11th Multicultural Festival
“It is all about us – Whanau”
The Tauranga
Multicultural Festival run by Tauranga Regional Multicultural Council Inc.
(formerly Tauranga Regional Ethnic Council Inc) is an annual event to promote
the diversity of our region and to celebrate the Race Relation Day. This year
the Race Relation Day’s motto is “it’s all about us – whanau”, so the emphasis
is on our groups, our organizations and our families.
It is so
appropriate that we have moved the Festival from the very public Wharepai
Domain to so much homely Historic
Village this year.
Historic
Village is where TRMC has its office in the Forresters Hall and many of the
service providers are also based, it has an atmosphere to remind us that we are
all newcomers, pioneers in this country and as the previous generations did, we
should help each others to start the successful life here in unity and harmony.
We will
make the Village come alive with all sorts of activities; the main stage will
be positioned on the big grass area at the back of the Village where the main
cultural performances will take place throughout the day. Close by we will have
a group of about 25 food stalls providing exciting food from many ethnic and
local cuisines. Arts and crafts sellers will have their stalls along the
streets of the Village, all service providers based in the Village will have
their offices opened to public and will attract visitors with special
activities and provide information to new migrants and everyone else who might
be interested. Service providers who are not based in the Village will have
their stalls positioned along streets.
The TECT
theatre will be showing videos, power points and films of special events and
promotions from several countries. The main Village Hall will have displays of
martial art, yoga, Thai chi and other lifestyle sports, and musician will have
a chance to continue their performances after playing on a big stage in several
places in the Village.
Discovery
tents will be set up so visitors would be able to try hands on arts and crafts
from several countries. And not forgetting the children – a Bouncy castle, face
painting and candy floss will be there to keep them happy too.
At midday
we will have a cultural costume parade walking through the streets of the
Village with a special performance of the Dixie Band to accompany them.
The Master
of Ceremony for the day will be again Brendan Horan and accompanying him
Charlie Rahiri.
The entry
tickets are $5 for adults and children under 12 have a free entry, tickets sold
at the gate only
ANZ bank,
our sponsor, will provide EFTPOST
available at the gate.
Free car parking
on 17th Avenue
and surrounding streets.
The
Environment Centre Charitable Trust is helping us to run our Festival as a
Green Event with providing recycling bins and educational material for public.
As part of the Greening of our event we strongly advice to come to the festival
by bus. Line number 59,1 & 2 will get visitors to the VIillage
The
Festival is organized and run entirely by volunteers –members of TRMC.
