Air New Zealand backs the Hamilton Arts Festival through its regional events programme.
This February, Hamilton Gardens plays host to the 10-day Hamilton Arts Festival Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa. Returning from 20 February to 1 March, the festival brings together 49 events and more than 800 artists across theatre, music, dance, comedy and cabaret. The event has grown into New Zealand’s largest regional arts festival, drawing visitors from outside the Waikato and showcasing the depth of the region’s creative community, alongside national and international touring shows.
It is exactly this kind of festival that Air New Zealand is backing through its Regional Events Sponsorship Programme, which supports 20 events in 20 destinations across Aotearoa in 2026. The initiative is designed to celebrate what makes each region distinctive, while encouraging New Zealanders and international visitors alike to travel beyond the main centres.
“Regional events are often deeply rooted in their communities and have a big impact for the places that host them,” says Air New Zealand Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Kiri Hannifin. “By investing across the regions, we’re supporting local organisers, local businesses and local communities, encouraging international travellers as well as New Zealanders to look beyond the usual hotspots.”
Hamilton Arts Festival is one of the programme’s key events, staged primarily within the internationally acclaimed Hamilton Gardens, and a scattering of local theatres. Performances are spread across the gardens, which are landscaped in themes like the Italian Renaissance Garden, the English Flower Garden and the Japanese Garden of Contemplation. “Having dozens of events and hundreds of artists all coming together in one setting is pretty special,” says Hannifin. “The fact that the festival is woven through the Hamilton Gardens adds another layer – it’s one of my favourite places to visit and I think it’s magic to have it as the festival’s setting.”
This year’s festival line-up ranges from large-scale outdoor concerts to intimate and immersive experiences. International acts include the Fijian Flying Circus, a world-first fusion of contemporary circus and Fijian storytelling, and Australian cabaret institution Briefs Factory, who open the festival with their high-energy, unapologetic Dirty Laundry. Elsewhere, audiences can experience taonga pūoro and contemporary dance in Pōtaka Nautilus & Pepe, or join a singalong inside the Neon Hanging Garden of Babylon with Battle Chorus.
One of its signature events, Sunset Symphony, returns with entry by donation. It draws thousands to the Rhododendron Lawn, where orchestral works by Tchaikovsky combine with dance music spanning cultures and eras, performed by the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Rupert D’Cruze and the Kulios String Quartet. The sunset show captures the festival’s inclusive spirit, inviting audiences to picnic, listen and linger.
For Air New Zealand, the festival exemplifies what the Regional Events Sponsorship Programme aims to support. “The Hamilton Arts Festival is a brilliant example of a regional event that has grown into something truly significant,” says Hannifin. “It is large in scale, deeply connected to its setting at Hamilton Gardens, and it showcases both local and national talent. It draws people into the Waikato and encourages them to spend time there, not just pass through.”
Festivals like Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa allow visitors to experience the region through the meaningful lens of arts and culture. “Rather than ticking off attractions, travellers are engaging with local stories, artists and communities,” says Hannifin. “Arts and culture shape how a place feels, not just how it looks, and that often becomes the part of the trip people remember most.”
The 20 events backed by Air New Zealand run from Kerikeri’s Savour Northland to Gore’s Tussock Country Music Festival, connecting communities large and small. “Our regional network spans the length of the country and these events mirror that reach,” says Hannifin. “It reinforces how diverse New Zealand is and that every region has something special to offer. When people see events popping up all over the country, we hope it’ll inspire them to explore somewhere new.”
Backing regional arts and culture also aligns with Air New Zealand’s broader view of sustainability. “We consider sustainability in every partnership and project we take on, and this programme is no exception,” says Hannifin. “For us, sustainability is not just environmental, it is also about healthy communities and thriving regional economies. Supporting regional arts and culture helps events grow, supports local jobs, and keeps communities vibrant.”
Success for the programme is measured in local impact and lasting impressions. “It’s about busier cafes and accommodation, confident events, and people coming home with stories about places they hadn’t visited before,” says Hannifin. “If we can help regions shine and inspire more New Zealanders to explore their own backyard, we’ve done our job.”
As Hamilton Gardens prepares once again to host music, dance and conversation, the festival stands as one of 20 regional events helping to turn travel into something richer. A chance to connect with place, people and culture, one performance at a time.
*For festival tickets and information, visit www.hamiltonartsfestival.co.nz
For more on Air New Zealand’s Regional Events Sponsorship Programme, visit www.airnewzealand.co.nz/regional-events-sponsorship-programme