On 15 September, at the Edgar Sports Centre, our Pasifika Culture Group, EMPIRE and Wairüa Puhou performed outstandingly at the annual Otago Polynesian Festival. 

2016 marks the second year Otago Girls' and Otago Boys' High schools have joined forces to form Empire. The group would especially like to thank their tutors Ioana Peni, Afe Faavae, Esther Nosa and Vivienne Moana, percussionists Krizevac Lolesio Tuitea and Enoka Taufua. Empire would also like to acknowledge Sale Tusini for his composition and Rosemary Flanagan for her assistance with Empire's garments.

Congratulations to our combined Otago Girls' and Boys' High School kapa haka, Wairua Pühou, for their entertaining performance at Polyfest. The enthusiastic crowd showed their appreciation for the "old school" style of waiata and the use of traditional titi tõrea, räkau and poi.

Costumes featured handmade flax raincapes, hawk feathers and the sky-blue of aspiration, following an old proverb. The group was ably led by Taina Te Ngahue and Autumn Scarf- Matthews. Special thanks to tutors Kaharau and Te Rina Keogh, and in particular to our teacher in charge of kapa haka, Matua Mac Te Ngahue.