Tauranga comes alight

Video and photos by Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Downtown Tauranga came alight on Friday night with the midwinter celebration Winter Nights Winter Lights.

The free, all-ages event, presented by Tauranga City Council, showcases a spectrum of interactive light installations, live entertainment, food and more on four consecutive nights.

From lighting designer Alexandra Heaney's interactive light installation Sweep to the lighted pou at the other end of the Strand, there is colour, music, projected images, dancing, food and entertainment.

Glennis Couchman and her dog Bear enjoying ‘Sweep'

‘Sweep' comprises one hundred acrylic tubes, standing four metres tall with three sections of light implanted inside (all LED- controllable) each stem.

In addition to Sweep, an outdoor projection has turned a wall in Masonic Park into a temporary art installation, unique to Tauranga. The animated projection by local artist Sam Emerson highlights features, events and scenes that are unique to Tauranga.

Fuse Drumming and food trucks add to the vibrancy, with the event running from 6 -10pm each evening until Monday July 16.

Things to know


The Strand, between Harington Street and Devonport Road roundabouts, and Wharf Street, between Willow Street and The Strand, will be closed to support a safe event environment. There are various construction projects underway in the CBD and other roads may also be closed. Please follow detour signs where possible.

Parking is free on the weekends in all off-street car parks and parking buildings in Tauranga's city centre.

On-street parking is free on Sunday, free after 1pm on Saturday and after 3pm on weekdays. Please use the car parking buildings, they've got plenty of space.

Access to Spring Street car parking building is one-way only from the Spring Street end of Durham Street.

Parking, road closures and further event details are available in the event map.

Event details at www.mytauranga.co.nz/WNWL

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