Beyond the stage: 2024 Festival impacts
The biennial Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts made its much-anticipated return to Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington in early 2024.
Over seventy events, engaging more than five hundred artists and crew, showcased acclaimed international talent, world premieres, and iconic contemporary arts experiences. For 2024, the Festival extended into autumn with Light Cycles by Moment Factory at the Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā which was experienced by more than 31,000 people alone. In total, more than 68,000 tickets were issued with an overall attendance of 470,000 including to free events.
Article Magazine
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Haere rā Tama Ale Samoa
At the end of April we farewelled Tama Ale Samoa (Taranaki, Ngā Ruahine) who had been Tāwhiri's Pouārahi Māori and on our leadership team since 2021.
With over 10 years’ experience as a cultural adviser, teacher and translator including with Te Kāhui Tūroa, Lower Hutt City Council, Te Whare Maire o Tūhaereao and Paparākau Tuarua Kohanga Reo, Tama brought a wealth of experience and knowledge to Tāwhiri.
Tama Ale’s role was focused on the implementation of Tāwhiri’s Intercultural Policy across the organisation, supported by the wider team. During his time, he developed strong and trusted relationships between Tāwhiri and mana whenua and guided the organisation’s use of tikanga and te reo Māori.
We acknowledge Tama Ale’s significant impact on Tāwhiri and wish him all the best in his role with Wellington City Council.
Before he left, Kate caught up with Tama Ale to ask a few questions about his time at Tāwhiri and find out what’s next for him.
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A chat with Benson Wilson on his opera journey and latest role
Benson Wilson, winner of the 2016 Lexus Song Quest and most recently the Ryman Healthcare Dame Malvina Major Foundation Mina Foley Award , returns home to make his NZ Opera principal role debut as Schaunard in La bohème by Puccini. Hannah caught up with Benson during a break from rehearsals to chat about his journey to opera, his homecoming and just what music means to him.
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A glimpse into the 2008 Festival...
The 2008 Festival featured more than 800 artists from 29 countries around the world, showcasing cultures from all ends of the globe on stages across Wellington and the greater Wellington region during the 24-day period.
Marking the opening of the Festival on Friday 22 February was a dawn pōwhiri welcoming overseas and local artists to Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
