The purpose of Pasifika Week was to allow not only our Pasifika Students, but the Kura to celebrate the different cultures all at once.

We started off Pasifika Week with games on Monday in the gym, showcasing the amazing talent and bringing out the competitiveness within our girls here at MGC. It was heartwarming to see the participation increase as it showed a real interest of our students in the games from our cultures, In doing so, our students got a taste of the different things each culture has to offer. Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, Kiribati and Cook Island cultures were celebrated throughout the week through games, performances and an exhibition

Wednesday was our Performance day. Although we are of different cultures, one common thing in Pasifika countries is that dance is used to tell our stories. Wednesday lunch we had soloist Fa’alupega Sefulufa showcasing an amazing Kiribati dance in Kiribati traditional wear. She was followed by soloist Sarah Leota who beautifully performed a Cook Island Dance . Following Sarah was our Marlborough Girls College Pasifika Group performing a Samoan Ma’ulu’ulu. The group had been working very hard to perfect this dance as not only does it require actions, but the song is sung live. After the group Ma'ulu'ulu, I had the privilege of starting off a taualuga/ dance with year 13’s Fiali’i Solomona and Sheeba Ligaliga. In the Samoan culture, it is important that any Samoan performance finishes off with a Taualunga. Following the year 13 dance, the MGC Pasifika Group performed a Tongan Tau’olunga. Our performances ended off with a heart warming solo from our Pasifika Manutaki Mele Moli. Ending off Wednesday's performances with a Tongan Tau’olunga brought mafana/warmth to us as performers and to the primary schools and whanau sitting in the audience.

On Thursday we sold a variety of different foods from different cultures. Having a variety of delicious foods to choose from meant that there was a long waiting line in front of our stall before the lunch bell time rang. The food was prepared by our amazing Pasifika Committee as well as their families.

To end the week, Marlborough Girls and Marlborough Boys College Pasifika Groups travelled over to Nelson to participate in Vast Dance 2022. This was an amazing opportunity for our Pasifika Groups to showcase our culture on a stage away from home. We took part in workshops together with schools from Nelson at the start of the day before showcasing our different dances in front of a live audience at the night concert. We had an amazing time performing, watching the dance talents offered by other schools and getting to learn new different dance styles in our workshops. Throughout the week, the Pasifika Exhibition opened in the Library, which displayed valuable materials from our home countries. Everything on display belonged to our Pasfifka students and staff.

Whanaungatanga. Manaakitanga. Kotahitanga

We thank you all for embracing our cultures as an aoga, kura or whanau. For showing respect and taking the time to learn new things and passing that on to someone else. Lastly, a big Ngā Mihi to our amazing staff, committees Pasifika Group and everyone else for showcasing Kotahitanga to make Pasifika week a memorable week.

O tatou ole aiga e tasi, we are one family.