Auckland International Cultural Festival

On Sunday the 29th of March, the Auckland International Cultural Festival took place at the War Memorial Park in Mount Roskill. An event that was started by Refugee Services in 1992 has now become a tradition and a mirror of Auckland’s Cultural diversity. More than 45 countries showcase their food, music, art, garments and different aspects of their unique cultures.

For the past three years the Cultural Festival has been joined by another very important event; the Ethnic Soccer Cup. This year 41 teams signed up for the event and they represent over 25 different ethnic groups. Indonesian football player, Hessa Wibowo, said that the event is important for his community because as well as representing his country the cup allows him to meet people from different parts of Indonesia which he often doesn’t have the chance to do. Somali goalkeeper and father, Abdiaziz Hassan Haji, has spent weeks training for the Cup and he says that the Cultural Festival is important because “it is a family event that allows for different people from different nationalities to come together, show what they’ve got and make friends.”

This year’s event had 141 stalls that not only represent different cultures and ethnicities but some represent organisations such as Trade Aid and Oxfam. Shona Munro, Oxfam’s Events and Campaigns Coordinator said that it is important for them to be present on events like the Auckland International Cultural Festival because “Oxfam works internationally to combat poverty and injustice in developing communities around the world and some of these communities that are present here represent Africa, Asia and the pacific, regions that we, at Oxfam, work closely with".

During its first years the event was made possible thanks to the help of volunteers who donate their time, skills and money. Today the event is backed by big institutions such as the Auckland City Council and the New Zealand Community Trust but it is still made possible thanks to the help of those who donate their services. Oxfam’s stall for instance; had the help of eight volunteers who were making and serving free Fair Trade coffee and a Bossa Nova band, Bel Bossa, who donated their artistic skills to the organisation.

On Sunday, Oxfam was promoting a particular event, Oxfam’s Biggest Coffee Break. This event is design to create awareness of Fair Trade coffee and Chocolate and the positive impact it has on the lives of farmers in developing nations.

Oxfam’s Biggest Coffee Break will run together with Fair Trade Fortnight, May 2nd-17th, and if you sign up for it you will receive free Fair Trade coffee and Chocolate and a media package explaining what Fair Trade is and the things you can do to help. If you’d like to sign up please go here.


Grupo Bel Bossa. Picture by Julio Marx Panoff