Festival 'by youth, for youth'

A huge line-up of prominent nationwide sports, television and music people will be at the Claudelands Event Centre to celebrate the 2013 Rise and Shine Youth Festival.

Expected to attract about 5000 people, event manager Tama Hata says the festival will give young people an opportunity to engage with some well-known people.

"There are three key components to the March 28 festival", says Tama.

The main arena will host featured entertainment while the playground and the village will focus on recreational pursuits, including an amazing race, a school challenge and other fun activities coordinated by Auckland's Rock Up, Sport Waikato and Te Ahurei o Rangatahi.

"The main arena is a full-day programme of top musical entertainment, sprinkled with motivational speaking from sports stars.

The line-up includes NZGT stars The J Geeks and Tawaroa Kawana, the Film Boys' James Rolleston and popular acts Sons of Zion, Tasty Brown, Tomorrow People, Three Houses Down, House of Shem, Chad Chambers, Ria Hall, DJ Fortafy and Donnell Lewis."

Former Vodafone Warrior and festival MC Wairangi Koopu says an education and careers expo is 'probably the most important component'. The expo will also host health and wellbeing kiosks as the pivotal centre of the event.

"This festival is an opportunity for youth to engage and have insight into some pathways they can choose to take them into adulthood.

"It's all positive and this is why I became involved," he says.

With more than 60 volunteers from local youth groups and the tertiary sector, Tama says it is a festival hosted by youth, for youth and is guided by the proverbial legacy of Te Puea Herangi, "Dreams become reality when we take action - Te ohonga ake i tooku moemoeaa ko te puawaitanga o te whakaaro".

More information at www.riseandshinefestival.co.nz. Tickets $30 from Ticketek.