Annual reports capture TAU’s outstanding year delivering for Auckland
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s two 2025/26 annual reports published today reflect excellent outcomes delivered for Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland while the organisation was swiftly evolving to help enrich the region’s cultural life and vibrancy.
The highlights achieved by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) – the region’s cultural, events and tourism agency – included a fourth consecutive record of 2.4 million ticketed attendees to TAU venues and events; $72.9 million GDP contribution from major and business events the organisation supported; completing the four-year heritage renovation of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki; and the delivery of three hugely popular cultural festivals on behalf of Auckland Council.
TAU Chief Executive Nick Hill says: “As we reflect on a successful financial year, we are also future-focused – embracing the growing positivity in Tāmaki Makaurau with the completion of the City Rail Link, the opening of the NZICC and other catalysing milestones such as the historic State of Origin rugby league game in Auckland next year, which we have worked actively to secure for more than three years. Our work programmes are designed to help Auckland seize the transformational opportunities in front of us, so I am very proud of the breadth of work and the results outlined in our annual reports.
“While we achieved 14 of our key performance measures and the other was substantially achieved, we are even more pleased that research shows that Aucklanders and visitors are strong advocates for the experiences we help deliver in our region.
“We achieved those outcomes while always prioritising the delivery of great value to ratepayers for the funding entrusted in TAU, and with a focus on helping Auckland reach its unique and outstanding potential as an Asia-Pacific destination,” says Nick Hill.
TAU produces dual annual reports because it consists of two separate statutory reporting entities: TAU Trust, which owns and operates some of the region’s best-loved venues including Auckland Zoo, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananu a Tangaroa, Aotea Centre, The Civic, and three major stadiums; and TAU Limited, which invests in, attracts or delivers a diverse range of major and business events, supports the visitor economy, and leads and coordinates the promotion of Auckland’s brand. For most of the reporting year, TAU Limited also operated the region’s two largest film studios.
This year, TAU embedded key strategic directives from the council’s mayoral-led CCO Reform process which expanded its role of supporting and delivering events and activations in a vibrant, ‘always on’ city. TAU’s mandate is as the lead agency for integrated event programming and promotion of all regional, major and mega events – so we began undertaking activity previously delivered by the council, such as collaborating with iwi on Matariki Festival, and activating the city centre.
An integrated council-wide Auckland Council Events brand was developed in collaboration with the wider council group and launched by TAU in October 2025 before being successfully rolled out to give clarity and visibility of council’s involvement across all council-supported and delivered events.
The financial year saw:
- more than 2.4 million tickets issued to attend TAU Trust venues
- record-breaking membership of nearly 53,000 at Auckland Zoo, and more than 45,000 engaged with the Conservation Learning sessions
- New Zealand Maritime Museum welcome a record 183,600 visitors to enjoy its programmes, including the Ngā Huhua: Abundance exhibition
- the completion of Kia Whakahou, Kia Whakaora – the four-year heritage restoration of Auckland Art Gallery’s heritage wing, slate roof and exterior windows
- Auckland Live selling more than 98 per cent of tickets to RBG: Of Many, One in partnership with Auckland Theatre Company, amid a full calendar of shows, activations and events
- Go Media Stadium hosting Auckland FC’s successful A-League Grand Final, the first final held in New Zealand, alongside regular huge crowds for One NZ Warriors’ NRL matches, and a growing community focused programme at North Harbour Stadium
- Non-rates sources continued to grow, this year providing 59 per cent of TAU Trust’s operating revenue.
TAU Limited’s highlights included:
- delivered the Diwali, Lantern and Pasifika cultural festivals – with BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival attracting more than 74,000 unique attendees
- $72.9 million GDP contribution from major and business events the organisation supported, including SailGP, a huge Metallica concert, New Zealand Fashion Week, the ASB Classic tennis tournament, and Mānuka Phuel Synthony in the Domain
- worked with partners to help Auckland secure 65 new business events
- 170 Destination Partnership Programme members contributed $1.77 million towards marketing Auckland
- 3.06 million sessions on the Discover Auckland website managed by TAU.
Delivering for mana whenua and matāwaka
TAU is committed to enhancing Māori outcomes in Tāmaki Makaurau through promoting Māori enterprises, advancing Māori employment and supporting iwi and Māori businesses to succeed. Both TAU Limited and TAU Trust have a focus on achieving the strategic priorities in Te Mahere Aronga – the organisation’s Māori outcomes plan and road map for embedding Māori perspectives, aspirations and outcomes across all areas of TAU’s work. The organisation’s successful delivery of outcomes for Māori is captured in the annual reports.
In 2025/26, TAU Trust championed Māori culture, supported Māori artists, and engaged diverse audiences; and delivered 94 programmes and initiatives contributing to the visibility and presence of Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
TAU Trust’s programmes and initiatives included ongoing adoption of karakia and mihi whakatau at Auckland Art Gallery and NZMM openings and events; live demonstrations of Māori and Pacific waka building as part of the Wooden Boat Festival; showcasing Māori artists and performers through Auckland Live; and extensive Māori Language Week programming across the Zoo, Gallery, NZMM and Auckland Live.
TAU Limited’s programmes and interventions included He Tumu Matawaka – nine TAU-funded videos which build understanding through Māori leadership stories; excellent progress on the Māori Tourism Development Programme, including the expansion of the Treasures of Tāmaki Makaurau tourism operators collective; nurturing Māori and Pacific talent though the fifth annual TupuToa intern programme; and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi through kaimahi training and the cultural competency app Taki.
ENDS.