Tauranga Zinefest
Tauranga Zinefest is a free, annual community event part of Tauranga Arts Festival which celebrates and showcases small print-run, self-made, (maga)zines.
About
Pronounced “zeen”, zines are small, short-run, self-published, (maga)zines, covering a range of topics from music and art, to politics, sexuality and humour, and are written, drawn, painted, or collaged—zines can take any form their maker desires.
Culturally and historically, zines have served as a powerful outlet for content considered to be outside of mainstream. Zines are a pure art medium—it’s as tactile as you can get, feeling the texture, smelling the ink, and engaging with the content.
What’s a zinefest?
Zinefests provide a safe, independent platform of expression for underrepresented and marginalised voices: Māori and other BIPOC communities, rangatahi, disabled people, the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with limited economic resources.
Through stalls, talks and workshops, Tauranga Zinefest is a platform for anyone and everyone, educating and connecting groups and individuals via the drawn and printed world, and the universal visual language of self-made publications.
Zine culture fosters community, sharing, collaboration and innovation.
Since 2016
Tauranga Zinefest is dedicated to promoting the unique sub-culture of zines, and was brought to life by Zinefest Director Hannah Wynn—a local zine-enthusiast who, after experiencing zinefests held in other centres, recognised a need for Bay of Plenty to have its very own zinefest.