Thirty-two groups performed at Pasifika Festival in the Bay. Photo / Pasifika Festival in the Bay
Thirty-two groups performed at Pasifika Festival in the Bay. Photo / Pasifika Festival in the Bay
This year’s Pasifika Festival in the Bay was an “incredible celebration” of Pacific identities, languages and cultures.
Between 8-10,000 people arrived in Katikati to be part of the festival which was held at Katikati College.
This year there were 1034 performers, 32 groups, nearly 30 stallholdersand nine Steam-Ed (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) workshops.
Groups represented nations from all over the Pacific including Tokelau, Niue, Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, and Fiji.
Sounds of the Pacific echoed throughout the area as group after group gave it their all in traditional costumes.
The festival has an emphasis on youth. Photo / Drops Photography
Event director Melanie Cottingham described the students – who came from all over the Bay of Plenty and Auckland – as “courageous, happy, proud and hard-working”.
“It was just a fabulous celebration of our children, our culture and our identity. It’s so nice for our communities to come together like this.”
The festival has an emphasis on the younger generation and learning. Melanie says many young children were playing and having a wonderful time, embracing their culture.
