Experience New Zealand Brings Bic Runga and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra to One Ayala
Last Updated on September 23, 2026 by Over Here Toronto
Experience New Zealand is coming to One Ayala in Makati on September 26 and 27, 2026, with live music, Māori performances, food, education booths, travel information, and activities for families.
The New Zealand Embassy will hold the free two-day event with Education New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. It marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the Philippines.
New Zealand singer-songwriter Bic Runga will join the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra during the opening program on September 26. Organizers will also bring Māori performing arts group Ngā Hau E Whā to the stage.
The public can attend at The Concourse at One Ayala. Current event notices say the program starts at 10 a.m. on September 26 and ends at 10 p.m. on September 27. The Embassy has not yet posted a full hour-by-hour public schedule in the sources checked for this article.
Visitors can check the official Education New Zealand event listing for the Manila program. Education New Zealand event page
Bic Runga Will Perform With the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
The opening ceremony will place Bic Runga onstage with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.
Runga is known outside New Zealand for songs such as “Sway,” “Drive,” “Get Some Sleep,” and “Listening for the Weather.” Her first album, Drive, helped build her career in the late 1990s.
She also released her sixth studio album, Red Sunset, in February 2026. It marked her first album of all-new songs in 15 years. Runga and Kody Nielson co-produced the record after recording it in Paris in 2025.
The Embassy has not released the set list for the One Ayala show. It also has not announced the exact time of Runga’s performance in the public material reviewed for this article.
The One Ayala appearance is important for Filipino fans because Runga’s separate Manila concert, planned for October 1 at the SM North EDSA Skydome, was canceled in August. Midas Promotions cited “unforeseen circumstances.”
The September 26 Embassy event is separate from that canceled concert. Current event notices still list Runga as part of the One Ayala opening program.
Māori Performers Will Also Take the Stage
The cultural program goes beyond the orchestra performance.
Ngā Hau E Whā, a Māori performing arts group based in Tokyo, will perform during the event. Organizers say the group will share parts of Māori culture through live performance.
Filipino-Kiwi entertainer Eric “Eruption” Tai will host the opening program.
New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Catherine McIntosh will also give remarks during the event.
The cultural program comes during a year when the two countries are marking six decades of formal ties. The Philippines and New Zealand began diplomatic relations in 1966.
In July 2026, the two governments also raised their relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership. The agreement covers political ties, security, trade, education, and links between people in both countries.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said at the time:
“New Zealand and the Philippines are close friends and trusted partners on the world stage.”
New Zealand Food and Drinks Will Be Available
Food will also form a large part of the weekend.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise partners will bring products for visitors to sample or buy. Organizers list dairy goods, New Zealand wines, grass-fed meat, and Manuka honey among the items planned for the event.
The program gives New Zealand food brands a chance to meet shoppers in Metro Manila while also showing products linked to the country’s farming and food sectors.
Organizers have not released a complete public vendor list in the sources checked for this article. Prices and sample rules may also differ by booth.
Visitors mainly interested in food should check the Embassy’s latest event schedule before heading to One Ayala, since some activities may run only at set times.
Students Can Meet 12 New Zealand Schools
The event will also have an education section.
Representatives from 12 New Zealand tertiary institutions will meet students and parents during the weekend. They will offer free consultations on study programs and possible education paths in New Zealand.
Education New Zealand has also been running a wider Philippine roadshow this September, with activities in several cities before the Manila event.
Education has become one part of the closer ties between the two countries. In July, Philippine and New Zealand officials signed a cooperation agreement covering higher education, technical training, research, school links, and professional development.
Students do not need to buy a ticket to enter the One Ayala event.
Families Can Join Games and Other Activities
Organizers have also planned simple activities for younger visitors and families.
The current program includes:
- Face painting
- A rugby ball challenge with prizes
- Photos with a large kiwi bird display
- New Zealand food and drink booths
- Education consultations
- Travel information
- Live music and Māori performances
Travel booths will also share information about trips to New Zealand.
The event does not charge an entrance fee. Some food, drinks, or products inside may cost extra.
What Visitors Should Know Before Going
Experience New Zealand will take place at The Concourse, One Ayala, Makati City, on September 26 and 27.
Current public information lists the event as free. Notices say activities begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday and the weekend program ends at 10 p.m. Sunday.
The New Zealand Embassy recommends checking its official social pages for the latest performance times and program changes. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade lists the Embassy’s official Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts on its government site.
New Zealand Embassy in Manila information
The main date for music fans is September 26, when Bic Runga and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra lead the opening program. Families, students, and food visitors can attend activities across the two-day run.
