Big machines and vessels will be on show as Ports of Auckland opens for the public.
The port is holding is fifth annual SeePort festival which invites people through its iconic red fence to discover the facility from land, sea and sky.
Port chief executive Tony Gibson says the event is a chance to showcase what goes into keeping Aucklanders supplied with the goods they use every day.
“This year we’re still getting people up close to the big machines and vessels people will expect, but we also have some technology that people may not expect to be associated with a port.
“Auckland is a fantastic maritime city with a history spanning more than 800 years, but a lot of the ways we do things here has changed, even in the last 30 years, and SeePort is a great opportunity to tell our story, including what is planned for the future,” Gibson says.
Exhibitions include the Royal New Zealand Navy, the Royal New Zealand Airforce, the New Zealand Customs Service, the New Zealand Fire Service, along with Sanford’s, Scouts New Zealand, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, and KiwiRail.
Activities include carnival rides, tug boat displays and races, harbour tours, helicopter rides and displays, and the opportunity to try out the ports state of the art training simulators. There will also be an AJ Hackett Helicopter Bungy Stunt.
Visitors can explore the port’s new robotic machinery and uncover the inner-workings of some magnificent vessels – including the Royal New Zealand Navy’s offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Te Kaha and one of the oldest steam tugs in the world, the William C. Daldy.
Entry is free and there will be a range of food and drinks available as well and a variety of music and entertainment.
The event runs over Auckland Anniversary weekend from Saturday, January 27 to Monday, January 29, 9am -6pm (10pm on Sunday) at Captain Cook Wharf, Quay Street, Auckland.
Photo credit: aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
