Āhea | When 8pm – 12 midnight, Wednesday 31 December 2025
Ki hea | Where Whairepo Lagoon by Frank Kitts Park (stage will be at the northern end of the lagoon), Odlins Plaza | View on Google Maps
Te utu | Cost Free
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with friends and whanau at a free, fun evening of toe-tapping music at Whairepo Lagoon. To kick off the evening, a court of food trucks will be open at Odlin’s Plaza from 3pm, providing delicious kai throughout the night. Then the festivities begin with live music at 8pm: all the crowd-pleasers and feel-good tunes to boogie to. After that, little ones can enjoy our kids’ countdown and fireworks at 9.30pm.
From 10pm, Orchestra Wellington will take the stage and play us all the way to midnight. The new year’s countdown will be followed by a 5-minute fireworks display to welcome 2026!
Programme
3pm – Kai court (food trucks) open at Odlin’s Plaza
8pm – Covers band Electric Avenue starts the tunes
9.30pm – Kids’ countdown and a short burst of fireworks
9.50pm – Stage change and fire performance
10pm – Orchestra Wellington takes the stage
12 midnight – New Year’s countdown and fireworks
Accessibility
The Wellington waterfront and Whairepo Lagoon are accessible. Accessible toilets are available near Odlins Plaza (view on Google Maps).
The Te Papa Accessway (view on Google Maps) can be used as a drop-off and pick-up point. Alternatively, find mobility parking spaces in the central city.
Transport
We encourage people to walk, bike, or use public transport to come to our waterfront events.
Buses, trains and harbour ferries will run on a special summer timetable from 26 December. For details, visit Metlink website.
Parking
For parking information, see central city street parking and council-owned car parking areas.