FESTIVAL HISTORY

The Devonport Food, Wine and Music Festival started in 1990 as a community fund raising project of the Rotary Club of Devonport. Initially the event was a free festival with monies raised through selling to attendees a festival glass from which they would be able to purchase and drink their wine. The 1990�s saw the festival experience a peak in its fundraising with numbers attending regularly exceeding 12,000 over the two days. Many a Rotarian and patron will remember the times of celebrating the fine wine and food while sitting down to leisurely enjoying a local jazz band or music group.

However over the years costs increased, and sponsorship became harder to source and regulatory changes forced the organizers to fence Windsor Reserve and look to charge a door price. The changing leisure and entertainment market in Auckland also impacted on the festival, in a positive way, with higher quality music acts both local and international becoming a regular feature of the festival.

In 2010 the festival starts a new period under the ownership and management of B3 Events Limited (B3). The management of B3 are local Devonport residents and Rotarians who have in the past been heavily involved in the organizing and running of the festival. B3 looks to continue the festival with its focus on providing great entertainment, wine and food while raising funds for the Rotary Club of Devonport Charitable Trust.

 

ROTARY

The Devonport Food, Wine and Music Festival is proudly associated with The Rotary Club of Devonport.

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders (men & women) united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. In more than 160 countries worldwide, approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 30,000 Rotary clubs.

Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community's business and professional men and women. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.

The main objective of Rotary is service in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development. The Rotary motto is Service Above Self.

For information on becoming at Rotarian click here

Merchandise

Get your official Kia Motors Devonport Food, Wine & Music Festival T-Shirt and cap at Pier Bike Hire, Shop 6 Devonport Wharf in the Ferry Terminal or by emailing hire@pierbikehire.co.nz

A message from Gordon Legge The President of The Rotary Club of Devonport: