Spotlight: Newtown Festival

On March 8, central Newtown did what it has done for 32 years, and opened its streets to everyone. New Zealand's largest free street party, the Newtown Festival is a melting pot of culture, creativity, and community that has left its mark on Wellington year after year.

With this year's festival now behind us, we caught up with Festival Director Emi Pogoni and Associate Director Anna Wooles to reflect on what it means to carry something this loved into its 33rd year, and what Newtown, the suburb and the day, says about the city, and nation we call home.

At 32 years, it’s safe to say Newtown Fest holds institution status. Does it feel like there is a risk involved with this, or is it something you have been able to lean into?

What makes the Newtown Festival is its connection to community. That's what gives it life and as long as the Festival has that then it will stay true. It's evolved as it's grown and in doing so it draws on the logistical experience of people who've been involved over years. After 32 years, we see ourselves as custodians to carry it on.

Is there a moment or image from a past festival that's stuck with you?

Strangely, it's the morning after the Festival. Everything is back to normal. There's not a skerrick of rubbish on the ground or anything that suggests there were 100,000 people enjoying life here yesterday. Why does that stay with me? Two reasons, on the one hand it almost makes you believe that the Festival was just a dream. Secondly, it talks to the level of care and giving of time by so many people to put it all together and then dissolve it away into the ether.

What did Newtown look like when you walked through it this morning, the day after the festival?

This morning, it's felt like a suburban version of a Midsummer Night's Dream, really. The magic dissolved away and everything as it was before. People back to work, to school, to the supermarket, to the cafes. Maybe the odd person to be spied quietly making their way home after an enjoyable late evening in the post-festival events hosted by cafes and bars!