Auckland UNESCO City of Music Tāmaki Makaurau UNESCO Pā Puoro

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In 2016, Recorded Music New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) and the Australasian Performing Right Association | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (APRA I AMCOS) approached Auckland Council, on behalf of the Auckland music sector, with the suggestion to make an application to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

Formal designation was conferred on 1 November 2017 when Auckland became a City of Music within the UCCN. The announcement was made by UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova at the UCCN XI Annual Meeting in Enghien-les-Bains, France. Auckland joined a network of 180 cities from 72 countries at the frontline of UNESCO’s efforts to foster innovation and creativity as key drivers for a more sustainable and inclusive urban development.

Auckland is now one of 31 UNESCO Cities of Music worldwide, and New Zealand’s second Creative City, alongside Dunedin (Literature) and Wellington (Film).

In November 2018, the Auckland Music Strategy Te Rautaki Puoro o Tāmaki Makaurau 2018 — 2021 was officially launched at an event in the Civic Wintergarden. The strategy outlines the benefits the status of a UNESCO City of Music will bring to Auckland residents, New Zealanders and international visitors. The November launch also served to release the Auckland City of Music tohu, designed to raise awareness of the city’s status.