Pasifika - a real money spinner

MEDIA RELEASE

March 14 2002

Pasifika - a real money spinner

About $1 million in trade changed hands as the Pasifika festival celebrated its 10th anniversary last weekend.

The opening night concert on Friday set the scene for the next day when invited guests watched traditional and contemporary performances by the Yandall Sisters and dozens of other Pacific Island performers.

More than 130,000 people poured into Western Springs stadium to the sound of music and the smell of Island food cooking. Two new areas were added to the festival venue this year, the arts arena and Jandal’s family area. This year the key message was “keep left”, which was adhered to by a well-controlled crowd.

People came from all over the world to experience the flavours of the largest event of its kind in the South Pacific, including media from Tonga, Cook Islands, the United States and Italy. One sponsor, telstra Clear, offered free four-minute calls from the event to “anywhere in the world”.

Auckland City’s chairperson of the recreation and events committee, Scott Milne, says Pasifika was “a huge success” and “testament to just how good the events in Auckland are getting.”

“Pasifika is an Auckland icon event and one that just keeps getting better every year,” said Cr Milne.

Many of the 300 stalls sold out of their wares during the afternoon, and traditional food, tapa cloth, art work, and black pearls were the hottest items on offer.

ENDS

© Scoop Media