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This story was originally published on the Creative New Zealand page.
Aotearoa New Zealand, will be represented by 85 artists and performers at the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts (FestPAC), to be held in Honolulu, Hawai’i, in June 2024. The delegation’s expertise spans 11 art forms, representing various iwi from across the country and six Pacific nations. New Zealand is one of 28 Pacific nations participating in FestPAC.
New Zealand’s participation aligns with its commitment to address critical issues, advance CITES, safeguard endangered art forms, promote career growth for artists, strengthen partnerships, address climate change, and amplify youth voices. This delegation, managed by Creative New Zealand/Toi Aotearoa, promises to showcase the artistic heritage of Aotearoa and the Pacific on a global stage.
“We’re excited about the delegation that will showcase ngā toi Māori and contemporary Pacific art in Aotearoa to the world at FestPAC 2024,” says Bonita Bigham, Co-Head of Delegation and Co-Chair of the Arts Council’s Kōmiti Māori. Bonita shares the Head of Delegation role with Kōmiti Māori Co-Chair Kura Moeahu.
FestPAC is the world’s largest celebration of indigenous Pacific Islanders, drawing artists, cultural practitioners, scholars, and officials from member nations of the Pacific community. It has been running since 1972, initiated by indigenous leaders and communities around Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, to revitalise traditional art practices through cultural exchange.
The theme for FestPAC is ‘Regenerating Oceania Ho’oulu Lāhui’, as set by Kānaka Māoli hosts in Hawai’i. Hawai’i was selected to host the event in 2020, but the Covid pandemic saw its postponement. The recent catastrophic fires on the island of Maui were cause for further reflection. However, Aotearoa is responding to a strong call from Kānaka Māoli to be still present.
The vision for the New Zealand delegation focuses on uniting treasures and people to Hawaiki –’ He Herenga Kura, He Herenga Tāngata ki Hawaiki’. Its theme, ‘Taku Hoe’, aims to unite talent and mana across the ocean as paddlers, navigators, and guardians of indigenous knowledge. The Waka ceremony that opens the festival and the Youth Ambassador Leadership programme shapes the delegation.
“We’ve selected two rangatahi as our youth ambassadors, both remarkable young people who are already making their mark as artists and leaders,” said Kura Moeahu. “As well as looking back across our time-honoured Pacific ways of being, FestPAC also looks toward a sustainable future. The Youth Ambassador programme helps our rangatahi make connections as they face the challenges to come.”
Māori Performing Arts will take centre stage at the event, with Te Whānau-ā-Apanui being the current winners of Te Matatini; the full kapa will engage in various festival-aligned events and New Zealand Arts delegation outcomes.
Traditional waka practices will play a significant role in the festival. The host country, led by Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, works with local communities in Hawai’i who lost their waka due to the Maui fires.
Other traditional Māori arts represented in the delegation include tāonga pūoro (musical instruments), raranga (weaving), whaikairo (carving), uku (pottery), and tā moko.
The delegation's contemporary Māori and Pacific artists exemplify excellence in many forms, including theatre, dance, literature, visual arts, and multi-disciplinary arts.
New Zealand has been represented at each of the four-yearl festivals since the inaugural event in 1972 and hosted in 1976. The 2024 event marks the first since it was hosted by Guam in 2016.
Creative New Zealand supports the delegation with travel and living costs while in Hawai’i and provides some project funding.
