The 2025 Auckland Lantern Festival, hosted by Auckland Unlimited on behalf of the city council,  opened at Manukau Sports Bowl on 13 February. Chinese Consul General in Auckland Chen Shijie joined Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Mayor of Auckland Wayne Brown, title sponsor representative Bank of New Zealand, local Maori tribe leaders and representatives of the Chinese community in the opening ceremony.

In his remarks, Prime Minister extended festive greetings to the audience, acknowledged the contribution by the Chinese community to New Zealand's economic and social development, and encouraged them to further contribute to the development of New Zealand-China relations.

At the ceremony, Consul General Chen and guests from the New Zealand side jointly lit a pair of 4-meter-high "Happy Spring Festival" snake lanterns commissioned by China Cultural Center in Auckland and Federation of the Chinese Association of New Zealand. Famous baritone singer Zhou Nan and other local Chinese performing groups presented wonderful performances.

This year lantern festival lasts for 4 days, with hundreds of thousands of participants.