WELLINGTON : '' PASIFIKA CULTURE-FOOD FESTIVAL''

THOUSANDS turned to celebrate the colour, culture and cuisine of the great Pacific at Wellington's  annual Pasifika Festival.

Event organizer Suzanne Tamaki said the festival was ''amazing'', with lots of people turning out despite the blistery weather conditions.

''The weather wasn't fantastic but it didn't put anyone off coming down. It was still really packed and we tried a new layout for the festival and it seemed to be really popular.''

This year, there were 28 stalls, a record number. The event ran through the afternoon and early evening at Odlins Plaza on Wellington waterfront.

All up, Tamaki reckoned about 10,000 Wellingtonians ventured down to enjoy the festivities. [Courtesy BBC News].