People make the most of the sunny weather on a beautiful Auckland Anniversary Day today. Photo / Brett Phibbs
People make the most of the sunny weather on a beautiful Auckland Anniversary Day today. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Auckland Anniversary Day is bathed in sunshine - the best present the City of Sails could have after an unseasonable wet and cold January.
A warm 24C this afternoon caps off a sunny holiday weekend, with large crowds heading to city beaches and the waterfront for Ports of Auckland's SeePort Festival at Captain Cook Wharf, the International Buskers Festival at the Viaduct Harbour, Anniversary Day Regatta and other events.
Weatherwatch forecaster Aaron Wilkinson said it looked like summer was back with the weekend's fine weather.
He said the anti-cyclones had been sitting out in the Tasman Sea and creating westerly airflows, cloud and windy conditions, particularly around the upper North Island.
Sailors and other boaties make the most of the sunny weather. Photo / Brett Phibbs
This weekend the anti-cyclone had positioned itself over a better spot, bringing fine and sunny weather to Auckland, Wilkinson said.
Events still taking place
ANNIVERSARY DAY REGATTA
9.30am-4pm: Dragon boat racing in Viaduct Harbour. Princes Wharf at 5 min intervals with A class classics start at 12pm. 12.15pm-5pm: Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf race fleets expected at Princes Wharf.
Harbourmaster Andrew Hayton said the Anniversary Regatta was the usual great spectacle with lots of participants and spectators.
He said there were two harbourmaster boats operating on the Waitemata Harbour and a third around Kawau Island and Mahurangi.
There were no reports of problems or trouble - just people enjoying the day.
The annual tugboat race on the Waitemata Harbour. Photo / Brett Phibbs
AUCKLAND TRANSPORT PLAY STREETS
10am-4pm: Wynyard Quarter wide.
TĀMAKI HERENGA WAKA FESTIVAL
10am-5pm: Waka sailings and paddling experiences. 10am-6pm: Performances; kai and crafts stalls; traditional Māori games, craft, te reo and healing; storytelling. 4pm-6pm: Festival finale and hui whakamutunga.
A tugboat fires off a watery salute to the occasion in the Waitemata Harbour. Photo / Brett Phibbs
NZ MARITIME MUSEUM & EASTERN VIADUCT CARNIVAL 10am-5pm: Carnival rides, buskers, & free family activities. Inside the Museum At the Water's Edge exhibition and sailings. Maritime Museum & Eastern Viaduct.