29 Nov 2011
The world’s largest Pacific event of its kind, Pasifika Festival, is expanding for 2011 with a raft of amazing events from 6 to 13 March.
Auckland’s vibrant Pasifika Festival is a free celebration of Aotearoa’s diverse Pacific communities, organised annually by Auckland Council.
“Pasifika is a chance for all to celebrate the Pacific communities who are a valuable part of our unique region,” says Mayor Len Brown.
“This year is set to be the best in the festival’s 19-year history with an even bigger line up of local and international talent.”
The festival kicks off on Sunday, 6 March at Aotea Square with a weeklong programme of music, performances, workshops and art exhibitions culminating in the popular festival day at Western Springs Park on Saturday, 12 March.
Creative New Zealand at the Pasifika Festival
There will be a Creative New Zealand tent at the Pasifika Festival where our Senior Programme Adviser - Pacific Arts, Makerita Urale will be to answer any questions you have around Creative New Zealand funding of Pacific Arts. Here you will also be able to pick up a copy of a new research report around the Health of Heritage Pacific Arts.
As part of Creative New Zealand's Te Manu Ka Tau Flying Friends programme there will be several international producers and presenters who are attending the festival to view Pacific art performances.
Aotea Centre and Aotea Square
Four art exhibitions will be open at Aotea Centre from Monday, 6 March to Sunday, 13 March, curated by the Okaioceanikart Gallery. The Alter-Native Surfaces exhibition showcases Samoan abstract artists including US based Sekio Fuapopo. Other exhibitions from the Okalana Niue Arts Group and Tivaevae, from the Cook Islands, will also be on display.
The Best of the Auditions and In Your Own Language showcase Auckland’s top emerging talent from Monday, 7 to Thursday, 10 March from 1.30pm to 3pm on Auckland Arts Festival’s TV3 Garden Stage in Aotea Square. The concerts feature a selection of poets and dancers as well as top artists from the festival’s auditions.
The Fakakaukau Pacific Debate Series returns with a fresh line up of Pacific academics, educators, entertainers and personalities debating topics of culture, education, religion and more. Mika, David Fane, Julian Wilcox, Dr Karlo Mila-Schaaf and Joris De Bres, to name a few, are lending their talent to this exciting series from Monday, 7 to Wednesday, 9 March from 5pm at Aotea Centre.
The Pasifika Festival Opening Night Concert takes place on Thursday, 10 March at Western Springs Park from 7pm. The concert features performances from each of the 10 communities represented as villages on Saturday’s festival day and will depict this year’s Pasifika Festival icons, eke (octopus) and the taro.
WesternSprings Park
The programme closes with the highly anticipated festival day on Saturday, 12 March at Western Springs Park which will attract an estimated 200,000 people. Expect more than 300 stalls, 10 Pacific Island villages and 12 stages, delicious traditional foods and flavours, non-stop entertainment, cultural workshops, traditional and contemporary wares, art and giveaways.
The second festival compilation album, Pasifika: The Collection 2, from Dawn Raid and Pasifika Festival, will be launched at the event. Artists on this year’s CD include J Boog, Ladi 6, Adeaze, Katchafire, Pieter T and more.
Pasifika Festival 2011 is proudly provided by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development Ltd on behalf of Auckland Council and supported by Air New Zealand, The Radio Network, AUT, Smokefree, Pacific Media Network, Creative New Zealand, Nautilus Foundation, Tip Top, Maori TV and Dawn Raid Entertainment.
There are a number of other events and activities during festival week this year. Go to the Auckland Council website for a full programme and further information about Pasifika Festival 2011.
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