Festival Garden

This relaxing, beautifully lit space is open before, during and after our evening schedule of shows and plays host to the ROVA Sound Stage, where DJs and musicians are on rotation to extend that late summer energy a little while longer.

♥ TĀMAKI by Angus Muir Design
Show your pride for Tāmaki Makaurau and be part of the Festival spirit! Our signature art installation shines at the heart of Aotea Square; a vibrant beacon of creativity and love for our city. Come together with friends, whānau and fellow festival-goers to soak up the atmposhere, make a memory and snap your perfect Insta moment. Share what makes you proud to call this city home and don’t forget to tag us @aucklandartsfestival.

Te Mauri o te Ahurei - The Lifeforce of the Festival
He rite tonu te whakamāramahia o te mauri hei ngaro e here ana i te tangata ki te taiao. Ki te kore te mauri, ka kore te mana. I hukea ake tēnei kōhatu nei i te wāhi e tū ai te Tūranga o Aotea ka whakaotihia ākuanei, ā, mā te kōhatu nei tātou e here ki tēnei papa, ki tēnei wāhi. E akiaki ana mātou i ngā tāngata katoa o Tāmaki Makaurau ki te whakapā atu ki te kōhatu nei kia rongo ai i tōna mauri, ā, kia whakatōkia atu ai hoki he mauri, he mana anō hoki mā te mirimiri i te kōhatu.

Mauri is often described as an energy which binds people to the natural world. Without mauri, mana (extraordinary personal power) cannot flow. This particular stone was excavated from the site of the soon to be completed Aotea Station, and connects us to this place and space. We encourage all Aucklanders to interact with the stone, to feel its life force and to infuse the stone with mauri and mana through rubbing the stone.