Movies, music and kai this
Waitangi Day
31 January 2011
What better way to celebrate our national day than to watch a New Zealand movie, listen to some New Zealand bands and
tuck in to some traditional New Zealand kai?
This Sunday, Christchurch Art Gallery will be celebrating Waitangi Day with a programme of free events, including two
showings of the movie The Strength of Water, and three hours of live folk-jazz tunes, tropic soul and reggae beats.
Filmed in the far north of New Zealand, The Strength of Water follows ten year old twins Kimi and Melody, who are forced apart when mysterious stranger Tai arrives in their isolated
coastal town. This touching 89-minute film is directed by award-winning New Zealand Armagan Ballantyne, whose five short
films have screened at festivals around the world including Venice, New York and Telluride in the US. It’s also the
first feature film written by acclaimed award-winning New Zealand playwright Briar Grace-Smith.
Click for big version
Gallery director Jenny Harper describes the film as one every New Zealander should see.
“Beautiful yet haunting, this film represents Grace-Smith’s sharp and inspiring observation of New Zealand’s people and
culture. On a day when we acknowledge our people and our history, this film is definitely one to see.”
For a pre-movie insight, head along to the Christchurch Art Gallery at 6pm on Wednesday (2 February) and listen as
Grace-Smith reveals the joys and challenges of writing the script, and her inspiration behind it.
Visitors are also invited to enjoy a summer mix of live music in the forecourt from midday on Sunday. Kicking off the
afternoon are Christchurch group Emeralds and Greenstone, performing a medley of Maori and Celtic music, with a modern twist. Fusing together both cultures and musical
traditions, Laura Tomlin and Ariana Tikao perform lyrics in English, Te Reo Maori and occasionally Scot and Irish
Gaelic.
Also taking to the stage to present ‘Island Summer’ are local group Pacific Underground, mixing the flavours of the warm tropics with traditional music from Samoa. DJ Whero, aka Redford Grennell, will also entertain audiences with his reggae sounds.
A portable hāngī will be available in the forecourt, serving food at 11.30am and again at 1pm ($10 per person, cash
only).
The Strength of Water will be showing in the Philip Carter Family Auditorium at Christchurch Art Gallery at 10.30am and
3.30pm on Sunday 6 February. Live music starts at 12pm. Both events are free of charge.
ENDS