Kia ora Nik

 

Thank you for your request for information about Pasifika Festival

 

We have attached an information sheet on our processes and requirements
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

 

We will respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no
later than 20 working days after the day your request was received. This
will be by 04.07.2025

 

If you have further questions, please feel free to contact Joanne Kearney
via reply email to [1][ATEED request email] quoting
reference above

 

 

Ngā mihi,

The Privacy and LGOIMA team

Auckland Council

 

 

From: Nik Naidu <[FOI #31224 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 5 June 2025 4:17 pm
To: Official Information <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - We would like to get more
information on the Pasifika Festival

 

Dear Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic
Development Limited),

Could you please let us know how we can get more information on the
Pasifika Festival.

We had requested for information in March 2025 but have not received this.
So we are making this official request : .

- what are the guidelines around who can participate as performers?
- can you supply the guideline documents and minutes of meetings for the
Festival and organising committee?
- how were decisions made on which ‘villages’ and cultures to include, and
where to locate them?
- what criteria was used to choose people to manage the ‘villages’?
- who managed each ‘village, and how were they chosen, and what cultures
did they represent, and how are they representative of their respective
Pasifika community?
- who are the organisers of the actual Festival and/or organising
committee, and how are they representative of our Pacific Island
communities?
- who were the cultural and community representatives that you
collaborated with?
- can you give us a list of which individuals, companies and groups
received money for managing and performing at the 'villages'?

Our concern is that some cultures were excluded, and the Festival was not
inclusive and reflective of those ‘villages’ and our communities.

For example, the Fijian Village stage was sometimes empty or had Hawaiian
performers. Yet there are over 200 Fijian community groups in Tāmaki
Makaurau Auckland that could have provided performances.

And some 'villages' were located in inaccessible and difficult-to-find
locations.

And furthermore, it appears that the awarding of contracts and appointment
of 'village' and cultural managers was not done in a fair and transparent
manner, and there was possible nepotism and cronyism.

This is the response I received from Auckland Unlimited :
"Each village is managed by representatives from that specific culture to
ensure that their presentation remains true to their cultural customs. We
work closely with these representatives to provide support throughout the
festival. The festival is organised by a dedicated committee made up of
individuals with expertise in cultural representation, event management,
and community engagement. This group is committed to ensuring that all
voices are heard and represented.
In response to your inquiry, the guidelines for participation as
performers focus on ensuring cultural representation. The selection
process for the villages included in the festival involves collaboration
with cultural and community representatives. Our objective is to showcase
a broad spectrum of cultures, with decisions based on cultural and
community connections, as well as the cultures the representatives intend
to portray."

Yours faithfully,

Nik Naidu

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