The sights, sounds and flavours of the Pacific will return to Tauranga Moana this October, with Pasifika in the Bay bringing a day of culture, connection and celebration to Tauranga Girls’ College.
Held on Saturday 31 October, the festival will feature Pacific performances, live music, authentic kai, arts and crafts, and hands-on activities for tamariki and whānau. A public pōwhiri will begin the day at 9:00am, with performances commencing at 10:00am.
Around 40 performing groups are expected to take part, including early childhood, primary, intermediate, secondary school and community groups from across the Bay of Plenty. New performers this year include groups from Aquinas College and Taumata Primary School, while Rotorua Girls’ High School and Rotorua Boys’ High School will return to the festival.
Event Organiser Melanie Cottingham says the festival is the only event of its kind in Tauranga Moana and holds an important place in the local Pacific community.
“It’s like a big family reunion and an escape to the Pacific,” says Melanie. “You see friendly faces, hear welcoming music, smell amazing food and see bright colours everywhere. It is a place where families can come together, celebrate their cultures and proudly watch their children perform on stage.”
Alongside the performances, visitors can explore food, arts and craft stalls and take part in activities inspired by Pacific life and culture. These will include robotics, coconut scraping, stilt racing, coconut throwing, Niuean sika (like javelin throwing) and making ula lole (lollie lei’s).
The festival’s focus on tamariki and rangatahi reaches well beyond event day. Pasifika in the Bay Trust works with schools throughout the year to support teachers, strengthen Pacific learning opportunities and make Pacific identities, languages and cultures more visible in education.
“It takes a village to raise our children, and it takes a village to celebrate their identities, languages and cultures,” says Melanie. “When young people see their culture valued at school and in the wider community, it helps them feel supported, connected and proud of who they are.”
The event has grown steadily since it began in 2015, when a group of local Pacific teachers came together to create a place where students could share their cultures publicly. Organisers have since seen former performers return with their own young families, showing the festival’s growing intergenerational impact.
The Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund has supported this year’s event. The Fund is a partnership between Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, Tauranga City Council, Manawa Trust (formerly TECT Community Trust), and Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale says the festival gives local people an opportunity to experience and learn about the many Pacific cultures that are part of Tauranga Moana.
“Pasifika in the Bay is a welcoming event that brings people together through performance, food and shared experiences. It gives our Pacific communities a place to celebrate their cultures proudly, while inviting the wider community to come along, take part and learn more about the people and traditions that enrich our city.”
Acorn Foundation Chief Executive Lori Luke says supporting events like Pasifika in the Bay helps strengthen belonging and community connection.
“Community events create opportunities for people to see themselves, their families and their cultures reflected in the place they call home. Pasifika in the Bay is a wonderful example of an event that celebrates identity, supports young people and welcomes the whole community to share in the experience.”
Locals are encouraged to bring their whānau and friends, pack a picnic blanket, hat, sunscreen and drink bottle, and make a day of it. Visitors should also bring cash, although some stallholders may offer EFTPOS or bank transfer options.
“Come along and learn about the Pacific islands in our backyard,” says Melanie. “We are connected by the ocean, and this festival is an opportunity to build deeper understanding of the distinct languages, people and cultures of the Pacific.”
