This weekend Auckland was all about the Pacific Islands. Pasifika, a two-day festival was held in the Western Springs Park.

Creating a parcours throughout the green and around the lake, the Pacific Islands presented themselves with numerous stands, stages, entertainment, food, information, arts and crafts…

Held since 1993 it has become the biggest festival of its kind, attracting nearly a quarter million people each year.

In 2014, you could visit the cultures and traditions of eleven Pacific Island nations, the Cook Islands,Fiji, Hawaii, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa,Tahiti, Tonga, Tokelau, Tuvalu and of course Aotearoa (NZ’s Māori name).

What looked like a grey, possibly rainy day at first turned into a sunny, hot day… sun burn altert! Luckily the first aid tent had sun block!

Again, I saw a number of fruits and dishes I had no idea about… As most of them are islands, a lot of fish dishes are being served, and  meat is also pretty prevalent.

But I sampled a couple of veggie dishes, rice, fruit… and Palusami, the cooked leaves of the Taro root, in coconut milk. Slightly reminiscent of spinach, but with a coco flavor and smoked!

The best thing however were the different presentations and shows. From spoken poetry, reciting Māori history and today’s struggles, to chants and choirs, modern rap, Hawaiian music and dances, Māori warriors, musicians, everything was present.

I know I am speaking only as a naive, uninformed visitor and observer… but you can feel what a proud culture they all share.

Clint gave me a lot of background information, on the similarity of words in the different languages, on cultures and traditions… you can feel it is all a similar vibe, even though the cultures do have their differences.

It was maybe best visible between the Hawaiian site, where the slow soft guitar player and his dancing wife put you in a mellow trance, to the Māori warrior dances in Aotearoa. Those guys can scare you, and the girls know their threatening poses, too.

It is a great festival and definitely worth a visit when you’re in Auckland at that time of year.

I am eager to go to the Museum and learn more, or drive up to Waitangi (where the famous Treaty was signed between the UK and Māori chiefs) to learn more about the colonial period.