Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Sangiampongsa presided over the opening ceremony of the Thai New Year Songkran Festival 2025 at a Thai Festival in Auckland, New Zealand, on 12 April 2025.

The Thai Festival in Auckland was held at Auckland University of Technology under the theme “Thai New Year (Songkran) Festival: A Splash of Thai Culture.” The event was co-organized by the Royal Thai Embassy in Wellington and the New Zealand - Thailand Business Association, with a view to promoting Songkran festival.  

Songkran has been included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is an ancient tradition of Thailand that has been celebrated since antiquity. Each year, many foreigners join Thai people in celebrating Songkran, which features colorful cultural programs.

Participating in the Thai Festival were Dr. Carlos Cheung, Member of Parliament for Mount Roskill, Mr. Waravuth Pouapinya, Ambassador of Thailand to New Zealand, Mrs. Voramanee Tothum, President of the New Zealand - Thailand Business Association, representatives from New Zealand government agencies, executives from Auckland University of Technology, and private-sector representatives.

The event also served as a platform to showcase Thailand’s creative industries to the New Zealanders and to strengthen the Thai community in New Zealand through a wide array of cultural activities, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Highlights of the festival include merit-making ceremony, demonstrations of Thai culinary arts, Muay Thai performances, and traditional Thai customs. In addition, exhibition booths showcased Thailand’s gaming industry, as well as offering Thai products and cuisine. 

Attendees also enjoyed screenings of Thai films, including How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, The Paradise of Thorn, and Shutter Remastered, all of which received an enthusiastic response from the New Zealand audience.

The Thai Festival in Auckland constitutes a part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand’s cultural and public diplomacy initiative, aimed at fostering mutual understanding and stepping up strong people-to-people ties. It is a vital tool for proactive economic diplomacy aimed at promoting Thailand’s creative economy on the global stage. 

In 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with partner organizations, has been organizing Thai Festivals in 45 cities across 32 countries worldwide.