Media Release
26 February 2008

Celebrate Pasifika

The Auckland region is home to the largest population of people of Pacific Island ethnicity in the world. Pacific talent across the Auckland region will be showcased throughout March during the annual Celebrate Pasifika festival. This year Manukau City Council Arts and Libraries are hosting several events.

Council is also one of the major sponsors of another Celebrate Pasifika feature event, the popular ASB Secondary Schools Polyfest being held 12 to 15 March at the Manukau Sportsbowl.

Manukau Mayor Len Brown is delighted to see Pacific culture getting its share of the limelight.

“Pacific people and cultures make an important contribution to the city’s creativity, vibrancy and diversity,” Mr Brown says. “Manukau is New Zealand’s youngest city in that a large proportion of our population is aged under 25. Combine that with the world’s biggest Polynesian population and you can see how important an event is that celebrates so much about what is positive among our young people.

“I encourage all Manukau residents to visit the festival events and learn more about this amazing and talented part of our community. This is an opportunity for our young people to shine.”

Visit www.celebratepasifika.com for a full list of events.

ENDS

Notes for editors:

Free Celebrate Pasifika events hosted in Manukau include:

Pasifika on Film
In partnership with the New Zealand Film Archive a compelling programme of Pasifika films from the New Zealand Film Archive collection. Includes rare film of Fiji from 1902 as well as historical material from Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga and the Cook Islands:
Venues:
Saturday, 01 March, 2pm, Papatoetoe Library, 30 Wallace Road, Papatoetoe,
Saturday, 8 March, 11am, Otara Library, Otara Town Centre, Otara
Saturday 22 March, 2pm, Mangere Town Centre Library, Bader Drive, Mangere
Saturday 29 March, 2pm, Botany Library, Level 1, Sunset Terrace
(Upstairs, next to Whitcoulls) Botany

Pacific Dance Fono ‘08
Metro Theatre, 351 Massey Road, Mangere – Monday, 17 March, 4.30pm
Contact Iosefa Enari, Tel: (09) 815 1420
Email:fono@danz.org.nz
Free, workshops and presentations for community to professional Pacific dancers - covers all forms of Pacific dance, both traditional and contemporary, advice on promoting and marketing events, funding applications, professional development education and training. Registration is essential.

Pollywood SIX08 features a line up of Polynesian short films, encompassing drama, comedy, experimental and documentary work – curated by Craig Fasi and presented by M.I.C. – Toi Rerehiko
Thursday, 20 March – 7.30pm, Otara Music Arts Centre, Corner Newbury St and Bairds Rd, Otara

Weaving Demonstrations by Te Au Vaine Takitumu weaving group
Tuesday, 4 March, 12.30pm to 1.30pm, Pakuranga Library, Westfield Shoppingtown (off Reeves Road), Pakuranga
Wednesday, 12 March 3.30 to 4pm, Papatoetoe Library, 30 Wallace Road, Papatoetoe
Thursday, 20 March, 11am to 12 noon, Te Matariki Clendon Library, 17 Palmers Road, Clendon
Friday, 28 March, 10.30am to 11.30am. Mangere Town Centre Library, Bader Drive, Mangere

From the Pacific, We Rise
Fresh Gallery Otara, Otara Town Centre, to 15 March
Retrospective exhibition mapping the growth and success of the Kila Kokonut Krew (KKK) entertainment company.

Birds of a Feather – Pacific Accessories
Mangere Arts Centre, Shop 17 Mangere Town Centre, 93 Bader Drive, Mangere
To 20 March
Traditional and contemporary responses to what it means to accessorise.

Top 16
Fresh Gallery Otara, Otara Town Centre, 21 March to 12 April
This exhibition by Janet Lilo references a popular application of the web-based social media network, Bebo – the gallery becomes a space for viewing and commentary as well as exhibiting virtual profiles of real Bebo members.

Summer Sounds in the Parks
Manukau Arts and Parks present a series of concerts in the grounds of the historic Massey Homestead, Massey Road, Mangere.
Soul in the Park with Betty-Anne & Friends – Sunday 2 March, 4pm to 6pm
Rhythm in the Park with Oceania Storm – Sunday 9 March, 4pm to 6pm
Pacific Sounds in the Park with The Aggressors – Sunday 16 March, 4pm to 6pm
(If wet concerts will be cancelled).

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