Elena Pasilio, RNZ Pacific’s Tokelau affairs correspondent
Over Easter Weekend this year South Auckland was a hub of Tokelauan culture with communities from across Aotearoa gathered at Bruce Pulman Park to mark the 50th Tokelau Easter Tournament – the event often described as both a sporting competition and cultural gathering.
The Tokelau atolls, which this year marked 100 years under New Zealand administration, have a strong community in Aotearoa, with many families maintaining close cultural and familial ties with the islands.
Teams travelled from Tokelau communities in Hutt Valley, Porirua, Rotorua and Taupo, with others flying in from the South Island and Australia.
In past tournaments, some have even journeyed from Hawai’i – reflecting the deep commitment to a gathering that, for many, only comes around every few years.
The event drew an estimated 2000 people – exceeding the current population of Tokelau’s atolls, which sits under 1500 – highlighting the strength and scale of the Tokelauan community in Aotearoa.
Speaking at the Opening Ceremony on Good Friday, Auckland Tokelau Community president Elia Iosua said it was more than just a tournament and continues to carry the vision of those who first established it.
“This is not just an event. It is a time we can look back and admire – a time of reflection, reconnection and rejoicing,” he said.
“Our elders built this tradition with purpose – to create a bridge between generations, where our culture is preserved and our communities are strengthened.”
South Auckland became a hub of Tokelauan culture as families gathered to mark the 50th Tokelau Easter Tournament.
Photo: Supplied / Elena Pasilio
Mafutaga Tupulaga Tokelau National president Maletina Gaualofa described the tournament as a “homecoming of hearts” for Tokelau people living in Aotearoa.
“Today is more than just an event. It is a homecoming of hearts – the gathering of Tokelau descendants, and the fulfilment of the hopes and dreams of our tupuna (ancestors),” she said.
“We are the living product of that dream – the very reason we stand here together.”
Gaualofa also encouraged those who attended to speak Tokelauan throughout the weekend, saying every effort helps keep the language alive.
With UNESCO classifying Tokelauan as an endangered language, particularly among diaspora communities, events like the tournament play an important role in keeping the language in use.
“Every attempt keeps our language breathing and our identity strong,” Gaualofa said.
Bruce Pulman Arena pulsed with the steady beat of the pokihi on opening night, as teams took to the stage for the Po Fatele – a vibrant display of Tokelau culture through traditional song and dance, where the Tokelauan language is carried through each performance.
Bruce Pulman Arena pulsed with the steady beat of the pokihi on opening night, as teams took to the stage for the Po Fatele.
Photo: Supplied / Elena Pasilio
Beyond the performances, the event also provided space for cultural knowledge to be shared in other ways.
Matagiolo Nanumea Foua, 61, lives in Auckland but hails from Fakaofo in Tokelau. At the tournament, he sold the pā kahoa which is the traditional necklaces that are carved from mother-of-pearl, carrying deep cultural significance.
Worn by women, the pā kahoa symbolises value and identity, often regarded as representing women as treasures of Tokelau.
The same material can be used to carve fishing lures, and in wedding ceremonies, pā kahoa are presented to the bride, most commonly as necklaces, but also as belts or headpieces. In this form, it also symbolises connection, provision and the role of caring for a family.
Matagiolo Nanumea Foua at his stall at the Easter Tournament.
Photo: Supplied / Elena Pasilio
Foua described the pride he feels in creating the pā kahoa and making them accessible to Tokelauans who may not have the opportunity to obtain them.
He encouraged Tokelauans of all ages to explore the craft, saying he is willing to teach anyone interested.
“I left Fakaofo at the age of 21, then I returned for three years before coming back to Auckland again, and in all that time, I honed the skill,” he said, adding, “If anyone wants to learn, I’m happy to help.”
Foua also encouraged those who already practice the craft to continue developing their skills and to pass their knowledge on to others.
“Keep doing it, keep improving, and teach others – no matter who they are,” he said.
“This life is not permanent,” he added, saying the only way to keep the craft alive is to pass it on.
Next to Foua’s stall at the event was Jennifer Faraimo-Dakuna, a published Tokelau writer who also emphasizes the importance of passing on traditional knowledge.
Across the long Easter weekend, competitions in cricket, netball, rugby league, volleyball and basketball brought together participants of all ages.
Photo: Supplied / Elena Pasilio
Jennifer Faraimo-Dakuna said the spirit of the tournament lies in bringing together Tokelau people living in Aotearoa, and ensuring younger generations understand who they are and where they come from.
At the event, she sold handcrafted mini tuluma earrings inspired by the traditional Tokelauan wooden fishing tackle box, typically carved from kanava wood. She also sold her published books on Tokelau culture, including The Tokelau Necklace, which introduces the significance of pā kahoa, and Voices from the Village, a Pasifika anthology which she edited and compiled with her niece Leiana Matapuku Foua.
The Tokelau Necklace by Jennifer Faraimo-Dakuna.
Photo: Supplied / Elena Pasilio
Foua’s call to pass on the knowledge is also being carried forward by a new generation, with young creatives finding their own ways to express and preserve culture.
One of them is Tylah, who also goes by Seteli, a young Tokelau artist who gained attention on social media after sharing a video of herself creating an anniversary gift for her husband using tukutuku panels.
She incorporated her own Tokelauan twist, using cultural symbols such as turtles and shark teeth, blending tradition with a modern interpretation. She also created and sold handcrafted triangular Tokelau flag earrings at the event.
At her stall, portraits of her tupuna were displayed alongside her work, grounding her designs in heritage while reaching a growing audience. A note introducing herself explained that since sharing the video, people have reached out to place orders.
Her work reflects a new generation finding ways to carry Tokelau culture forward – anchored in the past, evolving in the present and carried far beyond Tokelau by a growing diaspora.
From the steady beat of the pokihi on Po Fatele to the carefully crafted pā kahoa and the creative expression of a new generation, the Tokelau Easter Tournament continues to be more than just a gathering.
Across the long Easter weekend, competitions in cricket, netball, rugby league, volleyball and basketball brought together participants of all ages. It is a space where culture is lived, shared and carried forward – ensuring that even far from the islands, Tokelau’s identity, language and tradition endure across generations.
The Tokelau Easter Tournament included competitions in cricket, netball, rugby league, volleyball and basketball.
Photo: Supplied / Elena Pasilio
