CultureFest, one of Auckland's most vibrant and eagerly awaited events, took place recently, and it did not disappoint. Thousands of Aucklanders came together to celebrate the city’s diversity in one place.
The event, which took place on April 2, 2023, at Mt Roskill War Memorial Park, celebrated the diverse cultures of Auckland as it offered a range of activities that highlighted the richness and diversity of its cultures.
As part of Auckland Council's ongoing World of Cultures festivities, the event provided a platform for people from different backgrounds to come together and celebrate cultural assortment within the city. From music and dance to food and art, the event showcased the best of what Auckland offers.
Visitors were seen savouring delicious cuisine from around the world, with food stalls offering a range of dishes from different cultural groups. From Indian curries to Pacific Islander barbecues, there was something to suit all taste buds.
Another highlight of the festival was the cultural performances. Visitors were treated to traditional music and dance from various cultures, including Indian, Maori, Pacific Islander, and Asian. These performances provided a unique insight into the different customs and traditions within Auckland's varied communities.
Tamaki Makaurau is proudly diverse, and the festival bore testimony to the same. It was an excellent opportunity for the communities to unite, share, and celebrate what makes us unique.
Many dignitaries were also part of the gala, including ministers, parliamentarians, councillors, local board members and representatives from Ngati Whatua Orakei (Auckland-based Maori hapu) among others.
Minister of Immigration, Transport, Workplace Relations & Safety and Auckland Michael Wood (also the MP from Mount Roskill), said, "I spent the day in the sun, having a great time at CultureFest. We're very lucky to have this festival in Mt Roskill to celebrate diversity in our city. I enjoyed the good food, impressive cultural performances, and many great conversations."
National Party leader Christopher Luxon also enjoyed the festivities. He said, “CultureFest was a great celebration of the many cultures contributing to New Zealand's rich and diverse society. I enjoyed attending it alongside our fantastic team.”
Labour Party’s Ethnic Caucus Members and MPs Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Vanushi Walters and Naisi Chen visited various stalls and tried some delicious cuisine.
Another attendee Sakshi Tanwar, who travelled from Albany to participate in the event, said, "It was amazing to see and explore the cultures that call Tamaki Makaurau-Auckland home through food, performance, art and experiences. It brought the city together in a spirit of unity and celebration.”
The organisers were overwhelmed by the community’s response. Talking to The Indian Weekender, Festival Director of CultureFest Sammy Johnston said, "We had about 12,000 people in attendance. We are pleased to have delivered the event after a few years of disruptions. It was such a great turnout, and we want to say a big thank you to everyone who participated and turned up to support us. CultureFest was only made possible thanks to the huge effort from all our performers, stallholders, volunteers, contractors and crew. We had a great atmosphere on the day, and it was awesome to see that everyone was having a good time."