Mosgiel pastor Ukene Latu said mothers from the community prepared traditional Samoan dishes for the church’s stall at the festival, held at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday, not only for their Pasifika communities but for people from other cultures to enjoy.
Food played a big role in the Samoan community, she said.
"Us Samoan’s we love food, like the bigger the better.
"It’s all about bringing our families, our culture and just everyone around us to enjoy what we have on offer."
The church’s stall had food including Sapa Sui, a dish with vermicelli, meat and sauces and half moon pies, sweet buns with pineapple inside.
There were food stalls from other countries from the moana as well including Tonga, Fiji and the Cook Islands.
The Kiribati stall had woven goods on display including mats, bags and baskets.
Kiribati stall-holder Baiki Bakeua said everyone used to know how to weave in Kiribati by age 13.
"There are specialised weavers that can come up with very special patterns but everyone else should know the basic skill, so you can have a mat to sleep on.
"Otherwise you sleep on the ground."
Festival organiser Ma Ole Faletolu, of Pacific Trust Otago, said the festival was a celebration for Pacific people and who they were.
"It’s a chance to showcase our identity to everybody especially down here in Dunedin.
"It’s big a chance for our communities to give that authentic type of pacific feel to everybody."
She said there were about 60 food stalls, arts and crafts and business stalls as well as 14 performances including one from popular Pacific music group Tree and Swiss to end the day.
