PARRIS GOEBEL accepts inaugural Pacific Legacy Award
Choreographer, dancer and Pacific business woman Parris Goebel has accepted the inaugural Pacific Business Trust Legacy
Award at the 2018 National Pacific Business Trust Awards held on Friday 22 June 2018 at Eden Park, ensuring a benchmark
of international significance has been created.
The Park Legacy Award was launched last night (Friday 22 June) at the 11th National Pacific Business Trust Awards, held
at the Eden Park Function Centre.
It acknowledges Pacific business leaders and businesses that have been consistently successful over a number of years.
Parris Goebel could not be a more worthy recipient with her huge contributions to the arts, business, youth and the
Pacific community, and she has created a legacy for Pacific people, young woman in particular.
The award was presented by Hon. Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Social Development and Disability Issues, Associate
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage and Pacific Peoples.
“This recipient has already made her mark on the global stage of her chosen profession. We could not think of a better
Pacific person to honour as the inaugural recipient,” said Minister Sepuloni.
Accepting her award, Parris said “this is special because it’s being acknowledged by my people and for my culture. It’s
important because it made me who I am, and the Polynesian traditions are reasons I stood out in the industry.”
Parris tweeted: “What an amazing night!! Tonight I was awarded the Pacific Legacy award at the Pacific Business Awards.
I couldn’t help but cry as they announced my name and the whole room stood up. This means the world to me to be
acknowledged by my people. Proud Polynesian thank you so much.”
Parris Goebel and awards won by her Palace studio in Penrose, Auckland have been recognised globally over the past
decade. They include eight world championship titles since 2009, World Female Choreographer of the Year and Best Live
Performance.
She has been celebrated nationally with a Special Recognition from Pacific Arts by Creative New Zealand, NZ Herald
Entertainer of the Year, NZ Arts Foundation New Generation Award and a KEA World Class NZ Award for her contribution to
dance. As a dancer and sought-after choreographer, Parris has a huge following and is recognised globally.
The National Pacific Business Trust legacy award will not necessarily be presented at every awards evening, however a
key focus of the 2018 awards was to ensure its success by aligning it to PBT’s strategic direction of transforming
innovation into commercial success with a focus on the future.
This includes showcasing sectors such as tech and social enterprise through innovation, strategic planning and
meaningful partnerships.
ENDS