Pasifika Festival 2010
New Zealand's biggest Pacific event, Pasifika Festival, is expanding for 2010, with new events and new locations.
Auckland’s popular Pasifika Festival is a free celebration of our diverse Pacific communities, organised annually by Auckland City Council.
“Pasifika is a chance for us to celebrate the diversity of Auckland’s Pacific communities and it is regarded by many Aucklanders as the event they are most proud of,” says Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee chairperson, Councillor Greg Moyle. “That’s why we are really excited to see this popular festival develop into a multi-day experience.”
The week leading up to festival day on Saturday, 13 March sees several new exciting additions to the Pasifika Festival programme.
The Best of the Auditions, presented by Pasifika Festival in association with New Zealand Major Events and Dawn Raid Entertainment, runs from 8.30pm each night, Monday, 8 to Thursday, 11 March. The concerts in the city centre feature performances from the top 10 individuals and groups from festival auditions held in January, as well as guest artists from Dawn Raid and the Mana Maoli Collective from Hawaii.
Pasifika Festival also presents Fakakaukau, a Pacific debate series at Auckland Town Hall and Aotea Centre from Monday, 8 to Wednesday, 10 March. These debates are presented in association with Te Puni Kokiri, and feature academics, politicians, artists and activists discussing a variety of topics, including Pacific and Maori identity and representation and the value of indigenous education.
Pasifika Festival presents Mika and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in Po; Beautiful Darkness on Friday, 12 March at the ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, The Edge. Po; Beautiful Darkness is Mika’s one-night only return to the stage in a spectacular new tribal pop opera performed with the APO and several international artists.
The Pasifika Festival Opening Night Concert takes place on Thursday, 11 March at Western Springs. This concert features performances from each of the 10 communities represented as “villages” on Saturday’s festival day – as well as a special contribution from PIBAC, the city’s Pacific Island Board, and performances from international artists travelling to Auckland for Pasifika.
And of course, the culmination, festival day, takes place on Saturday, 13 March, bringing together thousands of Aucklanders for a great day out at Western Springs.
Expect more than 350 stalls, 10 Pacific Island villages and 12 stages, delicious traditional foods and flavours, non-stop entertainment, cultural workshops, and giveaways.
Pasifika Festival 2010 also sees the launch of the first “Pasifika – the compilation” album from Dawn Raid and Universal Music. This limited edition collection includes more than 35 of the best Pacific artists and timeless hits from the past 50 years of Polynesian music, including The Herbs, Te Vaka, Nesian Mystic and Savage.
Pasifika Festival 2010 celebrates Pacific connections to the Molokau (centipede) and Frangipani flower – symbolising perseverance, fertility and growth, and acknowledging the first-born.
There are a number of other events and activities during festival week this year. Visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/events for a full programme and further information about Pasifika Festival 2010.
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Member Profile
Auckland CouncilNew Zealand’s largest city holds a wealth of creative talent and businesses, making it, without a doubt, New Zealand’s home of the creative industries. Auckland's unique arts, culture and creative enterprises not only enrich the cultural landscape of the city and its inhabitants but also make a vital contribution to the city’s economic success.
Auckland Council is committed to making Auckland an arts and culture centre by supporting the abundance of talented creative people who call Auckland home, and creating attractive business and lifestyle options for all who choose to live, work and play here.
The council supports the arts and creative industries in the following ways:
- Support and funding for arts organisations, artists ,arts and cultural groups
- Provision of arts facilities, such as the Art Gallery and ArtStation
- Design and delivery of a public art collection and programme
- Support of performing arts venues such as The Aotea Centre, Civic Theatre and Auckland Townhall
- Funding support for independent performing arts venues such as Q Theatre and The Basement
- Arts and creative sector research and policy and strategy such as Arts Agenda, Blueprint and Arts in Public Places – Public Art Policy
- Urban design of city environments such as Fort Street and Elliot street redevelopments
- City planning and management of projects like Aotea Quarter development
- Provision of world class library resources
- Support of industry associations and business events such as The Big Idea, ART Survive and Thrive forums and Film Auckland
- Delivery of community services to maintain and develop community and recreation facilities and centres
- Support and delivery of community and major events such as Pasifika Festival, Lantern Festival and Music in Parks
- Facilitation of film productions in the regionTo find out more about Auckland Council’s support of the creative industries and how this can benefit you or your creative business visit www.auckland.govt.nz or phone 09 379 2020
Auckland Council is proud to support The Big Idea. Through The Big Idea, Auckland Council can effectively engage with Auckland’s creative community, and promote the arts and culture services it provides.
