Talofa lava, malo lelei, bulavinaka, kia orana, and warm Pacific greetings to all families of the 2023 Palmerston North Boys’ High School Pasifika group.

Firstly, thank you to all parents and families who were involved in supporting our boys at the PNBHS FIAFIA Night and the Pasifika Fusion events this month. Your love and support are greatly appreciated; without you, our boys would not have had the freedom to express their cultural pride and heritage. Therefore, thank you.

FIAFIA Night was a great success. The PNBHS Poly Group were able release the early nerves leading into Pasifika Fusion and perform in front of friends, family, and loved ones. The Speirs Centre was almost at full capacity seating a crowd of approximately 300. The mealofa raised throughout the night was just under $700. We used this mealofa to feed our boys during the 3pm – 5pm break on the Thursday evening of Pasifika Fusion. For that, we as a school are extremely thankful to our Pasifika community for your kind donation and alofa; all 80 boys were well-fed and rested – some even went for a swim in the school pool.

Pasifika Fusion was a great success and we thank you for your support leading into and during this momentous event for our boys. There were many placings throughout the category entries, but the standout placings as a group were second in the Cultural Performance and second overall 🥈. An enormous thank you to Elijah Rahui and the Samuelu brothers for their time, tutorship, and mentoring of our young men. The passion and time that these tutors gave is reflected in how well the boys performed and upheld themselves as young men of outstanding character.

It is with grace and gratitude that we acknowledge our boys as they have put so much time and effort into all areas of Pasifika Fusion, sacrificing other commitments for their love and adoration for the PNBHS Pasifika Group – thank you. Above and beyond, we give our thanks to the 2023 Pasifika Group leader, Tevita Fakahau. This young man led with astronomical amounts of pressure and responsibility on his shoulders. He led with humility, pride, compassion, strength, and courage, but most of all, love; he led with love for the Boys’ High Pasifika Group and the brotherhood which maketh the man. Well done Tevita and thank you very much.

Pasifika Fusion 2023 results summary:

Quiz - 3rd

Essay - Senior: 2nd Hugo Liuvaie

Poem - Senior: 3rd equal Lucas Talamaivao, 2nd Hugo Liuvaie

Wearable Arts - 3rd - Tevita Fakahau & Sam Masoe (designers), Santino Pekepo-Tevaga (model)

English Speeches:

Junior - 1st Owen Hukehuke

Senior - 3rd-Hugo Liuvaie, 2nd Isaako Kosena-Newman, 1st Zion-Lee William

Pasifika Speeches:

SAMOAN - Junior: 2nd Tino Kuki, 1st Sam Brown

                   Senior: 2nd Richard Ioane

NIUE - 1st Hugo Liuvaie

COOK ISLAND - 1st: Zion-Lee William

Talent - 1st Samoan Brass

Visual Art - 3rd Tre Viviani

Cultural Performance - 2nd PNBHS

Overall, the PNBHS Pasifika group finished in second place, a fantastic achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication from all of the group and the tutors and staff who supported them. 🥈

Click here to view the full album of photographs from the Pasifika Fusion Festival.

Our staff was privileged to be the audience for a performance from the Pasifika group as part of their preparations for the Pasifika Fusion Festival.