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One of New Zealand’s hottest cultural groups, Soifua perform in the Manukau City Cultural Performance Garden at the Ellerslie International Flower Show yesterday.

Media Release
15 November 2006

Silver accolades for Manukau’s Performance Garden

Manukau City Cultural Performance Garden has received a silver award in the exhibition garden category at the Ellerslie International Flower Show.

Designed to celebrate the diversity of the city, the garden features more than 3000 native and South Pacific plants including nikau palms, puka, kawakawa and different varieties of lily which form a lush backdrop to the centrepiece of the garden – the performance stage.

Man-made features such as the concrete stage and large sculptural drums provide a striking contrast to the planting, as do three awe-inspiring sculptures inspired by the ‘Moai’ of Easter Island, carved by Fatu Feu’u and Isabelle Staron-Tutugoro.

Mayor of Manukau Sir Barry Curtis says that the award acknowledges the uniqueness of the garden as a performance venue, and Manukau as a city.

“The garden is a great opportunity for us to showcase some of Manukau’s hugely talented performance groups and to celebrate the diversity of our city through planting, artwork, song and dance.

“I congratulate the designers and staff involved with bringing this stunning garden to fruition, which is sure to be a highlight of the show. I encourage everyone to come and see the garden and the fantastic performers for themselves over the next few days.”

Over the next five days the garden will be brought to life with an impressive line up of emerging and established performers and artists including Nesian Mystik, Soifua, Russel Walder and Whirimako Black, the Arabesque Belly Dance Troupe and the Manukau City Symphony Orchestra.

Once the flower show is over, the garden will be relocated to Fergusson Oaks Reserve in Otara, where it will be used as a permanent performance space for years to come.

ENDS

See... Manukau City Cultural Performance Garden Programme 2006 (PDF)

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