Right now, the annual week of spectacular Pasifika celebrations is in full swing in Auckland, but no worries – you haven’t missed out on the best events yet. The highlight of the celebrations, the Pasifika Festival Day, is scheduled for this Saturday 12 March from 10am till 5pm.
On Pasifika Day, Auckland’s Western Springs Park will transform into a Pacific hub with a whopping ten villages representing different Pacific islands. You’ll find everything from unique food, culture and heritage demonstrations, master sculptors and carvers to a traditional kilikiti sports tournament – and entry is free!
The Air New Zealand International Stage will host great artists such as New Caledonian reggae group Joséphine, Samoan R ’n’ B duo Adeaze, and New Zealand dance company Black Grace, while the Evolution of Dance Stage will showcase dance moves originating from traditional, contemporary and street dances as well as special poetry performances. The Aotearoa Emerging Artists Stage features Patea Maori Club, New Zealand’s most famous kapa haka group, and many more acts.
You can get into the groove for Saturday daily at Auckland’s Aotea Square. Join the In Your Own Language events today or on Thursday, or check out the daily Best of Auditions performance series on the TV3 Garden Stage of the Auckland Arts Festival. The full Pasifika 2011 programme is available here.
Pasifika 2011 Festival Day: 12 March 2011