-
Womad 2010 - Source: ONE News -
Watch Video
New Zealand's eighth Womad festival is taking place in New Plymouth and even the changeable weather isn't stopping the crowds.
Every year people from all over the world come to Taranaki for three days to experience the festival.
More than 250 artists from 19 countries are performing and this year the weather has been as varied as the line up.
"It's a fantastic country you have, but very cold, and it comes warm, it comes cold, so I don't know what we do," says entertainer Mahmoud Ahmed.
The weather hasn't stopped 15,000 people pouring into the picturesque bowl of Brooklands and they told ONE News they "just go under a tree and wait until it passes".
As well as 30 hours of music, there are cooking classes, workshops, stalls and plenty of food.
But local artists like Anna Coddington say while the food is good, you can't beat the music for inspiration.
"You just are bound to see something you've never heard of that totally blows you away," she says.
The Womad concept started in the UK 27 years ago and when it came to New Zealand it was first held in Auckland where it failed to take off. It was transferred to New Plymouth as a bi-ennial event but now in its eighth year, the festival shows no sign of slowing down and organisers say it will stay an annual event.
