Six60 to headline Auckland's Moana Festival

Auckland's economic development agency hopes a seaside performance by Six60 will draw crowds to next year's Moana Festival.

The second iteration of the Moana Festival will run along Auckland's waterfront from the 27th of January to the 9th of March.

The festival is a pet project for economic agency Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, which is determined to compete with other annual events like Sydney's Vivid Festival.

Six60 has been chosen as 2025's drawcard, with a one-night performance at the Wynyard Quarter on 1 March as part of the band's Grassroots Tour.

"It's just such fabulous news - [Six60] is the quintessential iconic New Zealand band," head of major events Michelle Hooper said.

Ticket prices are yet to be announced, but the show will be held at a bespoke amphitheatre at the Base Spaces opposite Silo Park, which designed to fit 12,000 people.

"The back of the stage is kind of the Waitematā Harbour, Rangitoto and looking out through towards the Sky Tower, so it's going to be a very unique Auckland scene," Hooper said.

While this year's festival had been a success, with 97,000 unique visitors, Hooper hoped Six60 would boost interest and help cement the Moana Festival as a fixture in Auckland's calendar of events.

"We know that Six60 is a real 'wow factor' for the public - it generates another talking point for Moana Festival.

"[We're] giving [Six60] something really unique in terms of the outdoor amphitheatre on the Waitematā Harbour, so we think it'll add a lot to the band's performance, and they certainly add a lot to our programme."

Hooper was confident the troubled Wynyard Crossing bridge would be repaired in time for the festival.

"Absolutely - we've been given the guarantee [it'll be] back on track by December, so we're working to that," she said.

That would allow cruise passengers to walk directly to the festival grounds.

"We think it'll be really attractive for cruise liners and tourists, so it's going to be a real bang for your buck for Aucklanders."

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