Celebration of cultures at Soundshell a feast for all the senses

Published: 7 June 2023

A beautiful collision of culture, colour and community will take place on Saturday 17 June, for the fourth annual ‘Celebrating Cultural DiverCity’ event at Napier’s Soundshell from 11am until 3pm.

Showcasing the richness of cultural diversity in Hawke’s Bay, the free event will be a day of cultural performances, global cuisine, engaging activities, and a celebration of community spirit, promising to be a feast for the senses.

Napier is becoming increasingly culturally diverse with the city’s ethnic population more than doubling since 2006. Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise says she’s thrilled to be attending a unique event that celebrates the vibrant cultures that call Hawke’s Bay home.

“It doesn’t matter whether your family has been here for generations or if you have recently moved to Napier. Our council wants Napier city to be a place where everybody is respected and accepted, a place where diversity is celebrated and our whole community benefits.”

The lineup at this free event includes African drumming, Siva Samoa, Sri Lankan fusion dance, Latin roots salsa, belly dance groups, traditional Brazilian percussion music, the Napier Pipe Band, Japanese dance and K-Pop. Other attractions include face painting, giant bubbles, bouncy castles and a photo booth.

Stalls representing various community organisations, including Fire & Emergency New Zealand, Police, Neighbourhood Support, Te Kupenga Hauora - Ahuriri and Health Hawkes Bay, English Language Partners, Napier Bahai Community, and the Electoral Commission, will also be set up, providing valuable information and resources.

Celebrating Cultural DiverCity is organised by a sub-group of the Hawke’s Bay Settlement Forum. The Forum comprises various agencies, including Napier City Council, with the goal of working together to strengthen, support and collaborate on matters relating to international newcomers in the region.

If raining, the event will be held on Saturday 24 June. Napier City Council’s Facebook page will provide updates.

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