Traditional storytelling from the Pacific has made its way to New Zealand with a first ever event taking place this week.

'Moana Pacific Storytelling' featured stories from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands and Tuvalu, including the Samoan myth 'Sina and the Eel'.

Project manager of the Pacifica Arts Centre Tuaratini Ra'a, organised the event, which is part of the Pacific Heritage Arts Fono 2017.

Ms Ra'a said storytelling in the Pacific, apart from being entertaining tales, was also a vehicle for the language and culture.

"It's an opportunity for those to turn up to observe that and they are not telling the stories to entertain the audience.

"They are telling the story as an expression of who they are as people from Tonga, Fiji. They are telling their stories in their own language and the stories is a fluid thing."