Emerging Pacific Artist Award wiiner, David Feauai-Afaese, 2023. Photo: Creative New Zealand
Pasifika artists in New Zealand were recognised for their works and contributions at the annual Arts Pasifika Awards held at the Te Papa Museum in Wellington on Wednesday.
Choreographers, painters, architects, comedians and composers were among dozens of Pasifika artisans attending the awards. This year's event honoured eight Pasifika creatives.
Veteran visual artists Lonnie Hutchinson and Ani O'Neill both won the Senior Pacific Artist
Award, receiving $NZ25,000 each. Hutchinson said the ceremony acknowledged the artistic contributions of Pasifika to New Zealand.
"It's very important because we're part of the fabric of New Zealand society," Hutchinson said.
"We contribute to the community and country, and we represent this country off-shore as well.
"For a celebration like the Pasifika Art Awards, this is the only one there is for Pasifika artists."
Photo: RNZ Pacific/Finau Fonua
The ceremony also recognised traditional artists. Master Traditional Tongan dance tutor Losalia Milika Pusiaki won the Pacific Heritage Artist Award for her efforts to keep New Zealand's Tongan diaspora in touch with their culture and traditions.
In 1996, Pusiaki founded the Fe'unukoula Academy of Tongan Arts, where she and others teach young Kiwis how to perform traditional Tongan dancing. She says the awards honors her tutors and those who came before them.
"I feel this award is mine, it belongs to our ancestors," Pusiaki said.
"I come from a long line of Tongan dance choreographers and composers who worked closely with the late Queen Salote," she said.
"I'm more like the knowledge holder who carries on their work from the past."
Photo: Finau Fonua/RNZ Pacific
Young and upcoming artists were also recognised for their works, such as 26-year-old Violinist Hayden Afele-Nickel, who won the "Iosefa Enari Memorial Award" - an award that Supports the career development of an upcoming artist.
Afele-Nickel performs regularly for the Wellington and Hawkes Bay Orchestra. He is the artistic director and a senior tutor at the award-winning Arohanui Strings, and an active community volunteer - teaching students about classical music.
"I love being a facilitator, I love to create platforms and I love to uplift other people," said Afele-Nickel.
"My dream is to see a brown New Zealand symphony orchestra and to see young Pasifika kids getting into any arts and for me that's specially classical music."
Another young artist, Indie-Rock musician David Feauai-Afaese, who won Emerging Pacific Artist Award, said the event supported artists in their work and served as a platform that to encourage Pasifika artists.
"It's a recognition of something new being contributed to a very large tapestry of pacific art," said Feauai-Afaese.
"I think it's important in the sense that it allows pacific people to celebrate unique identities and expressions," he said.
"A lot of times, creative work can be cruel and isolating so it's great to be here at an event like this and exchange ideas with other artists, and just to see everyone happy smiling."