WOMAD NZ 2023 Programme

WOMAD’s back!

A partnership to sing and dance about

We are excited to welcome back WOMAD to Taranaki for 2023, a world-class music and dance festival.

Partnering with WOMAD is our way of supporting your community, so you can enjoy entertainment from some amazing international artists with your friends and family.

To find out more about our partnership with WOMAD visit tsb.co.nz/womad

tsb.co.nz /womad

Welcome

Tēnā koutou katoa

Nau mai haere mai i runga i te reo karanga o WOMAD me Taranaki mounga. We extend a warm welcome to you all, whether you’re here for the first time or are one of our regular WOMAD whānau, welcome to the 20th year of WOMAD in Taranaki.

WOMAD is much more than a music festival to us, it’s an expression of the world’s many cultures and languages. We all need something to keep us in touch with humanity, to make us feel good, and to share something special with our fellow humans – we like to think the music and artists at WOMAD go some way to help us do that.

We believe it’s important to make space for creative thinkers, makers and minority voices, who not only entertain, interact and inspire us but also provoke us to engage, question and think about the world around us.

After a two-year hiatus we’re delighted to be back with a packed programme full of diversity, loads of new additions, which we hope you’ll seek out to get the most from your WOMAD experience.

There are so many artists on our 4 music stages you’ll be spoiled for choice. Don’t miss one of Africa’s most celebrated musicians; Grammy award winner and powerhouse Youssou N’Dour. You’re also in for a treat with Aotearoa’s own collective Fly My Pretties, and the incredibly talented Deva Mahal. And make sure you see South Korea’s ADG7 who express the true meaning of liberation and the desire for unification, with unbound energy and charisma.

Nau mai haere mai

Of course WOMAD isn’t just about the music –there’s so much more to discover! The WOMAD NZ book club is back to discuss Michael Bennett’s novel ‘Better Than Blood’, and the OMV STEAM Lab in the Pinetum will challenge your grey matter in all sorts of ways; find out about the world of gigantic kite making and learn about how tech will shape our future learning. The food stalls in the Global Village will tickle your taste buds and introduce you to some new flavour sensations, and for those needing some retail therapy, you won’t be disappointed by our fabulous stalls, and of course there’s our WOStore for all your WOMAD merch needs.

Finally, on behalf of the Board and Staff of WOMAD

NZ we wish to thank all of our partners, staff, crew, volunteers and of course YOU, our wonderful ticket buyers for your support. Without you the festival simply would not happen!

We’ve ordered the sunshine and can’t wait to welcome you to WOMAD NZ 2023!

Ngā mihi nui

Paula Henderson Head of Programming Womad International

Emere Wano Programme Director Womad NZ

EVENT PARTNERS HOA AHUREI

HOST CITY PARTNER HOA Ā-TAONE

COMMUNITY PARTNER HOA HAPORI

REGIONAL PARTNER HOA Ā-ROHE

PROGRAMME PARTNERS HOA HŌTAKA

MEDIA PARTNERS HOA PĀOHO

EVENT SUPPORTERS HOA TAUTOKO AHUREI

PRODUCED BY NĀ TE AHUREI TOI O TARANAKI

Welcome to WOMAD 2023

Todd Energy is proud to have been the energy behind WOMAD New Zealand since the festival first arrived in Taranaki 20 years ago.

Over the last 20 years we have seen WOMAD go from strength to strength, growing into the iconic festival it is today – a festival that brings people from all walks of life together to share in the joy of music, art and dance.

For Todd Energy, supporting WOMAD has always been about helping where we can, in doing what’s best for Taranaki. It’s about securing our place on the world stage, and ensuring Taranaki remains a vibrant place to live and work.

Over the last 20 years, WOMAD has also become an increasingly valuable platform to promote culture, creativity, diversity and acceptance, and this continues to be a meaningful and important message for us all.

This year, we have been delighted once again to share the magic of WOMAD with our local communities through the Todd Energy WOMAD Community Programme – a popular highlight on school calendars in north and south Taranaki. We are also excited to be continuing to support WOMAD’s Zero Waste Programme, empowering festival goers to reduce their environmental footprint.

On behalf of the Todd Energy team, I want to acknowledge the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust who, together with fellow event partner TSB and the many other supporters and volunteers, have made WOMAD 2023 possible. The last few years have not been without their challenges, and the fact that we are able to celebrate the 20th anniversary of WOMAD New Zealand is testament to the Trust’s resilience and commitment.

To those of you attending WOMAD 2023 – nau mai, haere mai. I hope you all have an enjoyable time here in Taranaki.

Mark Macfarlane, Todd Energy CEO

Kia ora koutou katoa nau mai, haere mai ki WOMAD!

It’s fantastic to have WOMAD back on the agenda this year after a couple of years where it was sorely missed, and TSB is delighted to partner with this

rich and vibrant festival once again.

As a proud Taranaki bank, we love to get behind WOMAD because it contributes to the cultural and social fabric of our community, while also bringing significant benefit to the local economy – which is even more critical in these uncertain times.

What’s even more impressive is that this is the 20th year the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust team has turned on this event. A huge congratulations to the team behind it for delivering a truly world class festival, which plays a big part in helping our region punch above its weight.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend celebrating the wonderful diversity WOMAD offers with your whānau and friends. Be sure to pop into the TSB Shade Area for a break from the sunshine, reapply your sunscreen and refill your drink bottle from a TSB Wai Water station.

Ngā mihi, Donna Cooper TSB CEO

Tēnā koutou and welcome to WOMAD 2020!

It’s been 20 years since WOMAD first arrived in our beautiful Bowl of Brooklands and Pukekura Park and invited us to enjoy the best

of other cultures. I think it’s now fair to say that it’s come of age – and like any well-developed teenager, it’s found its own personality. Today it stands out as one of the world’s great outdoor festivals, a global gathering to celebrate the things that make us unique and to help build a stronger more inclusive community of nations.

We’re excited to have the festival back after two years off due to Covid. Alongside some great acts from Aotearoa, this year we will once again see a range of diverse artists from Germany, USA, Argentina, Romania, Japan, Korea, France and many places in between. The breadth of talent on show is a tribute to the great work of the team at TAFT, NPDC and corporate partners.

WOMAD has become part of New Plymouth’s identity too and by hosting the festival for at least the next decade, it’s firmly embedded in our vision of building New Zealand’s Sustainable Lifestyle Capital.

One of the foundation stones of that vision is friendship, so we welcome you as friends and invite you to make yourself at home. Enjoy a stroll along our stunning coastline on the internationally-acclaimed Coastal Walkway and award winning Pukekura Park in the heart of our city. Or swing by Puke Ariki museum and Govett-Brewster Art Gallery to exercise your imagination. Marvel at Taranaki Maunga from up close or afar and check out the hospitality in our bars, restaurants and cafes. Most of all, relax and enjoy yourself. And do come again soon. We can’t wait to have you back.

Neil Holdom, Mayor New Plymouth District Council

Your WOMAD team Ngā

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Mike Large (Co-Chair), Stacey Hitchcock (Co-Chair), Chris Smith, Chris Lynch, Glenn Brebner, Neil Holdom, Emere Wano

WOMAD

Director of Operations, Real World Holdings

Events & Operations Director

Head of Programming

Tell us what you think

Tukua o whakaaro

WOMAD NEW ZEALAND

TAFT CEO & Event Director

SUZANNE PORTER

Programme Director NZ Emere Wano

Associate Programme Director Josie Hunter-Annand

Marketing & Communications Manager

Rebecca Kapernick

Mike Large

Chris Smith

Paula Henderson

We want to know what you thought of WOMAD

NZ 2023 — the good, the not-so-good, and the absolutely exceptional!

Your feedback is important to us and it helps to shape our future WOMAD festivals. Each year our team reviews the survey feedback and then sets about making the next festival even better!

To receive our post-festival survey, sign up to the WOMAD mailing list on womad.co.nz and we will send you a quick survey in the weeks after the festival. Everyone who completes the survey will go in the draw to win two three-day passes to WOMAD 2024!

Artist Liaison Manager

Bar Services

Business Manager/Ticketing

Campsite Manager

FOH/Gate Services

Whitney Wilson

Macfarlanes Hospitality Group

Tracey Bell

Dave Hare

Neisha Herbert

Global Village Manager Jacqui Rye

Creative Designer

Content Writer

Head of Security

Iwi Liaison

Publicist

Site Manager

Site Operations Coordinator

Alexandra Bishop

Virginia Winder

Teresa Patu

Wharehoka Wano

Lisa Paris & Lucy Macrae; The Label

Michaela Blackman

Tetsu Garnett

Technical Director Neil Penno

Technical Assistant

Meaghan Gray

WOStore Manager Josie Hunter-Annand

Volunteer Coordinator

Whitney Wilson

Zero Waste Managers Closed Loop

Photos: Federico Pagola

THE WOMAD STORY

WOMAD – World of Music, Arts and Dance – is one of the longest-running, best culturally established festivals on the planet. The festival began in the UK back in 1982, intending to celebrate diverse cultures and their artistic offerings from around the globe.

Since that first event, more than 160 WOMAD festivals have been held in 27 countries and islands all over the world, including everywhere from Abu Dhabi to the US, Australia to Sardinia, Canada to South Africa – and, of course, New Zealand. Always family-oriented, WOMAD festivals are the ultimate culmination of sounds, scenery, and good vibes. Through festivals, community events, and educational projects, we aim to excite, delight, and open your mind to the worth and potential of a multicultural society.

“WOMAD has offered many audiences an insight into cultures other than their own through the enjoyment of music – drawing people and artists together, proving, as well as anything, the stupidity of racism,” says Peter Gabriel, co-founder of WOMAD.

New Zealand 2023 marks the 20th year since WOMAD was first held at the pictureperfect Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Park in New Plymouth, Taranaki.

With support from WOMAD UK, along with councils, companies, iwi, organisations and grant makers, WOMAD NZ opened in Taranaki

for the first time in 2003. It began as a biennial event and became annual from 2007.

Since that first festival, WOMAD NZ has continued to embrace a world of cultural diversity through vibrant performances and appearances on the eight stages dotted throughout the leafy parkland.

“This must be one of the most beautiful venues in the world,” says WOMAD co-founder Thomas Brooman.

For three days, some of the world’s best musicians, artists, dancers, storytellers and speakers come to Taranaki, including a fine line-up from Aotearoa.

Beneath fluttering flags, you can soak in multicultural performances, dance wildly before a stage or sit quietly beneath a tree. For a feast of ethnic food visit the Global Village, where you will also find a variety of shops and artisans.

Along with a kaleidoscope of visiting artists, WOMAD NZ continues to evolve. There are workshops, live cooking demonstrations, inspiring talks from change makers, scientists and writers, plus a poetry slam. For families, there is Kidzone, a magical space of storytelling, imagination and oodles of fun.

At WOMAD NZ there is something for everyone. Help us celebrate 20 years since this multi-cultural festival first brought this place of great beauty alive with the world of music, arts and dance.

Kōrero tuku iho WOMAD

Photos: Frederico Pagola

Photos: Frederico Pagola

Festival Highlights

Friday Night Dress Up

We know you’re all stars, but how “Out of this World” can you be? That’s this year’s Friday Night Dress Up theme, so let your imaginations soar – think moons and meteors, aliens and angels, sci-fi and blue skies. Enjoy creating a spectacular costume that’s “Out of this World”.

Kidzone

Even the kids have a place to mellow out, make and be mesmerised at WOMAD NZ. Kidzone is where our younger festival goers can enjoy creative workshops and fun activities in a safe and welcoming environment for families. Head to Kidzone this festival for a world of imagination, stories and songs. Programmed for children 12 and under.

Taranaki Offshore Partnership Taste the World

The Taste the World stage feeds your culinary curiosity at the festival. Come check out what’s cooking at the Kunming Garden as our WOMAD artists serve their favourite cultural dishes from their countries of origin. Combining a splash of storytelling, a sprinkle of secret family recipes and plenty of culinary entertainment, our artists swap their microphones for measuring cups and their instruments for woks and pots.

OMV Steam Lab

WOMAD’s newest stage invites you to step into a place of wonder, where Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) unite. Hear from inventors, innovators and visionaries at the top of their fields who are pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo. The transformed Pinetum is a haven of curiosity and a stage for innovative minds to share their incredible ground-breaking journeys of discovery and global problem-solving. STEAM Lab will have your brain steaming.

WOMAD’s Cultural Heartbeat - Te Paepae

To celebrate the ultimate Māori cultural experience, make sure you visit Te Paepae, the meeting house of WOMAD in Aotearoa. This is a warm and welcoming place to engage and interact with indigenous artists through music and dance, workshops and waiata, conversations and kōrero.

Poetry Slam

The WOMAD Poetry Slam is loud and lively, dramatic and timely. Spoken word poets have just three minutes to wow the crowd and judges with original words and dramatic flair. The Slam, part of the World of Words programme, can be powerful, poignant and funny. Audience reactions are all part of the performance as the poets speak out in hope of being crowned the WOMAD Slam Champ.

Photos: Federico Pagola

Photos: Federico Pagola

Photos: Federico Pagola

The TSB Bowl Stage

Stellar acts from all over the planet have lit up the multiple stages at WOMAD NZ since 2003. Of those, the most famous is the iconic Bowl of Brooklands, which has soared, rocked and pulsated with music, colour and movement. Among the stars have been Mavis Staples, Richie Havens, Buena Vista Social Club, Afro Celt Sound System, Baaba Maal, Salif Keita, Sinead O’Connor and Arrested Development.

TODD Energy Zero Waste

Keeping Brooklands Park and Bowl pristine during WOMAD NZ has become a matter of pride for festival goers and a legion of volunteers. The Zero Waste project is all about minimising what goes to landfill and educating people about the reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink ethos. At each station, enthusiastic volunteers guide people to place their rubbish in the right bins, so it’s easy to be “green” at WOMAD.

Global Village

Take time out to eat, drink and shop your way around the globe. The Global Village is vibrant with colour, fragrant with food and bursting with creative surprises. Alongside the array of food stalls for vegetarians, vegans and meat lovers, are the craft and artisan stalls where clothes, keepsakes and art are on offer.

Site Artists & Installations

Award-winning studio Angus Muir Design, lights up the evening sky at WOMAD NZ with a series of mesmerising light installations featured throughout the festival grounds.

Tarja Pabbruwe and co from Sensorie will be walking tall through WOMAD NZ - again. Look out for a cast from the past as hilarious stilt-walking Colonial Ladies, Lady Follybottom and Lady Lacewing and at dusk, the sensorie stilt walkers metmorphose into green pūriri moths.

World of Words

Introduced in 2017, the World of Words has delivered a tumble of tales from the likes of Elizabeth Knox, Archie Roach, Selina Tusitala Marsh, Tame Iti and more. Showcasing the power of both the written and spoken word, the writers, poets and orators have shared stories about battling barriers and prejudices, plus celebrating solutions and triumphs.

Camping Out

Friendships and community thrive in the WOMAD campsite. Many people come year after year, meeting up with old friends and families at the Pukekura Raceway, which becomes a pop-up village for three days. A lot choose the BYO tent option, others park their vehicles, buses or caravans and some choose a festival life of luxury by going glamping or Tepee tenting.

Photos: Ben D’ath

Photos: Federico Pagola

Photos: Federico Pagola

Photos: Likuid Media

Stay

npdc.govt.nz

PUKE ARIKI MUSEUM TSB SHOWPLACE

COASTAL WALKWAY

SKATEPARKS

GOVETT-BREWSTER ART GALLERY

BROOKLANDS ZOO

PUKEKURA PARK & FERNERY

TODD ENERGY AQUATIC CENTRE

BEAUTIFUL BEACHES

ARTISTS A-Z

Ngā kaitoi

ADG7

(KOREA)

FRI 9PM, TODD ENERGY BROOKLANDS STAGE

SUN 4PM, TSB BOWL STAGE

With one foot in the world of tradition and another in glitzy upbeat pop, ADG7 (Ak Dan Gwang Chil) is a multi-award-winning group featuring three powerhouse female folk singers. They deliver a rich repertoire inspired by Korea’s sacred, shamanic ritual music (gut) and beloved folk songs (minyo) of Hwanghae Province in the peninsula’s northern reaches. Their powerful performances present the spiritual blessings and positive energy of traditional music in a modern and often comical style.

AVANTDALE BOWLING CLUB

(AOTEAROA)

SAT 9PM, TODD ENERGY BROOKLANDS STAGE

The Aotearoa Music Award and Taite Prize-winning artist Tom Scott returns with new music from his genre-pushing project Avantdale Bowling Club. Hip-hop, jazz, soul and spoken word are charged with Tom Scott’s “brutally honest, startingly raw” lyrics delivered in “turn on a pin, rhythmic cadence” are supported by an enviable line-up of musicians, including Julien Dyne (drums), Tonga Vaea (vocals, keys, trumpet), Guy Harrison (keys, trumpet), JY Lee (saxophone) and Ben Turua (upright bass and bass guitar).

(MOROCCO/FRANCE)

BAB L’ BLUZ

SAT 4PM, TSB BOWL STAGE

SUN 8.45PM, GABLES STAGE

Bab L’ Bluz (literally ‘the gateway to the Blues’) is a Franco-Moroccan band created in 2018 in Marrakech. The psychedelic rock band is inspired by Gnawa and Hassani traditions and combines rock, current music and Moroccan popular music. Band members Yousra Mansour, Brice Bottin, Jérôme Bartholomé and Hafid Zouaoui released their first album Nayda! in June 2020 to critical acclaim. The following year Bab L’ Bluz won the Songlines Music Award in the Fusion category.

(AOTEAROA)

ACAPOLLiNATiONS

SAT 9PM, DELL STAGE

SUN 3PM, DELL STAGE

On the premise that voices and cultures cross pollinate, this acapella trio performs hauntingly sassy adaptations of Balkan Polyphony (many voices) with improvisation the Aotearoa way. Zesty irregular rhythms, stirringly close harmony and the evocative voices of Tui Mamaki (French-Kiwi), Chelsea Prastiti (Greek-Kiwi) and Sally Howe (Cook-Island-Kiwi) are woven together to make ACAPOLLiNATiONS a rare, surprising and compelling musical moment.

BÈLA FLECK & ABIGAIL WASHBURN

(USA)

FRI 7PM, DELL STAGE

SAT 3PM, TODD ENERGY BROOKLANDS STAGE

Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, “the king and queen of the banjo” (Paste Magazine), have a musical partnership like no other. Béla Fleck is a 16-time Grammy Award winner, who has taken the instrument across multiple genres, and Abigail Washburn is a singer-songwriter and clawhammer banjo player who re-radicalized it by combining it with Far East culture and sounds. On stage, they will perform pieces from their Grammy-winning self-titled debut as well as their latest record, Echo in the Valley.

CONSTANTINOPLE

Constantinople is a musical ensemble that chose the journey—geographical certainly, but also historical, cultural and inner—as its cornerstone. Inspired by the ancient city illuminating the East and West, Constantinople was founded in 1998 in Montreal by its artistic director, Kiya Tabassian. The ensemble promotes the creation of new works incorporating elements of diverse musical traditions around the world, drawing from medieval manuscripts to a contemporary aesthetic, passing by Mediterranean Europe to Eastern traditions and New World Baroque.

CIMAFUNK

Cimafunk is an Afro-Cuban Rockstar. His stage name refers to his heritage as a “Cimarrón”, Cubans of African descent who resisted and escaped slavery, as well as to the essence of his music that aims to subvert conventional sounds with rhythmic innovation. By bringing out the best in Cuban rhythms and traditions, and infusing sounds and styles from Africa and the United States, Cimafunk has created something unique and special, not only in terms of music but also with the values he stands for. He is redefining contemporary Cuban music as well as Afro-Latin identity and the fusion of black cultures.

SAT 2PM, GABLES STAGE SUN 5PM, DELL STAGE

(CANADA)

SAT 8PM, TSB BOWL STAGE SUN 7.45PM, TODD ENERGY BROOKLANDS STAGE

(CUBA)

(USA)

FANTASTIC NEGRITO

SAT 6PM, GABLES STAGE

SUN 6.30PM, TSB BOWL STAGE

Multi-award-winning bluesman Fantastic Negrito’s extraordinary new album White Jesus Black Problems is an exhilarating ode to the power of family and the enduring resilience of our shared humanity. Born Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, he grew up in an orthodox Muslim household in Oakland, California. After a car crash nearly robbed him of his ability to play the guitar, he began an unlikely redemption arc, winning the first NPR Tiny Desk Contest in 2015. Negrito went on to take home three GRAMMYs for Best Contemporary Blues Album, tour with everyone from Sturgill Simpson to Chris Cornell, collaborate with the likes of Sting and E-40, launch his own Storefront Records label and perform at nearly every major festival on the world map.

DEVA MAHAL

FRI 9PM, DELL STAGE

SUN 2PM, TSB BOWL STAGE

(AOTEAROA)

Deva Mahal was born with blues in her blood. From her upbringing in Kaua’i, Hawaii, to discovering her voice in Aotearoa, she solidified her vision of becoming an artist by performing alongside some of the best, including Fat Freddy’s Drop, Rhombus, Sola Rosa, The Little Bushman, Ladi6, Lisa Tomlins, Hollie Smith, Anika Moa and Olmecha Supreme. Deva released her debut album, Run Deep, in 2018, followed by a series of singles, the latest of which is Travel With Me (2023).

FLY MY PRETTIES

FRI 10PM, TSB BOWL STAGE

(AOTEAROA)

Since its inception, Fly My Pretties have grown to become a local legend of music, reaching people worldwide. A musical institution, Fly My Pretties are New Zealand’s favourite live collaborative group starring some of the country’s finest contemporary musicians and visual artists. This performance will see Fly My Pretties perform songs from recent releases, The Studio Recordings Parts One &

Two, alongside other FMP favourites in front of an original visual backdrop.

The full cast: Barnaby Weir with Anna Coddington, Bailey Wiley, Hollie Smith, Mel Parsons, Ria Hall, Age Pryor, Aaron Stewart, Fin Rah Zel (solo) , Laughton Kora, Nigel Patterson, Jarney Murphy & Matthew Benton (The Black Seeds), James Coyle, Iraia Whakamoe and Ryan Prebble (The Nudge)!

(UK/ITALY)

JUSTIN ADAMS AND MAURO DURANTE

SAT 5PM, DELL STAGE SUN 1PM, DELL STAGE

The new collaboration of Justin Adams, guitarist, producer and composer, and Mauro Durante, violinist and percussionist, showcases two kindred spirits in the trance rhythms of Taranta. With instruments and sometimes added vocals, they create a raw, stripped-back sound that moves and mesmerises.

KITA

SUN 7.45PM, DELL STAGE (AOTEAROA)

Wellington three-piece KITA is a must-see live band with a swirling, dreamy sound overlayed with the pure-sweet voice of Taiwan-born wāhine Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant. She is a guitar-playing storyteller who has been nominated for awards in film, theatre, music and poetry. She is joined by synth master Ed Zuccollo, (producer ZUKE), who cut his teeth on keys for The Black Seeds, Trinity Roots and Troy Kingi, and, providing hectic psychedelic beats, is drummer Rick Cranson (Little Bushman, The Woods).

KEFAYA & ELAHA

(AFGHANISTAN/UK/ITALY)

FRI 6PM, GABLES STAGE

SAT 7PM, DELL STAGE

SOROOR Kefaya is an award-winning collective of international musicians and producers based in the UK. Arabic for “enough”, Kefaya is led by Al MacSween, Giuliano Modarelli and Joost Hendrickx. In 2017, they were named Best Newcomer in the Songlines Music Awards. In 2020, Elaha Soroor won the same award, and was joint winner with Kefaya in the Fusion category for album Songs of Our Mothers.

LE MOANA

(AOTEAROA)

SAT 12PM, GABLES STAGE

SUN 1PM, TODD ENERGY BROOKLANDS STAGE

Le Moana, an organisation of artists based in Aotearoa, is a vessel for exchanging stories, concepts and ideas through live performance. The company was founded by Tupe Lualua in 2013 as a pathway for cultural exchange and the development of Pacific storytelling. Lupe, a Heritage Pacific dance and performance practitioner, taught Siva Sāmoa on the Bachelor of Applied Arts at Whitireia for 10 years and is now Senior Tutor in Movement and Creative Practice at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School.

MEUTE

MAZBOU Q

SAT 10.15PM, GABLES STAGE (AOTEAROA) (GERMANY)

Mazbou Q is a UK-born, Tāmaki Makaurau-based Nigerian artist and producer. Stemming from his background in classical, heavy metal and West African Highlife, Mazbou Q’s brand of hip-hop challenges the very notion of genre. Since the release of his 2021 self-produced full-length album, ‘THE FUTURE WAS.’, Mazbou Q has solidified himself as both a musical powerhouse and an intelligent lyricist. He takes inspiration from the likes of Fela Kuti, The Roots and Black Star as he delivers a socio-political commentary.

FRI 8PM, TSB BOWL STAGE

SAT 7PM, TODD ENERGY BROOKLANDS STAGE

The bass is vibrating, confetti is shimmering, and the red uniforms are popping in the strobe light. With its explosive mix of hypnotic driving techno and expressive brass band music, the techno marching band MEUTE has been creating a big buzz across continents since 2016.

The 11 musicians from Hamburg in Germany, have revolutionised techno music and redefined the concept of brass bands using only acoustic instruments. After their premiere at the legendary Coachella 2022 and festival summer full of unforgettable energy, MEUTE have released their third studio album TAUMEL. Watch them live and enjoy a colourful, thrilling experience that will get everyone on the dance floor.

MDOU MOCTAR

(NIGER)

FRI 7PM, TODD ENERGY BROOKLANDS STAGE

SAT 6PM, TSB BOWL STAGE

Prodigious Tuareg guitarist and songwriter Mdou Moctar is from Agadez, a desert village in rural Niger. Inspired by YouTube videos of Eddie Van Halen’s six-string techniques and traditional Tuareg melodies, he mastered the guitar and created his own burning style. Mdou Moctar reforges contemporary Saharan music and “rock music“, melding full-blast noise and shredding with electronic drums and field recordings. With his band, he offers poetic meditations on love, religion, women’s rights, inequality and Western Africa’s exploitation by colonial powers.

NARUKAMI TAIKO DRUMMING

(AOTEAROA)

FRI 6PM, TSB BOWL STAGE

SAT 2PM, TSB BOWL STAGE

Narukami Taiko is a diverse collection of people united by a passion for the sound, intensity and spirit of the Taiko – a Japanese barrel-shaped drum. The group members support, respect, and encourage each other, irrespective of skill level or experience, as they work together to learn the principles of Taiko, performance techniques, modern Taiko songs and traditional festival tunes. “Narukami”, the Japanese god of thunder and lightning, is embodied by the collective by creating thunderous sounds.

MUDRA DANCE COMPANY

(AOTEAROA)

FRI 8PM, GABLES STAGE

SUN 4PM, GABLES STAGE

Mudra Dance Company, under the leadership of renowned choreographer Vivek Kinra, has developed into a vibrant troupe featuring graduates trained at his dance Academy in Wellington. Together with wondrously swift and rhythmic percussive footwork, the dancers convey complex emotions and philosophical thoughts through exquisite hand gestures, body movements and facial expressions. The dance company serves up a visual feast of brilliant sari colours, traditional headdresses of braids and flowers and the sparkle of gorgeous jewellery.

PANDIT RONU MAJUMDAR & DR JAYANTHI KUMARESH

SAT 3PM, DELL STAGE

SUN 12PM, GABLES STAGE

Two esteemed artists in the Indian classical tradition perform works from North and South India.

Ronu Majumdar started learning flute at age six and his career has led him from Indian classical music to Bollywood and Hollywood, and collaborations with many, including Ravi Shankar, Béla Fleck and Baaba Maal. Dr Jayanthi Kumaresh has dedicated her life to the Saraswathi veena. Her playing style brings out the voice of the veena, in terms of originality in content, technique, virtuosity and expression.

QUINTETO ASTOR

PIAZZOLLA

SAT 8PM , GABLES STAGE

SUN 2PM, GABLES STAGE

This quintet of five outstanding musicians from Argentina plays together to preserve and promote the artistic legacy of the late Astor Piazzolla, who revolutionised tango. Piazzolla’s New Tango is a mix of traditional tango, classical music, jazz, and popular styles such as Neapolitan song and klezmer. His New Tango attracted admirers and collaborators including Yo-Yo Ma, the Kronos Quartet, Gil Evans, Al DiMeola, and Grace Jones. Quinteto Astor Piazzolla was awarded the Latin Grammy for Best Tango Album in 2019.

RIZWAN MUAZZAM

QAWWALS

FRI 10PM, GABLES STAGE

(PAKISTAN)

SUN 10PM, TODD ENERGY BROOKLANDS STAGE

Nephews of the legendary Qawwali maestro Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the two brothers Rizwan-Muazzam are the contemporary torchbearers of the rich Qawwali musical tradition.

Performing together since the late 1990s, Rizwan-Muazzam have developed a devoted worldwide following with their exceptional, hypnotic live shows and acclaimed albums. The brothers from Pakistan perform at festivals and venues all over the world, sharing a musical tradition that spans five centuries.

RUBI DU

SAT 5PM, TODD ENERGY BROOKLANDS STAGE (AOTEAROA)

Tāmaki Makaurau reggae and hip hop musician Rubi Du has been making waves in music, both here in New Zealand and beyond these shores. Through her electrifying live performances, she has solidified herself as the Queen of New Zealand’s roots and dancehall scene, showing excellence in her ability both as a vocalist and an emcee. Her Caribbean heritage and Rastafarian childhood have helped to shape her unique and unforgettable style while staying true to her Kiwi roots.

SAMPA THE GREAT

SUN 8.45PM, TSB BOWL STAGE (ZAMBIA)

In just a few short years, Sampa Tembo, better known as Sampa The Great, has established herself as one of hip hop’s brightest young stars. Exemplified by the 2019 release of her award-winning album The Return, Sampa continues an unstoppable rise that has seen her break through numerous personal and professional

milestones to become one of the most sought-after voices in contemporary rap. Her 2022 album, As Above, So Below, again showcases her prodigious talent, unique voice and point of view. Sampa The Great threw down a particular gauntlet only she would have to match. Having “The Great” at the end of your name brings with it certain expectations –from your contemporaries and yourself.

SAN SALVADOR

Modern Occitan troubadours San Salvador combine popular music’s energy and raw poetry with hypnotic vocal harmonies. Their compositions use the Occitan language as a rhythmic instrument, combining poetry with hypnotic vocal harmonies cascading over shifting patterns of compelling percussion.

In their joyful quest, San Salvador harmoniously balance percussion, hands clapping, and voices. Responding to or confronting each other, they alternate whispers and dramatic rises. Drunken rhythms follow slow songs on various themes – spring, religion or war.

After more than three decades of relentlessly touring the world, the founding members of Taraf de Haidouks have started a new project: Taraf de Caliu. The musicians from Clejani, a commune in Giurgiu County, Muntenia, are the last generation to continue this authentic traditional music from Southern Romania. They are acclaimed as one of the best gipsy bands in the world and, under the lead of Caliu, the iconic violinist of the taraf (folk ensemble), they are travelling again.

SAT 1PM, TODD ENERGY BROOKLANDS STAGE SUN 6.30PM, GABLES STAGE

TARAF DE CALIU

SAT 4PM, GABLES STAGE SUN 12PM, TSB BOWL STAGE

(ROMANIA)

THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE

The Garifuna Collective is carrying the torch of their unique musical culture into the future. The performers represent the best from the Garifuna music scene of Belize in Central America. Together, they combine the deep cultural roots of Garifuna music with modern grooves and traditional instruments. They play unique hand drums, turtle shells and jawbones, guitars and bass, to build hypnotizing rhythms for haunting melodies and powerful vocals.

THE LANGAN BAND

Unhinged and musically extravagant, The Langan Band have become famous for performing an invigorating yet tight and precisely executed show. With a sense of abandonment for spontaneity and surprise, they always keep their audience on their toes. Their material draws from progressive folk, jazz influences and world music to create a modern and exhilarating sound rooted in modern traditions. While it’s hard to pigeonhole the trio from Scotland, they will deliver brilliant musicianship, with catchy tunes and beautiful lyrics.

SAT 1PM, DELL STAGE SUN 3PM, TODD ENERGY BROOKLANDS STAGE

SAT 12PM, TSB BOWL STAGE SUN 5PM, TODD ENERGY BROOKLANDS STAGE

(SCOTLAND)

YOUSSOU N’DOUR & LE SUPER ÉTOILE DE DAKAR

SAT 10.15PM, TSB BOWL STAGE

Grammy Award-winning artist Youssou N’Dour is one of history’s most celebrated African musicians. The Senegalese star’s eclectic influences range from Cuban rumba to hip-hop, jazz to soul, ancient sounds to modern, all of which have seen him gather an international fan base of millions.

The thrilling performer is joined by his backing band, Super Étoile de Dakar, with whom he released four albums in just a few months. The singer, songwriter, musician and composer has also collaborated with international sensations Peter Gabriel, Sting, Tracy Chapman and more. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine described him as, “perhaps the most famous singer alive” in Senegal and much of Africa.

On site Ngā toi puta

We want you – our guests – to have an amazing time at WOMAD NZ. Here are some on-site essentials to enhance your festival experience, so you can make sure you enjoy the incredible WOMAD Vibe.

Parent Hub

It’s no secret WOMAD is a family friendly festival, and thanks to the Taranaki District Health Board, the Parent Hub offers a comfy place to feed babies and put your feet up.

There are also midwives available to discuss any questions you have about your baby, one that’s planned, or one that’s on the way! Plus information about breastfeeding, immunisation, safe sleep practices and more.

Look out for the symbol on the map for the Hub’s location.

Seating for Seniors (Over 65s)

WOMAD is a festival that appeals to all ages. The festival caters to the young, the young at heart, and everyone in between. To make the festival experience more enjoyable and accessible, WOMAD provide elevated seating for over 65 seniors and wheelchair platforms at the three main stages – the TSB Bowl stage, the Todd Energy Brooklands stage and the Gables Stage.

Helpful WOMAD volunteers supervise these mini grandstands. Volunteers are there to make sure things run smoothly. Please follow their instructions, so everyone has an enjoyable and safe time. Look out for the icon on the map.

TSB Sun Shelter

Take a break from the sun at the all new TSB Sun Shade area. The perfect place to relax and enjoy the headlining acts of the TSB Bowl Stage performances during the festival. Located alongside the edge of the bowl, you can find the TSB Sunshade tents secured perfectly for you to enjoy performances and take a break during the day.

Taranaki Embassy

Visit the Venture Taranaki team at WOMAD, learn about our journey to Taranaki 2050 and come along for the ride. We’re a region looking to the future, forging our own path, and redesigning and rethinking what’s possible.

Discover more and enter the competition to win another weekend in Taranaki to enjoy it all over again!

The Hits Sunblock

Don’t get caught red-faced at WOMAD; the sun can be just as hot as the stage schedule! The Hits are ensuring that we can all protect our skin with free sunblock throughout the festival.

Look out for the bright pink sunblock logo at The Hits Pop-up tent, on counters throughout the global village stalls, retail and around the festival.

TSB WAI Water

Stay hydrated is key, and thanks to TSB, you can refill your water for FREE at the TSB WAI Water stations! Pack your non-glass, empty water bottle, or if you forget, visit the TSB WAI Water stall, and grab yourself a new reusable bottle that comes filled with chilled still or sparkling water.

The reusable globelets, a WOMAD staple and collector’s item, will be available from any festival bars when you purchase a drink. Look out for the icons on the map.

Site Artists & Installations

Wāhi kai hanga toi Angus Muir Design

Flowers, flamingos and orbs stacked on orbs are illuminating the WOMAD NZ site this year.

Auckland-based light artist Angus Muir and his design team are the creator of the works helping to make the festival even more festive at night.

At the entrance to Kunming Garden and the World of Words stage you’ll find glowing flowers in Bloom. This floral installation, created by Angus and Harris Keenan, still looks great in the daytime.

Angus and his tight-knit team possess varied experiences and skillsets, enhancing their united and rigorous approach to all projects. “Keen collaborators, the studio works regularly with other industry leaders in specialised fabrication and services.”

The experts in illumination are also busy and highly productive. “The studio team works concurrently on a number of international projects, striving towards providing innovative, stimulating and brief-specific solutions for every client.”

At the vanguard of research and development, Angus and his team are always seeking ways to bring new life to the personal and collective experience of spaces.

When walking down the Pinetum steps to enter the OMV STEAM Lab you will be flanked by a Flamboyance of stylised flamingos.

Also look out for the captivating Shish-ka-Buoy. These illuminated towers of balls have appeared overseas and around Aotearoa/New Zealand and now, here at WOMAD, overlooking the Bowl of Brooklands.

The lighting designer aims to work at the intersection of people, space and objects, so the illuminated works will all fit well within the parkscape of WOMAD NZ.

“Dedicated to renewing and revitalising spaces while acknowledging their history, Angus Muir Design balances these three components to architect a mesmeric experience, unique and specific to each project and site,” the light studio’s website says.

Left: Bloom

Top Right: Shish-ka-buoy

Right: Flamboyance

Flags By Angus Watt

WOMAD’s iconic flags are the brainchild of award-winning UK artist Angus Watt.

Synonymous with WOMAD around the planet, no mention of the celebrated world music festival is complete without reference to the elegant creations that come alive once the music starts. The first flags decorated festival skies during WOMAD UK in 1994.

Angus makes the flags from reusable Japanese cyber-silk, creating the fluttering artworks in an array of colour, shades and transparencies. “They are just great big abstract paintings, painted in the sky,” Angus says.

Sensorie Stilts

Tarja Pabbruwe and co from Sensorie will be walking tall through WOMAD NZ – again.

Look out for a cast from the past as hilarious stilt-walking Colonial Ladies, Lady Follybottom and Lady Lacewing, take pooches Gucci and Hoochi for a stroll in the majestic park grounds.

At dusk, the Sensorie stilt walkers metamorphose into green pūriri moths. Watch them flit through the crowds, their divine satin-silk wings afloat with an ethereal glow.

Giant Crosswords

WOMAD word lovers, we’ve got super-sized puzzles for you to solve! Bust out your trivia knowledge, unravel the clues and mine your minds to crack our giant crosswords.

These larger-than-life crosswords are a perfect way to have a quiet moment at the festival, or to battle your friends with words (not cross ones, of course!).

Pop back throughout the weekend as new crosswords go up – and indulge in more solving.

You can find the giant crosswords in the Kunming Garden.

World of Words

Kupu o te Ao

For dynamic tales of sharing and daring head to the World of Words in the leafy Kunming Garden. Showcasing the power of both the written and spoken word, writers, poets, comedians and orators serve up stacks of stories about battling barriers, purging prejudices and celebrating solutions. Also expect tales of triumphs and healthy doses of hilarity. Back for the fifth year, the latest line-up will get you thinking and feeling, listening and laughing, and hopefully leave you enriched and inspired.

Dr Susette Goldsmith

Dr Susette Goldsmith is an independent writer, editor of nonfiction, and research fellow at the Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies at Victoria University, Wellington. Along with editing, she has contributed to diverse publications and published four books. Her ongoing research explores ways of understanding and safeguarding the natural heritage of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Her latest book, Tree Sense, was shortlisted for a 2022 PANZ design award.

Anna Fifield

Anna Fifield has been a foreign correspondent for international newspapers for 20 years. She has written for the Financial Times and Washington Post while posted in Seoul, Tehran, Beirut, Washington DC, Tokyo and Beijing. She was a Nieman journalism fellow at Harvard University in 2013-14 and awarded Stanford University’s Shorenstein Prize in 2018 for her reporting on Asia. Her highly acclaimed book The Great Successor: The Secret Rise and Rule of Kim Jong-Un has been translated into 24 languages.

Sat, 2pm, World of Words Stage Fri, 8pm, World of Words Stage

Lil O’Brien

Lil O’Brien is an award-winning writer and the author of the memoir Not That I’d Kiss A Girl – a coming-out story set in early noughties South Island. This hilarious, heart-breaking and Kiwi-ssential tale has resonated with LGBTQ+ readers worldwide and was voted in the Top Ten Best of the Best for 2020 by Auckland Libraries and praised in The Spinoff, The NZ Herald and more.

Sat, 6pm, World of Words Stage

James Nokise

Multi-award-winning comedian James Nokise is more than a stand-up artist. He’s also an acclaimed theatremaker and playwright who has successfully toured the International Fringe Festival Circuit. James is a renowned social commentator, columnist, podcaster, and former writer for 7 Days. In 2019, he won the Fred Award at the NZ International Comedy Festival. On TVNZ on demand, the son-of-a-preacher-man explores different religion in the 8-part series Yours Faithfully.

Sat, 8pm, World of Words Stage

Dick Frizzell MNZM

Rose Carlyle

New Zealand writer Rose Carlyle is a lawyer and keen adventurer. She has crewed on scientific yachting expeditions to subantarctic islands and lived aboard her yacht in the Indian Ocean for a year. Rose was a 2020 Michael King Writer in Residence. The Girl in the Mirror is her first novel –international rights have been bought by HarperCollins USA and Atlantic Books, UK. She lives in Auckland with her three children.

Sun, 12pm, World of Words Stage

Dick Frizzell MNZM is one of New Zealand’s best-known and most versatile painters and the highly sought-after designer of many products – from toys to wine. He is the author of Dick Frizzell: The Painter, It’s All About the Image, The Sun is a Star – A Voyage Through the Universe; and Me according to the History of Art.

Sun, 6.30pm, World of Words Stage

Mad Doggerel Cabaret

In Mad Doggerel Cabaret, poets David Eggleton and Daren Kamali combine with musician Richard Wallis to present a comical and lyrical portrait of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Their Mad Doggerel Cabaret is full of cascading words, wild musicality, lightning humour – and talent. David is immediate past Poet Laureate of Aotearoa 2019 - 2022 and Daren has travelled the world presenting poems based on Polynesian legends and his own life story. Richard is an Otago-based guitarist and soundscape composer.

Sun, 8.45pm, World of Words Stage

Poetry Slam Wero toikupu

The WOMAD Poetry Slam can be loud and lively, diverse and timely, in-your-face and exciting.

Spoken word poets have just three minutes to wow the crowd and panel of judges with original words and dramatic flair.

The Slam, part of the World of Words programme, is all about courageous people voicing issues and ideas, often with humour and always with honesty.

Audience reactions are all part of the performance as poets battle to be crowned the 2023 WOMAD Slam Champ.

The Slam Schedule

Sat, 4pm, World of Words Stage

Poetry slammers will belt out their best original stanzas in the hope of being crowned the WOMAD Slam Champ. Also up for grabs are two 3-day VIP WOMAD 2024 tickets!

Poets will be judged on:

• Execution

• Content

• Audience response

Sun, 4pm, World of Words Stage

The WOMAD Slam Champ will perform their winning piece, followed by a slam session from our world renowned judges and seasoned slammers Penny Ashton, Chris Tse and Daren Kamali! Expect to be surprised and mesmerised by their moments of lyrical genius, their passionate prose and their rhythmic rhymes.

The Judges

Penny Ashton

Penny Ashton is back with more aural excitements, and to whip you into a frenzy over who will be crowned the 5th WOMAD Slam Champ. A veteran of over 1000 solo shows, she spent the pandemic touring New Zealand with her comedy musicals Promise and Promiscuity, Olive Copperbottom and Austen Found.

Chris Tse

Chris Tse, New Zealand’s Poet Laureate for 2022-2024, is part of the WOMAD Poetry Slam.

He has written three collections of poetry published by Auckland University Press: How to be Dead in a Year of Snakes (2016 Jessie Mackay Award winner for Best First Book of Poetry), HE’S SO MASC, and Super Model Minority.

Sat &

Daren Kamali

Daren Kamali, Fijian, Wallis, Futunan, Samoan and Scottish, is part of the WOMAD Poetry Slam. A multidisciplinary artist, his works are inspired by his upbringing in Fiji (first 17 years) and Aotearoa NZ roots/ routes (30 years). He incorporates poetry, visual arts, performance arts, and sound/musicality with a Pan Pacific approach, drawing from people and places, particularly cities, islands, and the ocean.

Photo: Likuid Media

Sat & Sun, 4pm - Poetry Slam

Sun, 4pm - Poetry Slam

Sat & Sun, 4pm - Poetry Slam

It’s time to join the Book Club! Come along to share your perspectives, explore the themes of our chosen book and gain insights from the author. Spread the word!

Book Club Club BOOK

WORLD OF WORDS SCHEDULE

Hōtaka Kupu o te Ao

Fri, 8pm Dr Susette Goldsmith Kunming

Sat, 2pm Anna Fifield Kunming

Sat, 4pm Poetry Slam 1/2 Kunming

Michael Bennett (Better the Blood)

Award-winning New Zealand screenwriter, director and author Michael Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) has written Better the Blood, the WOMAD NZ 2023 Book Club offering.

Better the Blood explores raw and unhealed scars through the genre Bennett most loves – the crime thriller. Set in Auckland, Better the Blood explores our conflicted colonial history, oppression of the indigenous population and introduces readers to a compelling and distinctive new voice in crime fiction.

“Aotearoa is paradise. But it’s a paradise with an awful and bloody colonial history which still impacts everyday life,” says Michael. “The social consequences and mamae (trauma, pain) of colonisation remain unhealed.”

Better the Blood, published by Simon & Schuster, is in development for a six-part television series.

Sun, 2pm, World of Words Stage - Book Club

Sat, 6pm Lil O’Brien Kunming

Sat, 8pm James Nokise

Late Night Comedy Kunming

Sun, 12pm Rose Carlyle Kunming

Sun, 2pm Michael Bennett Book Club Kunming

Sun, 4pm Poetry Slam 2/2 Kunming

Sun, 6.30pm Dick Frizzell MNZM Kunming

Mad Doggerel Cabaret

Sun, 8.45pm

Late Night Cabaret Kunming

Global Village Marae o te Ao

Enter the bustling marketplace of WOMAD for a global explosion of food, fashion, art and treasured trinkets. With close to 100 exciting stalls throughout the Global Village, there is plenty to pique your curiosity and whet your appetite!

Treat your taste buds to flavours from all over the globe. You’ll find stalls of authentic cuisine from India, Hungary, Spain, Vietnam and more, or feast on some of the best vegan and vegetarian food around.

The Global Village is the place to find that perfect cooling treat in the WOMAD heat. Hydrate with delicious fresh juices, and handmade ice creams, or maybe a freshroasted organic coffee will perk you up!

Overflowing with the energy of international markets, the retail area boasts an eclectic collection of treasures. You’ll find the best in festival fashion – everything from hats, scarves and henna tattooing to jewellery galore. Alongside the clothes and adornments, you’ll find ceramics, therapeutic oils, crystals and more.

Keep an eye out for the boutique stalls, which feature niche products like upcycled leather creations, woven shoes, hand-beaded heirloom jewellery, one-of-a-kind artworks – or have some fun and grab a lasting keepsake of your time at the festival with a hand-drawn caricature portrait!

Photo: Amandala

Photo: Likuid Media

WOStore Hokohoko

Be sure to check out this buzzing space to find funky festival collectables.

Packed with official festival memorabilia, the WOStore includes a collection of stylish tees, keep cups, sun hats, tote bags, drink bottles and pod chairs. The official printed programme is also on sale.

Our funky WOMAD tees have a cult following and every year we create exciting new designs for all ages and all sizes. Snap up one of our locally printed shirts and show the world you love WOMAD.

Celebrating 20 years since WOMAD NZ burst into life at Brooklands Bowl and Park, there will be a limited edition of anniversary tees available for sale. Get in quick!

Along with WOMAD wares, you’ll find a vast variety of artist merchandise, music and books in the WOStore. Browse the eclectic mix of exciting music and splurge on a CD from a new artist you’ve just discovered. Or treat yourself to a book by a STEAM Lab presenter or a World of Words writer.

To make it even better, the WOStore is the home of signings. You’ll be able to buy albums and/or books and get them signed in the same place.

Price guide

Men’s and Women’s tees $40

Kids tees $30

Baby onesie $30

Pod chair $45

Photos: Frederico Pagola

Photos: Tim Worth

WOMAD NZ as a proud programme partner.

ARCHITECTURE INTERIOR LANDSCAPE

URBAN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT BUILDING COMPLIANCE PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Let’s work together

BOON.CO.NZ

OMV Steam Lab

Taiwhanga pākiki

The curious-minded will be excited and amazed, informed and engaged at WOMAD’s newest stage, where Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) merge. Leading inventors, innovators and visionaries will share groundbreaking journeys of discovery and global problem-solving.

Dick Frizzell MNZM

Author of The Sun is a Star: A Voyage through the Universe, renowned New Zealand painter Dick Frizzell shares his lifelong interest in the great beyond. With full focus on stars, planets, space and the universe, his book demystifies everything from White Dwarves and black holes to space travel. Dick will be interviewed by Leith Robertson, astrophotographer and past president of the New Plymouth Astronomical Society.

Phil Lester

Scientist Phil Lester, the author of The Vulgar Wasp and Healthy Bee, Sick Bee, presents a session sure to leave you buzzing. Through his research, he has proven how bees and wasps can learn to recognise faces, play soccer, differentiate between individuals they should respect and those to take advantage of. With tiny brains and big smarts, these wondrous creatures have an extraordinary ability to communicate with and manipulate plants.

Sat, 3pm, OMV Steam Lab

Meteorologist Lisa Murray heads the Weather Communication team at MetService-Te Ratonga Tirorangi, where she specialises in science communication and education to ensure people’s safety during severe weather events. Lisa is a co-author of New Zealand’s Wild Weather.

4Phase Games (with Morgana Watson)

Morgana Watson is an avid gamer and Creative Director for 4Phase Games. She and her creative team have taken the plunge to make a Māori action/adventure role-playing game (RPG) on a par with games like Tomb Raider and God of War. The narrative is Māori futurism, and you play as the kairākau (warrior), Ahimaru.

Lisa Murray

Prf Hinke Osinga

Hinke Osinga, who has united the fields of art and science, is the first-ever woman mathematician to be elected Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand. A Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Auckland, she is an international expert in dynamical systems theory, the mathematical analysis of behaviour that changes with time. Her research unexpectedly led her into craft and art when she turned her computer-generated images of chaotic behaviour into an intriguing crocheted object.

Sun, 1pm, OMV Steam Lab

OMV STEAM LAB SCHEDULE

Hōtaka Taiwhanga Pākiki

Fri, 7pm Dick Frizzell MNZM

Sat, 1pm Lisa Murray

Sat, 3pm Phil Lester

Sat,5pm

Laurie Winkless

Laurie Winkless is obsessed with surfaces. Discover the clever physics used by the Ancient Egyptians to move heavy stone sculptures. Learn how geckos can climb the smoothest, steepest walls… and find out what they have in common with Formula 1 racing. You’ll learn why some things stick even without glue, and get an answer to the question: Why is ice slippery?

Sun, 3pm, OMV Steam Lab

4Phase Games (with Morgana Watson)

Sun, 1pm Hinke Osinga

Sun, 3pm Laurie Winkless

Sun, 5pm Peter Lynn Kites

Peter Lynn Kites

Peter Lynn was making kites before he started school. His mother showed him how to make paste for joining the kite together and his father’s joinery factory was a great source for kite sticks. At 27, he launched his own kite-making business, becoming renowned for his air-inflated creaturethemed display kites for international kite festivals. In 1987, Peter moved into the embryonic field of kite traction (now kite buggying, kite surfing, and snow kiting) and invented the first practical kite buggy.

Sun, 5pm, OMV Steam Lab

Moving the motu with music

New shows, new presenters, new playlist, new energy.

Te Paepae The Orators’ Bench

Nau mai haere mai and welcome to Te Paepae, the cultural heartbeat of the festival. Since the beginning, WOMAD Aotearoa has been committed to its partnership with Iwi (local tribes). The festival provides a platform for Tangata Whenua (people of the land) through its cultural programme, Te Paepae. With the support of our partners Tui Ora, Te Paepae continues to be the cultural heartbeat and meeting house of the festival.

It is a place to come, learn about and get a taste of the indigenous culture, language and art of Aotearoa New Zealand – and meet some of the local people.

Biochar Sessions

Kai Resilience & Maramataka Māori Session

Kai resilience advocate Pounamu Skelton is dedicated to helping whānau to grow food and showing how to trade it. She runs the popular Waitara crop swap. Her interest in food is steeped in the legacy of her tūpuna Māori, respecting food as medicine, nourishment and connection. In addition to running the monthly food swap, Skelton also teaches others how to grow their own food. When it comes to growing kai, Pounamu follows the maramataka, which is using the power of the moon that draws the water up from the Earth at certain times of the month, “so you’re just working with nature, not against nature”.

Join Pounamu as she talks about kai resilience, the maramataka and understanding the mauri/life force of our whenua/land.

Sat 3.00pm - 3.45pm, 7.15pm - 8.00pm

Sun 3.00pm - 3.45pm, 7.30pm - 8.15pm

*times may be subject to change.

Artist and researcher Dr Huhana Smith will talk about Kuku, where hapū shareholder farm Tahamata is located in the Horowhenua region of Aotearoa. She and others have been undertaking ecological work to restore the mauri and the mana of the whenua. In the Biochar sessions, she will share stories of how she has integrated art, design, climate science and Mātauranga Māori to enact action-oriented climate change adaptations. These include transforming an old cowshed on Tahamata farm into a temporary art exhibition space, and initiatives such as The Kuku Biochar Project for their little whānau farm, where she and her partner have an olive grove, orchards, marakai (veggie garden) and a revegetating stream called Waikōkopu.

Biochar is a fine-grained, highly porous kind of charcoal, which can improve the fertility, aeration and water retention of pastures and offers excellent habitat for soil life. It can also be used to improve water quality, where it acts as a filter. The Kuku Biochar Project is experimenting with biochar-filled sacks in the Waikōkopu stream to improve water quality, encourage wetland plant and animal life back into the stream and to help restore this wetland/wildlife corridor.

*Note: There will be a maximum of 10 spaces available per workshop (Sat & Sun). Spaces will be on a first-in-first served basis. Times may be subject to change.

Fri, 7.15pm - 7.45pm (kōrero/talk only no workshop)

Sat, 12pm - 12.45pm & 5pm - 5.45pm (kōrero & workshop)

Sun 12pm - 12.45pm, 5pm - 5.45pm (kōrero & workshop) *times may be subject to change.

Photos: Federico Pagola

Photos: Federico Pagola

Te Paepae The Orators’

Pepehā Sessions

Pepehā is a way of introducing yourself in Māori. Its tells people who you are by sharing your connections with the people and places that are important to you. Join some of our local Māori language speakers in our Learn, Create & Share sessions.

Sat: 12.45pm to 1.15 pm & 1.30pm to 2.00pm Sun: 12.00pm to 12.30 pm & 1.00pm to 1.30pm *times may be subject to change.

Rongoā Rākau

Come learn more about rongoā rākau, traditional plant-based Māori healing. Tui Ora kaimahi will share this taonga (gift), explaining the tikanga and exploring the uses of some indigenous rākau (plants). Participants will have the opportunity to create their own Whakawatea infusion to take away.

Bench

Poi Demonstrations

For generations Māori have practiced poi for its physical, cognitive, emotional and spiritual benefits. Today clinical research is confirming the many ways poi can contribute to hauora – improving everything from grip strength to balance and attention. Join Tatjana and friends as they share tikanga of the poi, teach basic poi movements and waiata using the poi. Poi will be provided for attendees.

Sat: 1pm & 5.30pm Sun: 1pm & 5.30pm

Moko Stencils

Make a unique cultural statement. Wear a moko (Māori tattoo) for the day!

Sat: 1pm & 4pm Sun: 1pm & 4pm *times may be subject to change. Sat: 3.30pm to 4.30pm Sun: 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm

Note: There will be a maximum of 20 spaces available per workshop and spaces will be on a first-in-first served basis.

Workshops Ngā wāhanga toi

Siva Samoa (Samoan Dance) with Le Moana

Join Le Moana founder, choreographer and dancer Tupe Lualua to explore the fundamentals of Siva Samoa through live action, call and response. Feel the rhythm of Fa’ataupati (body percussion) and the flow of Ma’ulu’ulu (action song), accompanied by contemporary Samoan music and the sound of your voice calling chee hoo!

Fri, 6pm, Te Paepae Stage

Sat, 4pm, Te Paepae Stage

The Garifuna Collective

Discover the “Basica Garifuna” culture of drum patterns: Hüngühüngün, paranda, chumba, paranda and punta. Workshop participants may bring any form of hand percussion and join in if they like. Members of the Collective will also provide insight into Garifuna history, from the ethnic/cultural group’s origins to where they are now.

Fri, 8pm, Te Paepae Stage

ACAPOLLiNATiONS

ACAPOLLiNATiONS is born of Tui Mamaki’s love affair with Bulgarian folk songs and her wish to perform them in a living way. In this workshop, the multi-cultural ensemble will share regional idiosyncrasies of Bulgarian folk vocals. Audience members will be invited to try new ways of using their voice.

Sat, 2pm, Te Paepae Stage

The Langan Band

The Langan Band has been learning, nurturing, and then completely brutalising folk songs from Scotland and beyond for about a decade. Join John Langan, Alastair Caplin, and Dave Tunstall to learn traditional Scottish folk songs and the band’s process of re-creating them as new and wonderful pieces of music.

Sat, 6pm, Te Paepae Stage

WOMAD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER WITHOUT NOTICE ANY ADVERTISED ARTIST OR SCHEDULE

Mudra Dance Company

Mudra Dance Company will take you on a journey into the classical Indian dance, Bharata Natyam. Join maestro Vivek Kinra to experience basic dance movements, hand gestures, and rhythmic patterns. Mudra Company dancers will be on hand to help people of all ages and expertise in this fun and welcoming workshop.

Sat, 8pm, Te Paepae Stage

Bab L’Bluz

In this workshop, Bab L’Bluz explain how they combine different musical styles from Morocco and mix things up in a modern way. The audience will learn about Moroccan rhythms, be shown instruments band members have created themselves and hear about inspiring women who have marked history in Morocco’s patriarchal society.

Sun, 2pm, Te Paepae Stage

Narukami Taiko Drumming

Experience the power of Taiko 太鼓, a dynamic art form originating from ancient Japan. In this workshop, Jessie Gibbs and members of Narukami Taiko will introduce people to Taiko drumming, along with technique, rhythm, and performance. Experience the energy of this traditional instrument, make noise, and have fun!.

Justin Adams & Mauro Durante

In this Mediterranean Trance Blues Workshop, discover how trance, the heart of this duo’s intoxicating minimal sound, stems from diverse roots traditions. Justin and Mauro will discuss and demonstrate the Taranta rhythms and sounds from Southern Italy and how they relate to Africa, Mississippi and the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.

Sun, 4pm, Te Paepae Stage

Sun, 6.30pm, Te Paepae Stage

Taste the World

Kai Reka o te Ao

Taranaki Offshore Partnership Taste the World is a delectable festival highlight where WOMAD’s international artists serve up favourite dishes from their homelands.

Held in the Kunming Garden, Taranaki Offshore Partnership Taste the World will again be hosted by long-time broadcaster Katrina Smith, whose biggest passions are music and food.

Born and bred in Eltham, Taranaki, Katrina’s 30-year broadcasting career has taken her to radio stations all over Aotearoa, including Energy FM in New Plymouth, More FM in Nelson, ZM in Christchurch and The Breeze in Wellington.

Now retired from radio, she has settled in Ōpunakē, where she volunteers at Everybody’s Theatre, and the local Foodbank, plus runs an Airbnb from her home.

Expect a dash of humour, a dollop of storytelling and a sprinkle of secret family recipes in this exotic line-up of culinary entertainment.

1. Cimafunk (Cuba)

Cangrejada & Caldo de Mariscos

It’s time to get crabby with Cimafunk, but only in a foodie kind of way. The Cuban star will be making cangrejada (crab) and caldo de mariscos (seafood soup). This dish is best served with a side featuring ripe plantains.

Fri, 7pm, Taste the World

2. Kefaya & Elaha Soroor (Morocco/France)

Melanzane alla Parmigiana

Giuliano Modarelli and band members share a dish of many colours and flavours. This Italian baked dish alternates layers of pan-fried aubergine slices, a tomato, pork and beef mince ragu, and cheeses – mozzarella and ricotta, with a sprinkle of parmesan and pecorino.

Fri, 9pm, Taste the World

3. ADG7 (Korea)

Kimchijeon (Korean pancake)

The three vocalists from ADG7 will serve up conversation, song and kimchi pancakes. A favourite Korean dish, these quick, easy and crispy pancakes are hot, spicy, sweet, salty and sour. When kimchi is fermented, it tastes sour and pungent, providing a deeper flavour.

Sat, 1pm, Taste the World

4. Mazbou Q (Aotearoa)

Nigerian Jollof Rice

Hip hop artist Mazbou Q gets sentimental cooking his own stylised version of Nigerian Jollof Rice. This (in)famous West African tomato-based rice dish is rich in flavour and spices with a ghostly kick delivered by the UK-born, Auckland-based Nigerian musician.

Sat, 3pm, Taste the World

5. Deva Mahal (Aotearoa)

Sweet Potato Soufflé

Deva Mahal is making Sweet Potato Souffle in honour of a friend, now gone, who fell in love with the festive side dish at Christmas. “It’s something that represents my ancestors and is served to our families to warm our souls.”

Sat, 5pm, Taste the World

6.Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn (USA)

Danish Rugbrød

During the Covid-19 lockdowns, banjo stars Bèla and Abigail began making this delicious, nutritious and long-lasting bread, popular in Denmark. It is used as the base of open-faced sandwiches, eventually becoming dry enough to be thinly sliced and eaten as a cracker.

Sat, 7pm, Taste the World

7. Constantinople (Canada)

Pomegranate Khoresh with Chicken

Like their music, Constantinople calls on Persian traditions to present a recipe combining chicken and tangy sweet pomegranate juice. The dish is slow-cooked and includes many spices and herbs, including saffron, turmeric, and parsley. It’s served with steamed basmati rice.

Sun, 1pm, Taste the World

8. San Salvador (France)

Flognarde Aux Pommes

French musician Thibault Chaumeil will demonstrate the finer points of making Flognarde Aux Pommes. This Occitan dish is like an apple pie with pancake batter, together creating a “metamorphosis of deliciousness”. It can be served warm or cold, at brunch or for dessert.

Sun, 3pm, Taste the World

9. MEUTE (Germany)

Labskaus

MEUTE founder Thomas Burhorn will make Labskaus. This dish from northern Germany consists of corned beef, mashed potatoes, beets, and extras, like fried eggs, pickles, and rollmops. Invented around the 16th century, it was typically eaten by sailors on long voyages.

Sun, 5pm, Taste the World

TASTE THE WORLD SCHEDULE

Hōtaka Kai Reka o te Ao

Fri, 7pm Cimafunk

Fri, 9pm Kefaya & Elaha Soroor

Sat, 1pm ADG7

Sat, 3pm Mazbou Q

Sat, 5pm Deva Mahal

Sat, 7pm Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn

Sun, 1pm Constantinople

Sun, 3pm San Salvador

Sun, 5pm MEUTE

Photos: Clay Drummond

90.0FM 91.2FM

Proud to sponsor WOMAD 2023, showcasing artists from across Asia.

Kidzone Papa tākaro

Welcome to Kidzone, a place where kids can let their creative juices flow through art, music, dance and storytelling.

The WOMAD 2023 Kidzone theme is “The World from our Streets”. Help celebrate some of our most iconic Kiwi-isms, along with multicultural life in Aotearoa.

Kidzone is a safe and welcoming environment for whānau and children up to 12 years of age – and it’s free.

What’s On Offer?

This year we are excited to welcome Katey Kat to manage the Art Zone. With Katey’s passion for the arts, coupled with her vision and guidance, tamariki can re-imagine the NZ flag (and make their own), along with paper masks, poi, lei and postcards to send to friends and whānau.

WOMAD NZ Kids’ Parade

The WOMAD NZ Kids’ Parade on Sunday will celebrate “The World from our Streets”. Festival kids get to shine and show off their WOMAD weekend artworks and this year’s parade hero, the “Picture Perfect Postcard Project – Kia Ora from Aotearoa!”

The parade will assemble at the Gables stage at 5:15pm and begin marching at 6pm before finishing at 6.30pm. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the parade.

Art Zone

ART ZONE

Decorating a larger than life “Picture Perfect Postcard Project – Kia Ora from Aotearoa!” – and much more – with Katey Kat.

A larger than life “Picture Perfect Postcard Project – Kia Ora from Aotearoa!” will be decorated and written on with messages ready to spearhead the Kids’ Parade on Sunday. Create and decorate unique Aotearoa-themed postcards, paper masks, flags, poi and lei to enjoy during the festival and display in the parade.

Poi Making Workshop with Tansi Williams & Unity Wara

Make your own poi with Māori Performing Arts Kaiako Unity Wara, and twirl them during the kids’ parade on Sunday. Unity will be joined by Tansi Williams of Tansi Productions.

Pasifika Lei Making Workshop with the Taranaki Pasifika Dance Group

Join Siniva and Emere from Taranaki Pasifika Dance Group and embrace the beauty of traditional Pacific dress by learning to make your own lei!

All three workshops:

Suitable for ages 7-12 or younger with parental guidance

*Spaces limited to 30 children per workshop

Word Zone

Soul Food Tellers with Moira Wairama and Tony Hopkins

WORD ZONE

Soul Food Tellers Moira Wairama and Tony Hopkins will entertain audiences of all ages with Stories from Here and There featuring African and Native American legends and bi-lingual tellings of Māori myths.

Rainbow Storytime with Erika and CoCo Flash

Rainbow Storytime with Taranaki drag queens Erika and CoCo Flash is about reading beautiful books to children about acceptance, anti-bullying, inclusion and having confidence in yourself!

Puppet Time with Puppeteer Extraordinaire Anna Bailey

Filled with delightful characters from magical worlds, including Aotearoa, Anna will introduce you to the wonders of string puppetry, performing the below shows at Kidzone.

Once in a Full Moon

Macrame Keyring

Workshop with Fox and Plum Creative Hub

Macrame has long been a “thing” in Aotearoa, particularly in the ‘70s – and again now. Make your own macrame keyring in the Artzone during a workshop with Katey from Fox and Plum Creative!

Deep in the New Zealand bush, a lonely kiwi looks up at the sky and mistakes the full moon for a giant egg. This magical string puppet adventure introduces native creatures from Aotearoa.

The Tree Friends

In this interactive puppet show for all ages, Kereru and Millie are best friends. When a baby kohekohe tree is left orphaned in a storm, they work together to protect him from invaders.

Kidzone Papa tākaro

M.A.D Zone (Music & Dance) Workshops and Activities

Island Dance with the Taranaki Pacific Dance Group

M.A.D ZONE

Learn the grace and beauty of island dancing with Emere, Siniva and Taranaki Pacific Dance Group members.

*The dance workshops are suitable for ages 5-12 or younger with parental guidance.

*Spaces limited to 30 children per workshop

Poi Workshop with Tansi Williams and Unity Wara

Join Tansi Williams, founder of Tansi Productions School of Entertainment and some of her talented dance crew, to learn the art of poi, with support from Māori Performing Arts Kaiako, and artist Unity Wara.

*The dance workshops are suitable for ages 5-12 or younger with parental guidance.

*Spaces limited to 30 children per workshop

Theatre Sports with Taranaki Theatre Sports

Channel your inner actor with the Taranaki Theatre Sports crew. Learn acting and confidence skills, while having loads of laughs along the way!

*Spaces limited to 30 children per workshop

Double Dutch

The M.A.D Zone will have you skipping for joy once again. Get roped in for some Double Dutch free play sessions that bring the retro schoolyard favourite back to life!

Game Zones

GAME ZONE

Game Zones will be available across the Kidzone site, where loads of games and physical activities can be enjoyed – and remember, good sportsmanship is the WOMAD way!

Around and About Activities

The Wonky Cone

This year at Kidzone you will be able to purchase refreshing handmade real-fruit ice cream – and coffee available for Mum and Dad!

Face Painting with Magical Masquerade

The super talented face-painting team from Magical Masquerade are back at Kidzone by popular demand. This year’s creative focus will be Aotearoa-inspired!

Re: story – natural play space for kids

Play freely and creatively with natural materials such as wood, stones and feathers. Parents are encouraged to be more hands-off, allowing children to create their own masterpieces.

Roving Puppetry with Anna Bailey

Catch our playful puppet dinosaur as she roams Kidzone during the festival– check the timetable so you don’t miss out on the fun!

Feed the Hypsilophodon

It’s afternoon teatime for Sylvia the Hypsilophodon! Catch her as she enjoys a bite to eat!

Where the Wild Things Are at WOMAD

Art Installation by Phil Jones

Have your photo taken as the imaginative explorer Max from the children’s tale Where the Wild Things Are, or as the Lion, our beloved WOMAD mascot. These two characters unite forces in a colourful art installation by Taranaki artist Phil Jones.

ARTIST OR SCHEDULE

Khadim Ali Untitled 1 from Sermon on the Mount serie s 2020, Collection of the artist

New Zealand

Todd Energy has been a WOMAD New Zealand partner since the event first landed in Taranaki two decades ago. We’ve loved watching the festival grow from strength to strength over the years, and we’re thrilled to be right behind the TAFT team, supporting the Zero Waste programme and celebrating the festival’s 20th anniversary with WOMAD 2023.

Todd Energy Zero Waste

Para Kore

Working together for a Zero Waste future

At WOMAD NZ, we constantly strive to make our festival an environment that encourages people to embrace the philosophy of reducing, reusing and recycling!

The Zero Waste philosophy is at the heart of everything we do and with our event partner Todd Energy, we are committed to ensuring this award-winning festival is not only an explosion of international culture but also a leading example of environmental sustainability.

In a country where single-use plastic shopping bags are now banned and councils, more than ever, are encouraging communities to adapt and adopt the three Rs, WOMAD NZ is proud to have shaped the future of waste management in New Zealand.

Each year, we continue to beat the last. Across the past five festivals, an average of 80% of waste has been diverted from landfill, with a whopping 90% — or 23,060kg — of waste being recycled or composted following the 2018 festival alone. Our ultimate goal is to become a festival that has zero waste going to landfill.

From ticket holders to acts, from food stalls to drink stations, we all contribute to ensuring WOMAD is an event that encourages and empowers the reduction of the festival’s environmental footprint.

During the festival, WOMAD’s Todd Energy Zero Waste stations are highly visible throughout the picturesque Brooklands Park.

Photo: Ben Dxath

Our friendly volunteer eco-warriors help festival-goers compost and recycle as much waste as possible. We encourage you to bring only reusable items to the festival and take any non-recyclable items home.

The on-site bars only fill globelets, and all our food stalls serve up their delicious kai using reusable, recyclable or compostable plates, cutlery and packaging. If you’ve been to WOMAD in the past, chances are you have a globelet (reusable cup), reusable aluminium drink bottle or coffee cup — or all of them.

Not only are they durable and able to be used for years and years, they have also become collectors’ items in their own right!

By playing your part, you enable us to achieve our goal of minimising any waste going to the landfill.

ZERO WASTE IS EASY!

Photo: Federico Pagola

Photo: Michael Gibbs

Photo: Charlotte Curd

Photo: Likuid Media

Photo: Tim Worth

Community Programme

Hōtaka hapori The Purpose

Through our partners, Todd Energy and Toi Foundation, we aim to make WOMAD accessible through workshops and artist interactions with select communities. This year’s events encompassed music, song and dance sessions led by some of our WOMAD NZ artists. These included Siva Sāmoa workshops for Taranaki primary school children, and a poetry, music and percussion workshop for Taranaki secondary school tamariki.

TODD ENERGY Community Programme

Todd Energy is a long-term partner of WOMAD and, through its valuable support, we have been able to extend our activities beyond the festival into local communities. This year, Todd Energy brought Le Moana (Aotearoa) to select students from North Taranaki’s Huirangi and Tikorangi primary schools and South Taranaki’s Saint Patrick’s and Matapu primary schools. Le Moana held some exciting and interactive Siva Sāmoa creative dance workshops with groups of students who enjoyed a taste of our vibrant Pasifika culture.

TOI FOUNDATION Poetry, Music and Percussion Workshops

This year, Toi Foundation offered a select number of Taranaki secondary school students the unique opportunity to take part in a poetry, music, and percussion workshop with French artists San Salvador. The workshop was aimed at stimulating and engaging our young people through the process of imagining, creating and performing. This session was also a confidence booster for the teenagers taking part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Site info Wāhi pārongo

ALCOHOL

BYO alcohol is not permitted on site and, if found, will be confiscated. Stringent bag checks will be conducted. Licensed bars will be operating onsite for the duration of the event. EFTPOS facilities are available at all bars.

ANIMALS ON SITE

No animals are permitted on site except service dogs

EFTPOS

All vendors will have EFTPOS facilities available.

ENTRANCES

The four entrances to the festival are:

GATE C - Kaimata St

GATE D - Brooklands Park Drive

GATE E – Dell Lake

GATE F – Racecourse

FIRST AID

St. Johns Ambulance is always on site. You will find them located near the Brooklands Park Drive entrance and Racecourse entrance.

FOOD

Homemade picnic food is allowed, commercially bought food is prohibited.

GATE SALES

You must pre-purchase your WOMAD ticket to get festival access. There won’t be gate sales available, however tickets can be purchased online through our website.

GLASS

No glass allowed on the festival site!

HOURS

Fri, 4.30pm – 11.30pm (first performance starts at 6.00pm) Sat, 11am – 11.30pm (first performance starts at midday) Sun, 11am – 11.15pm (first performance starts at midday)

LOST AND FOUND BELONGINGS

The Information Centre is the place to take found property and to enquire about lost items. The camp manager’s office at the TSB Stadium will handle lost and found property at the campgrounds. All items found are held for seven days after the festival and can be collected from the TAFT office which is located on the corner of Brougham & Powderham Sts, New Plymouth. Phone 06 759 8412

between 9am-5pm. After seven days all items will be donated to local charity.

LOST OR FOUND CHILDREN

We recommend that children have their parents/caregivers mobile phone number written on their arm or wristband. Please arrange with your children at the beginning of the festival to meet at the Information Centre if you are separated. For any lost or found children please contact the Information Centre 06 759 6170.

PASS OUTS

You may leave the venue and come back if you wish to, however youth ticket holders are not allowed to enter the venue unattended after 7pm.

PHONE CHARGING

Phone charging power banks will be available to purchase at the festival. Purchase a Volt+ power bank onsite and swap out empty power banks at no additional cost.

SEATING

Camping, sand and pod chairs are permitted into the WOMAD site however any chair with a seat more than 10cm off the ground must only be used on the side of stages. You will be asked to move if not seated at the back/side of stage.

SMOKEFREE VENUE

Please respect New Plymouth District Council’s smokefree parks policy and refrain from smoking within the venue.

Photo: Frederico Pagola

TAXIS

The taxi pick-up point will be at GATE D (Brooklands Park Drive/Brooklands Road) entrance to the festival.

TENTS

Shade tents will be provided by TSB this year along the back of the TSB Bowl. No other tents are allowed on site.

THE LAKE

No swimming in the lake, any person who enters the lake will have their wristband cut off and will be removed from the festival.

TOILETS

Toilet blocks are located at the Racecourse entrance, beside the Information Centre, beside the Global Village Food area, next to the Global Village retail area, and in the Kunming Garden.

WATER

The WOMAD site features a number of water refill stations that provide free access to water. Either BYO a non-glass, empty water bottle or purchase one from the TSB WAI Water on the Gables Lawn. Check the WOMAD map for locations.

WOSTORE

Visit the WOStore for WOMAD merchandise including programmes, t-shirts, artist CD’s, drink bottles, pod chairs, hats and much more. EFTPOS facilities are available here.

ZERO WASTE

Please respect this beautiful venue by staying out of the gardens and using the Todd Energy Zero Waste stations.

Photo: Dane Scott

Accessibility info Āhei pārongo

WOMAD is an Accessibility Friendly Festival

The festival offers a range of accessible features to ensure as many people as possible are able to enjoy WOMAD!

WOMAD INFORMATION CENTRE

The WOMAD Information Centre is open during festival hours. If you require help while at WOMAD, you can call or stop by our Information Centre where our festival team will be on hand to help you with any queries you have. Phone 06 759 6170.

THE FESTIVAL SITE

It is important to be aware that half of the WOMAD site is on a steep hillside. There are some pathways, but most of the site is grass. The Brooklands and Gables Stages are on flat grassed areas; however, the Pinetum Corner is not accessible for those with limited mobility or in wheelchairs.

FLAT ACCESS TO THE SITE

If you require flat access to the site, suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters or similar, then we recommend you access the festival through Gate C: Kaimata St. Note the path is gravel. Parking Wardens will instruct you as to where to go.

*Please note Kaimata St will be cordoned off to general traffic during the festival.

ACCESSIBLE PARKING - RACECOURSE & KAIMATA

There are two designated Accessible Parking areas: Gate C: Kaimata Street

Gate B: Racecourse, Coronation Ave

You will need the 2023 WOMAD Accessible Vehicle Pass. Our car-parking crew will assist you in parking and there is a gazebo with seating while you wait for the Golf Carts.

GOLF CART SYSTEM

We have a pickup and drop off service using golf carts for accessibility pass holders. These are scheduled and will run every half hour. This is not an on-demand system so please be patient and courteous. There are two pick up points - Kaimata St or the Racecourse (located top of the walking track). The golf cart will come and take you to the Information Centre (inside the festival).

The pickup point inside the festival is the Information Centre, where you will be taken back to either the Kaimata St or Racecourse waiting areas. Mobility scooters are not available for bookings during the festival.

Photo: Dane Scott

Over 65+ YEARS - VIEWING AREAS & ACCESSIBLE VIEWING

There are three 65+ viewing platforms and accessible viewing areas.

Gables and Brooklands stages have accessible viewing areas next to the over 65s’ viewing platform. TSB Bowl stage has an over 65s’ platform and on the lakeside of the track is an area suitable for wheelchair viewing.

HEARING IMPAIRED SUPPORT - COMMUNICATORS

Communication support and NZ Sign language interpreters are a skilled team ready to assist you.

When you arrive at the festival, ask the Information Centre about obtaining an interpreter.

ACCESSIBLE TOILETS

Accessible toilets are well signed posted and are located at the Racecourse gate end of the main TSB Bowl Stage, and at the top of the site behind the Global Village Food Court.

NOTE:

Photo: Federico Pagola

World-class surf breaks, famous black-sand beaches, Taranaki Maunga, and New Zealand’s sunniest region two years running, Taranaki is a region with plenty to offer.

With vibrant events, blooming beautiful parks and gardens, adventure activities galore, a sizzling foodie scene, and world-renowned arts and culture, Taranaki is a region truly like no other.

Once you’ve rested your dancing feet after WOMAD, explore the many walks, parks, and gardens scattered around picturesque Taranaki maunga. Whether you fancy a refreshing stroll in nature or a more challenging hike that tests your limits, you'll love the outdoor activities throughout the Taranaki region. New Plymouth city has beautiful garden parks and a magnificent coastal walkway. There are long driftwood beaches right around the surf-washed coast and Egmont National Park/Te Papakura o Taranaki, home to Taranaki Maunga, has more than 200km of trails to explore. With bountiful native bush tracks and spectacular coastal scenery, your camera will be full of stunning holiday snaps from your time in Taranaki.

Have you sampled the diverse cuisine in global village yet? Now is your chance to discover more of our tantalising tastes of Taranaki at our abundance of cafés, restaurants, bars, and eateries right around the maunga, many of which offer paddock-to-plate style menus that spotlight our local produce. Check out plant-based eatery Wild Pear Kitchen or Knead Artisan Donuts for some of the best donuts in town with a variety of flavours available. Locally roasted coffee,

West End Precinct

craft beer, and talented chefs have all helped to create a lively café, restaurant, and bar scene in Taranaki. With many eateries making the most of the region's fresh seafood and farm produce, visiting foodies are in for a treat. For some local brews and a homegrown beef burger, take a trip to Shining Peak Brewery, or if you’re a gin fan, be sure to book a tour of the distillery and a gin tasting with Juno Gin for local award-winning spirits and brews.

Don’t let the post-festival blues get to you, continue following the pulse of local artistic Taranaki talent by visiting the local galleries, museums, and studios across the region. Discover unique galleries such as The White Sail Gallery, Gallery Pātea, Percy Thompson Gallery, or Quirky Fox.

Take a step back in time at Pioneer Village for the day or if you’re a thrill seeker, visit The Hideaway Luge, a 240-metre steep track and while you’re there check out the Hillsborough Holden Museum and the Bathurst-themed Mount Panorama mini-putt.

Chaddy's Charters guarantees a great experience onboard the revitalised 1950s lifeboat. Head out to the culturally and environmentally significant Sugar Loaf islands to get up close and personal with wild seals and bird life. Cool off and jump in the water, or continue to explore

the coastline and hire one of their bikes, kayaks, or stand-up paddle boards.

Keen on a roadie along Surf Highway 45? Trip-to has you sorted. Unearth Taranaki hidden gems using the free gamebased web-app that offers a selection of curated road trips around the region, giving you the opportunity to discover Taranaki is a unique and novel way. Come for the festival and stay for the stunning landscapes, tasty cuisine, and unique experiences.

Stay a little longer or start planning your next trip to Taranaki today – find more inspiration for things to see and do this summer at taranaki.co.nz/visit or follow the Taranaki Like No Other Facebook page and Instagram.

Snug Lounge

Shop where the city meets the sea in the morning, and experience the world of Music, Arts & Dance by afternoon!

With over 50 specialty and big brand stores, Centre City has all the festival essentials a WOMADer needs to make the most of three epic days of sounds, scenery and good vibes.

Centre City, 11 Gill Street

New Pymouth

centre-city.co.nz