Traditional leaders from Tonga, Samoa, Maori in New Zealand and Fiji will be meeting today on Bau Island to discuss the specific concerns and preparations for the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) and Pacific Traditional Leaders Forum (PTLF).
Paramount Chief of Kubuna confederacy, Na Turaga Vunivalu Ratu Epenisa Cakobau will be hosting this inaugural encounter which will serve as a crucial step in preparing for the Pacific Traditional Leaders Talanoa 2024.
The meeting will discuss and determine objectives, roles, protocols, and responsibilities for the FESTPAC gathering and provide a unique introduction into what a regional platform for traditional leaders can become.
The Pacific Festival of Arts (PACFEST 24) will be held concurrently with the Pacific Traditional Leaders Forum in 2024, providing a celebration of Pacific arts, culture, and storytelling and develop a platform / forum for traditional leaders to address issues that impact our regional collective as well as the planet.
This festival will showcase the rich cultural diversity of the region and provide a platform for artists to share their talents and traditional knowledge and connect to issues that influence livelihoods and underpin our values.
Furthermore, the inaugural planning meeting will provide a special opportunity to rekindle strong traditional links and celebrate the unique contributions of Tonga, Aotearoa, Fiji, and Samoa to Pacific culture and tradition.
More importantly, it is an opportunity to lay down the groundwork for a broader engagement of traditional leaders from across the Pacific region.
The proposed dates for the inaugural meeting will be February 26-29, 2024.
