Turn your clocks to island time at Pasifika this weekend

Turn your clocks to island time this weekend and journey through the incredible sights, sounds, tastes and colours of 11 Pacific Islands at Pasifika Festival 2014.

Pasifika is the largest celebration of Pacific Island culture and heritage in the world and takes place on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March at Western Springs Park.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) Chief Executive Brett O’Riley says both days will have fantastic food, authentic crafts and stunning performances, and each day offers a different atmosphere to festival-goers.

“For those who want to island hop ‘til they drop, we recommend they come along on Saturday to enjoy the bustling atmosphere of 11 Pacific Island villages,” says Mr. O’Riley.

“In contrast, Sunday will have a more laid back atmosphere, reflecting the values of faith and family that are celebrated throughout Pacific Island communities on this day. It will start with an outdoor church service that everyone is welcome to attend at 8.45am.”

Each village will have a stage at Pasifika Festival this year, showcasing the best of both contemporary and modern performance. Highlights include a daring new contemporary dance performance, ‘Spiritus Aitu’, by all-female company Ura Tabu Pacific Dance. Plus all the way from Hawai’i, the ancient dance of the hula will be performed by the men of Hālau O Wai Ola O Kāne.
New and for the first time this year, a vaka will be on display on Western Springs Lake during Pasifika. The design of the nine metre long double-hulled vessel, Pumaiterangi, is based on traditional Polynesian sailing vessels. It is a fitting symbol of the navigational skill and spirit of adventure that connects all Pacific Islands. Visitors to the festival can learn traditional lashing skills and hear more about vaka at the Voyager NZ Maritime Museum and Waka Quest tent.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) delivers the Pasifika Festival with the essential support of Auckland’s Pacific Island communities.

ATEED also acknowledges the support of sponsors of the Pasifika Festival including AUT, 2degrees, Tip Top, Pepsi (Frucor), Pacific Media Network, Mai FM and Fairfax Media, and supporters including GLO-BUG and Mercury Energy, Hawai’i Tourism Oceania, US Embassy and More FM.

More information about the festival can be found at aucklandnz.com/pasifika

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