‘Aotearoa At Belau 2004’
1. INTRODUCTION
July 2004 will see the dawning of the 9th Pacific Arts Festival in Koror, the Republic of Palau (Belau ), Micronesia.
From 22 – 31 July 2004 Aotearoa New Zealand will join 26 other Pacific nations in this Festival to nurture and celebrate
Pacific histories, languages, arts, traditions and cultures.
2. FESTIVAL HISTORY & BELAU 2004
The Pacific Arts Festival was conceived by the Conference of the Pacific Community to prevent the erosion of traditional
customary practices and to preserve the cultures of the Pacific.
The first Pacific Arts Festival was held in Fiji in 1972. The Festival was intended to be a catalyst to draw
international attention to the rich and diverse cultural heritages of the Pacific and the need to support them.
Held every four years, it has taken place in New Zealand (1976), Papua New Guinea (1980), Tahiti (1984), Australia
(1988), Cook Islands (1992), Samoa (1996) and Kanaky/New Caledonia (2000).
Kapa Haka has been represented by the following groups at every Festival since the inaugural event in 1972:
1976 – Aotearoa – Te Roopu Manutaki
1980 - Papua New Guinea - Waihirere
1984 – Tahiti – Ngati Rangiwewehi
1988 – Australia – Te Waka Huia
1992 – Cook Islands – Te Waka Huia
1996 – Samoa – Ngati Rangiwewehi
2000 – New Caledonia – Te Matarae I Orehu
2004 – Republic of Palau - Waihirere
The Festival is now recognised as a major Te Matarae I Orehu
international cultural festival. It is the largest 8th Pacific Arts Festival, 2000
gathering of Pacific peoples, united in their Noumea, Kanaky (New Caledonia)
purpose to respect and appreciate their cultures within the context of contemporary life and the changing face of the
Pacific.
2.1 The Pacific Arts Festival – Belau 2004
The Republic of Palau is an archipelago. It is located south-east of the Philippines, south of Guam and north of Papua
New Guinea. The indigenous name for the islands is “Beluu er a Belau” but the short form of this name, “Belau”, is
commonly used.
As a small Micronesian nation 458 square kilometres in area with a population of approximately 19,700 the Festival, that
attracted around 5000 visitors and participants in Noumea, Kanaky (New Caledonia) in 2000, will be one of the largest
projects Belau has undertaken.
Most of the population inhabits about eight of the 300 islands. There are three main islands: Babeldoab, the biggest
island stretching 44 kilometres in length and 24 kilometres in width; Koror, the capital; and the Rock Islands, renowned
for snorkelling, diving and other water recreation activities. The population of Koror is 12,300.
Belau enjoys warm all-year round temperatures with an annual mean temperature of 27 degrees celsius. The official
languages are English and Palauan although Sonsoralese, Angavr, Japanese and Tobi are also spoken. The official currency
is the US dollar.
The Festival theme for 2004 is Oltobed a Malt: Nurture, Regenerate and Celebrate.
2.1.1 Who participates in the Pacific Arts Festival?
Twenty-seven Pacific nations will participate in the Festival. They are American Samoa, Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia,
Belau (Palau), Cook Islands, Easter Island, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, French Polynesia, Guam,
Hawaii, Kanaky (New Caledonia), Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Papua
New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.
2.1.2 What artforms will be on display?
The following arts, cultural traditions and activities will be on display: traditional and contemporary Pacific visual
arts, body art, weaving, wood, bone and stone carving, tapa making, tattooing, jewellery, bead and shell work, clay
work, photography, film, costume and fashion design, floral arts, traditional medicine and healing arts, traditional
canoe building and navigational craft, traditional culinary arts, philatelic arts, traditional money, literary arts,
oratory and storytelling, displays of traditional musical instruments, song, dance, theatre, fire walking, traditional
sports, symposium, debates and workshops.
2.2 Why Aotearoa New Zealand participates in the Festival
Aotearoa New Zealand participates in the Festival because the event:
supports the protection, maintenance and development of indigenous cultures and artforms in the Pacific,
provides a valuable meeting place for artists in the Pacific to network, exchange ideas, share knowledge, skills,
techniques and information ,
is a forum for indigenous peoples of the Pacific to celebrate and showcase their arts and cultures to an international
audience.
3. THE AOTEAROA DELEGATION
A new process was used to select the Aotearoa delegation to Pacific Arts Festival in 2004.
With an aim of selecting an excellent delegation of gifted and giving ambassadors of Aotearoa arts and culture, Te Waka
Toi and the Pacific Arts Committee of Creative New Zealand invited applications from acknowledged Maori and Aotearoa
based Pacific art leaders as well as emerging and mid-career artists. Due to the high cost of travelling to Belau the
delegation has been limited to 45 Maori and 15 Aotearoa based Pacific artists. These 60 artists will join with the
members of Waihirere to make the Aotearoa delegation to the Festival in 2004.
The works of three Maori artists selected to be included in the Aotearoa delegation (from left to right) Wi Taepa,
Rangi Kipa and Areta Wilkinson.
. Belau and its location in the world
4. FUNDING
Creative New Zealand is contributing $475,000 towards the cost of the New Zealand delegation to the Pacific Arts
Festival.
5. CONCLUSION
Planning to organise Aotearoa’s contribution to the Festival is progressing well. We look forward to the commencement of
the Festival in 8 months time!
AOTEAROA DELEGATION
PACIFIC ARTS FESTIVAL
BELAU 2004
VISUAL ARTS
Areta Wilkinson (Ngai Tahu, Ngäti Irakehu) Auckland
Brett Graham (Tainui, Waikato) Auckland
Reuben Patterson (Ngäti Rangitihi, Tuhoe) Auckland
Megan Tamati-Quennell (Te Atiawa, Ngäti Mutunga, Ngai Tahu) Christchurch
Ngahiraka Mason (Ngai Tuhoe) Auckland
Ani O’Neill (Cook Island)
Sofia Tekela-Smith (Rotuman)
John Pule – (Niuen)
Filipe Tohi – (Tongan)
CARVING
Riki Manuel (Ngäti Porou) Christchurch
Takirirangi Smith (Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngäti Kahungunu, Ngäti Apa, Ngai Tahu) Masterton
Kereti Rautangata (Tainui, Te Arawa) Te Awamutu
Blaine Te Rito (Ngäti Kahungunu, Ngä Puhi, Ngäti Kahu) Auckland
DANCE
Atamira Dance Collective – Dolina Wehipeihana (Ngäti Raukawa) Auckland
Atamira Dance Collective – Louise Potiki Byrant (Kai Tahu) Auckland
Atamira Dance Collective – Justine Hohaia
Atamira Dance Collective – Moss Patterson (Ngäti Tuwharetoa) Auckland
Moana Nepia (Ngäti Porou) Auckland
CLAY
Wi Taepa (Te Arawa) Wanganui
Amorangi Hikuroa (Ngä Puhi, Tainui) Whangarei
TAONGA PUORO
James Webster (Ngäti Mahuta) Waiheke Island
HERITAGE – RONGOA MÄORI
Riki Bennett (Ngäti Pikiao) Auckland
WEAVING
Waikarere Gregory (Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Ngäti Kahu, Ngä Puhi) Waiheke Island
Christina Wirihana (Ngäti Maniapoto-Raukawa, Ngäti Pikiao) Rotorua
Erenora Puketapu Hetet (Te Atiawa) Lower Hutt
Kohai Grace (Ngäti Toarangatira, Te Atiawa, Ngäti Raukawa, Ngäti Porou) Plimmerton
Te Aue Davis (Ngäti Maniapoto) Auckland
Mary Ama (Cook Island)
THEATRE
TAKI RUA – Kahu Hotere (Ngäti Maniapoto, Te Aupouri, Ngäti Wai
TAKI RUA – Riria Hotere (actor)
TAKI RUA – Amanda Hereaka (Artistic Director)
VULA – Nina Nawalowalo (Director) - Fijian
VULA – Fiona Collins (Actor) - Samoan
VULA – Susana Lei’ataua (Actor) - Samoan
VULA – Kasaya Manulevu (Actor) - Fijian
VULA – Tausili Mose (Actor) – Samoan
LITERARY
Darren Joseph (Maniapoto) Palmerston North
MULTI MEDIUM
Rangi Kipa (Taranaki, Te Atiawa, Maniapoto, Ngäti Tama ki te Tauihu
Julie Kipa (Ngaiterangi) Whakatane
Glen Skipper
Jeanette Rata
FASHION
Suzanne Tamaki (Tuhoe, Te Arawa, Maniapoto) Otaki
STORYTELLING
Joe Harawira (Ngäti Maniapoto, Ngai te Rangi, Ngäti Awa) Huntly
MUSIC
Mina Ripia (Ngä Puhi, Ngäti Kahungunu) Porirua
Gaynor Rikihana (Ngäti Raukawa) Porirua
Toni Huata (Ngäti Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata) Wellington
Adrian Tangaroa Wagner (Te Ätiawa, Te Whanau a Apanui, Ngäti Hauiti, Wanganui) Wellington
PACIFIC UNDERGROUND – Posenai Mavaega - Samoan
PACIFIC UNDERGROUND – Tanya Mavaega - Samoan
PACIFIC UNDERGROUND– Andrew Sione
WAKA
Hector Busby (Ngä Puhi) Northland
FILM
Mäori Merchant of Venice: Don Selwyn (Ngäti Kuri, Te Aupouri) Auckland
Documentary on Pasifika Festival 2002 & Savage Symbols: Makerita Urale (Samoan) Auckland
POETRY/MUSIC
Daren Kamali – Fijian
There are still a small number of artists selected to be part of the delegation that have not confirmed their
attendance. Their names will be released at a later date.