Aotearoa shines a pink light on breast cancer this October
From city landmarks to small-town icons, buildings and public spaces across Aotearoa are shining pink this October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
A total of 114 sites are taking part in the Global Illuminations campaign, creating a nationwide show of support for New Zealanders affected by breast cancer.
The pink lights are more than an eye-catching display – they’re also a powerful reminder that finding breast cancer early gives people the greatest chance of successful treatment and survival.
The campaign also shines a light on Breast Cancer Foundation NZ’s Pink Ribbon Street Appeal, happening on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October. Thousands of volunteers will be out with their pink buckets, raising money for that charity’s vital work in breast health education, research, specialist nursing support, and advocacy for faster and fairer diagnosis and care.
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ chief executive Vanessa Sorenson says seeing communities turn pink shows what can happen when people come together: “Every year, more than 3,700 New Zealanders are diagnosed with breast cancer and around 650 die from it. Behind every number is someone who matters deeply to their whānau, friends and community – and we know more of those lives can be saved.
“When Aotearoa shines bright in pink this October, we hope it gets people talking and reminds them to take care of their breast health. Know what is normal for your breasts, have any changes checked by a doctor and attend mammograms when you’re eligible.
“There are so many ways to play a part this October. You can volunteer for the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal, make a donation, share reliable breast health information or simply remind someone you care about to check their breasts. Every action takes us closer to a future where more people with breast cancer live – and live well.”
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ encourages women of all ages to get to know the normal look and feel of their breasts and regularly check for changes. Most breast changes won’t be cancer, but any new or unusual change should be checked by a doctor. From age 45, women can have a free mammogram every two years through BreastScreen Aotearoa.
Help raise awareness by taking a photo of your nearest pink landmark, sharing it on social media and tagging @PinkRibbonNZ.
City/Town |
Location |
Dates |
Arrowtown |
Lakes District Museum & Art Gallery |
1-18 October |
Auckland |
Aotea Centre |
1-2, 6-18 October |
Auckland |
Harbour Bridge |
23 October |
Auckland |
Sky Tower |
23 October |
Auckland |
Avondale Sign |
1-25 October |
Auckland |
Dominion Road |
1-17 October |
Auckland |
Due Drop Events Centre |
12-19 October |
Auckland |
Eden Park |
16 October |
Auckland |
Maritime Museum |
1-31 October |
Auckland |
Mission Bay Clock Tower |
1-31 October |
Auckland |
Mission Bay Fountain |
12-19 October |
Auckland |
Naumi Hotel Auckland Airport (in partnership with AV Media) |
16 October |
Auckland |
PWC Tower |
1-31 October |
Auckland |
Queen Street Lights |
1-26 October |
Auckland |
Silo Park |
1-31 October |
Auckland |
Spark Arena |
1-31 October |
Auckland |
Sylvia Park |
1-17 October |
Auckland |
The Civic |
12-14, 16-18 October |
Auckland |
The Cloud |
1-18 October |
Auckland |
Trusts Arena |
16 October |
Auckland |
Vero Centre |
1-31 October |
Auckland |
Viaduct Harbour (Marina Seawall & Market Square Tree Lights) |
23 October |
Blenheim |
Clock Tower |
1 October |
Christchurch |
Belfast Road Bridge |
16-17 October |
Christchurch |
Bowker Memorial Fountain |
16-17 October |
Christchurch |
Airport Terminal and the Airways Tower |
1-31 October |
Christchurch |
Art Gallery - Te Puna o Waiwhetū |
1-31 October |
Christchurch |
Botanic Gardens |
16-17 October |
Christchurch |
Town Hall |
16 October |
Christchurch |
Fanfare Sculpture |
16-17 October |
Christchurch |
New Brighton Pier |
16-17 October |
Christchurch |
One NZ Stadium |
23 October |
Christchurch |
Prestons Road Bridge |
16-17 October |
Christchurch |
Robert Falcon Scott Memorial |
16-17 October |
Christchurch |
The Bridge of Remembrance |
16-17 October |
Christchurch |
Vaka ‘A HINA |
16-17 October |
Christchurch |
Wigram Control Tower |
1-31 October |
Cromwell |
Welcome Sign |
16-17 October |
Dunedin |
Forsyth Barr Stadium |
16-17 October |
Dunedin |
Otago Boys’ High School |
16-17 October |
Dunedin |
Otago Museum |
1-11 October |
Dunedin |
Speight’s Brewery Bridge |
1-18 October |
Dunedin |
St Paul's Cathedral |
12-18 October |
Dunedin |
Toitū Otago Settlers Museum |
18 October |
Dunedin |
University of Otago Clock Tower |
12-18 October |
Featherston |
Memorial Dome |
1-18 October |
Feilding |
Clock Tower |
5-19 October |
Gisborne |
Robinson Memorial Town Clock |
16-18 October |
Gore |
Brown Trout Sculpture |
1-31 October |
Greymouth |
Fountain |
1-31 October |
Hamilton |
SkyCity Hamilton Hotel |
1-31 October |
Hamilton |
Victoria Bridge |
16-18 October |
Hastings |
Clock Tower |
1-31 October |
Hastings |
ToiToi – Opera House |
1-31 October |
Hastings |
ToiToi – Municipal Building |
1-31 October |
Hastings |
ToiToi – Cushing Foyer |
1-31 October |
Hāwera |
Water Tower |
1-31 October |
Hokitika |
Clock Tower |
1-31 October |
Invercargill |
Band Rotunda |
1-18 October |
Invercargill |
Feldwick Street Gates |
1-18 October |
Invercargill |
Gala Street Fountain |
1-18 October |
Invercargill |
ILT Stadium |
9-17 October |
Napier |
Tom Parker Fountain |
16-19 October |
Nelson |
Christ Church Cathedral |
16-17 October |
Nelson |
Founders Heritage Park |
16-17 October |
Nelson |
Moller Fountain |
16-17 October |
Nelson |
Civic Clock Tower |
16-17 October |
Nelson |
Nelson Airport - Te Papa Waka Rererangi o Whakatū |
1-18 October |
Nelson |
Trafalgar Street |
16-17 October |
New Plymouth |
Airport |
5-17 October |
New Plymouth |
Clock Tower |
1, 7-8, 16-31 October |
New Plymouth |
TSB Stadium sign |
1-17 October |
Oamaru |
Opera House |
16 October |
Palmerston North |
Kerei Te Panau - Hopwood Clock Tower |
16-17 October |
Palmerston North |
Regent Theatre |
1-16 October |
Paeroa |
First World War Memorial |
1-31 October |
Queenstown |
TSS Earnslaw |
1-31 October |
Rotorua |
Civic Admin Building Tower |
1-31 October |
Rotorua |
Eat Street |
1-31 October |
Rotorua |
Prince's Gate Arch |
1-31 October |
Rotorua |
Redwoods Tree Walk Horoeka Lantern |
16-17 October |
Rotorua |
Clock Tower |
1-31 October |
Tauranga |
Beacon Wharf |
1-2, 16-18, 28 October |
Tauranga |
Masonic Park |
1-2, 16-18, 28 October |
Tauranga |
Waterfront Playground |
1-2, 16-18, 28 October |
Tauranga |
Tunks Reserve |
1-2, 16-18, 28 October |
Tauranga |
Waterfront Park North |
1-2, 16-18, 28 October |
Tauranga |
Wharf Street Lights (Promenade) |
1-2, 16-18, 28 October |
Taupō |
#LOVETAUPO Lakefront Sign |
1-31 October |
Taupō |
Great Lake Centre |
1-17 October |
Taupō |
Hilton Lake Taupō |
1-9 October |
Te Aroha |
Memorial Clock Tower |
1-31 October |
Te Kūiti |
Gallagher Recreation Centre (Foyer) |
1-31 October |
Upper Hutt |
Fantail on Ring sculpture |
17-18 October |
Wellington |
Carter Fountain |
1-8, 16-17 October |
Wellington |
Castlepoint Lighthouse |
15-17 October |
Wellington |
Frank Kitts Park pedestrian bridge |
16-17 October |
Wellington |
Inglewood Toilet Block on Taranaki Street |
23 October |
Wellington |
Kelburn Park Fountain |
1-31 October |
Wellington |
Waterfront Promenade |
16-17 October |
Wellington |
Majestic Centre |
12-18 October |
Wellington |
Michael Fowler Centre |
16-17 October |
Wellington |
Ngā Kina Sculpture |
16-17 October |
Wellington |
Queens Wharf sails |
16-17 October |
Wellington |
Cable Car |
16-17 October |
Wellington |
Wellington East Girls' College |
11-18 October |
Wellington |
Woman of Words |
1-31 October |
Whanganui |
Royal Whanganui Opera House |
1-3 October |
Whanganui |
Virginia Lake Fountain |
16-17 October |
Whanganui |
War Memorial Centre |
1-3 October |
Whangārei |
Victoria Canopy Bridge |
12-18 October |
Whangārei |
Whangārei Airport |
1-31 October |
Whangārei |
Town Basin |
12-18 October |
Westport |
Clock Tower Chambers |
16-17 October |