Pasifika Festival, which drew more than 80,000 people last year, may have to shift from Western Springs Park. Photo / Doug Sherring
Pasifika Festival, which drew more than 80,000 people last year, may have to shift from Western Springs Park. Photo / Doug Sherring
One of the world's biggest Pacific Island cultural festivals may be forced to move from its Auckland park home at short notice because of the Queensland fruit fly scare.
Pasifika Festival, which drew more than 80,000 people last year, may have to shift from Western Springs Park just three weeksout from the event because of the risk of spreading the pest.
A spokesman from Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (Ateed), which organised the festival, confirmed it was in discussions with the Ministry for Primary Industries about a possible move from the park, ahead of the two-day event in March.
It is understood the ministry initiated the discussions because Western Springs Park sits inside the 1.5km radius exclusion zone, where tight controls on the movement of fruit and some vegetables are in place.
A number of alternative venues were being looked at, the Ateed spokesman said.
Pasifika Festival is billed as the "biggest celebration of Pacific Island culture and heritage in the world".
The weekend event is due to take place on March 14-15.
A spokesman said the ministry was in discussions with event organisers around hosting the Pasifika Festival while completing a successful fruit fly eradication.
