Following the Christchurch terror attack, this weekend's Auckland's Pasifika Festival has been cancelled due to a stretched police force.
The event was set to take place at Western Springs Stadium on March 23 and 24.
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Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development's general manager Steve Armitage confirmed the cancellation in a statement to media.
"Given the need to prioritise police resourcing following the terrible events in Christchurch, we have today decided to cancel the Pasifika Festival for the coming weekend," says Armitage.
"Initial discussions with New Zealand Police gave us hope that through the festival we would be able to bring Auckland's communities together at this time of national mourning, however, given the unprecedented nature of what has happened we appreciate and respect that the New Zealand Police must prioritise resourcing to ensure the safety of all our communities across Tāmaki Makaurau.
"Pasifika Festival will return bigger and brighter than ever in 2020."
This year was to mark the 27th year of the festival, which aims to 'bring together Pacific Island communities to celebrate diverse cultures of the South Pacific'.
Newshub.
