Auckland Live is celebrating NZ Music Month | Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa with a vibrant programme of live music, pop-up performances and free public experiences across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s city centre this May, inviting Aucklanders and visitors to connect through Aotearoa sound.
Running from Friday, 1 May to Sunday, 31 May, the programme activates Auckland Town Hall, The Civic, Te Komititanga and Karanga Plaza and is supported by Auckland Council Events. It blends major concerts with intimate moments and unexpected encounters that showcase the depth and diversity of New Zealand music.
Auckland Live Director Daniel Clarke says, “Auckland Live’s NZ Music Month programme supports local artists, brings people into the city centre, and makes live music more accessible for Aucklanders. It also reinforces Auckland’s place as a UNESCO City of Music, creating shared experiences that bring people together through waiata, performance and public space.”
The programme kicks off on 1 May in Te Komititanga with the Vospertron Tron Mob, a roaming silent disco led by futuristic light-suit robots. Playing Aotearoa music through wireless headsets, the activation invites people to join spontaneous dance groups and follow the beat through the city.
In the heart of the city, a series of free activations brings music into everyday spaces. Mighty returns to Te Komititanga from 5–17 May, offering one-song acoustic performances inside a 10-foot shipping container, styled like a classic theatre. Artists including Geneva AM, Jon Toogood, Don McGlashan and Liz from The Beths will perform here, with just a handful of people at a time invited in for an intimate and unexpected live music moment. Nearby, FromThePit transforms Karanga Plaza and Te Komititanga into an open-air gallery, showcasing striking live music photography from across Aotearoa and celebrating the connection between artists and audiences.
Major concerts anchor the programme, with Fat Freddy’s Drop returning to Auckland Town Hall from 15–17 May for a sold out run of headline shows and Marlon Williams taking to The Civic for a special two-night season from 21–22 May. Together, these performances place some of New Zealand’s most renowned artists centre stage in some of the city’s most iconic venues.
A who’s who of the music scene will attend the Aotearoa Music Awards on 28 May at The Civic, recognising standout achievements across New Zealand’s music industry. Morning People marks its 10th birthday with a high-energy morning rave at the Auckland Town Hall on 30 May and featuring Tiki Taane (DJ Set).
Daniel Clarke says live music plays an important role in how Aucklanders and its visitors experience their city.
“NZ Music Month is a celebration for all of Aotearoa, and at Auckland Live our role is to deliver a programme that’s made for Aucklanders. We’re putting music into the city centre in ways that feel welcoming and easy to be part of, whether you’re planning a night out or discovering something unexpected during your day.
“From major concerts to intimate moments in public spaces, these shared experiences help the city centre feel vibrant and connected and give Aucklanders and visitors more reasons to come back and spend time together.”
The programme aligns with Auckland Council’s Sounds of Tāmaki Makaurau campaign, which focuses on community-based music events across the region. Together, the initiatives support a thriving music ecosystem, with Auckland Live’s city centre programme complementing neighbourhood activity while encouraging people to explore, stay and connect in the heart of the city.
NZ Music Month runs throughout May. Discover the full Auckland Live programme and plan your visit at aucklandlive.co.nz/event/nz-music-month.