Source: Kane Parsons
The bold and beautiful harmonies of Fijian songs and storytelling are set to reach a wider audience with the announcement that Vatu Dei are releasing their debut album this October as part of their Pasifika Artist in Residence for Palmerston North.
The album, produced in collaboration with The KaRs and Hokozoo Productions, will be launched during Fijian Language Week 2025, celebrating the richness of the Fijian identity and the strength of Pasifika voices in Aotearoa.
Vatu Dei, meaning “Steadfast Rock,” is a collective of talented Fijian artists who celebrate culture through meke, the traditional form of Fijian song and dance. Their work blends chants, harmonies, spoken word, and contemporary performance to share the stories of Fijian legends, love, indigenous history, and everyday life.
Rooted deeply in iTaukei (indigenous Fijian) traditions, the collective is dedicated to preserving ancestral knowledge while offering a fresh and powerful voice for the next generation.
The Creative New Zealand Pacific Arts Regional Residency, supported through Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Strategy in partnership with Palmerston North City Council, invests in Pasifika artists whose work strengthens cultural identity, builds community connection, and pushes creative boundaries.
“We are thrilled to partner again with Palmerston North City Council to co-invest in strategic opportunities for Pasifika creative communities in the region. It’s fantastic that Melanesian artists have been selected, as this aligns with one of our strategic priorities, ‘Pacific arts include our whole village,’” says Erolia Ifopo, Mana Pasifika Navigator, Pacific Arts from Creative New Zealand.
Stephanie Velvin, manager of community development at Palmerston North City Council, adds, “We’re proud to support Vatu Dei as they take this next step. They bring a fresh perspective and a strong connection to culture, which perfectly embody what this residency is all about.”
Joe Bose, speaking for Vatu Dei, says the collective is honoured to receive the residency and excited to release their first body of recorded work:
“Vatu Dei are not only about reviving traditions—we are reimagining what it means to be Fijian in the modern world, carrying the past forward with strength and pride.”
