Every second year, the Wānaka Festival of Colour comes to town, transforming Wānaka into a vibrant plethora of creativity, connection, community and colour.
The streets come alive, the stages light up, and locals and visitors alike throw their support behind the celebration of creative spirit in the region.
This April, Te Kaupeka Rau | The Festival of Colour returned with its biggest and boldest programme yet – a true showcase of the Upper Clutha’s growing identity as a hub for ngā mahi toi me ngā ahurea (arts and culture). From the opening dawn lake plunge to interactive sing-offs, street dances, poetry slams, cabaret, contemporary ballet, circus spectacles, thought-provoking kōrero (conversations) and free community days, there was truly something for everyone. And their mums, neighbours and nine-year-olds.
To recap, we chatted with Ruth Heath, Executive Director of the festival and a real champion for the arts in the Wānaka region.
The 2025 festival opened on a perfect Wānaka morning: still, sunny, and with lake swimmers out in full force. A fresh 7am community cold plunge kicked things off, followed by the Rā Whānau Hapori (Community Whānau Day), which drew thousands to the lakefront for music, movement, kai (food), and culture.
From there, the festival unfolded in every direction: into theatres and school halls, out onto the streets, into dimly lit corners and deep into meaningful kōrero (conversation). The 2025 programme was both ambitious and accessible, thoughtfully curated for a regional audience with a growing appetite for the arts. The week-long festival featured world-class theatre, contemporary dance, everything from chamber to rock music, political panels, circus, comedy, and so much more. More than 8,000 tickets were sold, and an estimated 7,000 people engaged with free events and activities across town.
“The energy in town was high, with a real feeling of connection, celebration, and pride,” says Ruth. “We’re incredibly grateful and proud of how it all went, and love seeing the positive feedback rolling in from audiences, artists and speakers alike. Everyone was thrilled to be part of the buzz.”
One of the festival’s core values is creating opportunities for participation, not just attendance. That was evident in every aspect of this year’s event, with many locals stepping up as artists, speakers, volunteers, and crew behind the scenes.
Rangatahi (young people) were also able to engage more than ever. Mount Aspiring College students joined the festival’s tech crew as interns, learning hands-on skills while contributing to the delivery of major performances. Volunteering was also opened to younger students through the expanded youth programme, giving students a front-row seat to the mahi (work) involved in bringing a festival of this scale to life.
“It’s these connections between art, education, generosity and community that make this festival so meaningful,” says Ruth. “We love being able to show the next generation that world-class performances can exist in our own backyard, not just in the big cities.”
The SchoolFest Programme continued to be a major highlight. This year, the festival extended for the first time to Makarora, bringing performance to rural students who might not otherwise have access to live theatre. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and the team is already exploring ways to build on that outreach in future years.
Another milestone in 2025 was the introduction of a ‘Pay It Forward’ ticketing option. At checkout, festival-goers were able to purchase an extra ticket to be gifted to someone in the community who might not otherwise be able to attend. Thanks to the generosity of the festival whānau (extended family), nearly 70 tickets were passed on to Community Link Upper Clutha for distribution.
This year, the festival also partnered with Welcoming Communities to deliver a dynamic and diverse celebration at the ever-popular Community Street Theatre Day. Five cultural food stalls represented five different heritages, and a diverse line-up of performers brought international flavour to the lakeside, with performances from Filipino dance group Qampi, Japanese singing collective The Wasabi Choir, and Capoeira artists.
In a landscape as stunning as Wānaka, caring for the taiao (natural environment) isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s a responsibility shared by all. And, of course, that commitment to kaitiakitanga (guardianship) continues to shape the way Te Kaupeka Rau (The Wānaka Festival of Colour) operates.
The festival’s partnership with Wānaka Wastebusters is just one example of what’s possible when values align. Not only did Wastebusters manage the recycling and waste audits, the team also donated furniture, costumes, workshop materials and repurposed items where needed, including to the tamariki skiffle band performances.
“It’s just a brilliant way to show tamariki and whānau all that can be repurposed, and in really fun ways,” says Ruth.
Thanks to the combined efforts of volunteers, vendors and audiences, 77% of all waste was diverted from landfill at the 2025 festival. And the Rā Whānau Hapori, attended by thousands, generated virtually no extra waste – just a handful of wooden skewers and lime wedges.
“This is a really strong result for an event of this size, though we know there’s always room to grow,” says Ruth. “It’s a dynamic and unpredictable beast – but we and our community are on the right track, and we’ll continue to improve our kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and sustainability year by year.”
As Wānaka continues to grow and evolve, so too does the festival. What once began as a response to a cultural gap has quickly grown into one of the region’s most loved and distinctive events, an authentic celebration of people, place, and endless possibilities. And the 2027 Festival of Colour will only continue that trajectory, with the ever-exciting Aspiring Conversations taking place next year in its stead.
Ruth knows there’s something uniquely special about the Festival of Colour: rooted in a relatively small community, set against the stunning landscapes of Wānaka, and built with aroha and care over two years of planning.
“Every performance is curated to inspire, challenge our ideas and perspectives, and bring joy and delight,” says Ruth. “Whether you’re a local or from further afield, don’t miss the chance to experience our iconic Crystal Palace, the buzz in town, and the warmth of our creative community.”
Behind every show and every moment is a mountain of mahi (work), and a team committed to creating something extraordinary. “And we do it all,” says Ruth, “to share something unforgettable with our community, and to open hearts and minds right across the region.”
With Aspiring Conversations 2026 next year and the next Festival of Colour lined up for 2027, there are plenty of ways to help keep the festival thriving. Head to the Wānaka Festival of Colour website to see how you can give back – whether by becoming a Festival Donor, volunteering, completing a post-festival survey, or simply buying tickets when the next festival rolls around.
“Join our festival whānau!” says Ruth. Stay up to date with festival news, call outs for festival volunteers, our palace build crew, or event releases when they happen. “Every action helps keep the festival alive and thriving.”
Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, seeing Wānaka brought to life through creativity and community somehow never gets less special. From the lake’s edge to the theatre’s lights, this is a festival that genuinely reflects the region it calls home: creative, connected, and full of colour.
