A milestone for Newtown Festival – and Newtown Residents’ Association

Local Events, News

On Saturday April 5th there was a party in Carrara Park – a surprise party for Residents’ Association members Martin Hanley and Anna Kemble Welch, marking their retirement as Directors of Newtown Festival. They have been involved with the Festival since the very beginning 30 years ago, and moved into the roles of Director and Associate Director in 2008. Now they will continue as Newtown Festival Trustees, while other members of the team carry on with the day-to-day work. Newtown Festival will continue – the next Festival will be on March 8th 2026.

Newtown Festival has a long history. It started in 1995 when Neal Palmer, the Wellington City Council Arts Officer of the time, proposed an event to celebrate the newly completed Carrara Park. Local residents Peter Frater, Chris Renwick, Martin Hanley and Anna Kemble Welch agreed to support it and organise a programme of performers. This was so successful it was repeated the following year. In 1997 the WCC proposed moving the Festival into the main street, and it has continued every year since, by popular demand.

The 1997 Festival only closed part of one street, but it grew steadily as different groups asked to participate. New stages were established, the demand for stall sites increased, and different activities, such as street sports for young people, were proposed and acted on. By 2015 the current footprint of Newtown Festival was established – it runs from Hall St/ Mein St to Rhodes St/ Russell Tce in Riddiford St and includes all the connecting side streets, at least in part.

At first the Festival was organised by WCC but then a committee of the Newtown Residents’ Association continued it, with Council support, until the Association initiated the formation of the Newtown Festival Trust in 2017.

On Saturday there was a lovely gathering of Newtown Festival team members and supporters, past and present. It was particularly special to have 4 of the 5 founders of the Festival present, Neal Palmer, Peter Frater, Anna and Martin. Sadly Chris Renwick died in March 2020.

Here are a few photos of the occasion:

The Founders – Neal Palmer, the WCC Arts Officer who got it going, Martin Hanley, Peter Frater, and Anna Kemble Welch. As well as being one of the first organisers Peter went on to be Newtown Festival Director for several years, handing over to Martin and Anna in 2008. He is also our only Newtown Residents’ Association Life Member.
Festival Trustees -Ian McKinnon was one of the original Trustees. The current Trustees are Deirdre Tarrant (who founded Footnote Dance NZ), Martin, Anna,  Andy Nichols (Chair -was Chapman Tripp managing partner, now District Court Judge), and James Coyle (a Newtown Resident, was the Festival programme director for many years until he got a job with Massey College of Creative Arts).  Noel Woods (who coordinates the Tangata Whenua Stage) is also a Trustee but sadly away at a funeral.
The current Newtown Festival core team: Emi Pogoni Programme Coordinator, Martin Hanley Director, Barrie Hutton Production Manager, Anna Kemble Welch Associate Director and Chief Marshall, Rhona Carson Festival Administrator (also Newtown Residents’ Association President).