Katikati Festival of Cultures draws thousands to Moore Park

Thousands of people gathered at Moore Park in Katikati last weekend to celebrate the rich cultural diversity of the Western Bay of Plenty at the annual Festival of Cultures. The day began with a flag parade down Carisbrooke Street, led by Bay of Plenty Pipes & Drums, with more than 26 countries represented and around 200 participants marching to show their homeland pride. The parade concluded at Moore Park with a pōwhiri.

The afternoon was filled with cultural performances on the main stage from a wide range of groups, including a kapa haka group, Katikati College Pasifika Group, a Cambodian group, the Ni-Vanuatu Bay of Plenty Association, the Tauranga Chinese Cultural Arts Group, Kunza Chilean Dance Group, the Kiribati Community Group, and several RSE worker groups from Vanuatu and Fiji. Food stalls offered kai from around the world, including Māori kai, Pacific Island flavours, and dishes from France, the Philippines, China, Thailand, Nepal, India and beyond.

Committee member Kylie Watkins said it was a remarkable day full of warmth and connection. 'The vibrancy and colour that lit up Moore Park was mind-blowing — I've never seen Katikati so colourful,' she said. A highlight for many was the Holi-inspired powder throw in the afternoon, where tamariki gleefully covered each other in bright colour explosions, symbolising new beginnings.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).