Great weather and engagement in Northland lead to successful weekend featuring creative events, charity relay

Smiles and sunshine were key in the Cancer Society's Relay for Life, with participants including Judy Imeson (left) and Raewyn Moody (right). Photo / Michael Cunningham Photography

A creative weekend bonanza in Northland was a great success, with thousands of people taking part in events and hundreds of thousands raised for charity.

Major events on Saturday included ArtBeat, the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and Opera in the Garden.

After nearly 30 years in Whangārei, ArtBeat had a successful move to Dargaville’s Riverside Gardens, with more than 3500 people attending.

Creative Northland chief executive Olivia Garelja described the event as a powerful showcase of community connection in the heart of Kaipara.

There were more than 200 contributors, around 100 stalls, a diverse mainstage programme and more than seven interactive “have-a-go” zones, which meant there was something for everyone.

Garelja said the event’s success was driven by a shared sense of purpose, with accessibility and diversity being key.

“Events work when everyone sees the bigger cause and, for us, that was providing unity for a rural town that might not otherwise experience something like this at scale.”

One stallholder described the day as “exactly the uplift Dargaville needed”.

Event manager Jo Roberts said the real value of ArtBeat was the engagement.

“The variety of performances alongside the ‘have-a-go’ zones meant people didn’t just attend, they engaged, created and took something away with them.”

Performers from Kaipara Ballet & Acrobatic Dance form a caterpillar in a captivating ArtBeat performance. Photo / @HugoMediaHouse

Meanwhile, the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Whangārei was such a success, it smashed its fundraising goal by more than $20,000.

They event has raised more than $158,000 for the Northland Cancer Lodge, with a few more donations still coming in, said one organiser, Anna Moreton.

“We were blown away.

“It went brilliantly. It was a great day and the community was incredible.”

Moreton said fine and sunny weather helped, with participants managing to keep up their energy despite the heat.

Students from Pompallier Catholic College form a pyramid as part of the Relay for Life fun on Saturday. Photo / Michael Cunningham Photography

The 12-hour event not only included a relay around Trigg Stadium but also games like tug of war, talent shows, relays within the relay and live performances, she said.

Meanwhile, Opera in the Garden at Tahamoana Angora Goat Farm in Waipu Cove also attracted around 600 attendees.

The crowd soaked up the sun and the music, with a new format of three acts allowing people more time to check out the food stalls, said Opera North musical director Maria Satterfield.

While the event broke even, there was hope it would do better next year if held on a Sunday so it did not clash with other events, she said.

As well as ArtBeat and Relay for Life, Opera in the Garden also clashed with the Mānuka Phuel Synthony Festival in Auckland, she said.

Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.