Multicultural Festival returns to Wharepai Domain for 19th year

Alice Tak-Hewlitt 7, and Elma Lee 8 at the 2017 Tauranga Multicultural Festival. Photo/Andrew Warner

After eight years at the Historic Village, the Tauranga Multicultural Festival is returning to its roots at the Wharepai Domain.

Tomorrow'sevent, now in its 19th year, is an annual celebration of the migrant communities who have made a home in Tauranga over the years.

Ewa Fenn, community liaison for Multicultural Tauranga and one of the event's organisers, said the event moved to the village in 2008 but this year it would head back to the domain.

The programme includes displays of dance, song and music from groups representing nearly 20 different countries and cultures - from a Tongan brass band to Greek dancers, Korean drummers to Nepalese folk dancing, belly dancers and kapa haka.

Enjoying the 2017 multicultural festival are Julia James, 7, mother Magdalena James, and Leia Lawson, 6, from Poland. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

There will be a range of food stalls including many ethnic dishes, as well as art and crafts stations, information stalls and children's entertainment such as pony rides, face painting, henna hand painting and a bouncy castle.

People are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs and enjoy the day.

At noon a Parade of Nations will be held, which is an annual highlight where the public are invited to parade under a flag representing their home country.

"Over 20 different nations will be represented with their flags and maybe national costume," Fenn said.

She said in previous years the event had attracted between 3000 and 5000 people.

"It is a platform for people to learn about everyone else living in the city, all the other cultures."

'Give nothing to racism' is the theme of the day, in recognition of Race Relations Day, which was on March 21, as well as the New Zealand Human Rights' Commission's campaign of the same name.

Fenn said racism was not something migrants in Tauranga complained of often, but it was sometimes suspected when they struggled to find jobs.

"They always wonder if one reason is because they are not a Kiwi."

Tauranga Multicultural Festival

- Saturday, March 24
- 10am to 4pm
- Wharepai Domain, Cnr Cameron and Hamilton streets
- Prices: Adult $10, child $5, family $25, under-5 free.