Māngere Arts Centre in Auckland will set the scene for the Siva Afi Aotearoa Festival, from March 6-8, 2025. Photo credit: Siva Afi Aotearoa.
Creative visionary Tauanuu Amo Ieriko has set the bar high for the vibrant Siva Afi Festival, a display of the Samoan traditional art form of Siva Ailao Afi.
“We look to have Siva Afi Festival as an annual event in the festival calendar of Aotearoa New Zealand and to be internationally recognised,” Tauanuu says.
“And we want to be the next Pasifika Festival, ASB Polyfest and Te Matatini in stature and quality.”
A tradition rooted in Samoan culture, Siva Ailao Afi incorporates the Samoan weapon nifo oti, or war knife with fire.
The Siva Afi Festival features local siva afi clubs across Aotearoa New Zealand, and showcasing students alongside the international competition during March 2025, at Māngere Arts Centre, Auckland.
Tauanuu says Pacific people often talk about resilience and cultural identity, and siva afi answers both concerns.
“Siva afi has become a platform for the community to engage and participate in programmes that promotes resilience through people being active and healthy, and cultural identity with intergenerational learning where the young learn alongside the older generation.
“Siva Ailao Afi is the final frontier of Pacific cultural performance, which has allured generations of New Zealanders.
“We are proud to be part of the cultural phenomenon, for many New Zealand-born youth and most importantly, for those who have chosen Aotearoa New Zealand as their home, to feel connected to their homeland through siva afi.”
It has been a productive year for siva afi and festival organisers, with numerous New Zealand-based competitors travelling to international contests and holding their own against the best of the world.
Competitors have travelled and contested the World Fireknife Championship, in Hawai’i, Toa Ole Afi – Pati Levasa Competition in Brisbane, and last month’s Siva Afi Tahiti International Competition.
“From 2019 to 2024, siva afi in Aotearoa has made some giant leaps and sacrifice to get where the community is now and I am excited for what the next five to 10 years will bring,” Tauanuu says.
Siva Afi Festival 2025
On March 6-8, 2025, marks the sixth anniversary of the annual festival in Aotearoa New Zealand and organisers are excited to have a contingent of competitors and additional performers from French Polynesia and Australia attending the Siva Afi Festival.
There will be free workshops with international guests, who will share their knowledge and siva afi experience with the local community and school students.
Audiences can expect to see Samoa, Cook Island, Tahiti and Hawaii cultural dances by local and international performers, and of course, Pacific food stalls and food trucks will be available, along with siva afi merchandise to choose from Siva Afi Aotearoa and various clubs in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Of course, the highlight will be watching the best of the best of siva afi competitors from around the world, Tauanuu says.
Those who are unable to attend the festival in-person can expect two days of live streaming via Pasifika TV, available throughout the Pacific, Europe, Asia and United States.
Visit the Siva Afi Aotearoa website for more festival details.
