Discover the Best of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s Musical Heritage this TE MARAMA PUORO O AOTEAROA | New Zealand Music Month with Auckland Live.

May is an exciting time for music lovers in Aotearoa, as the country celebrates New Zealand Music Month. As a UNESCO City of Music, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland has a special reason to celebrate this month, with a diverse range of events planned to showcase the city’s rich musical heritage, artists and communities.

Auckland Live’s programme for New Zealand Music Month is designed around this year’s theme of ‘community and collaboration’, with a line-up of events that encourage audience participation and interaction. Whether you’re a music trivia buff, a street dance enthusiast, or simply looking to explore Auckland’s music history, there’s something for everyone. Here’s a glimpse of what to expect:

Pick & Battle, Saturday 27 May, 11 am | Free
Event info
‘Projekt Team’, New Zealand’s freshest all-style street dance collective will join forces with Auckland Live for ‘Pick and Battle’, a whānau friendly celebration of New Zealand music and dance. Join the audience at this one-off special event to pick the classic New Zealand song the crew will battle it out to. Then, stick around for a workshop with mini crew ‘Prototype’ and ultra-cool street dancer ‘Happy Feet’ to learn some sweet moves. Limited tickets available!

Digital Buskers & FromThePit, Thursday 4 May – Saturday 26 May | Free
Event info
Aotea Square will come to life with an interactive digital and physical experience on the Auckland Live Digital Stage, developed by DOTDOT. The ‘Digital Buskers’, will invite audiences to crank open a digital curtain revealing a series of unique performances in virtual worlds. The Digital Stage will also play host to ‘FromThePit’, a curated collection of the most recent creative works from New Zealand’s best music photographers.

NZ Music Month Edition Auckland Town Hall Tours, Sunday 21 & Saturday 27 May | $25
This twist on the fabulous Auckland Town Hall Tours will give music fans the chance to connect with the origins and history of one of our oldest standing venues with ‘Auckland Town Hall Tours: New Zealand Music Month Edition’. Curated by award-winning author and musician Gareth Shute, the passionate tour guides will take audiences through the halls of a venue steeped in music history with commentary weaving in local stories and knowledge especially curated for this New Zealand Music Month.

Auckland Live is also proud to support New Zealand Music T-Shirt Day, returning on Friday 26 May. Kiwis are encouraged to wear their favourite Kiwi artists or bands merch to raise awareness and funds for MusicHelps, a resource providing mental health and financial support for those in the industry.