Festival puts Italian culture and cuisine on show

A colourful celebration of Auckland’s Italian community took over the streets of Newmarket for Festival Italiano this weekend.

The festival, run by Società Dante Alighieri di Auckland, began 10 years ago as a small event at the Freemans Bay Community Centre.

Now held on Osborne Street, the festival has grown to comprise food, music, and art, with restaurants such as Non Solo Pizza and Gusto at the Grand setting up stalls.

Luca Manghi, a musician and language teacher for the society, said awareness of the event was largely through word of mouth.

“It’s a celebration of Italy, in Auckland,” said Mr Manghi. “It’s done in the Italian way, you know, we know a lot of people so we just pass the word.

“Every year it is getting bigger and bigger.”

Musician and Italian language teacher Luca Manghi has lived in New Zealand for 10 years and says the country has many similarities to Italy, despite much cooler weather. Photo: Alice Wilkins

Festival Italiano organiser Alessandra Zecchini, said with only a small budget, the event is largely dependent on volunteers and sponsors to operate.

Massimo Ciccioni, president of Società Dante Alighieri di Auckland, said the festival had grown with support from the Newmarket Business Association and the Waitematā Local Board.

“It is a good opportunity for Kiwis and other cultures to know us a little bit more,” Mr Ciccioni said.

There are around 3114 Italians, or New Zealanders of Italian origin, resident here according to the New Zealand Embassy.

“We are only 3000 but we make a lot of noise, and we would like to make even more,” said Mr Ciccioni.

Auckland is home to the largest Italian community in New Zealand, with smaller communities in Wellington, Hamilton, Nelson, Christchurch, and the Bay of Plenty.

Mr Manghi said Società Dante Alighieri di Auckland run a variety of other events, including Italian language classes for beginners, advanced speakers and children.

“The main aim of the society is to promote Italian culture and language,” he said.

Around 9000 Italians visit New Zealand every year, and Mr Manghi said the countries are similar in many ways.

“New Zealand is very popular in Italy, it’s become very trendy to come to this part of the world,” Mr Manghi said.