Latest news with #AKL
Scoop
17-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
AKL Lands In Top 10 In Kantar's Corporate Reputation Index
Infrastructure improvements and strong collaboration between AKL and border agencies delivering great results for travellers Smoother arrivals for international passengers with median processing times now 17% faster than 2019 (March 2025 vs. March 2019) Quicker domestic departures with a 40% improvement year on year in median processing times (March 2025 vs March 2024) Auckland Airport has been recognised as one of New Zealand's most trusted companies, earning a spot among the top performers in the 2025 Kantar Corporate Reputation Index, coming in at #9, its highest ever ranking. The annual index measures the public perception of New Zealand's top 50 corporates across trust, leadership, fairness and responsibility, with Auckland Airport moving forward 42 places over the past year. Auckland Airport Chief Executive Carrie Hurihanganui said the result highlighted the teamwork and collaboration that's taken place across the airport precinct to uplift the customer experience. 'Auckland Airport is a bit like a small city that relies on an ecosystem of partners working together to deliver a safe and enjoyable experience for travellers. 'The team at Auckland Airport will be delighted by this result, and we also share this recognition with the wider airport community, our 26 airline customers and our border agency partners: Aviation Security, Biosecurity New Zealand, Customs, Immigration New Zealand,' she said. Auckland Airport is currently underway with its most significant infrastructure programme in decades, adding resilience to the country's gateway airport, improving the customer experience and supporting New Zealand's growth ambitions. The Kantar index found AKL scored highly on trust and leadership – the biggest drivers of reputation - along with making strong gains in the responsibility and fairness ratings. Ms Hurihanganui said the result provided confidence that Auckland Airport was on the right track with its infrastructure programme. 'Infrastructure isn't easy and there will always be differing opinions, but we've worked hard to proactively tell our story. It's great to know we have the trust and support of the communities we serve as we build for New Zealand's future growth and prosperity. 'Auckland Airport is going to be wonderfully transformed in the years ahead and I think customers are already starting to feel the difference. We've opened a new Transport Hub, created a new entrance to the international terminal, built better roads and added technology innovations, new wayfinding and improved bathrooms. 'We've also had a big focus on working with our partners to remove the pain points for customers we know they care about. Through operational improvements, collaboration and technology innovation, we've maintained the same high standards of security, but queues are shorter and processing times are much faster, particularly in domestic departures and international arrivals,' she said. For arriving international passengers at Auckland Airport, it's now taking around 16 minutes from entering passport control/Customs to exiting into the airport's public arrivals hall – a 17% improvement on the median processing time in 2019 (March 2019 to March 2025). A significant change came in November 2023, when Biosecurity New Zealand, in collaboration with Auckland Airport, launched a new arrivals risk assessment process. Wait times have also improved thanks to a reconfigured layout that allows for more biosecurity officers' desks and larger, more flexible queuing areas. Queues in the domestic terminal for departing passengers are also much shorter, with median queue times at Aviation Security falling by 40% from 6.03 minutes a year ago to 3.37 minutes (March 2024 to March 2025). New scanning and screening technology introduced by Aviation Security in collaboration with Auckland Airport has played a key role in making it quicker for travellers to go through the check point while prioritising safety. 'We know we've still got more work to do to improve the experience for travellers, but the good news is there's much more to come as we get on with building a new domestic jet terminal to serve New Zealand and the future generations of travel,' Ms Hurihanganui said. Aviation Security Deputy Chief Executive Warwick Burr said: 'Auckland Airport is a great partner to work alongside, and I'm pleased to see them leap forward in the corporate reputation index. Our teams have worked collaboratively on many initiatives and projects which aim to smoothly process passengers all while making sure safety and security is, and will always be, the top priority. It's really encouraging to see everyone working as a collective system to improve the overall airport experience in Auckland as well as at airports across Aotearoa.' Customs Group Manager Border Operations Dana McDonald said technological advancements such as the digital New Zealand Traveller Declaration have helped facilitate a smoother arrival for passengers, while Customs continues to remain vigilant against harm or threat passing through our air border. 'Ensuring our busiest international airport remains a safe and secure gateway into our country is an ever-present focus, and a joint effort across the airport network. It's heartening to see this work recognised and reflected in New Zealanders' confidence in Auckland Airport,' says Mr McDonald. The Kantar Corporate Reputation Index, developed in partnership with Wright Communications, is widely regarded as New Zealand's leading measure of corporate reputation. The annual study uses the globally validated Rep Z framework for measuring reputation and combines public perception with deep research.
![Artistic Underground Festival F.O.L.A [AKL] Returns To Tāmaki Makaurau](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmc-store1.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fmedia%2Fnn%2Fbeta1-scoop-co-nz%2Fposts%2FJ0VYFaxCUuc8liSh.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Scoop
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Artistic Underground Festival F.O.L.A [AKL] Returns To Tāmaki Makaurau
Press Release – 818. Back in full force for the first time since 2023, F.O.L.A. [AKL] is a haven for the misfits, punks & menaces of the art world & is full of the kind of art that starts movements and shapes the future. It is your gateway drug to the wildest, most exciting … TĀMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND: The performance art festival from the artistic underground, F.O.L.A [AKL] (Festival of Live Art – Auckland) is returning for a four night midwinter festival from the 11th-14th June. Blink, and you'll miss it! Back in full force for the first time since 2023, F.O.L.A. [AKL] is a haven for the misfits, punks and menaces of the art world and is full of the kind of art that starts movements and shapes the future. It is your gateway drug to the wildest, most exciting Queer and BIPOC artists in Aotearoa and beyond. In 2025, the festival takes over Auckland's Basement Theatre for four full days and nights with performances, exhibitions, rituals and dance floors by fearless artists who make you feel like your heart is on the line. ' Neoliberal and capitalist structures have failed to create space for Live Art and artists in general. F.O.L.A. [AKL] is here to change that. So apart from innovative content, the festival is by artists, for artists, led through care and responsiveness, upholding Aotearoa's most forward-thinking Queer and BIPOC makers.' – Nisha Madhan & Julia Croft, Co-Artistic Directors. The most exciting and wild picture of living in Aotearoa comes straight through the eyes of these artists and F.O.L.A. [AKL] presents this through an audacious program of 7 full length shows, including 5 brand new works, showcasing local and international artists and supported by a full free public program. 'This energetic and world-class art showcase lit up Central Auckland and the hearts of its people who came out to experience otherworldly spectacles and reveled in joyous collective escapism.' – F.O.L.A. [AKL] 2023, Audience Member Beginning with the exact moment of the MOONRISE, F.O.L.A. [AKL] opens with a collective ritual Ahikoa te Ahi co-designed with exuberant Taranaki artist and activist Grayson Goffe. This opening event melds fire and water to create a moment of communion through the ringing of bells, all under the light of the Full Moon. During SUNTIME a free family-friendly audio experience, A Rain Walk, is guided by the recorded voices of children from across Australia and New Zealand for all ages, by UK live artists Andy Field and Beckie Darlington, and is best experienced in the rain. Arts brats are F.O.L.A. [AKL] residents and ambassadors. For 2025, they include Emma McManu, (international), Manu Veau (visual art), Raven Purcell (dance), Jon Jon 'Kaisindra' Tolovae (vogue), Kitty Wasasala (writer) and Janaye Henry (comedy). These creatives embody the heart of the festival and make the type of work that really gets your blood pumping. At Art Brats' (Potluck) Art Brunch expect an informal chat from the art brats about art and life over a potluck brunch – bring a plate. When it's time for SUNSET the outdoor Festival Hearth (FOLA'S iconic Festival Garden), outside Basement, comes alive with Moon Prism Power Bottoms, a free digital projection and cheeky South Auckland Sailor Moon adventure of ancestral queer friendship and the power of alofa (love) from Falesā (Mush) Iosefo and Sione Monū of WHEKE FORTRESS. Also located in the Festival Hearth from 5pm on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th is Liquid Light, an interactive performance that allows guests to use a variety of liquids and tools to create their own immersive psychedelic world from Sam Caldwell. MOONTIME brings Pageant Moon, a world in which a process and movement unfolds Presley Ziogas transfixation on the idea of dying, taking place in Myers Park. A free digital release of video art (online at from smut writer, critical theorist and K' Rd icon Samuel Te Kani offer a guide for all on how to navigate ecological and social decay as a self-indulgent creative in Surviving the Necropolis. Basement Theatre hosts Fetū x Fetu'u performance art that chronicles the multifaceted experiences of Moe Laga, (recipient of CNZ's Pacific Aniva Residency) a Samoan Fa'afafine born in Aotearoa, who is grappling with the complexities of life in South Auckland. BTM The Voice of Vessels expands on visual artist Sung Hwan Bobby Park 's visceral exploration of creation and sexuality. In this performance, Park sculpts clay through fisting, not only forming ceramic vessels but also excavating microphones. Choreography duo Jessie McCall and Rose Philpott present MDF (medium density fantasy). This work asks the audience to trust the duo, though there may be reason not to. Queer PowerPoint provides an evening of corporate presentations and personal optimisation – but queer. Artists are asked to create a new 10-minute performance lecture about absolutely anything – the only rules are it has to be queer af, and they have to use Microsoft PowerPoint, starwipes fully encouraged – the cult hit from Australian artists Harriet Gilles, Xanthe Dobbie, and Thom Smythe with an accompanying callout from local artists to shuck their niche brainwaves. Tasmania-based artist Loren Kronemyer 's works span objects, interactive and live performance, exploring ecological futures and survival-based skills. In Materiel World she will attempt to reverse-mine community e-waste for copper, reconstituting it into a bullet destined to be shot back into the ground. Glory Whole is a surreal, transgressive collaboration between sewer-pop trio Grecco Romank (Best Alternative Artist Nominee, 2024) and the beautifully alien artist Copper MaeSteal, unravelling society's obsessions from over consumption to the body-horror of plastic surgery, through dream-logic scenes. The end of the festival closes with Hulla Gulla, Chaos Party. Famous for bringing a 3 hour nonstop dance floor at Basement Theatre and encouraging the elopement of young lovers. Guest curators TBA. F.O.L.A. [AKL] is about building a community of artists and safeguarding their artform, livelihoods and legacies by creating new models within which they can flourish and a transparent excuse to throw a big, goddamn beautiful party. Nisha Madhan & Julia Croft continue ' We have heard clearly from our community over the past two years that what is needed are alternative models that centre care for artists. So apart from innovative content, the festival is led through care, responsibility and responsiveness to uphold Aotearoa's most forward thinking artists. ' This is art. But not as you know it.
Scoop
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Artistic Underground Festival F.O.L.A [AKL] Returns To Tāmaki Makaurau
Press Release – 818. TĀMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND: The performance art festival from the artistic underground, F.O.L.A [AKL] (Festival of Live Art – Auckland) is returning for a four night midwinter festival from the 11th-14th June. Blink, and you'll miss it! Back in full force for the first time since 2023, F.O.L.A. [AKL] is a haven for the misfits, punks and menaces of the art world and is full of the kind of art that starts movements and shapes the future. It is your gateway drug to the wildest, most exciting Queer and BIPOC artists in Aotearoa and beyond. In 2025, the festival takes over Auckland's Basement Theatre for four full days and nights with performances, exhibitions, rituals and dance floors by fearless artists who make you feel like your heart is on the line. ' Neoliberal and capitalist structures have failed to create space for Live Art and artists in general. F.O.L.A. [AKL] is here to change that. So apart from innovative content, the festival is by artists, for artists, led through care and responsiveness, upholding Aotearoa's most forward-thinking Queer and BIPOC makers.' – Nisha Madhan & Julia Croft, Co-Artistic Directors. The most exciting and wild picture of living in Aotearoa comes straight through the eyes of these artists and F.O.L.A. [AKL] presents this through an audacious program of 7 full length shows, including 5 brand new works, showcasing local and international artists and supported by a full free public program. 'This energetic and world-class art showcase lit up Central Auckland and the hearts of its people who came out to experience otherworldly spectacles and reveled in joyous collective escapism.' – F.O.L.A. [AKL] 2023, Audience Member Beginning with the exact moment of the MOONRISE, F.O.L.A. [AKL] opens with a collective ritual Ahikoa te Ahi co-designed with exuberant Taranaki artist and activist Grayson Goffe. This opening event melds fire and water to create a moment of communion through the ringing of bells, all under the light of the Full Moon. During SUNTIME a free family-friendly audio experience, A Rain Walk, is guided by the recorded voices of children from across Australia and New Zealand for all ages, by UK live artists Andy Field and Beckie Darlington, and is best experienced in the rain. Arts brats are F.O.L.A. [AKL] residents and ambassadors. For 2025, they include Emma McManu, (international), Manu Veau (visual art), Raven Purcell (dance), Jon Jon 'Kaisindra' Tolovae (vogue), Kitty Wasasala (writer) and Janaye Henry (comedy). These creatives embody the heart of the festival and make the type of work that really gets your blood pumping. At Art Brats' (Potluck) Art Brunch expect an informal chat from the art brats about art and life over a potluck brunch – bring a plate. When it's time for SUNSET the outdoor Festival Hearth (FOLA'S iconic Festival Garden), outside Basement, comes alive with Moon Prism Power Bottoms, a free digital projection and cheeky South Auckland Sailor Moon adventure of ancestral queer friendship and the power of alofa (love) from Falesā (Mush) Iosefo and Sione Monū of WHEKE FORTRESS. Also located in the Festival Hearth from 5pm on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th is Liquid Light, an interactive performance that allows guests to use a variety of liquids and tools to create their own immersive psychedelic world from Sam Caldwell. MOONTIME brings Pageant Moon, a world in which a process and movement unfolds Presley Ziogas transfixation on the idea of dying, taking place in Myers Park. A free digital release of video art (online at from smut writer, critical theorist and K' Rd icon Samuel Te Kani offer a guide for all on how to navigate ecological and social decay as a self-indulgent creative in Surviving the Necropolis. Basement Theatre hosts Fetū x Fetu'u performance art that chronicles the multifaceted experiences of Moe Laga, (recipient of CNZ's Pacific Aniva Residency) a Samoan Fa'afafine born in Aotearoa, who is grappling with the complexities of life in South Auckland. BTM The Voice of Vessels expands on visual artist Sung Hwan Bobby Park 's visceral exploration of creation and sexuality. In this performance, Park sculpts clay through fisting, not only forming ceramic vessels but also excavating microphones. Choreography duo Jessie McCall and Rose Philpott present MDF (medium density fantasy). This work asks the audience to trust the duo, though there may be reason not to. Queer PowerPoint provides an evening of corporate presentations and personal optimisation – but queer. Artists are asked to create a new 10-minute performance lecture about absolutely anything – the only rules are it has to be queer af, and they have to use Microsoft PowerPoint, starwipes fully encouraged – the cult hit from Australian artists Harriet Gilles, Xanthe Dobbie, and Thom Smythe with an accompanying callout from local artists to shuck their niche brainwaves. Tasmania-based artist Loren Kronemyer 's works span objects, interactive and live performance, exploring ecological futures and survival-based skills. In Materiel World she will attempt to reverse-mine community e-waste for copper, reconstituting it into a bullet destined to be shot back into the ground. Glory Whole is a surreal, transgressive collaboration between sewer-pop trio Grecco Romank (Best Alternative Artist Nominee, 2024) and the beautifully alien artist Copper MaeSteal, unravelling society's obsessions from over consumption to the body-horror of plastic surgery, through dream-logic scenes. The end of the festival closes with Hulla Gulla, Chaos Party. Famous for bringing a 3 hour nonstop dance floor at Basement Theatre and encouraging the elopement of young lovers. Guest curators TBA. F.O.L.A. [AKL] is about building a community of artists and safeguarding their artform, livelihoods and legacies by creating new models within which they can flourish and a transparent excuse to throw a big, goddamn beautiful party. Nisha Madhan & Julia Croft continue ' We have heard clearly from our community over the past two years that what is needed are alternative models that centre care for artists. So apart from innovative content, the festival is led through care, responsibility and responsiveness to uphold Aotearoa's most forward thinking artists. ' This is art. But not as you know it.
Scoop
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Artistic Underground Festival F.O.L.A [AKL] Returns To Tāmaki Makaurau
TĀMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND: The performance art festival from the artistic underground, F.O.L.A [AKL] (Festival of Live Art - Auckland) is returning for a four night midwinter festival from the 11th-14th June. Blink, and you'll miss it! Back in full force for the first time since 2023, F.O.L.A. [AKL] is a haven for the misfits, punks and menaces of the art world and is full of the kind of art that starts movements and shapes the future. It is your gateway drug to the wildest, most exciting Queer and BIPOC artists in Aotearoa and beyond. In 2025, the festival takes over Auckland's Basement Theatre for four full days and nights with performances, exhibitions, rituals and dance floors by fearless artists who make you feel like your heart is on the line. ' Neoliberal and capitalist structures have failed to create space for Live Art and artists in general. F.O.L.A. [AKL] is here to change that. So apart from innovative content, the festival is by artists, for artists, led through care and responsiveness, upholding Aotearoa's most forward-thinking Queer and BIPOC makers.' - Nisha Madhan & Julia Croft, Co-Artistic Directors. The most exciting and wild picture of living in Aotearoa comes straight through the eyes of these artists and F.O.L.A. [AKL] presents this through an audacious program of 7 full length shows, including 5 brand new works, showcasing local and international artists and supported by a full free public program. "This energetic and world-class art showcase lit up Central Auckland and the hearts of its people who came out to experience otherworldly spectacles and reveled in joyous collective escapism." - F.O.L.A. [AKL] 2023, Audience Member Beginning with the exact moment of the MOONRISE, F.O.L.A. [AKL] opens with a collective ritual Ahikoa te Ahi co-designed with exuberant Taranaki artist and activist Grayson Goffe. This opening event melds fire and water to create a moment of communion through the ringing of bells, all under the light of the Full Moon. During SUNTIME a free family-friendly audio experience, A Rain Walk, is guided by the recorded voices of children from across Australia and New Zealand for all ages, by UK live artists Andy Field and Beckie Darlington, and is best experienced in the rain. Arts brats are F.O.L.A. [AKL] residents and ambassadors. For 2025, they include Emma McManu, (international), Manu Veau (visual art), Raven Purcell (dance), Jon Jon 'Kaisindra' Tolovae (vogue), Kitty Wasasala (writer) and Janaye Henry (comedy). These creatives embody the heart of the festival and make the type of work that really gets your blood pumping. At Art Brats' (Potluck) Art Brunch expect an informal chat from the art brats about art and life over a potluck brunch - bring a plate. When it's time for SUNSET the outdoor Festival Hearth (FOLA'S iconic Festival Garden), outside Basement, comes alive with Moon Prism Power Bottoms, a free digital projection and cheeky South Auckland Sailor Moon adventure of ancestral queer friendship and the power of alofa (love) from Falesā (Mush) Iosefo and Sione Monū of WHEKE FORTRESS. Also located in the Festival Hearth from 5pm on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th is Liquid Light, an interactive performance that allows guests to use a variety of liquids and tools to create their own immersive psychedelic world from Sam Caldwell. MOONTIME brings Pageant Moon, a world in which a process and movement unfolds Presley Ziogas transfixation on the idea of dying, taking place in Myers Park. A free digital release of video art (online at from smut writer, critical theorist and K' Rd icon Samuel Te Kani offer a guide for all on how to navigate ecological and social decay as a self-indulgent creative in Surviving the Necropolis. Basement Theatre hosts Fetū x Fetu'u performance art that chronicles the multifaceted experiences of Moe Laga, (recipient of CNZ's Pacific Aniva Residency) a Samoan Fa'afafine born in Aotearoa, who is grappling with the complexities of life in South Auckland. BTM The Voice of Vessels expands on visual artist Sung Hwan Bobby Park 's visceral exploration of creation and sexuality. In this performance, Park sculpts clay through fisting, not only forming ceramic vessels but also excavating microphones. Choreography duo Jessie McCall and Rose Philpott present MDF (medium density fantasy). This work asks the audience to trust the duo, though there may be reason not to. Queer PowerPoint provides an evening of corporate presentations and personal optimisation - but queer. Artists are asked to create a new 10-minute performance lecture about absolutely anything – the only rules are it has to be queer af, and they have to use Microsoft PowerPoint, starwipes fully encouraged - the cult hit from Australian artists Harriet Gilles, Xanthe Dobbie, and Thom Smythe with an accompanying callout from local artists to shuck their niche brainwaves. Tasmania-based artist Loren Kronemyer 's works span objects, interactive and live performance, exploring ecological futures and survival-based skills. In Materiel World she will attempt to reverse-mine community e-waste for copper, reconstituting it into a bullet destined to be shot back into the ground. Glory Whole is a surreal, transgressive collaboration between sewer-pop trio Grecco Romank (Best Alternative Artist Nominee, 2024) and the beautifully alien artist Copper MaeSteal, unravelling society's obsessions from over consumption to the body-horror of plastic surgery, through dream-logic scenes. The end of the festival closes with Hulla Gulla, Chaos Party. Famous for bringing a 3 hour nonstop dance floor at Basement Theatre and encouraging the elopement of young lovers. Guest curators TBA. F.O.L.A. [AKL] is about building a community of artists and safeguarding their artform, livelihoods and legacies by creating new models within which they can flourish and a transparent excuse to throw a big, goddamn beautiful party. Nisha Madhan & Julia Croft continue ' We have heard clearly from our community over the past two years that what is needed are alternative models that centre care for artists. So apart from innovative content, the festival is led through care, responsibility and responsiveness to uphold Aotearoa's most forward thinking artists. ' This is art. But not as you know it.
