In light of recent events, the last day of Polyfest and the whole of the Pasifika Festival was cancelled.
Statement from Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development’s General Manager Destination, Steve Armitage:
“Given the need to prioritise police resourcing following the terrible events in Christchurch, we have today decided to cancel the Pasifika Festival for the coming weekend, 23 and 24 March.
Initial discussions with New Zealand Police gave us hope that through the festival we would be able to bring Auckland’s communities together at this time of national mourning.
However, given the unprecedented nature of what has happened, we appreciate and respect that the New Zealand Police must prioritise resourcing to ensure the safety of all our communities across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Pasifika Festival will return bigger and brighter than ever in 2020.”
Many were disappointed with the outcome, but understood ATEED’s position on the matter. However, stall holders who had spent months preparing for these events, have been left without support and with beautiful products they intended to sell at these festivals.
To support those stall holders who had invested in traveling here from our beautiful Cook Islands, we are hosting a mini pop-up at CIDANZ today and tomorrow. This is the opportunity for us to still get our Pareu’s, Eei Katu’s, Drums and Ukes all the way from the Cook Islands. Which leaves the questions, when and where?
When: 21 – 22 March, 2019, midday to 8.30pm
Where: CIDANZ HQ, 283 – 289 Kirkbride Road, Mangere.