Why Pasifika Fest UK Matters to Me as a New Zealander Living in the UK

Next weekend, yes merino will be trading at the inaugural Pasifika Fest UK, and while I'm looking forward to meeting people and sharing our products, the event means something more personal to me too.

Pasifika Fest UK 2026 is the major Pacific Islander cultural event, bringing together Tangata Moana (people of the Pacific Ocean) for a weekend of arts, dance, film, and traditional food. The festival runs from 4-5 July 2026 at Goodenough College in London.

I grew up in the Whakatāne area of Aotearoa New Zealand, where Māori culture is a natural part of everyday life, education, language, community events and the way people connected with one another. Living in the UK, I've come to appreciate just how much those experiences shaped me, and how important it is to find ways to stay connected to home.

In many ways, that connection is part of the reason yes merino exists.

When I started the business in 2025, I wasn't just looking for a product to sell. I wanted to share something that I genuinely loved, understood and connected me back to Aotearoa New Zealand. Considering the climate in the U.K, practical, high-quality merino wool clothing was a no brainer. Merino wool is quietly woven into life in Aotearoa. It's something many New Zealanders grow up with, whether through farming communities, outdoor adventures or simply understanding the value of natural fibres that work hard and last. 

One of the things I'm most excited about at Pasifika Fest is knowing that I won't need to explain what merino wool is to every person who stops by the stall. I can drop the 'wool' for the weekend too! So many visitors will already know its benefits and understand its place in everyday life. And I can't wait to hear how much people love their 'merinos' in strong Kiwi accents. That means I can spend more time having conversations, hearing people's stories, and connecting over shared experiences of home - either our new home here or our original home! 

I'm looking forward to the pōwhiri (welcome ceremony) because it's been a good while and just being part of a celebration of Pacific cultures in London will be special. Events like this offer something that's difficult to find elsewhere, a chance to learn about or reconnect with familiar traditions, languages and values while living far from where they originated.

Of course, there is also the reality of running a small business! Markets are always a bit of a gamble. Sales are never guaranteed but over time I've realised that the value of an event isn't measured entirely by what happens on my card reader.

These events are an opportunity to meet customers face-to-face, receive honest feedback (and I know it will be honest with this crowd!), answer questions, build awareness and learn more about what people are looking for from their clothes here in the U.K.

There is also a surprising amount of work behind the scenes. There's stock to organise, transport to arrange, social media to create and the inevitable challenge of making a stall that looks professional without feeling like you're simply playing shop. Setting up a market stand can be harder than it looks, especially if you're a bit of a perfectionist.

For me, Pasifika Fest is a chance to reconnect with a part of my identity, meet people from across the Pacific community, introduce new customers to yes merino, and spend a weekend celebrating some of the cultures and values that helped shape who I am.

If you're visiting Pasifika Fest, please come and say hello (in whichever language you like!)