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AUCKLAND
SECONDARY SCHOOLS POLY FESTIVAL TURNS 30 |
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Media Release – SMC Group |
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The 2005 ASB Bank Auckland
Secondary Schools Maori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival with
the theme for 2005 “Through Unity Harmony will grow”, has celebrated
its 30th year anniversary. With performances fit for royalty, the
standard at this year’s ASB Bank Secondary Schools Maori and Pacific
Islands Cultural Festival was at an all time high.
The ASB BANK Cultural Festival is being organised by a partnership
comprising of the Auckland Secondary Schools Association (festival
owners), Manukau City Council, event management company – SMC Group,
and the host school – James Cook High School.
The school festival is an important showcase of New Zealand’s
diverse cultures through performance, music dance and art. Realising
the incredible value the festival adds to their cultural programme,
schools across the region take part each year in the Festival’s five
core categories – Cook Island, Maori, Niuean, Samoan, Tongan, as
well as groups performing Indian, Korean, Chinese and Sri Lankan.
In previous years the event has attracted in excess of 85,000
spectators with 50 Auckland schools with a combined total of 8,500
students participating from all over Auckland.
Teachers have noticed that students who while not academically
inclined will get into a group and their leadership qualities come
out. “It’s all about kids growing so much within the group – it
raises their self-esteem and equips them with the tools they need to
survive and succeed in the outside world – it develops confidence
and self esteem” says Hemi, tutor at James Cook High School “and in
today’s world, that’s no small thing”.
No matter whether a group takes away an award or just the sheer
satisfaction of having performed before their peers; what is
acknowledged as an achievement is the opportunity students gain
through being able to excel at something they’re good at.
One school that has recognised this benefit is Alfriston College
which opened in 2004 and has now entered for the first time. “There
is a phenomenal amount of energy put in by the students for this one
performance” says Andrea Tapu, Deputy Principal in charge of
Learning, Community and Culture at Alfriston College. “When we can
transfer this enthusiasm, dedication and commitment across the board
into daily |
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A ‘taupou’ performing at the Samoa stage at Polyfest 2005 (Maori
& Pacific Islands Secondary Schools Cultural Competition)
including exhibits & Pacific food stalls.
(Photos: Ruci Farrell) |
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Niuean stage, one of the 4 stages at ASB Polyfest Festival
(Maori & Pacific Islands Secondary Schools Cultural Competition)
at Manukau Velodrome.
(Photo: Ruci Farrell) |
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The three day Polyfest is a great day out for secondary school
children and families as well as a wonderful cultural experience
of the many cultures in New Zealand.
(Photo: Ruci Farrell) |
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curriculum, the results
will be incredible”.
Carmel College is also participating in the festival for the first
time with the Pacifica group under the direction of English teacher
Coline Campbell who is from Canada. Coline says that there are
different Pacific Island groups at Carmel but they have formed a
very strong united group and chosen to perform under the Tongan
Stage category. “While these girls form a minority at the school,
participation in the ASB BANK Cultural Festival gives them a chance
to investigate a whole new experience and we are very excited at the
performance the girls are presenting” continues Coline.
Competition was tough at the festival with overall winners:
• Maori Stage - Te Wharekura O Hoani Waititi Marae
• Samoan Stage (Girls School) Auckland Girls Grammar, (Boys School)
St Paul’s College, (Co-Ed) Avondale College
• Cook Islands stage - Tangaroa College
• Niue stage - Edgewater College
• Tongan Stage - Faha’iula performance – Marist College, uniform –
Southern Cross Campus; Kailao performance and uniform – St Paul’s
College; Lakalaka performance and uniform – De La Salle & McAuley;
Mako performance – Wesley College, uniform – Sacred Heart;
Ma’ulu’ulu performance and uniform – Auckland Girls Grammar; Otuhaka
for performance and uniform – Baradene; Soke performance and uniform
– De La Salle & McAuley; Tau faka-niua performance and uniform –
Wesley College; Tau’olunga performance – Otahuhu High School and for
uniform – Carmel College and Baradene.
“The feedback that we’ve had from some of the judges is that the
standard of performances has been very, very high,” says Craig
Seuseu, of the festival’s event management company SMC Group.
Tuaine Robati was a judge at the Cook Islands stage this year for
the third time and says it was great to be a part of the festival
“buzz”.
“For me the standard just keeps climbing,” Mr Robati says. “The
costumes are stunning and it’s always exciting to see what people
come up with.”
Mr Robati says he is also seeing more non-Cook Islands students
performing on the stage, and it’s great to see participation rates
constantly on the rise. “It’s all about kids having a go and
enjoying themselves on stage,” he says.
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Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd.
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