Waikato Pasifika Nesian Festival 2017
Posted 13/12/2017
We did it again Hamilton. Another Waikato Pasifika Nesian Festival and the 6th festival event all done and dusted. The engagement from our wonderful communities, stall holders, performers, and volunteers was a tremendous success. We also acknowledge the presence of our Hamilton City Mayor, Hon. Andrew King as one of our guest speaker on the day together with K’aute Pasifika Trust Chairperson Mr. Edgar Wilson. Representatives from the Pacific communities as well as leaders from the Waikato region were there to witness the celebration of the diverse Pacific cultures present in Hamilton.
Nesian Festival is an event that is hosted every 2nd year. Due to popularity statuses and great feedback from our Pasifika communities in the previous festival, it was decided that Nesian Festival will now be hosted every year. It is our aim to engage and bring our Pasifika communities together to learn and share cultural values, traditional and to be reminded of who we are and how proud we are as Pasifika people.
Overall this year’s event was a great success with Nesian Festival 2017 theme “Phresh Minds”. Last year we emphasized on “Get Active” physically and being reminded of the importance of doing exercise at least 30 minutes a day. However, in order for our body to be physically fit, we must train ourselves to be strong mentally and emotionally. This year the attention was drawn towards mental health wellness. We are to encourage one another that the key to wellness is to keep growing in all areas of life- mental, emotional, spiritual, as well as physical.
Our communities played a huge role in making Waikato Pasifika Nesian festival a day to remember. In future festivals, the committee is looking forward to engaging our Pasifika families in coming together to be part of this unique event. Bring on Waikato Pasifika Nesian Festival 2018.
