Yadra Vinaka,

Pasifika Pride was on display as 33 Pasifika students represented Boys’ High over the 3 Day Tupaia Tapasa Festival last week at the University of Waikato.

On Thursday night, Samuela Tuwere, Haki Cooper, Armani Pulu, Pertero Daurewa, and Malachi Tafuna spoke superbly at the Pasifika Speech Competition. I would like to thank our English teachers, as hay fever was abundant throughout the large audience as our boys spoke eloquently from the heart on topics such as:

• Pasifika stereotypes, language not defining culture, being unapologetically Pasifika, & co-existing within the teachings of Māori, Pasifika and European knowledge.

• Petero Daurewa was the top male speaker out of all schools and achieved third overall with his speech on men’s mental health concerns in the Pacific.

• If you have the time and space, please let these boys share their speeches in class as you see fit, as they were all very moving, relevant and pertinent to our young generation.

On Friday, our Kilikiti team endured a long day of island cricket. They were dealt a huge hiding by St John's in pool play (all out for 24), but managed to bounce back and make the final against St John's once again…where, we began receiving yet another hiding in the first innings (all out for 24 again). But, Jeepers Eric, a comeback of biblical proportions unfolded.

I would like to thank our PE teachers, as through pure athletic skill (whilst wearing lavalavas I might add) and divine intervention, St John's were reduced to needing three runs to win OR two runs to draw off one ball.

I would like to thank our maths teachers... as St John's hit the final ball towards the boundary, they ran 1.5 runs and then their batters ran into the crowd to prematurely celebrate the title. This gave our boys the opportunity to run out the batters in controversial yet concise circumstances and be the first ever WINNERS of the University of Waikato Kilikiti competition trophy.

Saturday saw our boys compete in a star-studded Pasifika performance competition. Unfortunately we could not place in this event, but the boys impressed so much that they were hand-picked to perform as part of a larger group at the Moana Pasifika vs Chiefs super rugby game at FMG stadium- an awesome reward and a perfect way to end a proud three days of Pasifika representation in our local community.