Organisers of a Taranaki peace festival are confident of proving the success of the first event was no fluke.
More than 2000 people descended on the small Maori settlement of Parihaka yesterday for the 2007 Parihaka International Peace Festival.
Between 7000 and 10,000 are expected to make the
trek to the settlement about 40 minutes' drive from New Plymouth for the three-day festival, which has drawn artists including Dave Dobbyn, Che Fu, Emma Paki, Kora and Opensouls.
Spokesman John Dix said three marae were working as one to ensure the event's success. More than 2000 people had bought tickets and thousands more were expected.
Hundreds of tents have been erected on the 3ha festival site with steaming hangi pits and a large foodcourt to feed visitors.
Parihaka was home to a 2000-strong pan-tribal Maori community led by Te Whiti and Tohu and staged a non-violent campaign against colonisation in the late 19th century.
This year's festival marks 100 years since the death of Parihaka's founding fathers.
