Pasifika glows brightly

By JO-MARIE BROWN

Blinking back their grief, Tuvalu elderly performing in the group Atiakega took their places on stage at Saturday's Pasifika Festival.

They were determined to show their culture at Auckland's vibrant festival of the Pacific, despite the tragedy that has just enveloped their country.

Then the memory of the 18 schoolgirls and one teacher who died when fire swept through the tiny nation's sole secondary school flooded back and they wept openly.

Tuvaluan community leader Suamalie Iosefa said: "We are trying to do our best to play our part because we were asked by the organisers to represent the elderly and show our young people that we are still promoting our cultural activities such as our dancing and language."

But it was plain to see the pain - and the determination not to cast a pall over Auckland's annual festival of the colours, smells and music from the Pacific.

While more than 80,000 people packed into the Western Springs Reserve on a blazing hot day, the Tuvaluan community sat quietly, mourning the loss.

Mr Iosefa said the news of the deaths deeply affected Auckland's Tuvaluans.

"It is very hard for us to be here to entertain and to try and enjoy ourselves when deep inside we are sharing in the sorrow of what has happened back home.

"We have a very small population of 12,000 so everybody knows everybody and we have all been affected by this."

At Pasifika's Tuvaluan village, one of eight villages at the festival, a sombre mood prevailed. The nation's flag flew at half mast and a collection was taken up to help rebuild the school's dormitory, where the fire occurred.

The Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, Mark Gosche, paid tribute to the Tuvaluans' courage at the festival.

"People need to realise that in the scale of things it's a tragedy that would equal the loss of 7000 people here in New Zealand, so our hearts go out to them."

The eighth annual Pasifika festival was a happier time for many other Pacific Island communities, who turned out in force to showcase their music, food, clothing, jewellery and culture.

The Cook Islands village master of ceremonies, Puna Katuke, said the festival was of great importance. Some Cook Islanders had flown to Auckland especially to attend Pasifika and sell goods such as black pearls, Mr Katuke said.

"It gives us a chance to show off our culture, our music, our arts and crafts and, of course, to promote tourism in the Cook Islands," he said.

It was standing room only at the Cook Islands village as the public feasted on taro, bananas, chop suey and Cook Islands potato salad while a log-drumming workshop and cultural groups provided lively entertainment.

Around half the 180 stalls were selling Pacific Islands-style food, with tantalising smells tempting the public to sample dishes such as Tonga's coconuts and raw fish in coconut cream, Samoa's pineapple pie, Fiji-Indian curries and Aotearoa's hangi. Among the Samoan, Niuean, Tongan, Fijian, Tokelauan, Tuvaluan, Cook Islands and Aotearoa villages, four stages provided non-stop song and dance.

Auckland City Council events organiser Michele Khan said an emphasis had been placed this year on including interactive demonstrations in the festivities.

"There is a hula competition in the Cook Islands village, weaving demonstrations in the Niuean and Aotearoa villages, a story-telling tent focusing on traditional myths and legends, as well as Samoan tattooing and massage demonstrations," Ms Khan said.

"While Pasifika is a celebration of Pacific Island culture, it's also an opportunity for other people to learn about other cultures and that's really exciting."