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Eda Tang/Stuff
Mama Tukua Turia at Pasifika 2023
Tāmaki Makaurau’s iconic Pasifika Festival celebrates the cultures of many Pacific Island nations, a vibrant weekend of entertainment, performance, food, art and community.
Held at Western Springs Park and returning after a three-year hiatus, this weekend’s festival was a special occasion for many – and that meant a special outfit was called for. Pou Tiaki reporter Eda Tang spoke to some of those who went along about their style.
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Verotia Tetevano
Verotia wears a structured white blouse with patterned mustard pants and green sandals. She gets her style inspiration from her mum. “She’s very stylish, and I love the way she actually designs her own clothes.”
Her mum’s style is “whatever comes to mind and whatever she sees,” says Tetevano. “She could take a sleeve from a dress and add it to a top.”
Though she doesn’t do it any more, Tetevano used to also design her own clothes.
Esther Grace-Pekepo
Grace-Pekepo is wearing a Cook Islands dress with Tahitian inspiration hand-sewn by Aunty Karaati from DaniFai Designs. Grace-Pekepo isn’t a seamstress yet, but she gives her designs to her aunties, and they come up with something like the piece she is wearing.
“Anything island, anything Polynesian? Yes please,” she says. “I was born and raised in Rarotonga Cook Islands so anything with colours, anything tropical that reminds me of home.”
Grace-Pekepo wasn’t at Pasifika as a performer, but wouldn’t look out of place if she were to be on stage. “I love anything that I can dance in – that’s usually the goal. You look good, but it has to be practical.”
Litz Raborar
Raborar is wearing thrifted clothing from New Lynn and from home in the Philippines. “It’s cheaper and I like to save money.” Their outfit, a white lace top and floral flared pants in soft autumnal tones and a pop of periwinkle, is inspired by fall and spring.
“I just wear what feels good and looks good to me,” says Raborar.
Tukua Turia
Māmā Tukua is wearing a hand-made dress which she designed. ”This is what I do,” says Turia as she stitches yellow thread to form a hibiscus. “I design”.
Turia creates pillowcases, cushion covers, tablecloths and handkerchiefs, and teaches other mamas to sew, design and cut. She’s also made dresses, with designer Karen Walker, for the royal family.
“When you buy a dress from a shop, you can see everybody wearing the same style,” says Turia. “That’s the reason I sew my own. I can sew any dress I want.”
Gizza Laile
Laile is repping his Niue pride with the yellow flag around his waist. “I’m wearing a Niuean necklace called e’eh, a T-shirt from Culture Kings […] and these glasses from Glassons.”
“My style inspo is pretty much based on vintage, and old 80s kind of stuff.”
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