On Saturday, 22 November, we came together for one of our most anticipated events of the year, the Waitaki Multicultural Festive Feast! It was an incredible evening filled with vibrant performances, delicious food, and the joy of celebrating our diverse cultures while strengthening the bonds that make our community so special.

This event would not have been possible without the support and dedication of so many amazing people. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

Our Organising Team

A huge thank you to our committee members Hendriani Trisaptayuni, Maria Noel Buldain, Enya Fisher, Fiorella Ribarola, Talanoa Palu, and Jasmin Jose for your hard work in planning and supporting Festive Feast.
To our staff — Enrico Stephan, Justyna Miller, and David Nind, thank you for your guidance during the planning phase and for rolling up your sleeves to help with setup and cleanup.

Our Supporters and Funders

We are deeply grateful to E Tū Whānau for your continued financial support, making these celebrations possible year after year.
A special thank you to Mayor Mel Tavendale for joining us, sharing a few words, and showing your support for our multicultural community.

Performances That Made the Night Shine

• Cordillerans in Waitaki District NZ – for your stunning Filipino Igorot cultural dance.
• Te Matahīapo Oamaru – for the powerful kapa haka performance.
• Southern Rust Band – for bringing the country tunes.
• Magda de Waal – for your beautiful singing and MC talent.

Capturing the Memories

Thank you to Dave Boyle Photography for capturing the magic of the evening — we can’t wait to share the photo gallery with you below!

Food That Brought Us Together

To everyone who brought a plate to share — tasting dishes from different cultures is always a highlight!
And to the restaurants who added extra flavour:

• Domino’s Pizza Oamaru – for the delicious pizzas
• Yuja – for the fresh sushi
• YUMEE BENTO BOWL – for the tasty curry and rice dishes

Special Mentions

• TK Hire – for supplying the bain marie
• Upul Nisantha and Sarah Liu – for helping with setup and cleanup
• Sandra Tonkin – for preparing the beautiful raffle baskets
• Aude Grf and North Otago Toy Library – for creating a fun Kids Corner
• Hezel Abellada and Maria Marneli Sanidad Calbone – for connecting us with the Cordillerans performance group
• And a very special thank you to Megan Miller Marketing + Media for pulling all the plans together and staying until the very end to make sure everything ran smoothly.

To everyone who attended — thank you for bringing your energy, your smiles, and your love for community. Events like Festive Feast remind us of the beauty of diversity and the strength of unity.

We can’t wait to do it all again next year! Until then, enjoy a few photos from the event below and relive the magic of the night. All photos can be viewed at Dave Boyle Photography.