Auckland Lantern Festival has been cancelled for the fourth year in a row. The festival was due to take place at Manukau Sports Bowl between February 2 and 5 with more than 100,000 visitors expected to attend – for the first time since 2019.
However, organisers decided to cancel the event altogether, on advice from local authorities, stating that the health and safety of Aucklanders is top priority amid the severe weather event – which has already claimed four lives.
“We acknowledge the disappointment that Aucklanders will be feeling. Special cultural occasions are the fabric of our region, and we are all gutted that we won’t be able to celebrate this iconic festival for a fourth year in a row.”: Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Head of Major Events Chris Simpson said in a statement.
The decision to cancel the event, which celebrates the close of Chinese New Year and welcomes the Year of the Rabbit, was not an easy one for organisers.
Auckland Lantern Festival 2023 is not the only summer event to be cancelled as a result of the current State of Emergency with Laneway Festival and 183rd Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta being called off.
There has been no word whether the event will be postponed to a later date. Find out more on Auckland Unlimited.