International artists in Wellington for the New Zealand Festival were officially welcomed this morning with a powhiri.
The ceremony at Te Wharewaka O Poneke on the city's waterfront also marked a milestone 30th year for the festival which has been running since 1986.
Artistic Director Shelagh Magadza says the three-week long, biennial festival has left the city an economic and cultural legacy.
"We often talk in terms of economics, and there's no doubt that the festival has had an economic impact on Wellington as it has developed as a business, but the other thing I think that for me, as a more important measure of success and the enduring nature of it has been the impact on the audiences," she says.
The Festival brings together international and domestic acts across a range of venues and caters to a number of tastes.
Ms Magadza says for the event to have been consistently hosted by Wellington is an accomplishment in itself.
"It's hugely significant, and I think a great achievement for a city this size. Wellington, and New Zealand in general, are not on a big touring route so it takes a lot to get many artists to our city, but when they're here they have this huge impact."
The festival runs from today until March 20.
Newshub.