Lighting Up Purple for World Prematurity Day
A record number of landmarks and buildings across Aotearoa will shine bright in purple this World Prematurity Day, 15 November! They’ll join iconic landmarks around the world, including the Empire State Building, Trevi Fountain and Niagara Falls, helping raise awareness for the 13.4 million babies born too soon every year.
This marks the ninth year New Zealand has taken part in the global Lighting Up Purple campaign, and we’re proud to once again lead the way. As the first country in the world to welcome the sunrise, Aotearoa kicks off a wave of purple light that travels across the globe, uniting communities in support of premature babies and their whānau.
Below is the list of locations across Aotearoa that will be Lighting Up Purple for World Prematurity Day 2026. 💜
Arrowtown Museum – 12th-18th November
Ashburton Clock Tower – 12th-18th November
Auckland: Eden Park – 15th November
Auckland: Sky Tower –15th November
Auckland: Maritime Museum – KZ1 boat – 12th-18th November
Auckland: Aotea Square – 15th – 18th November
Auckland: Civic Theatre – 16th – 18th November
Auckland: PwC Tower – Precinct Properties – 12th-18th November
Auckland: Holy Trinity Cathedral – 12th-18th November
Auckland: Mission Bay Fountain – 12th-18th November
Auckland: Fairy Fountain – Auckland Domain – 12th-18th November
Auckland: Te Rimutahi sign at 254 Ponsonby Road. – 12th-18th November
Auckland: Avondale Sign – 12th-18th November
Blenheim Clock Tower – 12th-18th November
Christchurch: Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū – 12th-18th November
Christchurch: One NZ Stadium – 15th November
Christchurch: Airport Terminal and control tower – 13th – 18th November
Christchurch: Botanic Gardens – 12th – 18th November
Christchurch: Bowker Fountain – 12th – 18th November
Christchurch: Bridge of Remembrance – 12th – 18th November
Christchurch: Cpt Scott Plaza – 12th – 18th November
Christchurch: Fanfare Sculpture – 12th – 18th November
Christchurch: Ferrier Fountain – 15th November
Christchurch: New Brighton Pier – 12th – 18th November
Christchurch: Northern Corridor – Belfast bridge/Prestons bridge – 14th & 15th November
Christchurch: Vaka a Hine sculpture – 12th – 18th November
Cromwell Sign – 12th-18th November
Dunedin: St Pauls Cathedral – 12th-18th November
Dunedin: Tuhura Otago Museum – 12th-18th November
Dunedin: Otago Uni Clock Tower – 12th-18th November
Dunedin: Speights Brewery (bridge and chimney) – 12th-18th November
Dunedin: Forsyth Barr Stadium – 15th November
Dunedin: Otago Boys High School – 12th – 18th November
Feilding: Clock Tower – 12th-18th November
Foxton: Water Tower – 12th-18th November
Gisborne: Clock Tower – 12th-18th November
Hamilton: Anzac Parade – Hamilton Bridge – 12th-18th November
Hanmer Springs: Water slide & 2 x hot pools – 12th-18th November
Hawera: Water Tower – 12th-18th November
Invercargill: Feldwick Gates – 12th-18th November
Invercargill: Gala Street Fountain – 12th-18th November
Invercargill: Band Rotunda – 12th-18th November
Napier: Tom Parker Fountain – 12th November
Nelson: Clock Tower – 12th-18th November
Nelson: Top of Trafalgar – 12th-18th November
Nelson: Cathedral – 12th-18th November
New Plymouth: Clock Tower – 12th-18th November
New Plymouth: TSB Stadium Sign – Full week 12th-18th
Oamaru: Opera House – 12th-18th November
Oamaru: Craig Fountain (public gardens) – 12th-18th November
Otago: Riselaw Road Bridge
Palmerston North: Clock Tower – 15th November
Rotorua: Redwoods Tree Walk – Horoeka Lantern – 12th-18th November
Rotorua Skyline – Lighting up luge tunnels – 12th-18th November
Rotorua Sky Swing – 12th-18th November
Rotorua Clock Tower – 12th-18th November
Rotorua Civic Centre Tower – 12th-18th November
Rotorua Princes Gate Archway – 12th-18th November
Tauranga: Wharf St Lights – 13th – 18th November
Tauranga: Tunks reserve – 13th – 18th November
Tauranga: Masonic Park 13th – 18th November
Tauranga: Waterfront Playground – 13th – 18th November
Tauranga: The Waterfront – Park North – 13th-18th November
Upper Hutt: Fantail Sign – 12th-18th November
Wanaka: Puzzling World – 12th-18th November
Wellington: Childrens Hospital Bridge – 12th-18th November
Wellington: Cable Car – 15th November
Wellington: Kelburn Park Fountain – 12th-18th November
Wellington: Carter Fountain – 12th-18th November
Wellington: Majestic Centre – 12th-18th November
Wellington: Michael Fowler Centre – 13th-18th November
Wellington: Wellington East Girls College
Wellington: Prime Property Building – 2 Woodward Street building – 12th-18th November
Wellington: Airport – Throughout November
Westport: Clock Tower – 12th-18th November
Whanganui: Durie Hill elevator and tower – 15th November
Whangarei: Victoria Canopy Bridge
Whangarei: Laurie Hill Park Tree
If you live in any of these wonderful places and could take photos of the landmarks lit up in purple splendor and send to us, that would be fabulous! Please send photos to info@littlemiraclestrust.org.nz
You can also tag us in any social media posts and use the hashtags:
#worldprematurityday2026 #lightinguppurple #nicubaby #littlemiraclestrust
A full gallery of images from previous years can be seen here.
Thanks so much for sharing your personal story.
We hear from many families in neonatal units who find comfort in reading the stories of others who have walked a similar path. Knowing they’re not alone, and seeing the different ways families navigate their neonatal journey, can bring a sense of connection, understanding and reassurance — even during the most difficult times.
If you would like to share your neonatal journey, we’d be honoured to hear your story and help you share it in whatever way feels right for you.
Email us info@lmt.org.nz
Support Us
If you want to help our support of families going through the stress and anxiety of a neonatal journey, you can donate via the link below.
- The Little Miracles Trust provides support to families of premature or sick full-term babies as they make their journey through Neonatal Intensive Care, the transition home, and onwards. We do not receive any Government funding and are entirely reliant on the generosity of individuals, companies and organisations in the form of donations, value-in-kind donations, grants, sponsorship and fundraising events to supplement operating costs and fund our services and initiatives.
- As we are a registered charity (CC56619) with Charities Services New Zealand we will send you an IRD compliant tax receipt – this will happen automatically by return email.