Auckland’s largest Pacific cultural festival celebrates its 33rd year

Pasifika Festival brought more than 25,000 people to Western Springs Lakeside Park last weekend to experience live performances, food and culture from 11 Pacific Islands.

Each island had its own village around the park, with the Cook Islands, Niue, Aotearoa, Samoa, Tuvalu, Fiji and Tonga in attendance.

The collective Fale Pasifika village also highlighted cultures from Tahiti, Kiribati, Hawai’i and Tokelau.

The festival opened with a dawn ceremony at the Aotearoa village on the Saturday.

Pasifika is in its 33rd year and is Auckland’s largest Pacific cultural festival.

The event remains a pillar in many Polynesian communities.

Aotearoa Village Stage Manager Zoe Parris said, “This festival reminds us, even in these tricky times, where things might not be so sure or steady, that we are united as one people.

“A lot of people look forward to this weekend, whether it's for a feed or to see their kids perform on stage.”

Kelston Girls College, Te Kura-a-rito o Newton, Marceline College and Kowhai Intermediate are among the schools that performed across stages.

Outside of cultural performances, musical artists Mr Tee, Che Fu, Jordyn with a Why and MOHI also performed on the Samoa, Niue and Aotearoa stages.

The 2023 Census showed that more than 16 per cent of Auckland's residents identify as Pasifika, almost two-thirds of New Zealand's Pacific population.

Spoken word poet Piremina Ngapera performed at the Aotearoa Stage and has been going to Pasifika Festival consistently for seven years.

“I always loved coming here growing up, and now I get to perform here…it’s really important to see our ahurea [cultures] represented on stage, I know it was for me,” Ngapera explained.

The event has faced challenges over the years, with cancellations in 2019 and 2020 due to the Christchurch mosque shooting and COVID-19 restrictions.

Regardless of those struggles, the festival remains a longstanding celebration of Pacific culture.

The festival receives its primary funding from the Auckland Council via Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, but with rising costs, it has relied on mixed funding models to cover the costs.

Afamasaga Jep Savali, the manager of major events for Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, told the Pacific Media Networks' Pacific Mornings radio show that they’re excited to have the festival running again on behalf of the Auckland Council.

"As soon as you walk in the gates, it’s a colourful and vibrant interaction of all things Pasifika."

Creative New Zealand, TipTop and Western Union are amongst some of its biggest funders.

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