Kia ora koutou, talofa lava, Namaste.

It's the 20th of December. The holiday season is upon us. Amidst all the buzz and activity, it is time to acknowledge and support our family and friends who have helped make this year. For me, that means a big thanks to all the Festival team who have worked so hard to help bring the 2013 Festival to life. A big ups to the Festival whanau. We are all taking a break over Christmas and New Year, gathering our energy for the build up the Festival itself.

While we rest, the elves are bringing out a few Festival specials. Boxing Day is a day for the sales and we have one too. Circolombia are awesome - David and I have seen them perform URBAN twice - in Edinburgh and in Paris. Some of the stunts they did made us almost scream with fear - I could feel the adrenaline rush. The performers are extremely skilled and absolutely fearless. And they have smiles that welcome you warmly to their world. These young people are all graduates from the Circo Para Todos (Circus For All) circus school established in Cali specifically for disadvantaged youth, to offer them hope for a better future. And a brilliant new future is what they have created.

We send our aroha and best wishes to you and yours for the holiday season. And we really look forward to sharing the Festival with you in March 2013. See you in the new year.

Nga mihi mahana

Carla