Only an hour drive from much of Central, the Wānaka Festival of Colour is gearing up for its 11th year of celebrating the arts with something for everyone. 

More than 60 events are held during the March 29 - April 6 festival; there’s theatre, cabaret, music, poetry, comedy, dance, kōrero (conversations), visuals arts and community events.

The festival was gifted the name Te Kaupeka Rau by Kāi Tahu, which reflects seasonal changes and the idea of turning over a new leaf.

Executive director Ruth Heath said this year’s theme of embracing the extraordinary and trying something new ties perfectly with the name.

“We have something for everyone to connect and engage with — an opportunity to find joy and surprise in discovering something new alongside friends and whānau.”

Alongside the festival hub, the Pacific Crystal Palace in Wānaka, other venues across Central Lakes are hosting artists including Bannockburn Hall, Hāwea Community Centre, Hāwea Flat Hall, Mount Aspiring College Blackbox Theatre, Rippon Hall, The Camp at Lake Hāwea

and Queenstown’s Te Atamira.

The free community whanau day opens the festival (March 29) with a lake plunge followed by a full day of entertainment and creativity at Wānaka’s lakefront. 

Sell out play ‘In Other Words’, is a deeply moving love story exploring Alzheimer’s and the power of music to connect us from Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Michael Hurst. On that same day (March 30) people can learn all about foraging for food, finding interesting wild plants on the Wānaka lakefront, from professional forager Peter Langlands. 

Kommi Me Ana Tipua (Kommi and their Tipua), is a non-binary solo music artist along with being a lecturer in Māori and Indigenous studies and Te Reo Māori in Christchurch. Catch Kommi on April 3. PHOTO: Paris Baillie 

For music lovers there’s a diverse range of genres everything from acid jazz, and blues to te reo Kāi Tahu witch hop. The lineup includes indie icons The Veils, country singer Delaney Davidson, and The Eastern’s unique blend of gospel, country, and punk.

Twenty well known Kiwi identities; writers, professors, journalists and musicians front up in Aspiring Conversations during the final festival weekend covering topics such as politics, Te Tiriti, food foraging, media and personal stories.

Journalists Mike McRoberts (Ngati Kahungungu, pictured), Susie Ferguson and Lisette Reymer discuss breaking news in ‘Breakfast with Papers’. PHOTO: Supplied 

The Central App will publish information about selected festival performances with local connections in the coming days. 

Find the Wānaka Festival of Colour programme, including Aspiring Conversations online

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