Having lived locally for more than two years, Onolina Moefaauo said that while she had made lifelong friends in Queenstown, something was missing.
"I've always said, it's getting that family feel and coming together and getting that bit of culture down here, exposing ourselves."
She is appealing for Islanders to come together to form a cultural group, which she hoped would lead to the resort hosting a "mini-Polyfest" (Polynesian festival) for all to enjoy.
"We eventually want to form something like a mini polyfest where we could attract visitors from the North Island."
Festivals were common in Auckland and other larger cities, and incorporated dance, art, food and family.
Ms Moefaauo was researching what council grants could be obtained for the festival.
She said the idea came to her after she gathered a group of eight local Samoan people for a traditional dinner.
"I actually took a step back and thought, 'this could become something'."
The alpine resort's cuisine is vastly different from that of the independent island nation of Samoa, and Ms Moefaauo regularly stocked up on corned beef from her local service station, at a cost.
"The only place to buy corned beef is at BP [petrol station] for $7, but it's the best money spent.
"I'm just happy it's corned beef."
She speculated Islanders relocated to Queenstown for the chance to experience change and to contribute to their families from afar.
"I really didn't think they would be in this alpine environment, but it's just the fact that when you are living on the beach, where it's so tropical, you just want to try something different. They really search for a better life and want to help their families."
A self-confessed "very vocal" person, she suspected she was known as the "crazy lady trying to gather all the Islanders together".
During the Rugby World Cup last year, she spotted two Samoan flags flying from a house off Frankton Rd, and decided to investigate.
The flags belonged to a Samoan family with whom she has now become good friends, but at the time she was warned by her Norwegian-Australian husband against knocking on the door.
"I rang my husband before I knocked on the door and he said 'please don't go in'."
She knew of many Island families in the resort and said it was heartening a local primary school held a Samoan-inspired performance in honour of its Samoan pupils, as "culture groups are especially important for the young ones".
Samoan or Island people interested in forming the cultural group can email Onolina at linzk81@yahoo.com.
