Organisers of the Pasifika Fusion Festival have promised a bigger and more exciting event in years to come after another well-attended extravaganza in Whangarei.
At least 5000 people from all walks of life turned up at the Hihiaua Peninsula on Saturday to enjoy the best of Pacific art and craft, food and cultural performances.
Organised by the Northland Pacific Islands Charitable Trust, the festival started with a traditional kava ceremony performed by the local Fijian community and a Maori welcome before being officially opened by Whangarei mayor Sheryl Mai.
Pacific Peoples' Minister Alfred Ngaro was present at the kava ceremony.
Among those who performed on stage were a group of women fruit pickers from Kiribati who live in Kerikeri and dancers from the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Hawaii, and Fiji.