Auckland's Pasifika Festival should follow Te Matatini and Polyfest and ban sugary drinks, a health advocacy group says.
Pasifika, which is held every year in Auckland, is expected to attract thousands of people. Photo: ATEED
The country's biggest celebration of Pacific culture will be held at Western Springs this weekend.
Fighting Sugar in Soft Drinks (FIZZ) founder Gerhard Sundborn, who called for the ban, said 25 percent of a child's sugar intake was from sugary drinks.
"[Pacific people] have the highest burden of disease from unhealthy weight and Type 2 diabetes and we have a lot of dental problems - rotting teeth - in our youth."
The head of major events at the council's economic development agency, Charmaine Ngarimu, said Pasifika organiser Orange Productions was working towards a sugar-free event by encouraging food stallholders to choose low or no sugar drink options.