Wellington’s Pasifika Festival will return on Saturday, 8 February 2025, bringing a vibrant showcase of Pacific culture, music, food, and art to Waitangi Park. The free event will run from 12 noon to 6 pm, offering a whānau-friendly experience that highlights the richness of Aotearoa’s Pacific communities.
This year’s festival theme, ‘Journey,’ will be reflected in various activities throughout the day. Festivalgoers can witness live stone carving, enjoy a new youth performance programme, and take part in an interactive experience for tamariki, where children can collect stamps in a Wellington Pasifika Festival passport.
The festival will feature an award-winning lineup of multicultural performers, as well as a range of Pasifika food stalls, art displays, and cultural experiences. Organisers say the event is about more than entertainment, providing an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the depth of Pacific heritage in Wellington.
There will be food stalls, corporate, craft, and sponsor stalls, a Kids’ Zone, and Pacific Media Network 531pi FM and Āti Awa Toa radio activations. You can also take part in a festival wide activation based on the card game ‘Lalaga’, designed by Torisse Lalau, which uses Pasifika wisdom (talanoa) to foster empathy and connection through sharing stories.
The popular Pasifika Cuisine Cook-Off competition is back for another year, with food stalls submitting their best dish for judging by a celebrity panel. Some Hurricanes team members will join us at 2.20pm, followed by a stage activation and an opportunity to meet them.
Join our Pacific communities in the following workshops:
- Haihai Vaka Tufi, 1pm – 1.30pm. Learn about Niuean culture and traditional weapons and travel.
- Talofa Samoa, 2pm – 2.30pm and 3pm – 3.30pm. Learn how to make island baskets from flax, jewellery, headpieces, seis and broches.
- Ofaga ha, Keriso Craft and Woodwork display, 2pm. See the beautiful display of women’s craft work and men’s woodwork and enjoy a workshop on making Niuean embroidery, weaving, Foufou (head pieces), woodworks pendants and more.
The full event programme and details are available at https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/events-and-festivals/pasifika-festival
