Taiko Festival April 26-27 Punakarki 2019:

Not the glittering weapon fights the fight, but rather the hero’s heart.” Anonymous.

Dynamic diva Julia Deans teams up with legendary music champions The Bats to headline April 2019 Tāiko Festival in Punakaiki. The festival, in its fifth year, brings Kiwi music to the SAouth Island’s West Coast, to hang with the Westland Petrel (Tāiko) and promote conservationism. The festival includes a beach parade to welcome back the petrels to their Punakaiki nesting grounds, a jam night, native tree planting, a community market and kids activities on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 April.

Taiko has previously featured Tiki Taane, Newtown Rocksteady, Lost Demos and Knights of the Dub Table, musicians willing to front a bloody marvellous cause. Festival chair Jed Findlay is amped to bring different styles of music to the 2019 event. “We’ve leaned heavily towards Pacific reggae and rock, with a bit of psychedelic alt-country thrown in”. The Bats have been playing music together for 35 years and are currently working on album number 10; plus Julia Deans who hailed from Fur Patrol before embarking on her solo career. Jed states “We’re trying to create something with the Festival that’s quintessentially New Zealand – it’s about the bush, beach, birds, fun people and great vibes”.

Local accommodation ranges from tent sites and cabins at the camping ground, to Airbnb, bed and breakfast, motels and the Punakaiki Resort and Punarkarki beach camp which is located between the beach, river and National Park the Punakaiki Beach Camp i(truly a paradise holiday destination). Whether staying in a cabin or powered/ non-powered site you can be sure to hear the ocean crashing and the birds singing. An ideal spot for a couple of nights stay. The camp is located 700m south of the Pancake Rocks under magnificent limestone cliffs has a full kitchen, bathroom and laundry facilities available. Hot showers included.

Some come on down and join the superheroes saving the planet with their superpowers of song.

Friday 26 and Saturday 27 April 2019. Early bird tickets at just $30 for adults, $10 for children and a family pass for $70 will be available through our website http://www.punakaiki.co.nz/petrel-festival and West Coast i-sites from the start of February through to mid-March. After that, tickets go up to $45 for adults and $95 for a family pass. Check out all our Festival news on the website and our Facebook page, Tāiko Festival.