Sights and sounds of the Pacific

KELLY HODEL/Waikato Times

ON SHOW: Kiribati performer Nikora Maibibi, 10, in action at Saturday's Waikato Nesian Festival.

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Waikato's Pacific community celebrated on Saturday with the first Waikato Nesian Festival.

The festival, which took place at Hamilton's Claudelands Park, saw more than 700 people enjoy an array of live performances and Pacific-orientated stalls.

More than 20 groups took to the stage, with performances ranging from traditional Tongan dances to hip hop performances by Hamilton urban dance group Kaotic Krew.

Event organiser Uieta Kaufasi highlighted a large group dance performance, involving 40 adults and children from Hamilton's Kiribati Islands community, as one of the memorable moments of the six hour event.

Ms Kaufasi said she was "overwhelmed" with the support the festival received from Waikato's Pacific community.

The festival was the result of a community development project from Hamilton's K'Aute Pasifika Trust.

"We have a diverse Pacific community (in the Waikato) ... and are trying to make a sustainable event for our community," Ms Kaufasi said.

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