The representation of Pasifika traditional dance, music and customs known as Canterbury Polyfest showcases Pasifika culture in secondary schools around the South Island. It began in 2000 and is now the most recognised Pasifika festival in the South Island.

Burnside High School’s group was the second to perform in front of various schools from all over the South Island. “I think Marlborough Girls’ High School and Marlborough Boys’ High School came as well, so that was pretty cool,” a student from the Polyfest group describes. “There were heaps of schools there, and the groups ranged in different sizes. There were some that were really small and some that were really big, like our one, so it was really cool to watch other schools come and perform.” 

A Burnside High School student described the whole event as “a pretty big deal,” but it came with a lot of dedication. The Burnside High School Polyfest group practised every Thursday and Friday after school and every Saturday from 9 am until 3 pm for seven weeks in anticipation of their performance. In these rehearsals, they learnt all their songs and dance moves, forming their routine. “It was a lot of hard work and effort, but it was definitely worth it,” the student says. 

The group also performed at the Fia Fia Night held at Burnside High School in the Aurora Centre on the Thursday night before the festival. This night was an opportunity for the students to perform for their families, and “it was the first time we had performed with our outfits.” The group usually rehearsed in the common room or the dance hall, “so it was our first time performing on a bigger stage like the Aurora Centre.” Their performance consisted of five songs as well as a sasa, which is a traditional Samoan dance. These songs included three that were Samoan as well as a Tongan and a South African song. 

A student describes that it was their “first year doing it, so it was a whole new experience for me, but we’re all kind of like a family. I have made so many friends from different year groups. The thing about all of us in the Polyfest group is that we all celebrate Pasifika culture so we all have that one thing in common. It was nice to be surrounded by those people.” They also “would definitely encourage other people to join,” stating that “you don’t have to be Pasifika to do it,” as the group had students of other ethnicities get involved too. Canterbury Polyfest “became my whole personality for a bit” the student says, finding that when the show was over, it “was so depressing” as the whole journey had been “so fun.” 

The students of the Burnside High School Polyfest group would like to thank their two tutors, Greg and Lisah for all the amazing work they put into the group, and Mr Findlay and Mrs Kleinpaste for all their support.