Whakatane District - Summer Events

Whakatane District - Summer Events

Starts Jan 28th Whakatane Summer Arts Festival

Whakatane's Summer Arts Festival has been an Anniversary Weekend highlight for over twenty years. What began as a single-event art award has grown into an extended season of the arts launched each year on the last weekend of January and often running through to March.

The Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award for painting and drawing is a major focus, supported by a variety of other visual and performing arts. A multimedia exhibition involving guest artists from throughout the country fills the Whakatane War Memorial Complex with art and craft ranging from ceramics to sculpture, jewelry to woodturning and embroidery to patchwork. Most of the exhibited work is for sale and provides an excellent opportunity for local people to acquire works from nationally renowned artists. The opening night on January 28th, includes the opportunity to see the well known New Zealand diva's Manic Opera.

There's a perennially popular Antique Fair (featuring eight North Island dealers) and 2004 sees the return of a Stone Carving Symposium, on the reserve opposite the War Memorial Complex.

The Whakatane Rose Garden is the venue for Jazz in the Park, this year featuring "Torch Songs' and the River Bank Amphitheatre for Shakespeare in the Park performance of "Love's Labour's Lost'.

The Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award and Summer Arts Festival is organised by the Whakatane District Community Arts Council.

Dates as follows;

- Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award and Summer Arts Exhibition - Whakatane War Memorial Complex. Jan 28 - 31st

- Peter Radley at the Whakatane Museum and Gallery Jan 20 - Feb 20th

- Stone Carving Symposium - Short Street Reserve, Whakatane Jan 24th - Jan 31st

- Art & Craft Bazaar - Art and Craft Centre, McAlister St. Whakatane Jan 29 - 31st

- Antique Fair - War Memorial Hall, Whakatane Jan 28 - 31st.

- Poetry Soiree - War Memorial Hall Jan 29th

- Jazz in the Park - Whakatane Rose Gardens Feb 5th

- Richard Nuns and Josh Rogers - Taonga Puoro Feb 18th

- Shakespeare in the Park - River Amphitheatre, Whakatane March 5th

- Royal New Zealand Ballet - NZ Post Tutus on Tour - March 16th

- New Zealand Symphony Orchestra - Sports Stadium, Whakatane 15th April

For more information on the Summer Arts events contact REAP 07 308 4098

Jan 30 Whakatane Sandvik Summer Cup

Horse racing at the Te Teko Race Course will be a fun-filled day with 10 races and horses from all over the North Island in the field. There's lots of entertainment for the kids with miniature horse rides, face painting, a KidsZone and prizes to be won. A roving Jazz Trio and Fashion in the Field events will keep the anticipated 10,000 strong crowd entertained. Entry fee $2, Racing starts 12pm.

Whakatane District - Summer Events

Jan 19 - 22 Whakatane Sport Fishing Club One Base Tuna Tournament

The Whakatane Sport Fishing Club runs one of the biggest fishing tournaments in NZ, with a prize pool of over $120,000. Running for over 16 years, the tournament is a highlight of the national sport fishing calendar and attracts up to 600 anglers from all over New Zealand who catch Tuna, Marlin, Shark and Kingfish. Anglers and divers enjoy the superb fishing grounds around the White Island and the Ranfurly Banks. Winning fisherman typically catch a tuna of over 65kg!

For further enquiries contact the Whakatane Sport Fishing Club. 07 307 1573.

Jan 22 Whakatane Lions Club Gazebo Market Day

A huge market at the Mataatua Reserve on the final day of the Tuna Tournament will be a fun-filled day on the Whakatane River bank. Over 60 stalls and some fun "fishy" activities will raise money for the new Eastern Bay Cancer Clinic. There'll be lots of arts, crafts, plants, clothing and food for sale. Mataatua Reserve, Whakatane 9.30pm - 2pm. For comments please phone Shona Oswald 07 308 5731.

Starts Jan 28th Whakatane Summer Arts Festival

Whakatane's Summer Arts Festival has been an Anniversary Weekend highlight for over twenty years. What began as a single-event art award has grown into an extended season of the arts launched each year on the last weekend of January and often running through to March.

The Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award for painting and drawing is a major focus, supported by a variety of other visual and performing arts. A multimedia exhibition involving guest artists from throughout the country fills the Whakatane War Memorial Complex with art and craft ranging from ceramics to sculpture, jewelry to woodturning and embroidery to patchwork. Most of the exhibited work is for sale and provides an excellent opportunity for local people to acquire works from nationally renowned artists. The opening night on January 28th, includes the opportunity to see the well known New Zealand diva's Manic Opera.

There's a perennially popular Antique Fair (featuring eight North Island dealers) and 2004 sees the return of a Stone Carving Symposium, on the reserve opposite the War Memorial Complex.

The Whakatane Rose Garden is the venue for Jazz in the Park, this year featuring "Torch Songs' and the River Bank Amphitheatre for Shakespeare in the Park performance of "Love's Labour's Lost'.

The Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award and Summer Arts Festival is organised by the Whakatane District Community Arts Council.

Dates as follows;

- Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award and Summer Arts Exhibition - Whakatane War Memorial Complex. Jan 28 - 31st

- Peter Radley at the Whakatane Museum and Gallery Jan 20 - Feb 20th

- Stone Carving Symposium - Short Street Reserve, Whakatane Jan 24th - Jan 31st

- Art & Craft Bazaar - Art and Craft Centre, McAlister St. Whakatane Jan 29 - 31st

- Antique Fair - War Memorial Hall, Whakatane Jan 28 - 31st.

- Poetry Soiree - War Memorial Hall Jan 29th

- Jazz in the Park - Whakatane Rose Gardens Feb 5th

- Richard Nuns and Josh Rogers - Taonga Puoro Feb 18th

- Shakespeare in the Park - River Amphitheatre, Whakatane March 5th

- Royal New Zealand Ballet - NZ Post Tutus on Tour - March 16th

- New Zealand Symphony Orchestra - Sports Stadium, Whakatane 15th April

For more information on the Summer Arts events contact REAP 07 308 4098

Jan 30 Whakatane Sandvik Summer Cup

Horse racing at the Te Teko Race Course will be a fun-filled day with 10 races and horses from all over the North Island in the field. There's lots of entertainment for the kids with miniature horse rides, face painting, a KidsZone and prizes to be won. A roving Jazz Trio and Fashion in the Field events will keep the anticipated 10,000 strong crowd entertained. Entry fee $2, Racing starts 12pm.

Whakatane Sport Fishing Club Fiji Islands Ladies Tournament 4-6 Feb

The Whakatane Sport Fishing Club runs one of the biggest ladies fishing tournaments in NZ. Running for a number of years, the tournament is one of the highlights of the Whakatane sport fishing calendar and attracts over 250 female anglers from all over New Zealand who catch Tuna, Marlin, Shark and Kingfish. Anglers and divers enjoy the superb fishing grounds around the White Island and the Ranfurly Banks. For further enquiries contact the Whakatane Sport Fishing Club, ph 07 307 0334.

Feb 5 Quota Whale of a Swim

The increasingly popular 'Whale of a Swim' is an open water event which attracts entrants from all over New Zealand and Australia. The 9.36km course is from Whale Island to the Whakatane River mouth, also known as the Whakatane Heads. Held for the previous 8 years, the event continues to grow, with entrants enjoying the unique and spectacular environment and one of few opportunities for an ocean swim event. This year, the event has attracted 18 entries. Positioned as a 'personal achievement' rather than a race many swimmers come back every year for the challenge. Each swimmer is accompanied by a kayak and a large number of safety craft along with the coastguard also attend the event. 'Whale of a Swim' is run by the Quota Club as a fundraiser, with proceeds this year going to the Eastern Bay Cancer Clinic.

ENDS

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