Te Puke will come alive with colour, music, food and connection next month when the inaugural Te Puke Festival of Cultures brings the community together to celebrate its rich cultural diversity.

The festival, on June 6, will feature cultural performances, international food and interactive workshops, with organisers calling for local groups, performers, artists and craftspeople to take part.

Anyone with a cultural performance to share – including dance, music or storytelling – is encouraged to get involved, along with those wanting to run workshops teaching crafts or traditions, or showcase and sell handcrafted arts and crafts inspired by their heritage.

Funded by the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund and Welcoming Communities Programme, the festival is being organised and run by EPIC Te Puke, COLAB, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Dale Snell, a passionate community member and Te Puke - Eastern Community Board chair.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council general manager strategy and community Annika Lane said the event builds on the success of Katikati Festival of Cultures, which began in 2019 as a community-led initiative, and was last year named a finalist in the Western Bay Community Awards.

“Looking ahead, the Te Puke Festival of Cultures will become a biennial event, alternating with the Katikati celebration,” Lane said.

According to Census data, more than one in four people living in Te Puke were born overseas – and that’s not including seasonal workers.

Hence, the Te Puke Festival of Cultures is designed to recognise and celebrate this diversity, while strengthening community connections and belonging, Lane said.

“The Te Puke area reflects a long history of migration and cultural growth, from Te Arawa as the original inhabitants, through waves of European and Asian settlement, to more recent arrivals from Polynesian, Melanesian, South American and Southeast Asian communities, as well as seasonal workers who play an important role in the region’s horticultural industry,” she said.

“This festival is about showcasing the many cultures that make up our community and ensuring everyone feels valued, welcomed and part of Te Puke’s story.”

To find out more and to register for the event, visit: facebook.com/TePukeFestivalofCultures