Ngutukākā Festival

Join us to celebrate the Tairawhiti Ngutukākā when it is in bloom. This taonga flower used to make the whole East Cape turn red and when you join us in September you will witness the beauty and potential to revive this plant to its former glory.

This festival aims to rekindle our love for a species that is now one of the most endangered plants in the wild, help restore ngutukākā and share our history and vision with our manuhiri (visitors) and locals. Nau mai, haere mai. All welcome!

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Wednesday 18 September

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Endangered Species Garden Tour - Tikapa Marae

Join Graeme Atkins at Tikapa Marae, to discover some of our most endangered native plants and see the nations NUMBER 1 NGUTUKĀKĀ GARDEN! The tour runs from 10 am to 2 pm and includes bubbly, canapes and delicious local catering.

• Bubbly and canapes
• Local catering
• Finish in marae with talk

Stay at the Tikapa Campground at the marae and see the first sunrise, self-contained campervans only.

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Thursday 19 September

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Roadside plantings - plant 500 at Tokomaru Bay

Kura at Mangatuna - 10am-1pm

• Lessons from tamariki – demonstration of propagation
• Plantings

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Anaura Marae – join us at the end of the day to talk about Cooks Landing and Kew Gardens

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Stay at Anaura Campground or the DOC campground in self-contained campervans.

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Friday 20 September

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• Roadside plantings - plant 500 at Tokomaru Bay
• Talk, music, paua pies – Café 35 or Reynold’s Hall
• Toi Hauiti – Ngā taonga tuku iho
• Art Auction with art from our talented local Tairawhiti artists

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Saturday 20 September

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Market Day – Tolaga Bay

• Food
• Music
• Local artists
• Toi Hauiti – Ngā taonga tuku iho
• Kids’ art
• Kakabeak seedlings for sale