Date: 15 May 2008
Creative New Zealand announces delegation to attend 10th Festival of Pacific Arts
Creative New Zealand has selected a combination of accomplished and emerging artists from within the Maori and New
Zealand based Pacific communities to attend the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts in Pago Pago, American Samoa in July 2008.
The delegation of 120 artists (including Whangara-mai-Tawhiti, the 2007 winners of Te Matatini the national kapa haka
competition) will represent customary and contemporary arts from Aotearoa alongside the other 26 participating Pacific
nations.
The festival is recognised as the premier event for enhancing regional relations and preservation of the Pacific's
cultural heritage. Artists were invited to submit expressions of interest to participate in the delegation.
Chair of Te Waka Toi, the Maori arts board of Creative New Zealand, Dr Ngahuia Te Awekotuku says the delegation is a
unique opportunity for artists to showcase their work, network with Pacific artists from different countries and
represesent Aotearoa.
"For the Maori artists attending the Festival of Pacific Arts, this is an opportunity to represent the uniqueness of the
indigenous culture of Aotearoa. It is a wonderful forum to engage with other peoples of the Pacific and represent our
country with pride".
Pele Walker, Chair of the Pacific Arts Committee of Creative New Zealand concurred, "The chance to participate in the
Aotearoa delegation attending the festival comes around only once every four years, so it is a very special opportunity
for artists. For the Pacific artists, both those who have immigrated to New Zealand and those born here, the festival
presents a chance to reconnect with their Pacific origins while representing new perspectives that are informed by
living in New Zealand."
The artists attending the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts in Pago Pago, American Samoa 20 July-2 August 2008 are:
VISUAL ARTS
1. Cynthia Kapene (Te Arawa) Ohope, Bay of Plenty 2. Natalie Couch (Ngati Tuwharetoa) Auckland 3. Cerrisse
Fiahau Palalagi ( Niue, Tuapa Te Arawa, Ngaiterangi) Auckland 4. Fillipe Tohi (Tonga) Auckland 5. Graham
Fletcher (Samoa) Auckland 6. Loretta Moauli Young (Samoa) Auckland 7. Stone Maka (Tonga) Christchurch
CARVING
8. Netane Wiki Singh-Lagah (TÅ«hoe, Ngati Awa, Ngati Uenuku Kopako) Rotorua 9. Whiu Waata ( Ngapuhi) Kaikohe
10. Te Warahi Hetaraka (Ngapuhi) Whangarei 11. James Rickard (Ngati Koate, Ngati Hinerupe) Rotorua 12. Johnny
Penisula (Samoa) Invercargill
CERAMICS
13. Manos Nathan (Ngapuhi) Dargaville 14. Colleen Urlich (Ngapuhi) Dargaville 15. Carla Ruka (Ngapuhi, Ngati
Whatua) Auckland
TAONGA PUORO
16. James Webster (Ngati Mahuta) Whitianga 17. Horomona Horo (Ngapuhi, Ngati Porou, Taranaki) Rotorua
WEAVING
18. Henni Kerekere (Ngati Oneone) Huntly 19. Jessica Paraone (Ngapuhi) Rotorua 20. Troy Joshua Gardiner
(Ngati Kahungunu) Hawkes Bay 21. Misa Emma Kesha (Samoa) Dunedin
THEATRE
22. Taki Rua Paolo Rotondo (Italian New Zealander) 23. Taki Rua Rob Mokaraka (Ngapuhi, Tuhoe) 24. Taki Rua
Maaka Pohatu (Ngai Tamanuhiri/ Ngati Apa, Ngati Porou, Ngati Tuwharetoa) 25. Dianna Fuemana (American Samoa, Niue)
Auckland
MULTIMEDIA
26. Julie Kipa (Ngaiterangi, Ngai Tuwhiwhia) Ohope, Bay of Plenty 27. Janet Lilo (Samoa, Niue, Ngapuhi)
Auckland 28. Tuafale Tanoai (Samoa) Auckland 29. Michel Tuffery (Samoan, Rarotonga, Tahitian)
FASHION
30. Suzanne Tamaki (Maniapoto, Hikairo, Tuhoe, Te Arawa) Otaki
STORYTELLING
31. Joanne Tito (Taranaki, Tuhourangi, Ngati Waihiao, Ngati Pikiao) Gisborne 32. Joe Harawira (Ngaiterangi, Ngati
Awa, Ngati Maniapoto) Huntly 33. Robert Ruha (Ngati Porou, Te Whanau-a-Apanui) Auckland
MUSIC
34. Dam Native - Daniel Haimoana (Ngati Kahunungu) Auckland 35. Toni Huata (Ngati Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata)
Wellington 36. Dr Te Ahukaramu Charles Royal (Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Tanatera, Ngapuhi) Wellington 37. Kura Te Ua
(Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Te Whakatohea, Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri) 38. Pacific Underground Pos Mavaega (Samoan)
Christchurch 39. Pacific Underground Tanya Muagututi'a (Samoan) Christchurch 40. Pacific Underground Andrew Sione
(Samoan) Christchurch 41. King Kapisi Bill Urale (Samoa) Auckland 42. Teaukura A Upu Chuck Upu (Cook Islands)
Auckland 43. Teremoana Rapley (Cook Islands) Auckland
FILM
44. Rawiri Paratene (Te Arawa, Ngapuhi) Auckland 45. Iosefa Enari (Samoa) Auckland
MOKO
46. Turumakina Duley (Ngati Awa, Tuhoe, Ngaiterangi) Auckland 47. Mark Kopua (Ngati Ira, Te Aitanga a Hauiti,
Ngati Porou) Tologa Bay 48. Derek Lardelli (Ngati Porou - Rongowhakaata, Ngati Kanohi (Ngai Te Riwai), Ngati Kaipoho
(Ngai Te Aweawe) Whangara
KAPA HAKA Te Whangara Mai Tawhiti 40 artists
ENDS