PRESS RELEASE
11 JANUARY 2008
Porirua’s Festival of the Elements Less Than a Month Away
The 2008 Festival of the Elements in Porirua is nearly here and organisations, groups, artists and performers are
gearing up for the highly colourful Waitangi Day event.
Coordinator Margaret Armour said the festival, organised by the Porirua Community Arts Council, is one of the major
Waitangi Day events in New Zealand.
“It uses the arts to celebrate New Zealand’s cultural diversity which is made possible by the Treaty of Waitangi.”
Ms Armour said the Festival of the Elements provided great potential for sponsors, participating groups and performers
to reach a wide audience both within the Porirua basin and greater Wellington.
This year’s Festival, to be held on Elsdon Park and the grounds of Mana College after its previous location became
unavailable due to construction work, has attracted nearly 25 performing artists to the big stage.
“Though the new venue is a little less central, the site is considerably larger than the park we have used in recent
years” Ms Armour said.
Organisers are particularly pleased that the location makes it much more practical to work in closely with our local iwi
Ngati Toa and Takapuwahia Marae.
“We have invited as many groups as we can to make this event a truly multi-cultural one which reflects the many elements
of and in our world.”
More than 100 cultures have been represented at the Festival since it began in 1992 and organisers say there are still
many more who will attend in years to come.
ENDS
website - www.elementsfestival.org.nz