New KOHA Initiative to Boost Māori and Pasifika Talent at 2027 World Buskers Festival

The World Buskers Festival is set to return to Ōtautahi Christchurch from 21 to 31 January 2027, featuring a refreshed commitment to Indigenous representation through the launch of a new initiative. As reported by Waatea News on Monday 7 September 2026, the 'KOHA' programme has been established to specifically attract and support Māori and Pasifika performers and entertainers, ensuring their voices are elevated within the performing arts. This initiative marks a significant shift for the long-running festival as it prepares for the 2027 summer season. Savannah Tukariri, serving as the kaihautū Māori (Māori lead) for KOHA, explained that the initiative was established in response to historically low levels of Māori and Pasifika participation in the festival during previous years. The programme seeks to address this gap by providing a dedicated platform that celebrates the unique pūkenga (skills), cultural heritage, and mana of Indigenous peoples. Tukariri told Waatea News that the kaupapa is about ensuring that the mana of the tangata whenua and the wider Pasifika community is visible and celebrated on the festival stage. According to reports from Radio Waatea, the KOHA programme serves as an intentional extension of the main festival, designed to entice Indigenous artists to the event and the wider global busking circuit. By integrating KOHA into the wider festival framework, organisers aim to showcase a more diverse range of cultural talents to the Christchurch public. The initiative is positioned as an invitation—Nau mai, Tauti mai—to performers who can contribute to the atmosphere through both traditional and contemporary arts, ensuring the ahurei (festival) reflects the true identity of Aotearoa. Organisers believe that by highlighting the pūkenga of Māori and Pasifika performers, the event will offer a more authentic representation of the region's artistic landscape. The 2027 event is intended to serve as a platform for cultural exchange and equity, where Indigenous performance styles can be shared with both local and international audiences. With the festival dates now confirmed for the end of January, the focus remains on building a sustainable pathway for Māori and Pasifika talent to thrive in the street performance industry, marking a high point in the 2027 summer events calendar for Ōtautahi.