• Takapuna Winter Lights 2022 is being curated by internationally acclaimed light artist, Angus Muir. This photo is from this year's LUMA Queenstown.
  • Takapuna Winter Lights 2022 organising team of curator Angus Muir and Dan Move in Copenhagen. The two have worked together on spectacular light events all around the world.
  • Photo: Brett Phibbs.
  • Photo: Lochana.
  • Photo: Lochana.
  • Photo: Kathryn Nobbs Photography.
  • Photo: Kathryn Nobbs Photography.
  • Photo: Lochana.
  • Photo: Lochana.
  • Photo: Lochana.
  • Photo: Kathryn Nobbs Photography.
  • Photo: Claire Fuller.
  • Photo: Luke Foley Martin.
  • Photo: Luke Foley Martin.
  • Photo: Claire Fuller.
  • Photo: Claire Fuller.
  • Photo: Claire Fuller.
  • Photo: Brett Phibbs.

Takapuna lights up in late July!

In the second half of July, Auckland will play host once again to ‘Elemental AKL’. One of the popular festival’s lead events will be held over four nights in Takapuna. Takapuna Winter Lights will be a spectacular community family event of illuminated art, live music and performance over four evenings from Thursday July 28th through until Sunday July 31st.

“We’re delighted to be bringing Takapuna Winter Lights back again this year after what’s been a tumultuous time for everybody,” says Takapuna Beach Business Association CEO, Terence Harpur. "To be able to deliver the excitement of such a totally free world-class live event to our beloved community is thrilling and the support of local businesses to help us bring it to life has been fantastic. A true community effort, supported by Auckland Unlimited.”
Takapuna Winter Lights was held last year in 2021, proving to be a massive success with 12,000 people attending over two nights. This led the organisers to expand the event to four nights in 2022, with up to 40,000 visitors expected to experience the collection of light sculptures, art, music and performances curated by internationally acclaimed light artist, Angus Muir.
Organiser of Takapuna Winter Lights 2022 is Dan Move, who has worked with Angus Muir on spectacular light events all around the world – including LUMA in Queenstown as well as events in Singapore, Sydney, London, Iceland, Jerusalem and Israel. Dan is a founding member of LUMA.
“if you’ve missed LUMA – which is recognised as New Zealand’s leading light festival – then this is the next big thing in the country,” says Dan Move. “The event was brilliant last year and people loved it, but we are taking it to another level in 2022!”
Angus and Dan have recently done LUMA in Queenstown and have also just returned from doing Vivid in Sydney and iLightSingapore, the Singapore Light Festival held at Marina Bay from June 3rd till 26th. Angus Muir has now featured several times at iLightSingapore, Asia’s leading sustainable light festival. The artworks in Singapore are designed with energy-saving lightings and/or environmentally-friendly materials to encourage festival goers and the general public to adopt sustainable habits in their everyday lives.
“Angus is world-renowned for his light installations and we are focused on continuing to grow Takapuna Winter Lights as a world-class arts and cultural event,” adds Dan Move. “The event clearly captured the imagination of the community in 2021 and we want to grow on this in 2022, encouraging people to dress up and get involved. Get engaged and be a part of the art – light up yourself and your kids, it's fun and you will always be able to see them!”
Takapuna Winter Lights will be a world-class multi-sensory festival based on strong local support and integration, an arts and cultural community event that locals can be proud of. The event has been integrating further into the community in the lead up, with a schools' programme with Takapuna Primary School and Campbells Bay Early Learning Centre, where the students have been participating in creating art through education around the theme of ‘Te Moana Nui’ which translates to ‘The Great Ocean’ in te reo Māori and showcases magical worlds beneath the sea. The students’ artwork will be animated and brought to life at the festival set to a soundtrack composed by Wellington-based musician, Mark Johnson, and the ever-transforming, magical realm of the sea will be created by Daniel Brown, Professor of Design Studio, Victoria University of Wellington.
The organisers are also keen to point out that Takapuna Winter Lights is an alcohol-free event, with Takapuna’s public spaces being alcohol-free. If you want to drink you can do it responsibly in one of the many amazing bars or restaurants. Takapuna Winter Lights is also a smoke-free event and aims to also be waste-free. Takapuna has loads of parking or you can ride your bike, bus, walk or carpool to help keep the carbon footprint down.
“Most of the light events on the circuit around the world have a strong focus on the environment and being positive contributors to the community and that is what we are doing here in Takapuna,” explains Dan Move. “Auckland is going to love Takapuna Winter Lights 2022."
Takapuna Winter Lights in association with Auckland Unlimited. Experience Takapuna like never before in July 2022. Come together with the community, family and friends for four magical evenings of illuminated art, live music and performance. Takapuna Winter Lights is also brought to you by I Love Takapuna, AMD, SILO, Go Media, Foundation North and Willis Bond.

Takapuna Winter Lights 2022: 5pm-10pm, Thursday July 28th through until Sunday July 31st, Hurstmere Green, Hurstmere Road, Takapuna Beach. Visit: www.winterlights.nz