Vibrant Pasifika festival goes multi-day

The world’s largest Pacific festival which brings together New Zealand’s multi-cultural community in a vibrant, island-style celebration, has expanded to include new events and locations for 2010.

Traditionally a one-day celebration of Pacific music, food and culture, Pasifika has now been developed into an eight-day event that involves not only the diverse multicultural population of Auckland - the world’s largest Polynesian city - but also international performers and a wider debate on Pacific Island issues.

Colourful festival week 

In the week leading up to the main festival event at Western Springs Park, a 'Best of Auditions' series of concerts will be held in Auckland city centre every evening from 8 - 11 March, featuring finalists from January’s festival auditions.

Guest artists from New Zealand’s Dawn Raid entertainment group, which incorporates many of the country’s top hip hop artists, will also perform at the concerts.

The Mana Maoli Collective from Hawaii receive top festival billing as does Mihirangi, a contemporary of Maori and Pasifika music from Melbourne.

Fakakaukau, a series of Pacific debates, will be held during the week and involve academics, politicians, artists and activists discussing a variety of topics, including Pacific and Māori identity and representation and the value of indigenous education.

Pasifika opening night 

The Pasifika Festival opening night concert on Thursday 11 March at Western Springs will feature performances from each of the 10 communities represented as 'villages' on Saturday’s final festival day.

The free concert will see each community present stories, dances and songs covering this year’s festival themes - the molokau (centipede) and the frangipani flower which symbolise perseverance, fertility and growth.

On Friday 12 March, Mika and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra perform ‘Po; Beautiful Darkness’ - a spectacular new tribal pop opera.

Pasifika Festival finale 

Saturday 13 March is the grand festival finale at Western Springs, an event attended by more than 200,000 people. It is reputed to be New Zealand’s most colourful and energetic event as well as the most significant cultural festival in the Pacific region.

Over 1000 performers from Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Tahiti, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Tangata Whenua (New Zealand Māori) will take part in this year’s event.

Western Springs Park will be filled with more than 350 stalls offering taste sensations like fresh island fruits, raw fish in coconut milk and slow roasted pork.

With 12 stages, entertainment will be constant and varied featuring performances of traditional dance, reggae, hip hop and Pasifika R & B.

Pacific Island villages 

Each of the 10 Pacific Island nations who have made their home in New Zealand will have their own village giving festival goers a realistic insight into the differing traditions in art, music, craft, cuisine and culture.

As well as experiencing the Pacific Island culture and the people’s legendary hospitality first hand, Pasifika also gives visitors the chance to purchase many of the unique crafts of the Pacific Islands including woven items, tapa cloths, leis and carvings.

The festival first began 18 years ago and has grown steadily but remains community focused with many of the events free to attend.