Bright lights, local artistic talent and kiwi music icons are bringing the region to life as Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival (TTAF) returns for its 2025 season.
Local favourite, Te Ara i Whiti, is illuminating Kelvin Park until 5 October. Curated by Melanie Tangaere Baldwin, Te Ara i Whiti features installations from ten artists reflecting the theme, ‘O Mātou Tūmanako – Our Dreams.’
“As the kaupapa has grown, both the festival and Te Ara i Whiti, we needed someone with a really strong visual arts curatorial eye and vision, and that was found in Mel, who came in and took it to another level,” said TTAF Chief Executive and Artistic Director, Tama Waipara.
“Since then, Te Ara i Whiti has had its own gravitational pull, attracting artists from all over the country. It has become a space where excellence in contemporary Māori design can really shine.”
“This year, even though the programme is smaller, we were adamant that Te Ara i Whiti be our anchor and gathering place,” Tama said. “It has always been about access, contemporary Māori design and uplift. It’s the heart of the festival, and it’s for everyone.”
As a thank you to Te Tairāwhiti, Tama performed a special preview of his yet-to-be-released album, Te Katoa, at the War Memorial Theatre.
“When you’re in the driver's seat for the festival, it’s always been my opinion that my role is to platform others, not hold the limelight with my own mahi. [But] I wanted to offer something back… especially to those who have informed the stories in these waiata,” he said.
The album features waiata composed by Teina Moetara, Taharakau Stewart and Tweedie Waititi and collaborations with Maisey Rika.
Rounding up festival season, Annie Crummer performed alongside her father for the first time in Gisborne. For two shows only, their performances wove together some of Annie’s best-known hits alongside songs from Papa Will Crummer’s Shoebox Love Songs album.
“When the festival launched in 2018, Annie was part of it. Having her back now to close this chapter alongside her father feels like a full-circle moment.”
In 2023, Trust Tairāwhiti committed $1.3m over two years to support the festival.
“The festival would have never happened without the vision of Trust Tairāwhiti in the first place,” Tama said.
“Right from the beginning, the Trust recognised that this is a community kaupapa and that the festival exists to serve our people. Creative New Zealand supports our artists, and Trust Tairāwhiti supports our community. As our primary funders, they’re a perfect marriage in making what we do possible,” says Tama.
More event information is available on the TTAF website.