NPDC events and venues a hit with audiences despite damp summer

A wet end to January wasn’t enough to dampen spirits of those who flocked to NPDC events and venues this summer.

The TSB Festival of Lights shone brighter than ever, drawing an estimated 162,500 visits to Pukekura Park over its five‑week season - a 4.8 per cent increase on last summer and a strong sign of its continuing appeal.

The sizzling hot start to the season also sent residents and visitors diving into NPDC pools, with more than 100,000 people cooling off at the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre between November and the end of January. Community pools were buzzing too, with Inglewood (4,676), Waitara (11,049) and Okāto (5,365) all enjoying strong attendance.

Entertainment was another big winner with British comedian Jimmy Carr playing to an almost sold-out TSB Stadium and at the Bowl of Brooklands, the Rock the Bowl concert helped anchor a vibrant Summer at the Bowl series.

“It’s been a great summer so far,” says NPDC Venue and Events manager Chade Julie.

“We’re still crunching the numbers on the TSB Festival of Lights and have a couple of concerts to go, but we’re expecting a clear picture soon on the wider economic impact of our major events, and how many visitors travelled from outside the region.”

The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre welcomed 13,469 visitors over December/January to experience its two summer exhibitions and drop-in art sessions, and the Len Lye Centre Cinema was particularly popular during January’s less than summery weather, attracting 1,531 cinemagoers.

Puke Ariki Museum is also celebrating the success of its Rescue exhibition, which gives children insight into what it takes to be a hero by helping others and includes 17 interactive exhibits from smoke-filled rooms, rescue helicopters to emergency broadcasts.

On 3 January alone, 1,950 people walked through the doors of the museum, with Rescue the major drawcard.

Meanwhile the team at the i‑SITE New Plymouth information centre, based in Puke Ariki, were also kept busy with 7,176 visitors coming through the doors in December, offering local advice and helping visitors book everything from places to stay to activities, attractions and travel.

At a glance

• The TSB Festival of Lights ran from 20 December 2025 to 24 January 2026.
• Puke Ariki opened in 2003 and combines a library, museum, research centre and  the i‑SITE New Plymouth information centre
• Founded in 1970, the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery presents a regularly changing programme of contemporary art exhibitions, events and conversations including leading New Zealand and international artists and thinkers. The Len Lye Centre opened in 2015.
• NPDC’s pools attract around 410,000 visits each year, including about 370,000 to the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre. Seasonal pools at Fitzroy, Ōkato, Waitara and Inglewood are only open through summer.
• Bowl of Brooklands is Taranaki's largest and most iconic concert venue and was awarded Large Venue of the Year by the Entertainment Venues Association of New Zealand in 2021
• TSB Stadium opened in 1992 and has hosts concerts, sports events, expos, conferences and corporate events.

Caption: Music fans flocked to the Bowl of Brooklands for Summer at the Bowl concerts this summer.