Colour and culture celebrated at local festival

Sally Wang enjoys Tauranga's 16th annual Multicultural Festival. Photo/Andrew Warner.

It was a boom of people and music at Tauranga's 16th Multicultural Festival today.

The Historic Village came to life with vibrant colour, culture and activities as people cued to enjoy a number of arts and entertainment.

The annual festival is about promoting the mix of culture in Tauranga's population, not only from people elsewhere but also for locals, said Multicultural Festival communications secretary Margarete Kraemer.

"We have a lot of different groups coming in and we have a number of stalls and workshops where people can come along and get active themselves, it's not just watching for themselves."

Latin dance, afro fusion dance, belly dance as well as hula hoop dance were workshops people could join.

"Children can go along to workshops as well. It's dance, not only for adults but for the little ones as well."

Stalls displaying colourful arts and crafts, food and local history lined the Village towards a stage which hosted a number of performing groups.

The Korean Language School as well as The West Coast Swing dance group performed for a growing crowd which was expected to reach the five thousand mark.

Members of the Korean Language School perform for the crowd. Photo/Andrew Warner .

"The turn out is good, the weather is more than perfect and we're expecting as many people as last year which was 5,000."

First time visitor Taylor Hayes said she was enjoying the "pop of colour" everywhere she looked.

"The vibe here is cool, there's so much to see and do and the food here so good."

"I wish I knew this place was going on, I'm coming again next year - no doubt."