8th - 9th March 2024
Mangere Arts Centre - Nga Tohu o Uenuku
The Siva Afi Festival is a pioneering event that brings the talents and skills of wāhine and rangatahi to the fore.
Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s fifth Siva Afi Festival!
Welcome to five years of history
On behalf of everyone who has contributed or participated, especially our Funders and Supporters, we welcome you and thank you for supporting Siva Afi Festival 2024.
The Siva Afi Festival is in its fifth year running and we’re excited to be welcoming international competitors to our all-female competition, plus for the first time the addition of our open men’s competition. The audience can enjoy performances from special guests and internationally renowned experts.
Replays
The replays of the festival are available below thanks to Pasifika TV.
Festival Schedule
VIP Event
“Ava Feiloa’I”
Thursday 7 March
7pm – 9pm
Invite only
Day 1
Friday 8 March
7 – 10pm
Open Women’s and Open Men’s Siva Afi Competition
Day 2
Saturday 9 March
7 – 10pm
International Youth Siva Afi Competition
AIGA
A Siva Afi Exhibition
10 February to 16 March
Māngere Arts Centre
Full programme below.
Meet Our Top Performers
Congratulations to all our performers and competitors in 2024. We are so grateful you chose to share your art and skills with us and we wish you all the best on your siva afi journey. For many of you, this is just the start and we look forward to seeing you perform in future years. To our performers from the U.S. Thank you, it was amazing having you as part of this year's festival.
Wāhine Toa Afi Competition 2024 Champion - Aaliyah Ava
Aaliyah Ava / Vaimatina
As a member of the world-renowned Triple Threat team, Aaliyah started siva afi from seven years old with her sisters, under the guidance of David Galea’i. Siva afi was passed down from her papa Pulefano Galea’i. She is part of the Vaimatina Siva Afi troupe and works as a Polynesian and Siva Afi performer at the Polynesian Cultural Centre in Lā’ie, Hawai’i. Aaliyah is the Siva Afi Festival Wāhine Toa Afi Champion 2023 and she is back to defend her title.
Mia Angelo
Mia was born in North Carolina and raised in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Her siva afi journey started with dancing Tahitian for Rocco Tinitali and their group Hula Fire Entertainment. After dancing Tahitian for a while, Mia was taught fire poi. As soon as Mia lit up her knife for the first time she knew siva afi was going to be it for her.
Portia Meredith-Numia
Portia is a 17 year-old student at Massey High School, representing the Tielu, Taua, Leilua and Pereira families and villages of Togafuafua, Matautu, Siufaga, Siumu and Moataa. Portia started Siva Afi in August 20220 at Mt Roskill and has been coached by Tauanuu Amo Ieriko, Mani Jr Sumeo, Valentino Luafaleolo and currently under the guidance of Popea Lautala.
Masters of the Flame Aotearoa
2024 Champion - Justyce Levi Uepa
1st
Justyce Levi Uepa
Justyce Levi Uepa is a New Zealand born Māori Samoan, representing Salelologa Savaii and Ngāti Porou. Justyce is a keen and passionate performer who has served a lifelong passion to the art of ailao afi, performing in various locations around the world including Hawai’i, Floria, Taiwan and all around Australia.
2nd
Heimana Ondicolberry
From Tahiti, Heimana has been dancing with the art of fire for over 14years, accomplishing three times Champion in French Polynesian siva afi competitions. Heimana is also a renowned Tahitian dancer, having been involved with numerous dance troupes in the annual Tahiti Heiva dance competition.
3rd
Tamaru Colombel
Tamaru is from French Polynesia. He became passionate about siva afi at the age of 17 when he watched the Horizon Night Show at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Tamaru then participated in various competitions in Tahiti and in 2003 he placed First Runner Up at the World Fire Knives Championship in Laie, Hawai’i.
International Youth Siva Afi Competition
2024 Junior Champion - Lennon Meredith-Numia
Lennon Meredith-Numia
School: Henderson Intermediate School
Age: 11 years
Lennon represents the Tielu, Taua, Leilua and Pereira families as well as the villages of Togafuafua, Matautu, Siufaga, Siumu and Moataa. He started Siva Afi in August 2020 at Mt Roskill.
Isaia Asiata
School: Plimmerton School, Porirua
Age: 11 years
Isaia represents the villages of Salelologa, Satupaitea, California USA and Wellington, New Zealand. Isaia has been spinning since September 2022. Seeing his older brother compete last year has inspired him to compete this year.
Japhia Gagamoe
School: Windley Primary School, Porirua
Age: 11 years
Japhia represents the villages of Satalo Falealili, Fasito’o Uta, Lalovaea, Luatuanu’u and Faga, Savai’i in beautiful Samoa. Japhia is a student of Tautua Dance Siva Afi – Wellington and enjoys Siva Samoa and Siva Afi.
International Youth Siva Afi Competition 2024 Intermediate Champion - Moa Lua
Moa Lua
School: Aotea College, Wellington
Age: 13 years
Moa is representing the villages of Si’umu and Poutasi. He has been spinning since May 2022 and competed in his first Siva Afi competition last year in Auckland where he placed in the top three for the Junior Category.
Emi Elizabeth Lovett
School: ASDAH (Auckland Seventh-Day Adventist High)
Age: 12 years
Emi represents the villages of Sala’ilua (Savai’i), Iva and Vaigaga. Emi has represented New Zealand at the 20th International Siva Afi Competition in Samoa and coached by Popea Lautala.
Suni Aunese-White
School: St Pauls College
Age: 15 years
Suni is a member of Tahimana Polynesian Fire Warriors representing the villages of Fusi Safata and Satufia Satupaitea. He is also a siva afi tutor for Whau and Aktive Zone.
Friday 8 March
Replay
Replay of Day one of Siva Afi Festival 2024
Saturday 9 March
Replay
Replay of Day two of Siva Afi Festival 2024
From the Director
On behalf of everyone who has contributed or participated, especially our Funders and Supporters, we welcome you and thank you for supporting Siva Afi Festival 2024.
Le Afigoa ia Fa’anānā Efeso Collins ‘E le tu fa’amauga se tagata’
We pay our respects to the late Fa’anānā Efeso, whose sudden passing has been felt by all. As an advocate for pacific people and champion of people being the best versions of themselves, he was an inspiration to the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
A legacy for all
“Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
– Proverbs 22:6
Our workshops continue to be the most rewarding part of our Siva Afi community engagement. My most heartfelt moments are when pacific people approach us to say how proud they are to see young people learning siva afi ailao and congratulate us on continuing ‘our culture’ here in Aotearoa.
We are enormously grateful for the support from David Galea’i, his family, and team in partnering with Siva Afi Festival to enable its growth on the international stage.
Symbolism of Nafanua
To the crowning Miss Samoa and Miss South Pacific, Moemoana Safa’ato’a Schwenke, the daughter of Freddy Schwenke and Maryjane Mckibbin Schwenke (Miss Samoa and South Pacific 1997), we applaud you for all your accomplishments and for shining a light on the relevance of women within the context of Siva Afi Ailao.
Freddy was my very first siva afi coach, only 6 months training with him but my life would forever be changed. I acknowledge my mother, for it was her that heard on Samoa radio about someone offering siva afi classes and she saved the number for me. I cannot remember ever mentioning siva afi to my mother, but as it turns out, it was Freddy offering classes for youth. He kindly offered to teach me outside of his classes as I had long passed the qualifying age to be called ‘youth’.
I am thankful for my mother in pointing me in this direction, and I pay tribute to her passing in July 2023.
We look forward to what the rest of 2024 will bring to the Siva Afi in Aotearoa and worldwide.
Ia manuia ma soifua, i le alofa ma le agalelei o le Atua.
Tauanuu Amo Ieriko
Siva Afi Festival Director
Media
We love sharing our passion for Siva Afi with the world.
Festival Programme
Day One
Friday 8 March
7 - 10PM
5.00pm
Doors open
Food stalls open
7.00pm
MC – welcome & karakia
Ori Tahiti Ahuuranui (Tahiti/Onehunga) – opening performance
7.10pm
Guest Speakers
Introduction to judges
Siva Afi Māngere – demonstration
US Embassy Consular General
Jeralee Galea’i (Hawai’i) – 2 x World Fireknife Champion – performance
7.30pm
Introduction – Wāhine Toa Afi Competitors
WTA competition starts - Open Women’s Competition
8.30pm
Give aways
8.40pm
WTA Competition Awards Ceremony
9.00pm
Introduction – Masters Of The Flames Aotearoa
MOTF competition starts - Open Men’s Competition
10.00pm
MOTF Competition Awards Ceremony
Farewell
10.30pm
Stage closed
Day Two
Saturday 9 March
7 - 10PM
5.00pm
Doors open
Food stalls open
7.00pm
MC - welcome & karakia
Le Taupou Manaia Auckland (Samoa) – opening performance
7.15pm
Guest speakers
Introduction to Judges
Siva Afi Whau (West Auckland) – demonstration
Mikaele Oloa (Hawai’i) – 5 x World Fireknife Champion – performance
7.30pm
Introduction – Junior Category
Junior competition starts
8.35pm
Wāhine Toa Siva Afi (Māngere) – performance
8.40pm
Junior Category Award Ceremony
8.50pm
Introduction – Intermediate Category
Intermediate competition starts
9.50pm
Hura Ora Tahiti (Tahiti) – performance
9.55pm
Intermediate Category Award Ceremony
10.00pm
Closing Taualuga
Farewell – closing prayer
10.30pm
Stage closed
Food Vendors
We welcome back the following vendors to our festival this year.
Mama’s Otai
Fruit Smoothies
Strawberry Otai, Mango Otai
$12 1 Litre / $6 500L
Watermelon Otai
$13 1 Litre / $7 500L
BigSmokin'Mo Barbecue
BBQ Food Stall
MEALS
$20. 3/4 Smoked Pork ribs w fries & bread roll.
$20. 230g of Smoked Brisket w fries & bread roll.
$15. Brisket Smash Burger.
SIDES
$5. Creamy slaw.
$5. Fiji water.
CC Schweets
Sweet & Treats Food Stall
Cinnamon scrolls, brownies cupcakes and more.
Fale Mu Kitchen
Hot Food
SUPPER PLATES.
$12 to $15(with a drink)
Includes: Chop suey, Rice, Sausage, Crispy noodle salad, Crab salad, Potato salad and Panikeke.
Eftpos and Cash payments available.
US and NZ Partnership continues in 2024
The U.S. Mission to New Zealand, Sāmoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau is proud to one again partner with the Siva Afi Festival. We recognize the trailblazing organizers for their efforts to host this event in Aotearoa New Zealand for the fifth year. I am delighted to support this illuminating celebration of the Samoan art of fireknife dancing, which I was honored to witness on my first trip to Sāmoa. The festival’s focus on igniting the skills of wāhine and rangatahi performers makes this competition unique on the world stage.
I am excited for the upcoming community and schools’ engagement program with the U.S team, which I am sure will be well received.
May this U.S and New Zealand partnership under the Siva Afi banner continue to prosper and grow.
Ambassador
Tom Udall
Pulefano Masters of the Flame Championship & VA’A Beyond
Masters Of The Flame and VA’A Beyond (non-profit organizations) are proud and excited to join the mission of this great event. Partnering with Siva Afi Festival we look forward to sharing our passions and ensuring that the youth of tomorrow have an empowering platform to learn, grow and express the culture of Samoa through the art form of Siva Ailao Afi, that we all love and cherish.
Siva Afi Festival has demonstrated in the last few years, and still exerts with much energy, the same passion, spirit and love for the art form of Siva Ailao Afi. This event brings individuals and communities alike together in a harmonious and peaceful environment where families can enjoy learning and be entertained at the same time. In a world filled with disarray this is much needed. We look forward to building this event and working hand in hand with Siva Afi Festivals for a bright future.
Nā māua, nā
David Galea’i
CEO
Alex Galea’i
President
