Something fun for everyone this summer

The Tamaki Herenga Waka Festival.

Whether you like to get among it or you prefer to sit back and watch, there's entertainment for all this summer, writes Sarah Ell.

Whether it's sports, music or family entertainment you're after, there's an embarrassment of riches happening over the next few months in Auckland and further afield.

MUSIC

There's not quite the line-up of big mainstream musical acts as there was last year — no Springsteen or GNR — but we do get the Foo Fighters, playing Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday, February 3. The Foos will be supported by Weezer and can be sure to put on a rocking good show. And if Mariah Carey is more to your taste, she'll be getting out the vocal runs at Spark Arena on February 1. Macklemore is playing Spark on February 9 and Robbie Williams on February 14, in case you're stuck for something to do on Valentine's Day.

Six60's music is made for summer, but if you haven't already got tickets for their January 13 show with Nico and Vinz at the Villa Maria Estate in Mangere, you're out of luck.

Tickets are, however, still available for the January 11 show at Tauranga's Wharepai Domain. Fat Freddy's Drop are also at Villa Maria, on January 20.

For indie music lovers, Leftfield are at the Powerstation on January 30, The Stranglers play Auckland Town Hall on February 2, Primal Scream are at the Powerstation on February 23 and LCD Soundsystem at Spark on February 24.

There's plenty of festival action, too. The boutique St Jerome's Laneway festival will be returning to Albert Park on the Monday of Anniversary Weekend (January 29), featuring The War on Drugs, Aldous Harding, Amy Shark and American DJ Tokimonsta.
Eco-conscious reggae and roots festival Soundsplash is on at Raglan from January 19-21, featuring Shapeshifter and Katchafire, and 2018 will also see the return of the Auckland City Limits festival at Western Springs on March 3, headlined by Beck, Justice and Grace Jones.

Auckland City is once again putting on a summer of musical events in parks across the city, with 24 free outdoor gigs featuring more than 70 acts from blues and rock, to hip-hop, pop, classical, jazz, indie and soul. Coyle Park in Pt Chevalier will host the first-ever Kids Music in Parks event on January 20, featuring Jay Laga'aia, Suzy Cato, Chris Lam Sam, Mr Roberelli and Judi Cranston of kindyRock. Auckland Live's Summer in the Square also has a busy programme of free events at Aotea Square.

ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND

Unfortunately, we don't luck into two consecutive long weekends this year, with Waitangi Day falling on a Tuesday in 2018. So you'd better make the most of the one we do get. Auckland's Anniversary weekend is all about the water, with the unique Tamaki Herenga Waka Festival in the Viaduct beginning on Saturday, January 27.

This free family-friendly event comprises three days of traditional and contemporary Maori culture, with performances from Maori musicians and top kapa haka groups, along with a village marketplace and offering kai and arts and crafts. There will also be traditional Maori games, workshops and talks, and storytelling.

Further along the waterfront is the popular SeePort festival, on Captain Cook Wharf. Ports of Auckland throws open the gates of the red fence once a year for visitors to see behind the scenes, enjoy rides and tours, and on the Sunday night enjoy the Sunset Symphony concert and fireworks display.

If you're not at Laneway (see Music), head to Silo Park.

Because summer is made for icecream, what better way to celebrate it than at Ice Cream Sundae on the Sunday of the long weekend, at Silo Park. This free, all-ages celebration of frozen dairy delights will feature a range of dessert vendors and food trucks, DJs and a pop-up bar for the adults.

SPORTS

Summer means cricket, whether that's taking part on your local beach or in the backyard, or watching other people doing the running. Pakistan are on tour here this summer, with both Twenty20 and one-day games with the Black Caps being played around the upper North Island.

There's an ODI against Pakistan's at Seddon Park, Hamilton on Tuesday, January 16, and T20 games at Eden Park on Thursday, January 25, and then Tauranga on Sunday, January 28.

And for a look at the up-and-coming talent in the cricket world, New Zealand will be hosting the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2018 this month. Whangarei's Cobham Oval and the Bay Oval will both host a series of games, with New Zealand meeting South Africa on Saturday, January 20 and the tournament final on February 3, both being played in Tauranga. The tournament is considered a major stepping stone for the professional players of the future, and was a significant starting point for today's champions, such as Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson and Tim Southee. Oh, and all games are free.

Parnell as been echo to the thwack of little yellow balls this week at the ASB Classic tennis tournament. The women's tournament, which runs until today.

The men's tournament, which begins today and continues until next Saturday, features big names such as Jack Sock, Juan Martin del Potro and former champions John Isner, Roberto-Bautista Agut and David Ferrer.