Thursday 5 March
5:30pm – 7:30pm
Opening Event – Sau Fiafia! with Island Vibes
Join us as the Festival Garden comes alive with infectious rhythms, dancing, and a warm Pacific welcome to open the Festival in style.
7:30pm – 11pm
Artists to be announced
Stay on for more live music and good vibes as the night unfolds. |
Friday 6 March
12:15pm – 1:45pm
Lunchtime Sessions – Mark Baynes Singalong
Step away from your desk, grab your lunch, and join an uplifting lunchtime singalong. No experience required—just bring your voice and a sense of fun.
4pm – 5pm
Malcolm Lakatani
Ease into the weekend with sounds that blend heritage and contemporary Pacific musicality, inspired by the sonics of Niue and beyond.
5pm – 7pm
Sunset Sessions with DJ Grant Marshall
Settle in as the sun goes down with a smooth, feel-good soundtrack to start your evening.
7:30pm – 8:30pm
Acústica Latina Band
Dr Mark Baynes and friends bring vibrant Latin rhythms, piano, and percussion to the square—music made for moving. |
Saturday 7 March
12pm – 4pm
BIG FAN Block Party
The team from Big Fan showcase some of Aotearoa’s most exciting emerging talent. Discover new favourites and celebrate the depth of local music culture. Click here for more details
5pm – 7pm
Sunset Sessions – DJ Grantis - Underground beats and samples made popular through the moving tides of today's music
7pm – 9pm
rova Hits from the Breeze on the rova sound stage
Dance into Saturday night with classic 70s and 80s favourites.
9pm – 11pm
DJ Tuāfale
High-energy beats and a dancefloor atmosphere to carry you late into the night. |
Sunday 8 March
10am – 4pm
Whānau Day
A full day of free activities, performances, and family-friendly fun across Aotea Square. (See Whānau Day page for full programme.)
3pm – 4pm
Sunset Sessions with DJ Tuāfale
4pm – 10pm
Fun energy music with Hot Diggity and 4 on the floor crowd pleasers with DJ Poppa Jax
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Monday 9 March
The Festival Garden rests on Mondays, but the Festival continues. Step indoors and experience Helios in the Concert Chamber. |
Tuesday 10 March
6pm – 8pm
Sunset Sessions with DJ Mr Bigstuff
After-work grooves to help you unwind in the Festival Garden. |
Wednesday 11 March
5pm – 6pm
Hits from The Breeze
Midweek classics to lift your spirits.
6pm – 7pm
Homegrown Jazz – Goldsmith & Baynes
An hour of live jazz from some of our favourite local musicians.
7pm – 8:45pm
Sunset Sessions with DJ Mr Bigstuff
8:45pm – 11pm
rova Hits from The Breeze |
Thursday 12 March
12:15pm – 1:45pm
Lunchtime Sessions – Aotearoa Songbook sing-a-long with Te Whainoa Wiata
5pm – 7pm
Sunset Sessions – rova hits from the Breeze
7pm – 8pm
6 piece eclectic soul unit always out to impress– Hot Steppahs
9pm – 11pm – rova Hits from the rova sound stage
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Friday 13 March
12:15pm – 1:45pm
Lunchtime Sessions – Queen Shirl’e featuring new releases and hits from her Academy
6pm – 8pm
Sunset Sessions with Manuel Bundy
A master of the decks brings deep cuts, soul, and dancefloor classics.
8pm – 9pm
Live entertainment with RnR Music – no surprises all class and all genres, this dynamic duo can croon or rock all night
9pm – late
Rova hit list for the late-night marauders
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Saturday 14 March
12pm – 4pm
Block Party – Global Music
Travel the world in an afternoon. This vibrant block party brings together international sounds, infectious rhythms, and feel-good grooves from across the globe. A perfect way to discover something new while soaking up the Festival Garden Atmosphere. Click here for more information
5pm – 6pm
New talent, fresh feels with Levol Y – Dynamic young artists bounce the stage.
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Sunday 15 March
3pm – 4pm - St Patricks celebration on the rova sound stage
5pm – 6pm – Award winning, World touring ‘Marian Burns’ comes home to play
7pm – late – St Patricks celebration on the rova sound stage |
Monday 16th March
Today the Festival Garden takes a well-earned rest before the final run of shows and events. Join us again from Tuesday! |
Tuesday 17 March
6pm – 8pm
Sunset Sessions – Trending Unique sounds – Get your insta on and match your styles withDJ Aribella
9:30pm – 11pm
Hits from The Breeze
The perfect post-show soundtrack. |
Wednesday 18 March
5pm – 6pm
The Voice of Nyssa Collins and band - with Pacific Soul and melodic classics
6pm – 7:30pm
rova Hits from The Breeze
7:30pm – 9pm
Sunset Sessions with DJ Grant Marshall
9:30pm – 11pm
rova Hits from The Breeze
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Thursday 19 March
12pm – 1:45pm
Lunchtime Session – Musika Collective
A showcase of some of our finest young musicians. You wanted your lunchtime fresh, vibrant, and full of energy right?
5pm – 6pm
Kenji – Live Fusion
Get warmed up for the evening with a dynamic live set blending genres and styles.
6pm – 11pm
rova Hits from The Breeze |
Friday 20 March
12pm – 1:45pm
Lunchtime Session – Te Whainoa Te Wiata: Aotearoa Songbook Singalong (TBC)
Gather your workmates and raise your voices in a joyful celebration of classic waiata and songs of Aotearoa.
5pm – 6pm
Wheke Fortress – Out the gate cool originals from the Fortress of creativity they call Wheke
7:30pm – 9pm
rova Hits from The Breeze – Between-show Boogie
9pm – 11pm
DJ Manuel Bundy
From Soul Train to Uptown Funk—classic grooves to close out your Friday night. |
Saturday 21 March
12pm – 4pm
Block Party – Strictly Brown Ltd
A Pasifika and Māori spectacular of dance, music, and high-energy performance to power up the final weekend.
4:30pm – 6:15pm
Shea Kokaua – Cook Island maestro will make you sing at the top of your voice
6:45pm – 7:45 pm
Te Whainoa Wiata - Acoustic Flamenco stylings and waiata
9pm – 11pm
RnR Music – Make way to the dance floor |
Sunday 22 March
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Noa Quartet (TBC)
Ease into the afternoon with the lush, expressive sound of strings.
4pm – 5pm
Cuban Jazz Trio – Fuentes, Baynes, Hopkins
Rhythmic, vibrant, and irresistible—music made for moving.
6:30pm – 9:30pm
Open Mic Singalong – Festival Finale
Join us for one last singalong as we close the Festival together in true Garden style. |
