Arts thrive here.

TAFT is dynamic, modern and iconic, our hand is on the pulse of cutting-edge creative energy.

Here at the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust, we’ve been enriching the lives of our people since 1991.

We’re proud to present some of the best, world-class festivals and events right here in Taranaki, New Zealand. Womad, the Centuria Taranaki Garden FestivalTropfest, Kinetika and the hugely successful Taranaki Arts Festivals have brought together people, performers and the community and have become part of the fabric of Taranaki life.

Where it all began

TAFT presented it’s first festival in March 1991.

A first of its kind, the Taranaki Arts Festival attracted considerable national attention and generated extraordinary enthusiasm locally.

Taranaki was set alight with world-class entertainment, feeding people’s appetite for the cultural ‘stuff’. It was an unprecedented success.

The festival showed that arts and live performances could become a major catalyst for encouraging tourism within the region, stimulating the city, businesses, and people ignited by the 150 shows and 500 artists curated into the programme.

Explore our festivals
upcoming, present and past

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For those who like an exciting events calendar

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Keep up to date with our latest news and events, including upcoming festivals, pop-up gigs, featured artists and performers, and other interesting updates.

Taranaki Arts Festival Newsletter

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Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival Newsletter

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Our People

Meet the folks behind the festivals

Each festival takes an incredible amount of time and effort to pull together. From our artistic directors and festival managers, right through to our generous festival vollies, TAFT brings together some amazing creative talent!

The TAFT team are a dedicated and highly experienced collection of events professionals who together pool their expertise to create festival experiences unlike any other. 





From event management to booking the best artists and developing effective press and marketing campaigns, the team’s expertise is second to none.

Here are the people who work to make each festival a roaring success.

Suzanne Porter

TAFT CEO

Megan Brown

Artistic Director

Jessica Parker

Garden Festival Manager

Caitlin Cole

Creative Designer

Maree Simons

Accounts Administrator

Tracey Bell

Business Manager

Sally-Anne Coates

Arts Festival Co-ordinator

Jessie Schumacher

Marketing Manager

Marie Pearce

Board Member

Chris Lynch

Board Member

Katie Wolfe

Board Member

Hayden Wano

Board Member

Eleanor Connole

Board Member

Glenn Brebner

Board Member & Chair

Contact Us

Media Enquiries
For all enquires about TAFT and our festivals, please view our Media Kit page, or alternatively get in touch with our Marketing Manager.

50 BROUGHAM STREET, NEW PLYMOUTH 4310

+64 6 759 8412

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Send us a message for any questions or just say hi!

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