On Saturday the 18th of March in front of 20,000 people at Hagley Park in Christchurch - our combined MGC and MBC Pasifika Performing Arts classes performed two amazing performance brackets at the Canterbury Polyfest.

Our MGC Pasifika dance class performed two Tau’olunga (Tongan dances), one as a class and a solo performance by our Manukura Veisinia Moli. MBC performed a crowd favourite, the Taufakaniua (Tongan war dance). Our other dance bracket had Samoan performances where we performed a combined Sāsā (Samoan sitting slap dance), a boys Fa’ataupati (boys standing slap dance), a Mā’ulu’ulu (girls dance) and a Taualuga where we had Giniaietta Vili (Yr 12 from MGC) perform a solo performance to end off our Polyfest journey.

We don’t perform every year at the Canterbury Polyfest and the last time we performed was in 2020 with a very small dance group of eight MGC students. This year for the first time, we were able to take 35 students from MGC and 42 students from MBC. Our combined group came to a total of 77 students who definitely rocked that stage with sensational smiles, a few litres (maybe more than a few) of Johnson’s baby oil and meticulous costumes to match.

We could not have gone down to Christchurch without the help of a few people whom we need to thank. 

• Mrs Monalisa Siale and her team of sewing masters for creating our Tongan costumes, Kānise Island design in Auckland for the Samoan costumes, we were honestly THE BEST DRESSED group in Christchurch. Ask anyone! 
•  The Moli family and the Kalapu Fietokoni for their financial support, can’t forget our families and friends who also donated funds at our dress rehearsal night. 
• Joseph Casalme, CEO of the Marlborough Civic Theatre Trust for allowing us to use the Whitehaven room for practices
• Te Puna Wanaka facilities at Ara Institute of Technology in Christchurch where we were based before Polyfest. 
• Ms Worth Rhine for organising our formal school lavalavas and blazers so we could look FLASH. 
•  Our MGC dance tutors: (ex student) Sisilia Takitaki for the Tongan Tau’olunga, Rebecca Fa’apopo and (ex student) Fiaali’i Solomona for the Samoan Ma’ulu’ulu, Albany Seumanutafa from the Tama Mai i Saute Dance Academy in Christchurch for the combined Sāsā. 
• Finally, to all our subject teachers and Ms Lynch for your patience while we attended to practices sometimes during periods four and five, almost everyday after school and every Saturday for six weeks to the lead up to Polyfest. Ms Shanks, Mrs Taetuli and Dr Chand - thank you for looking after us in Christchurch. Cannot forget two key people: Mrs Raeli from MBC (those boys are hard work!) and of course, our very own Mrs Alipia. No words for you Miss, just know we truly do appreciate you!

The Year 12s and 13s will definitely remember our last Polyfest this year. Bring on Canterbury or Auckland Polyfest in 2025!

Ana Te’o, 2023 Pasifika Manutaki