Music Industry News

Pasifika Festivals Aotearoa Inc. (PFA Inc) launches as the first national body dedicated to connecting, resourcing, and championing Pacific-led festivals throughout the country.

The website – live since Monday 29 June – establishes a dedicated online hub for more than 40 active Pacific-led festivals across Aotearoa and officially marks the public launch of PFA Inc, New Zealand’s only national organisation for Pacific festivals.

The launch coincides with Matariki, reflecting shared values of community and cultural celebration. It was marked by an online gathering of festival leaders who celebrated with karakia, prayer, and an exclusive website tour.

Aotearoa is home to more than 40 active Pacific-led festivals — from the iconic ASB Polyfest and Kia Mau Festival, a biennial celebration of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Arts, to regional events including Pasifika Fusion in Palmerston North. Together, these festivals engage thousands of performers, hundreds of volunteers, and attract more than one million audience members every year. PFA Inc brings the Pacific festival ecosystem together.

The website features a festival directory linking to more than 40 Pacific festival profiles, alongside practical resources, professional development opportunities, and sector information designed to build long-term capability across the ecosystem.

“Large and small, festivals across Aotearoa are beacons for society. They elevate and uplift our people throughout the year, bringing together everyone, from our mokopuna to our matua. When our cultures, languages and identities are celebrated and shared, everyone benefits.” — Pip Laufiso, Chairperson, Pasifika Festivals Aotearoa Inc and Otago Polyfest General Manager

“We want Pasifika Fusion to be successful and continue long beyond us. For me, PFA Inc is our future — to share, support, and resource each other. It’s not about competing but supporting those on the stage and behind the scenes, too.” — Epenesa Faaiuaso, PFA Inc Leadership Team member and Pasifika Fusion | Secondary School Pacific Festival Leader

Upcoming festivals featured on the website:

● Pasifika Fusion | Secondary School Pacific Festival — Palmerston North, 1–2 July
● Pasifika Fusion Legacy — Palmerston North, 14 August
● Whau Pasifika Festival — West Auckland, 2–11 July (multidisciplinary arts)
● Pacific Dance Festival presents Matariki Celebration of Kapa Haka, Music & Dance — Kerikeri, 12 July
● Tu Tagata Secondary Schools Poly Festival — Wellington, 24 July
● Te Kiwa Nui — Wellington, 3–7 August
● Sau Ia Fest — Christchurch, 6 August

Check out all things Pasifika Festivals Aotearoa Inc. below:
Website
Instagram
Facebook

PFA Inc is funded by Creative New Zealand, was established in 2024, and builds on the legacy of the Pacific Festivals Initiative (PFI) — a three-year programme from 2020 to 2023 that supported Pacific festivals facing financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, PFA Inc continues that momentum by strengthening capability, fostering collaboration, and ensuring Pacific festivals thrive for generations to come.