On 12 April 2025, H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, presided over the opening ceremony of the Thai New Year Songkran Festival 2025 in Auckland, New Zealand. The event was attended by H.E. Dr. Carlos Cheung, Member of Parliament for Mount Roskill; H.E. Mr. Waravuth Pouapinya, Ambassador of Thailand to New Zealand; Mrs. Voramanee Tothum, President of the New Zealand - Thailand Business Association (NZTBA); representatives from New Zealand government agencies; executives from Auckland University of Technology (AUT); private sector representatives; Thai community; as well as New Zealanders and other nationals.

Thai Festival in Auckland was held on 12 April 2025 at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) under the theme “Thai New Year (Songkran) Festival: A Splash of Thai Culture.” The event was co-organised by the Royal Thai Embassy in Wellington and the New Zealand - Thailand Business Association (NZTBA) with a view to promote Songkran festival, which has been included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Festival 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.

Highlights of the festival include merit-making ceremony, demonstrations of Thai culinary arts, Muaythai 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, is organizing Thai Festivals in 45 cities across 32 countries worldwide.