Neat Picks for Taranaki's Spiegel Fest 2024

Red lights lighting up a stage in Taranaki.
Taranaki continues to turn up the volume with its celebration of the arts and this November, locals and visitors to the region can enjoy the spoils of Spiegel Fest. The 11 day festival produced by the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT) showcases something for everyone from family shows to music, DJs and comedy to the hero circus act Rouge. Alongside this diverse programme of performances, the venue itself promises to be quite the spectacle. To say the Pacific Crystal Palace Spiegeltent is impressive would be an understatement; drawing inspiration from the Belgium-designed Spiegeltent of the 19th century, the lavish performance space blends European style and Kiwiana culture. Look out for the New Zealand ferns on the ornate mirrors, paua carved into the wood pillars and gorgeous stained glass windows featuring harakeke. We’ve deep-dived into the Spiegel Fest programme and picked seven of our highlights to help you curate your festival experience. And as we’re in the business of all things neat, we’ve paired these performances with some of the finest art, shopping and dining in Taranaki so that you can make the most of your Spiegel Fest days.

The Collaboration

A counter inside a retail store in New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Galleries and museum key icon.

On first glimpse, The Collaboration in New Plymouth could be passed off as just another beautiful space showcasing and selling artwork.

Fenton Art Collective

Landscape on an easel at Fenton Art Collective, Taranaki.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Cafes key icon. Galleries and museum key icon.

What do you get if you put art, history, gin and espresso under one roof? An eclectic melting pot like Fenton Art Collective in Taranaki.

Kina NZ Design + Art Space

Colourful tumblers and greeting cards at Kina NZ Design + Artspace, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Galleries and museum key icon.

Anyone wanting to take a memento of Taranaki home with them should spend some time browsing the curated art and design pieces at Kina NZ Design + Artspace in New Plymouth.

Kingsroy Gallery

Wide angle of the gallery space at Kingsroy Gallery, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Galleries and museum key icon.

New Plymouth’s burgeoning art scene is vibrant and exciting and Kingsroy is a notable addition to the swathe of galleries opening in the coastal city.

Puke Ariki

An interactive space within Puke Ariki.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Galleries and museum key icon.

Spend any time in New Plymouth and you’ll see the signposts for Puke Ariki, a dedicated hub that comprises a museum, library and research centre that shares the...

Tawhiti Museum

Tawhiti Museum sign.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki Hāwera
Galleries and museum key icon.

Tawhiti Museum is unlike any other provincial museum in New Zealand as it is the amalgamation of one man's dedicated heritage project.

Govett-Brewster Art Gallery + Len Lye Centre

Installation at the Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth, Taranaki.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki Editor's Pick
Galleries and museum key icon.

Govett-Brewster Art Gallery + Len Lye Centre is dynamic, courageous and quite simply, unmissable.