Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia is excited to support the Upsurge Bay of Islands Arts Festival as it is ready to roll out its 2024 programme! This eight-day celebration of the arts will bring our community together to enjoy a diverse mix of music, theatre, and dance, a with something to inspire everyone.
This year’s festival has been carefully curated by co-directors Caroline and Dave Armstrong, featuring an exciting range of local and national talent. We’re especially excited to see local star Troy Kingi on the lineup, along with the soulful Hollie Smith, and even a performance by the Royal New Zealand Ballet. The Kōrero/Conversations series is also set to offer some thought-provoking discussions through the weekend.
We are particularly proud to host the festival’s opening event at Te Ahurea on Sunday, 8 September 2024. The morning will begin with a whakatau/karakia/mihimihi, followed by the official festival opening. Highlights of the day include a performance by the Ngāti Rēhia community kapa haka group and interactive electives in Kōauau (pottery) and Raranga (weaving), allowing whānau to connect with traditional Māori arts in a meaningful way.
This is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community, celebrate the vibrant arts scene in Aotearoa, and share in something truly special. We look forward to seeing you there – let’s make this another festival to remember!
For the full programme and event details, visit Upsurge Festival 2024.
Following is the programme for the Whakatau:
