He toka tū moana, he ākinga nā ngā tai

Iosefa Enari is of Samoan descent and lives in Auckland. He holds a Dip Contemporary Dance (UNITEC) and a masters degree in Dance Studies (University of Auckland). In 2018 he was awarded the CNZ Pacific Award for Innovation and Excellence in a chosen artform. In 2019 he was made a Leadership NZ fellow and in 2020 Enari was appointed a Member of NZ Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to Pacific dance. Enari has been involved as a practitioner across the fields of theatre, film and television. Most recently he worked on the films Vai and Tina (NZ Film Commission) and the television programme Testify (Warner Brothers) as movement consultant and choreographer. His last work was TOLU in 2024, a collaboration with the NZ Trio and Pacific dancers. He is currently the director of Pacific Dance NZ, the national organisation for development of Pacific dance in Aotearoa and the artistic director of the annual Pacific Dance Festival.

Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa

Tiaki Kerei is synonymous with the development and recognition of Māori contemporary dance, fostering innovative choreographic platforms in Aotearoa and internationally and has an extensively documented track record of excellence in ngā toi Māori. Since 1999, he has been recognized in Aotearoa with his selection as the Whakahaungia Choreographic Commission recipient by Toi Māori, and winning of an A.M.P Scholarship which enabled him to travel to the United States. This led to his tenure as a Visiting Assistant Professor at University of California Riverside, as Artist in Residence at University of California Berkeley, at the Asian/Pacific/American Institute, Regent’s Scholar at University of California Los Angeles, and recognition as a contributor to Indigenous Choreographer’s at Riverside Project fostering new directions for Indigenous contemporary dance. Most recently Tiaki, has continued to broaden perceptions of ngā toi Māori by establishing Whakamana Creatives, and the Embodied Research Lab in Aotearoa. Both these projects are driven by community and intercultural dance practice and deeply driven by innovative approaches from Tikanga Māori towards movement, choreography, connection, and resilience.

Feeonaa Clifton is a multidisciplinary artist of Samoan and European descent, based in Auckland. Her work explores themes of identity, history, and environmental concerns. Feeonaa holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Pacific) and Diploma in Arts Administration from the University of Auckland. As a long-standing member of the Pacific Sisters arts collective, she contributes to the group's innovative work, which uplifts Moana-based heritage art and cultural practices through diverse creative expressions, including adornment, art, ceremony, performance, and community outreach.

Julia Gray is cultural practitioner of Mekeo and Australian heritage. Her tools of communication: movement, skin marking, photography and filmmaking. Exploring her Mekeo heritage within an urban Australian and New Zealand context. Her stories frequently combine movement with evocative video narratives. Gray co-founded the performance group Sunameke in 1997 and Melanesian Marks in 2016. She is currently a Professional Teaching Fellow at Pacific Studies, Te Wānanga o Waipapa Waipapa Taumata Rau l The University of Auckland

Sāvaia Lefaga, Luatuānu'u, Te Whanganui Ā Tara

Founder of Le Moana and the Measina Festival, Tupe is a dreamer from Porirua with foundations in live performance. From 2009 - 2019 she taught Samoan Performing Arts at Whitireia New Zealand and created works for performances in Aotearoa, Europe, Asia and North America. In 2013, she founded Le Moana and created the shows Fatu Na Totō, 1918 and Purple Onion, these works went on to tour internationally and win several awards on the festival circuit. As a performer, Tupe featured in PolyZygotic (2009), The Factory (2011), In Situ by Regine Chopinot (2011 - 2013) Marama (2014) The White Guitar (2015) and A Boy Called Piano (2022). She was awarded the Sāmoa Artist in residence in 2019, Contemporary Artist Award for the Creative NZ Arts Pasifika Awards 2021, FAME Mid-Career Award 2022 and appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order Of Merit in 2024 for Services to the Arts.

Tupe was the Senior Tutor of Movement and Creative Practice at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand School of Drama from 2020-2022; and also an interim Lecturer at Victoria University for Pacific Studies - PASI 101: The Pacific Heritage in 2017. Through Le Moana Tupe continues to create live theatre works as well as produce works by Sāmoan artist Tupua Tigafua.

Matautu Lefaga, Upolu Sāmoa; Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Pipiwai Aotearoa

Chas Mamea is a freelance South Auckland street & contemporary dance practitioner, choreographer and researcher. Chas is also part of the Asia-NZ Foundation Leadership Network, and the business/funding advisor for South Auckland dance crew, Nappyboyz.

A current PhD candidate and Professional teaching Fellow at Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland, Chas' research interests lie in navigating Wā & Vā as Mana Moana within street dance spaces of South Auckland, Aotearoa and how this research might contribute to better-informed Pasifika/Māori community initiatives for rangatahi.

Chas has organised many community dance wananga for Nappyboyz South Auckland and Tuakana Dance Studies, including the Milk & Honey Dance Programme aimed at South Auckland Pasifika and Māori students in 2023 and fully funded by the Ministry of Education. Following her studies, Chas sees herself providing more platforms for South Auckland youth to express themselves.

Lyncia Müller is a Tongan choreographer, dancer, and theatre artist whose work celebrates Pacific storytelling, movement, and identity. Hailing from Nuku’alofa, Fatai, and Lakepa, she trained at the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts (PIPA) and Unitec’s contemporary dance programme in Aotearoa.

Müller co-founded TULOU, a wāhine-led Pacific dance collective, and created "Fala Muncher", a groundbreaking theatre piece exploring queer Pacific experiences. Her work blends contemporary performance with ancestral knowledge, engaging with Pacific language, protocols, and storytelling traditions. She has collaborated with Lisa Reihana, Black Grace, Auckland Theatre Company, and Tupua Tufuga, contributing to the evolution of Pacific dance and theatre.

Expanding into screen performance, Müller has appeared in "Madam", "Inky Pinky Ponky", and "Fresh Skitz". As a 2022 Q Theatre Resident, she continues to develop work that amplifies Pacific voices, championing a future where Pacific stories are centered and embodied in bold new ways.

Amanaki Lelei Prescott-Faletau is a Tongan-New Zealand artist whose work in dance, choreography, theatre, and screen storytelling celebrates and expands Pacific arts. As the co-founder and lead choreographer of Fine Fatale, she has been instrumental in reimagining Pacific heritage dance within contemporary performance, creating spaces where Pasifika queer and trans artists can share their stories.

Her choreography blends traditional and modern influences, drawing from forms such as Tauʻolunga, Siva Samoa, and street dance, while her theatre work brings fresh perspectives to Pacific storytelling. She co-wrote Inky Pinky Ponky, a play exploring queer Pacific identity that was later adapted into a film, and her stage and screen credits include The Breaker Upperers (2018), The Panthers (2021), and SIS (2020).

Amanaki’s work continues to shape the landscape of Pacific arts, using movement and storytelling to honour cultural heritage while pushing creative boundaries. Her dedication to community-driven art ensures that Pacific voices—especially those of queer and trans artists—are centered and celebrated in Aotearoa and beyond.

Milly and Karena Grant-Koria are animistic directors of TūRongo Collective, who have many branches that connect to communities from around the world. Te Whānau Āio, Auckland War Memorial Museum Māori Cultural Experience and RAAH Medicinals, Pounamu Rikiriki & Kī Rākau TC is an Indigenous health service that provides opportunities from the lens of animism to re-seed opportunities for indigenous communities meeting systemic challenges. Tūrongo Collective have many overarching services and has been known for an unparalleled commitment to indigenous practices and teachings for many years. With a specialty in triggering the unknown, encouraging feeling uncomfortable, growing inner stamina and unlocking an honest stillness, the collective is well known for nurturing bravery within difference. From youth justice mentoring services to workshops, ritual activations, training programs and wellness sessions, animistic movement to relationship development and holistic spiritual healing, the forms are committed to the wellness of supporting the mycelium of natural connection. Tūrongo Collective currently have a kaitiaki troupe based at the Auckland Museum known as “Te Whānau Āio” who hold cultural ceremonies and education 363 days a year 3-5 times a day, called LIVING TĀONGA.

Teuila Hughes is a Ph.D. candidate and Graduate Teacher in Dance Studies at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland. As an afakasi Samoan woman, artist, teacher, and researcher, her work navigates socio-cultural narratives of identity and the sustainability of Indigenous Oceanic ways of knowing, being, and becoming. Her current curiosity lies in embodied explorations that unravel external conditioning, uncovering how the body’s wisdom, connection and capacity for expression can be tapped into more deeply. Her extensive experience in teaching, choreography, and curriculum development has taken her across various landscapes including Fiji, Samoa, Hawai‘i, Colombia, Greece, and China. With a commitment to the decolonisation and indigenisation of dance learning and performance spaces, Teuila’s work seeks to foster inclusive and empowering environments that honour diversity and cultural integrity. She is dedicated to igniting transformative dialogue and practice within academic and community settings, bridging traditional knowledge with contemporary realities to inspire meaningful change.

Darren Taniue is a Niuean dancer, choreographer, and educator whose work celebrates Pacific identity, LGBTQ+ culture, and the evolution of Vogue in Aotearoa. With a background in street dance and indigenous movement practices, he brings a unique fusion of tradition and contemporary expression to his performances.

Known for his bold and expressive style, Darren has collaborated with some of Aotearoa’s leading artists and collectives, including FAFSWAG, Fine Fatale, Lisa Reihana, and The House of Iman. His choreographic style blends Pacific dance, ballroom culture, and contemporary street styles, reflecting themes of community, competition, and self-expression. His works are deeply influenced by the vibrancy of Pacific and queer storytelling, creating performances that are both bold and celebratory.

As a dance educator and performing artist, Darren is committed to fostering the next generation of dancers, advocating for representation, and amplifying Pacific voices in the global dance landscape. Whether working within ballroom houses or shaping contemporary Pacific dance narratives, his work continues to push the boundaries of movement and performance, carving out space for dance that is unapologetic, culturally grounded, and ever-evolving.

Olivia Taouma is a remarkable polymath with an impressive background in Pasifika arts, management, and education in both Aotearoa and Samoa. Her passion for dance and Pasifika arts is evident through her contributions to numerous books, events, programmes, educational papers, and arts organisations. With exceptional experience and expertise in event management, programming, teaching, and performing arts, she has successfully created and delivered impactful Pasifika strategies and programmes. Olivia is the founder and Chair of Lima Productions Trust, who advocate and deliver programmes supporting Pasifika performing arts in Aotearoa. As the Pule Le Vā (Pacific Strategic Manager) at Tāmaki Paenga Hira (Auckland Museum), Olivia is a prominent figure in the Pasifika arts and culture landscape, both in Aotearoa and internationally. Her strong connections with Pasifika communities in Auckland and beyond make her an invaluable asset. Olivia's dedication to promoting Pasifika arts and culture through various mediums inspires many, and her work has had a positive impact on Pasifika communities in Auckland and further afield.

As kaikanikani and kairangahau Tia Reihana approaches the world through the lens of art, finding meaning and connection through movement. With over 30 years of experience in education, her passion for dance has led her to work extensively in professional, community, and institutional settings across Australia, the Pacific, America, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Currently a Senior Lecturer in Dance Studies at Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland, her work is deeply responsive to Indigenous communities, carefully considering current dancing environments and how to cultivate confidence and belonging at the intersection of arts education and Indigenous research methodologies. At the University of Auckland, Tia also serves as a co-director of the Centre for Co-Created Ageing Research, further demonstrating her commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration. Tia's expertise spans Arts, Education, and Health, positioning her as a crucial voice in understanding the challenges and opportunities within formal education systems and beyond.

Beyond her formal roles, Tia cherishes her role as a mother to her son Kauri above all else.

Hadz is a Samoan / Māori artist who blends the world of Youth Development with his love for performing arts.

Hadleigh’s choreographic journey began in the street dance world, leading his team, Sweet & Sour to New Zealand’s first world championship.

After years of touring and competitive success, he focused his sights on creating new pathways for younger dancers and developing ways to use street dance to tell stories in the theatre.

Hadleigh created Fresh Movement which worked with hundreds of young dancers using a community focussed lens. Fresh Movement developed it’s own flavour of Street dance by merging Hip Hop with Pacific and te ao Māori movements and ritual.

Through this platform many dancers found careers in the arts and he created many theatre shows which would go on to tour and open a new horizon for street dancers to explore.

Hadleigh has directed and choreographed Māui which has sold out a season at the Sydney Opera House, he was the movement director on Pacifica the Musical and is the head choreographer for Coca Cola Christmas in the Park.

His creative outlines extends into music, acting, DJing, Radio hosting and MCing.