19 Feb 2025
The Hologa Niue Cultural Festival 2025 will take Tāmaki Makaurau by storm on Saturday 22 February. The first of its kind, the festival promises to deliver performances from all 13 villages of Niue, igniting the revival of Niue performing arts.
In partnership with Three Star Nation (TSN), a Niue youth led organisation, the festival is supported by Creative New Zealand and aligns with the Pacific Arts Strategy 2023 – 2028 outcomes.
Jannita Pilisi, Arts Council member, is proud of the impact the festival will have on the community.
“Niue is a realm country of New Zealand, and this festival will engage and support the maintenance and celebration of our unique culture and creativity in Aotearoa. Our Pasifika peoples are youthful in terms of demographics – so supporting cultural events that help to develop pride, identity, and creativity is important to grow our future leaders in the arts,” Jannita says.
The Hologa Niue organising team is led by executive producer Eunique Cabrini Ikiua, creative directors Leki Jackson-Bourke, Mone Lakatani, Haanz Fa’avae-Jackson, Malcolm Lakatani and their TSN executive leadership group: Derrick Jackson, Meleua Ikiua, Jesse Bourke-Jackson, Matali Kulatea-Ryan, Sepa Havilitama, Zac Manukuo and Amber Williams.
The festival will include over 1500 performers from the 13 villages of Niue. The event provides a platform for intergenerational connectedness and language preservation through the vehicle of Niue performing arts.
Leki Jackson-Bourke (Hakupu-Atua village), an award-winning writer, sees the cultural festival as more than a celebration.
"Hologa Niue marks an important turning point in our collective fight to save Vagahau Niue (the Niue language). This is our generation’s artistic response where cultural performance packs a political punch. This is bigger than any of us, it’s more than just a song and dance," Leki says.
Ali Foa’i, Manager Cultivation Pacific Arts, shares the team’s excitement for the upcoming festivities.
“Our Creative New Zealand Pacific Arts Strategy has a strategic focus area, ‘Moana’ which means strengthening ties and strategic relationships between Pasifika in Aotearoa and Pacific Islands nations,” Ali says.
The festival is so popular, it has now sold out. A live link will be available via the Three Star Nation Facebook page
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