Arts & culture

Artweek Auckland returns to the city centre from 9 - 17 October.

Christmas celebrations are underway in Auckland’s city centre, with visitors to the heart of the city in for a treat with a packed event schedule and the streets adorned with new festive decorations from this week.

Four works by local artists have been commissioned by Link Alliance to cover construction hoardings around the Aotea Station site, adding positive interest to the area and making it a more appealing place to be.

Time spent relaxing in Albert Park, texts between friends about a night on the town and a 1960s vision of the City Rail Link are some of the inspirations for new writing Heart of the City has put on display along Queen Street.

If you've walked around the city centre lately, you've probably spotted the vivid neon lighting we've added to trees in Vulcan Lane, Lorne Street, Freyberg Place and Aotea Square to brighten up the grey winter days.

Changing Lanes is a collaborative project funded by Heart of the City and facilitated by Artweek Auckland.

Heart of the City is offering $500 prizes for tiny pieces of writing - 20 words or fewer - by local creatives.

"Late Night Christmas" returns to the heart of Auckland city – Thursday 19 December, 5-8pm

Our free Christmas street festival is back on Thursday 19 December.