Italianita’ In Aotearoa - New Zealand
The Growth And Legacy Of Festival Italiano
Auckland’s Festival Italiano is the largest Italian street festival in Aotearoa New Zealand. From arancini and bomboloni to Maseratis and Ferraris, from Neapolitan jazz to mandolinate, it’s one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year.
On the 23rd of February, 2025, the quartiere (district) of Newmarket came alive with an exuberant spirit of sharing, showcasing, selling and savouring. Crowds strolled through streets, indulging in food from the best Italian restaurants and eateries, sampling and purchase imported and artisan wines, beverages, and coffee, shopping for a variety of Italian products, and admiring dream cars—plus much more.
This vibrant celebration of gastronomy and culture offered an authentic and compelling experience of italianità.
Festival Italiano was open to the public free of charge, and featured 47 stall-holders spread across the charming streets of this high-end retail suburb. This year the festival expanded into three distinct locations: the "Piazza Verde" area of Osborne and Kent Street, the "Piazza Rossa" area of Nuffield Street and the "Piazza Bianca" area of Lumsden Green.
The festival was also enlivened by two stages featuring an all-day programme of performances, including an accordion soloist, classical piano and flute melodies, opera arias by a soprano with piano accompaniment, a dance performance, a mandolin orchestra, saxophone soloist, Neapolitan jazz, and a DJ spinning contemporary Italian music.
The main stage entertainment was hosted by Paolo Rotondo, the legendary MC of the Festival Italiano and artistic director of the Cinema Italiano Festival. The second stage offered a dynamic line-up of performers in a more street-busking style.
Festival Italiano has grown exponentially since its inception in 2006. Originally created by the Dante Alighieri Society in Auckland, the festival was envisioned to create the atmosphere of a sagra di paese (small town fair), featuring an Italian market, traditional food, lively music, and long communal tables. It first took place at the society’s school in Freemans Bay before relocating to a larger venue in the same area, where it thrived for six more years.
By 2012, the festival’s growing attendance and the complexity of regulatory compliance for a large event prompted the search for a new location. Newmarket offered the ideal setting, with its network of lanes and leafy pedestrian streets.
Festival Italiano soon became the biggest European event in the country, and its free admission and vibrant urban atmosphere made it particularly popular among people of all ethnicities. It also paved the way for other Italian Festivals around the country, as well as inspiring other European cultural events in Auckland.
The founder and director of the Festival Italiano during the Dante Auckland management years was Alessandra Zecchini, a colonna portante (pillar) of the Dante Society, who led the festival’s evolution for 11 years.
In Alessandra Zecchini words: “The Festival Italiano is a truly fantastic event that celebrates all things Italian and is much loved in Auckland. From the very beginning, the event has educated New Zealanders about Italy. Ten years ago, the average Kiwi didn’t drink prosecco, let alone Aperol Spritz. Many had their first taste at the festival, where they also saw a big wheel of Parmigiano or sat on a Vespa scooter for the first time, and dreamed of being in Italy.”
By 2020, Festival Italiano had grown into a large and complex event, leading to the decision to transfer its management to the Newmarket Business Association. Having been involved with the festival since 2013, the association had the means to ensure it continued success as a much-anticipated annual event.
Mark Knoff-Thomas, CEO of the Newmarket Business Association, stated “Festival Italiano has become one of the highlights of the year on Newmarket’s event calendar. We value our close relationship with the Italian community and want to help grow the festival to be bigger and better each year. The street festival typically attracts 15,000 to 17,000 visitors, and after the tough economic conditions of recent years, we looked forward to welcoming the large crowds. The festival celebrates the extraordinary gift that Italian culture is to the world. In Newmarket, Italy has a home. Viva l’Italia!”
Festival Italiano is organized by the Newmarket Business Association under the patronage of the Italian Embassy in Wellington and proudly sponsored by Westfield Newmarket, Maserati Auckland, Campari, San Pellegrino, Prosecco DOC, Ghella, and the Waitematā Local Board. The association also partners with OnlyEvents, a leading event and conference planning company, to ensure the festival remains a culturally enriching experience for Auckland’s diverse communities.
Italians can be found in all parts of New Zealand, with the largest concentration in Auckland. While 7,500 Italian citizens are officially registered with AIRE, the actual Italian community is estimated to be around 10,000. Several organisations work together to actively promote italinità and strengthen a shared Italian identity in this country. These include the Italian Chamber of Commerce, the Comites NZ, the Dante Alighieri Society, Ondazzurra, the Cinema Italiano Festival, the Italian Consulates and the Italian Embassy in Wellington.
Situated on the opposite side of the globe from Italy, Festival Italiano plays a vital role in fostering a deep appreciation for Italian culture and celebrating the contributions of Italians to contemporary New Zealand society.
