10 Mar 2013

Pasifika Festival attracts record crowd

7:46 am on 10 March 2013

The Pasifika Festival in Auckland has attracted record crowds with about 100,000 people attending this year's extended event.

The festival includes 1500 performers, authentic foods, live tattooing and crafts from 10 Pacific nations.

Festival producer Stan Wolfgramm says Saturday's crowd was much bigger than last year's, and it has been hugely successful.

For the first time in 21 years the event continues into Sunday. A family day is being held starting with a combined church service of Pacific choirs and congregations.

Service organiser Reverend Uesifili Unasa said extending the festival to Sunday allows Aucklanders to share church and Christian traditions which are an important part of Pacific cultural life.