Auckland economy in the year to March 2021.

It is New Zealand’s primary commercial centre, business hub for more than half of New Zealand’s Top 200 companies and home to 40,000 residents.

Its land area is 4.33km2 which is 0.4% of Auckland’s total land area (1,086km2). By way of contrast, it generates about 19% of Auckland’s GDP.

❚ City of Colour runs until May 22.