The New Zealand Festival was founded in 1986 and has become the "largest celebration of cutting-edge arts and culture" in the country, she said.
"One of the five biggest festivals in Australasia, it has sold about two million tickets across the past 15 festivals and drawn an estimated attendance of more than five million people to its free and ticketed events."
The festival was renowned in New Zealand as "a trailblazer and champion of art in all its forms" and next year celebrates its 30-year anniversary with a programme designed to "kick up the arts".
She said the Wairarapa roster of performances includes Chalk About, which is a 50-minute production aimed at all ages, comprised of "part theatre, part dance" played out on a giant chalkboard stage.
"Armed only with their wits and a few pieces of chalk, performers Christine Devaney and Niels Weijer take an old playground game and turn it in to a playful, funny and often moving look at how we fill in the outlines of each other's identities."
The Modern Maori Quartet spotlights performers James Tito, Matariki Whatarau, Maaka Pohatu and Francis Kora, who together offer "a night filled with waiata, wit and home warmth".
She said the latest cabaret show from the quartet places their brand on some classic Kiwi songs and some of the biggest hits of today, she said, from Pokarekare Ana to their te reo version of Royals by Lorde.
"The boys bring you their fresh take on the traditional Maori showband."
The drama Waves comprises the unofficial history from Australian playwright Alice Mary Cooper of the development of the "butterfly stroke" swimming style by Elizabeth Moncello.
Moncello had been raised on Gabo Island in the 1930s and became the unrecognised inventor of the stroke, also known as the "dolphin".
She learns to swim with the help of fish, penguins and other amphibian friends and "the highly expressive storytelling" pen of Cooper reveals her leading lady's determination, wit and courage.
"Waves is about a lonely girl finding the courage to do something astonishing. It is funny, moving, and equally absorbing for children and adults."
Schoolfest tickets for Chalk About at $18 apiece were available to schools only and the show will be staged at Kuranui College in Greytown on March 8 at a 1.30pm matinee. There will be a post-show question and answer session.
The On the Road performance of Chalk About will be staged at the same venue at 7pm the same day. Tickets cost $39 each for adults and $18 each for children.
The Modern Maori Quartet perform at Masterton Town Hall on March 19 at 7pm. Tickets cost $39 each for adults and $15 each for children.
Waves plays at the Carterton Events Centre on March 3 at 7pm. Tickets cost $39 each for adults and $18 each for children.
Early bird discounts are available and tickets for all shows are available at ticketek.co.nz and www.festival.co.nz.
