Flaxmere Family Festival - a day for the whole family

The third annual Flaxmere Family festival will bring all the community together in a carnival atmosphere, with free, non-stop entertainment, a large number of food stalls and plenty of action for the kids.

The Flaxmere Planning Committee is again organizing the event and Chair Kayren Hatherell says, “Flaxmere is such a diverse community. The festival is a great opportunity for everyone to come together in one place, to celebrate whanau.”

The event will be MC’d by Te Hamua Nikora from the Maori television talent show Homai Te Pakipaki, and Hastings District Councillor Henare O’Keefe. They will be joined on stage by a fantastic lineup of local artists with the feature group being Mahia Blackmore and the Paradise Band.

 Along with an amazing array of food, there will be craft and information stalls and free entertainment for the kids.

Kayren Hatherell says “The festival was created following the development of the Flaxmere Community Plan which identified a need for family events and a way to showcase local talent.

"The festival is now into its third year and the lineup of local talent just keeps getting better. There are many performers in our community who just need the right outlet for their talent and the festival could be the start of a bright, new career for some of these budding artists.”

The family festival will be officially opened by Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule at 10am on Saturday March 10^th at Flaxmere College. Off street parking is available via Chatham Road.

The festival is proudly supported by the Flaxmere Licensing Trust, Lowe Corporation, the Lotteries Commission, Eastern and Central Community Trust, The Radio Network, Te Puni Kokiri and Hastings District Council.

The talent lineup for the Flaxmere Family Festival includes:

• Maori Culture Group – Flaxmere College  
• Pasifika Group – Flaxmere College
• Araura Culture Group - Aitutaki Island
• Araura Boys – Contemporary Cook Island Music (ex HBHS out of Flaxmere)
• HB Samoan Catholic Church Cultural Group
• HB Samoan Bay Star Band
• Danny Linley-Richardson
• Christine Siko (15) Flaxmere College
• Mary Taito (15) Flaxmere College
• James Burke-Nuku (11) Hastings Intermediate
• Cheryl Wichman
• Rezpect Dance Group from Flaxmere
• Peter & Patutai Kire
• Lyrical Download- Reggae Band from Flaxmere
• Mahinarangi Lawrence (13 yrs)
• Solid Serenity (trio from Flaxmere College & Hukarere College)
• Mii Vakapora & Willy McLean 
• Te Oriwa Matthews (Flaxmere College)

For more information:

Ross Holden
Communications Manager
(06) 871 5056
027 275 5205