KŌHATU AND THE SPHERE
Jully 2022 in Heard Park, Parnell…never before seen in Auckland, for all to enjoy!
We welcomed the stunning light installation Kōhatu & The Sphere by Fish Aberadi to Parnell. This magnificent sculpture was a gift from Parnell to everyone in Auckland, with the goal of warming hearts, connecting friends, and inviting families to be in awe and inspired.
This year, for our mid-winter light installation in Heard Park, we wanted something that spoke to feeling grounded and reconnected—to the earth, to sustainability, to culture. We wanted to support local talent in the arts, both visual and performative. We wanted to give attendees something uplifting, that left all who came along feeling lighter than before.
‘Kōhatu’, meaning ‘rock’ in Te Reo Māori, invited all those who wanted to reconnect to the foundations of themselves and the foundations of community after being isolated from each other for so long. This special light installation by artist Fish Aberadi was open to all and did not lend itself to discrimination or exclusion. It existed to provide joy, all month long.
Between 5pm and 7.30pm every Friday in July, Heard Park, Parnell is the space to be. Get your friends involved, your family, a hot date, and plan your school holiday adventure. Enjoy a free hot drink thanks to the Tin Man coffee truck and grab a voucher for a local food vendor. Get amongst a ‘selfie spree’ with a light installation that will add some magic to your social media as well as your relationships. Enjoy the smooth sounds of a roaming saxophonist to add that extra magic to a winter evening and voila, you’ve got your ‘once in a night-time’ experience sorted for July!
REDEEM PRIZES FROM LOCAL RETAILERS
Whether it’s a free scoop of ice cream from Movenpick, and small pizza at La Porchetta, or some tasty fries from Burger Fuel, these tasty treats are FREE of charge for you. All you need to do is take a picture of the sphere, upload it to Instagram and tag @parnellauckland, and show your Instagram post to the stores to redeem your voucher.
On Sunday July 10, members of the community joined us from 9.30-11.30am for a morning full of yoga, meditation and sound therapy!
We were serenaded by the sweet sounds of crystal singing bowls and a gong while enjoying an inspired yin yang yoga practice. Combining the ancient wisdom of sound therapy with the nurturing practice of yoga is a powerful way to reduce stress and calm the mind. This free yoga and sound therapy event was designed to completely rejuvenate the body, mind, and soul.
Aucklanders from far and wide, as well as locals, celebrated the arrival of Kōhatu & The Sphere with a magical night at Heard Park on Friday July 1st. The sphere in motion speaks directly to the underlying nature and order of the universe, and the dark, moody night touched on the theme of just that. Adding to the ambience was a coffee truck serving free hot drinks, a roaming saxophonist, and a special performance from Viva Voce choir. This performance marked the grand opening of the light installation, and the choir performed a selection of a cappella songs that spoke to the timelessness of the stars.