Response FINAL Naidu 6341.pdf

  16 July 2025
Official information request 8140016341
(Please quote this in any correspondence)

Nic Naidu
By email: [FYI request #31224 email]

Tēnā koe

Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA)
Pasifika Festival

Thank you for your information request dated 27 May, for information related to the Pasifika
Festival. The specific details of your requests and our responses are below.

what are the guidelines around who can participate as performers?

Performers are chosen by the community programme leaders of each village/nation. For
example, the Samoan programmer programmes the Samoan stage with appropriate
performers.

Once the performers are chosen, a Letter of Agreement (LOA) is signed by each village
programmer. A LOA example is attached. Some information has been withheld by redaction
for the following reasons -
•  to protect the privacy of natural persons s(7)(2)(a) - LGOIMA s7(2)(a), and
•  because releasing the information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the
commercial position of the person who is the subject of the information - S7(2)(b)(ii)

can you supply the guideline documents and minutes of meetings for the Festival
and organising committee?

Please see the attachments of minutes and for performance list. Some information has been
withheld by redaction for the following reasons –
•  to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank
expression of opinions by, between or to members, officers or employees of a local
authority in the course of their duty - s7(2)(f)(i) LGOIMA, and
•  to protect the privacy of natural persons s(7)(2)(a) LGOIMA.

For the specific guideline document please see the LOA attachment.

Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 |  aucklandcouncil.govt.nz  | Ph 09 301 0101

how were decisions made on which ‘villages’ and cultures to include, and where
to locate them?

The venue, Western Springs is a beautiful venue but comes with limitations. The undulating
nature of the Southern side of the lake. The size of the venue also makes it one of the
largest venues we work with, providing enough space for each of the eight village stages and
11 Pasifika nations represented at the festival.

Locations of each stage and their planning are mapped out and discussed months in
advance of the festival. This planning takes into consideration all of the key learnings from
the previous year. The planning and positioning of all infrastructure is discussed and
negotiated with the project team and representatives of the Pasifika Festival Village
Charitable Trust (PFVCT). The draft plans are then presented to the PFVCT trustees in
separate meetings for final discussion and approval. A final viewing of each stage is
conducted at the time of the event build, with a planned site visit of the Trustees to view
and approve each stage position as a final sign off.

what criteria was used to choose people to manage the ‘villages’?

The PFVCT trustees, select people from their communities to manage the stages at each
village. The people chosen are representatives from each village/nation. For example, the
Samoa stage, is managed by Samoans and programmed by a Samoan. This is the approach
for each village stage and zone with the exception of Fale Pasifika which involves
representatives from Tokelau, Kiribati, Hawaii and Tahiti.
Overall management of the festival infrastructure for each village and stage, is managed by
Tataki Auckland Unlimited (TAU).

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?

There are 11 villages (Samoa, Aotearoa, Tuvalu, Fiji, Fale Pasifika (Tokelau, Kiribati, Hawaii
and Tahiti), Tonga, Niue and Cook Islands. Each village is managed by a Village Cultural
Advisor (VCA) who also sits as a PFVCT trustee. Most of the cultural activities are reflected
through music, singing and dancing. The VCAs are selected by the PFVCT trustees for a
non-fixed term period until their retirement, passing or change in circumstances. The VCAs
are usually well known in their own community and they are also put forward by former
VCAs. The VCA is responsible for vetting the various groups that are coming to perform on
their stage.

who are the organisers of the actual Festival and/or organising committee, and
how are they representative of our Pacific Island communities?

TAU’s Major Event Delivery team headed by the Group Manager Jep Savali of Samoan
descent, leads the planning and delivery of the Pasifika Festival. Members of the wider TAU
project team are of Māori, Samoan, Chinese, Sri Lanka and Pākeha descent. The team is
representative of the diversity of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, with a Pacific person leading
and guiding the team.

Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 |  aucklandcouncil.govt.nz  | Ph 09 301 0101

Members of the PFVCT also partake in the project team meetings and planning process
discussions leading up to the delivery of the festival.

who were the cultural and community representatives that you collaborated
with?

The following provides an example of the engagement and collaboration for Fale Pasifika:

As the VCA for Tahiti - the smallest village at the Pasifika festival for the 2025 festival
involves
-  collaboration with the local Tahitian community representatives from the registered
society Mā'ohi Nui I Aotearoa; a Tahitian dance teacher Ahuuranui; a cultural
practitioner and musician Tunui Tiafariu who led some of our cultural activities
-  outreach to cultural groups and musicians from Tahiti and managed to secure a solo
singer Aremistic and to a Kanak artist Gulaan to share to perform on the Tahitian
stage. From previous years, 80 per cent of the groups that performed on the
Tahitian stage are respected and well known for their involvement in the world of
Mā'ohi culture and its expansion internationally.
-  working closely with PFVCT and the TAU Major Events team on the planning and
delivery arrangement for the festival.

can you give us a list of which individuals, companies and groups received money for
managing and performing at the 'villages'?

Please find attached a list of performers, performing groups and MCs that participated in
Pasifika Festival 2025.

The decision by Auckland Council to release the information contained in this response was
made by Annie Dundas, Destination, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.

You have the right to complain to the Ombudsman if you believe we have not responded
appropriately to your request. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

If you have any questions, please contact on 09 301 0101 or at –
[email address]

Ngā mihi

Joanne Kearney
Senior Business Partner, Privacy & Official Information
Te Wheako ā-Kirihoko me ngā Ratonga Matihiko | Customer Experience & Digital
Services
Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 |  aucklandcouncil.govt.nz  | Ph 09 301 0101