Vibrant bus paint job a roving invite to arts festival

ON-THE-ROAD INVITE: The brightly coloured Waka Pacific bus plying different routes in Manukau reminds people of the ongoing Manukau Festival of Arts.

A lively Waka Pacific bus dressed in bright hues of orange is making the rounds in Manukau.

Manukau City Council arts manager Leisa Siteine says the bus is a roving invite to the Manukau Arts Festival that runs until November 15.

The livery echoes "the vibrancy of diversity of Manukau peoples" people will enjoy at the various events, Ms Siteine says.

The festival is an explosion of dance, music, comedy, film and other art forms, including sculpture and visual arts, that caters to all ages.

Among the highlights are a photo exhibit "that reveals local truth" by "brotographer" Raymond Sagapolutele, a series of "star" works by Sara Dutt that draws from her Maori and Indian ancestry and an exploration of heightened perceptions of gravity curated by Stephen Cleland.

Manukau’s second film festival runs until November 4, showcasing a collection of films by celebrated New Zealand filmmakers.

It includes Maori and Pacific documentaries, NZ film archive footage that explores themes of friendship, migration and war, and a series of international films that push the boundaries of cultural rights and seek to challenge the foundations of society.

Ardijah will be in a "funk and soul-fused" concert with Whirimako Black, Ruia Aperahama and Che Fu at the Pacific Events Centre tomorrow. and Southside Gig, an "awesome event for youth with graf art, breakdance, hip hop and music" is at the same venue on Saturday.

Kidz Konzert on Sunday features experts from the Manukau City Band playing different instruments, and an afternoon of fast, fun, furious music, with some chill out tunes for a slower pace.

The skies over Barry Curtis Park will be coloured with kites on Monday, October 26. Children and adults can bring a kite to fly or join the onsite kite-making workshop.

Massive Company will present Albert Belz’s Whero’s New Net, an adaptation of short stories by Witi Ihimaera, on October 27.

For the full list of events and programme details, visit www.mfa.org.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News