Taupō Winter Festival director Nicolar de Lautour.

The 2025 Malcom Flowers Insurances Taupō Winter Festival (27 June – July 13) is now open for bookings and event director Nicola de Lautour says some ticketed shows are almost already half subscribed while uptake on others is beginning to build.

By Chris Marshall.

"I know Taupō audiences can be pretty laid back and grab tickets a day or so before, but you do also hear of people missing out and then regretting it."

The festival launch at Baked with Love on May 6 was an opportunity for some involved with the event since its inception to reflect on its longevity thus far.

De Lautour introduced three speakers to mark the event’s 10-year anniversary, people involved from the beginning, who have supported art and culture in the town for a long time.

Chris Johnson, an original founding member of the One Taupō Trust set up to produce the festival, said he and his wife Cathy (a chair of the antecedent Erupt Festival) had recently reflected on a 25-year involvement.

“I remember after Erupt finished, talking to a few people about how do you keep this going in this town, because we just couldn't lose it.”

De Lautour’s arrival in Taupō and keenness to get involved was perfect timing, he says.

“We're fortunate that we have a 25-year history of festivals in this town. It’s had to morph through circumstances and the art climate. But it's pretty strong … I remember saying to Nicola we should only do three or four days, and it's morphed into two weeks but anyway, you run with it, and it's fantastic.”
Kim Manunui, festival brand and logo designer, felt three things to celebrate were the 10-year milestone itself, the money it generated for the One Taupō Trust to put back into the community and that it had something for everyone – which set it apart from sporting events.
“While it does attract out-of-town visitors, which is really a bonus, it's the Taupō community and residents that actually have the most fun.”
Current chair of the trust, Helene Phillips, said while she was a lover of the visual arts, she also loved performance.

“And the excitement that comes with performance, and that's something that I think the festival really does … it's an opportunity for people to engage in something maybe they haven't done before.
“It also can’t survive without the help of lots and lots of volunteers and people like Chris, who not only sat on the board for a long time, but also made pancakes, for free, every festival for eight years.”

A successful festival gives the trust a chance to be philanthropic, Phillips says.
“Philanthropy is a wonderful, wonderful thing, and this trust is able with the support of the festival to give away some money every year to people in our town who really, really need support. So please come to everything that’s on in July.”