Mahine Wichman (left) and daughter Chrissy Kupa-Wichman are all smiles. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Mahine Wichman (left) and daughter Chrissy Kupa-Wichman are all smiles. Photo / Michael Cunningham
A larger-than-expected turnout at the Pacifika Fusion Festival in Whangarei should be even bigger next year with the likes of Savage and Shortland St stars likely to add more colour to the occasion.
Up to 3000 festival goers enjoyed the entertainment.
About 3000 turned up on the Hihiaua Peninsula section of the Hatea Loop Walkway on Saturday to be entertained by the Laughing Samoans, traditional Pacific dance items, and kids activities such as face painting.
Anna Marshall, Samoan Community chairwoman, watches the entertainment.
The festival was hosted by the Te Moananui O Kiwa Pasifika Charitable Trust in partnership with Hihiaua Cultural Centre Trust - Tongan actor and former Shortland St star John Tui was the MC.
Themed "We are Pacific", villages from Aotearoa, Cook Islands, Samoa, Fiji, Tuvalu, Tonga and Niue put up food and art and craft stalls.
Susan Botting gets into the swing of the Pacific Fusion Festival in Whangarei.
Te Moananui o Kiwa Pasifika Charitable Trust chairman Maualaivao Ueli Sasagi said he was "blown away" by the response, not only from the Pacific island communities, but also people of other ethnic groups, as well as Kiwis.
He said about 1850 people were at the venue by 10.30am and the numbers kept increasing as the day went on.
"We invited the Pacific communities living in Whangarei to set up stalls and take part in entertainment on the stage but I was amazed to see people as far away as Kaitaia and Kaikohe attend, especially Tuvaluans and Tongans - and everyone has given positive feedback."
These Pacific princesses represented the Totara Pacific Island group.
Mr Sasagi said Tui, who was a friend of New Zealand rapper Savage, would help to bring the artist as well as some Shortland St stars to next year's festival, which would boost its profile
"We'd be a fool not to continue the momentum. I challenged [Whangarei mayor Sheryl Mai] to come on board, get the council involved and make this festival grow bigger so we can attract people from Auckland and throughout the country.
"We believe we can create something unique here. We will also talk to netball and rugby players from Northland for them to come along next year and help build the profile of our event."
Among those in the crowd were Labour leader Andrew Little and the party's Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis.
The Laughing Samoans were a hit and gave away two family passes to their show at the Forum North on Saturday.
Other performances included a Cook Islands hula dance, Fijian meke or traditional dance, and a Pacific-Arabic drum dance. Students from Totara Grove and Whau Valley Primary Schools were also on stage.
A brief silence was observed for the victims of cyclone Pam before Ms Mai opened the festival.
Red Cross volunteers were at the festival collecting cash donations for the cyclone victims.
Ms Mai said the recent Census showed a growing number of people settling in Whangarei were Pacific islanders and acknowledged the vital contribution they made to the local community.
