Thirty years of Pacific excellence in the arts is being celebrated as Creative New Zealand honours the artists, performers and cultural practitioners shaping Aotearoa and the world.

The 30th annual Arts Pasifika Awards ceremony was held in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, on Thursday 22 October, bringing together this year's recipients to celebrate their contributions to Pacific arts and culture.

Among this year's award winners are internationally acclaimed dance company The Black Grace Trust, comedian and actor Tofiga Fepulea'i, multidisciplinary artist Julia Mage’au Gray and master artist and traditional musician Tu'ifonualava Kaivelata.

Manuha’apai Vaeatangitau

Auckland-based interdisciplinary artist Manuha’apai Vaeatangitau has received the Emerging Pacific Artist Award, recognising an emerging talent in the Pacific arts community.

The award continues Creative New Zealand's support for the next generation of Pacific artists and their developing creative practices.

Julia Mage’au Gray

Multidisciplinary artist and cultural practitioner Julia Mage’au Gray has received the Senior Pacific Artist Award, recognising her longstanding commitment to her arts practice in Aotearoa, the Pacific Islands and around the world.…more

Samoan-born actor, director and producer Anapela Polata’ivao has been named a 2026 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureate, recognising her outstanding contribution to theatre and the arts in Aotearoa New Zealand.

A trailblazer for Pacific storytelling, Anapela has spent more than three decades bringing Pacific voices and stories to the stage and screen. As co-founder of Kila Kokonut Krew, she has helped create space for Pacific artists and stories to be seen and heard, making a lasting impact on the arts both in New Zealand and internationally.

She also made history as the first Sāmoan woman to direct a show off-Broadway with 'Wild Dogs Under My Skirt'. More recently, audiences have celebrated her leading performance in the hit film 'Tinā'. Anapela is one of eight artists recognised in the 2026 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureate Awards. She receives the Sir Roger Hall Theatre Award. Watch as we celebrate Anapela Polata’ivao’s achievements and the impact of Pacific artists on Aotearoa’s creative landscape.

There is something interesting that happens when you put 24 Moana Oceania island nations into one room.

At first, you notice the differences - different languages, objects, names for things. Different relationships to land and ocean. Different ways knowledge has been carried, practised and passed between generations.

Then you stay a little longer and you listen, you observe, and slowly the relationships begin to appear.

That was one of the ideas that sat with Toluma'anave Barbara Makuati-Afitu and Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai as they developed Our Ocean of Islands, the new Indigenous-led exhibition at Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa New Zealand Maritime Museum.

The exhibition has been more than three years in the making, built through relationships and conversations with knowledge holders from across 24 Moana Oceania island nations.…more

“Pacific Arts includes our whole village.”

Those words came to life in Auckland last Friday, as artists, cultural leaders, and community members from across Aotearoa gathered for the first-ever Wantok Stori Miting - Aucklands first Melanesian focused arts meeting. 

Held as part of Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Strategy 2023–2028, the Miting marked the launch of the Melanesian Arts Development Initiative, a new chapter in strengthening the visibility and representation of Melanesian creatives in Aotearoa’s wider Pacific arts landscape.

Makerita Urale, Senior Manager Pacific Arts at Creative New Zealand, said:
“The miting will serve as space to share stories, celebrate creativity, and strengthen connections across the Melanesian arts community... The initiative aims to strategically focus on strengthening the Melanesian arts community and the visibility of their diverse voices within the wider Pacific arts ecosystem in Aotearoa.”

“These miting are important because they create opportunities for Melanesian creatives to come together and exchange ideas in a way that strengthens their collective presence,” she said.…more

“A chief is to lead in every aspect, to help his people not just by words but by actually delivering what they have promised and I will try with all my might and with all I have to lead you all.”

The installation of the Turaga na Tui Nayau, Sau ni Vanua o Lau and Tui Lau Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara was a fusion and display of culture and tradition.

Na ‘Meke Taki Ni Yaqona VakaTuraga’

This week has witnessed the revival of traditions and customs that, until now, lived only in the stories shared by our elders. Among the most remarkable was the Meke Taki Ni Yaqona Vakaturaga, a traditional kava ceremony dance that has not been performed in decades. The last known documentation of this dance dates back to 1990, making its reappearance a moment of cultural resurgence. This sacred tradition has been brought back to life, offering a rare glimpse into our ancestral heritage.…more

The World Dance Crew Championship (WDCC) kicks off on today (Monday, 14 April)! WDCC brings together elite dance crews from across New Zealand and around the world for a week of high-energy competition, global talent, and school holiday excitement at Due Drop Events Centre, Manukau.

For dancers like Joseph 'Asi, WDCC isn’t just a competition—it’s a platform to showcase Aotearoa’s world-class talent and to connect a vibrant, diverse community through the universal language of dance. 

Originally from Wellington and now based in Auckland, Joseph has dedicated his life to dance, training extensively in Hip Hop, Commercial, and Contemporary styles from the age of 10. His journey has seen him work, train, and perform with some of Aotearoa’s leading choreographers and studios. Joseph has also recently taken his training overseas by attending dance camps, programmes, and classes in Los Angeles, further enhancing his knowledge and skill.

Joseph’s own competitive experience is extensive. He has performed and choreographed on both national and international stages, proving his ability to compete at the highest levels.…more

Cook Islands Stage

Division 3

1st Auckland Girls' Grammar School
2nd Waitakere College
3rd Edgewater College

Division 2

1st Otahuhu College

Division 1

Special Awards

Rakei (Costume)

1st= Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
1st= Tamaki College
2nd Mangere College
3rd Tangaroa College

Best Composition

1st Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
2nd Mangere College
3rd Tamaki College

Best Drummers

1st Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
2nd Tamaki College
3rd Manurewa High School

Pere Pere Tane

1st Manurewa High School
2nd Tamaki College
3rd Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate

Pere Pere Vaine

1st Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
2nd Manurewa High School
3rd= Tamaki College
3rd= Papatoetoe High School

Competition Categories

Rangatira Tane/Vaine

1st Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
2nd Tangaroa College
3rd Tamaki College

Imene Tuki/Reo Metua

1st Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
2nd Mangere College
3rd Tamaki College

Ute

1st Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
2nd= Mangere College
2nd= Tangaroa College
3rd Tamaki College

Tua Peu Tupuna

1st Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
2nd Mangere College
3rd Manurewa High School

Kapa Rima

1st Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
2nd Mangere College
3rd Tamaki College

Ura Pa'u

1st= Sir Edmund Hillary…more

ASB Polyfests 50th Event is going down this weeek & there are a few things you should know going into this year!

TICKETS

• Buy tickets online to avoid long queues
• Online tickets $7.50, Gate Sales $10 
• There will be cash and eftpos available at the gates
• Children under are FREE and require no tickets

LIVESTREAM

• ASB Polyfest is the OFFICIAL and ONLY Livestream Provider for 2025
• You must pay to watch the livestream
• You must create a login and sign in when you have access to the website here

SCHEDULES

• Full Schedules for speeches and performances for all stages are available online here

CONDITIONS

• Smoke free, Vape free, Drug free event
• All bags will be checked at the gate
• Please leave your cigarettes and vapes at home if you do not want them confiscated by security

STALLS 

• There are over 100 stalls this year including food, drink, arts n crafts, education, health and social services providers
• Please bring cash as some stalls may not have eftpos.

Food/Drink

• You may bring your own packed lunch and drinks to Polyfest.…more

Port Moresby Fasion Week is set to make a return April 17-19 at the bustling Vision City Mega Mall!

Featured in the official PNG Fashion Week 2025 calendar, this year's event will certainly be an exhilarating showcase of local talents and international trends with six fashion/product runways throughout the three-day affair.

For eight good years running, the schedule of Port Moresby Fashion Week stands certainly as the pillar of Papua New Guinea's fashion industry by providing an outstanding platform for designers, models, and retailers to show their works to a growing audience.

It has developed into not only the feature of the calendar for PNG Fashion Week but also grows as a lighthouse to the fashion ardent here and from abroad, giving local talents international exposure and opportunity.

Taking place right at the Vision City Mega Mall, the region's popular shopping destination, the event is expected to attract over 20,000 shoppers each day, with foot traffic potentially increasing to 40,000 during the week of fashion itself.…more

🌺✨ Join us on the blue carpet for the highly anticipated premiere of Moana 2!  Te Reo🎥🌊

In this video, we chat with the cast, crew, and special guests about the magic behind bringing this Polynesian adventure to life. From behind-the-scenes stories to heartfelt moments of cultural pride, you won’t want to miss what the stars have to say.

Get ready to dive into the world of Moana once again as we celebrate its legacy, stunning visuals, and unforgettable music. 🌀🎶

🎤 Featuring interviews with:
🌟 The voices of Moana, Maui, and new characters
🌟 Directors and producers sharing what’s new this time around
🌟 Polynesian cultural consultants on how the film honors Pacific traditions

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Moana 2 content and your chance to relive the magic of the blue carpet! 💙✨ #Moana2 #BlueCarpet #PolynesianPride