New festival artwork honours Pasifika history

The festival, which is held annually in February, sets a series of themes for people to explore stories and the history of the pacific. 

‘Homeland’ was the theme for 2024, with performers and stallholders encouraged to lean into traditions from their homelands. In 2025 the theme will be ‘The Journey’ (exploring migration stories) and in 2026 ‘The Arrival’ (exploring life in New Zealand).  

This year, work is starting on a Pasifika artwork that is being created to represent these themes for the community. Artist Leo Semau, who has been working as an art tutor, foundryman and artist for the past decade, has been asked to tell these stories through his stonework.

Wellington City Council first reached out to Leo through The Learning Connexion where he works as a tutor – an opportunity he jumped at. 

 “I was excited by the theme of the festivals and doing this work. It's an effective way of adding something different to the festival and at the same time generating artwork for our community. My hope is that we'll be able to include other Pasifika groups in the project in some way, so that we have lots of people woven into the making of the artwork, to make it a real community piece.” 

Leo has broad experience in creative work – from contributing to the development and conservation of public sculpture, to helping a diverse range of people develop their own art making. 

Leo's creative interests lie specifically in sculpture, including hands-on casting, sculpting and carving, teaching and collaborative art projects.  

His approach is to create an ‘anchor stone’ to represent Pasifika peoples' physical and spiritual anchorage to New Zealand, to their homes and those of their ancestors in the Pacific. 

He believes that this work opens the conversation about the history of Pasifika peoples in Aotearoa. 
 
“This is an important project to me because it's a chance to celebrate our Pasifika diaspora –  our long history of travel and interaction with each other across Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa. And of course, in Aotearoa that long history is very evident because the first anchor stones laid here were from Pasifika people who became Tangata Whenua.  

“This project and the Pasifika Festival in general is a means to renew and strengthen relationships between all Pasifika cultures, and importantly within Aotearoa."

At the start of the year, the artwork was a blank canvas. The public could see the stone, meet the artist, and share what 'Homeland' meant to them, to feed into the design thinking. 

In August, following various design hui and prototypes being presented by Leo, the stone was ready to be carved.  

A ‘first-hit ceremony’ gathered Leo, Pasifika Festival’s Community Programme Advisor Karl Kite Rangi, the Wellington City Council City Events Team, members of the Pasifika Advisory Group, Councillors and Council staff, and representatives from The Learning Connexion to celebrate this momentous occasion, honouring the kaupapa, Leo, and his mahi. 

This emotional and joyous evening opened with a prayer and mihi, and everyone present was able to carve a piece of the one-tonne block of Oamaru sandstone, before gathering to share kai, laughter and stories.  

In 2025, the design of the carving (which will be fully revealed in 2026) will be partially complete and the public will be invited to talk to the artist about his process and make their own mark on the stone. 

The final destination of the stone is yet to be confirmed, but it will be gifted to the community and displayed in a place of prominence in the city. 

A special thanks goes to The Learning Connexion for providing a workshop space for Leo to work in.  

Find out more about the Wellington Pasifika Festival here.