Lighting up the Museum

When we light up the Museum  

The Museum carries an inherent obligation to ensure that its special lighting choices respect and reflect our long-term mission and the communities we serve. The Museum lights for certain Special Lighting Events, which are pre-approved and reviewed annually. These include: 

• Waitangi Day, 6 February 

• Purple Poppy Day, 24 February 

• Anzac Day / RSA Poppy week, 25 April (& up to 7 days prior) 

• Passchendaele, 12 October 

• Rā Maumahara / NZ Wars commemoration, 28 October 

• Armistice Day, 11 November 

• Language weeks, Pacific and Te Wiki ō Te Reo Māori 

• Pride, February (dates vary) 

• Lunar New Year / Lantern Festival, February (dates vary) 

• Matariki, late June/early July 

• Diwali, early November 

• Christmas / New Year’s Eve 

The Auckland Museum Trust Board’s primary concern is to preserve the War Memorial’s special position of honour and responsibility. The Museum will consider new lighting requests if they meet approved criteria. The Trust Board has determined that it will not allow special lighting of the Museum building for commercial purposes, in connection with private venue hire, as part of sponsorship arrangements, or in return for payment or other non-financial inducements. The Trust Board has also determined that, in order to preserve and focus the Museum’s commemorative function, the Museum will not allow special lighting that is symbolic of any nation or group that is involved in active conflict at the time of the proposed lighting. 

The Museum holds a prominent position as a much-loved landmark and its lighting adds to the important role of marking significant civic events and commemorations.