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In pictures: Pasifika Festival underway in Auckland after two-year cancellation

Saturday, 10 April 2021

Pasifika, an annual two-day festival, celebrates the Pacific cultures of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Pasifika, an annual two-day festival, celebrates the Pacific cultures of Tāmaki Makaurau.

Rainy weather hasn’t stopped Auckland’s Pasifika Festival from going ahead for the first time since 2018.

The event, which runs both Saturday and Sunday, is being held at Mt Smart Stadium – a change from its usual venue, Western Springs.

The celebration of Pacific culture features two days of traditional food, music and performances.

Eight villages have been set up around the stadium, with seven representing a different country: Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Fiji, Niue, the Cook Islands and Aotearoa.

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Performers on stage at the Pasifika Festival on Saturday.
Performers on stage at the Pasifika Festival on Saturday.

* Pasifika Festival performers return to stage after two year-delay

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the festival.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the festival.

* Covid-19: Stallholders pull out of Pasifika Festival as comeback event planned

A range of vibrant traditional outfits were worn on stage.
A range of vibrant traditional outfits were worn on stage.
The annual festival, usually held at Western Springs, took place at Auckland
The annual festival, usually held at Western Springs, took place at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium.
Performers on the Aotearoa stage.
Performers on the Aotearoa stage.
Performers at the Fiji village.
Performers at the Fiji village.
There were plenty of bright colours and flowers on display.
There were plenty of bright colours and flowers on display.
It is a celebration and showcase of all things Pasifika.
It is a celebration and showcase of all things Pasifika.
The annual festival now attracts about 60,000 visitors over the two days.
The annual festival now attracts about 60,000 visitors over the two days.
Each village has their own performance stage, featuring traditional and contemporary performances.
Each village has their own performance stage, featuring traditional and contemporary performances.
Pasifika is the largest Pacific Island cultural festival of its kind.
Pasifika is the largest Pacific Island cultural festival of its kind.
Pasifika has been running for nearly 30 years.
Pasifika has been running for nearly 30 years.
The festival is taking place on Saturday and Sunday.
The festival is taking place on Saturday and Sunday.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shelters from the rain as she meets with members of the public.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shelters from the rain as she meets with members of the public.
Music, dance, arts, crafts, demonstrations, storytelling and food were all present at the festival.
Music, dance, arts, crafts, demonstrations, storytelling and food were all present at the festival.
The rainy weather didn’t stop festival-goers.
The rainy weather didn’t stop festival-goers.

* Coronavirus: Official advice is that March 15 event and Pasifika Festival can go ahead

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The eighth village, Fale Pasifika, represents the islands of Hawaii and Kiribati.

Pasifika Festival had been cancelled for two consecutive years. It was called off in 2019 after the Christchurch mosque shootings, and then in 2020 due to Covid-19.

The 2021 event also had to be postponed once after Auckland went to level 3.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern attended the festival on Saturday morning, along with Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni and Minister of Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio.

While an umbrella and a pair of gumboots was must-have at the festival on Saturday, MetService is predicting a high of 24 degrees Celsius on Sunday and fine breaks with isolated showers.