Lighting the way forward

Anyone in Auckland for the city's anniversary weekend just gone will have seen and heard about the new addition to the cityscape - the Vector Lights show on the harbour bridge.  In a world first, 90 thousand LED lights powered by hundreds of solar panels transformed the bridge into a stunning showcase.  

We won't have to wait long for the next show - a new light extravaganza will play out on Waitangi weekend - starting at 9pm on February 2  and every hour up until midnight - finishing on Waitangi day.  The shows will also play to celebrate Auckland Pride and the Lantern Festival later in the summer. It will be changed out in the same way the Skytower is regularly lit up to mark different events. 

The Vector Lights video from the launch night on Saturday 27 January 2018.  The still is courtesy of Hamish Mortland, Colenso BBDO.

But there's a serious message behind the collaboration between Vector, Auckland Council and the NZ Transport Agency.  Vector CEO Simon McKenzie says the project enables Auckland to show the world what the sustainable future of energy will look like.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff is enthusiastic about the project - he reckons it will make the city a more vibrant and exciting place to visit and live in. 

The bridge on Saturday night. Photo courtesy of Hamish Mortland, Colenso BBDO