Creative New Zealand Honours Pacific Artists

Creative New Zealand presented Pasifika Arts awards to four Pacific artists and agroup of Niuean women whose work has made an outstanding contribution to Pacific arts in New Zealand. The 2009 awards were presented to composer Poulima Salima (Emerging Pacific Artist Award – $3000), to performer Elisha Na’otala Fa’i (the Iosefa Enari Award – $3000), to the weaving group Falepipi he Mafola (the Pacific Heritage Art Award – $5000), to artist Shigeyuki Kihara (the Contemporary Pacific Artist’s Award – $5000) and to master craftsman Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi (the Senior Pacific Artist Award – $10,000). Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Committee Chairperson Pele Walker said the annual Arts Pasifika Awards celebrated the rich range of Pacific art in New Zealand. “Every year we are thrilled and delighted with not only the calibre of artists nominated but the range of artistic fields that they work in. The Pacific experience in New Zealand is unique and these awards enable Creative New Zealand to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution these artists make to the flourishing New Zealand arts landscape.”