July 12, 2022
Tairawhiti Festival makes art of tree planting
After repeated changes and Covid-delays, Te Tairawhiti Arts Festival has finally gone ahead with a programme of music, theatre, exhibitions and it’s the signature light trail on the banks of Gisborne’s two rivers.
Artistic director Tama Waipara says moving it from March to midwinter allowed it to embrace a Matariki theme, as seemed fitting for a kaupapa Māori-led festival.
He says there’s a strong showing from past and present students of the Eastern Institute of Technology’s Toihoukura Māori art course, and a workshop at Tairawhiti this weekend run by the Muriwai weavers’ collective.
“In the coming weekend we’re having a massive taiao whanau day with the Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust, that’s a collaboration led by Soraya Pohatu, and she’s hoping to do a mass planting of about 5000 plants out at Te Wherowhero Lagoon so a really purposeful kaupapa,” Waipara says.