Two of Aotearoa New Zealand’s prominent educational institutions have won the Stats NZ ‘Pacific Data Champ Interschool Challenge – Rep Your Kura’, one of the highlights of the 2025 Polyfest season.

St Thomas of Canterbury College in Christchurch, which provides education for Year 7 to 13 boys, were the winners of the challenge held at SPACPAC Canterbury Polyfest in Christchurch on 27 March.

The data challenge was a highly competitive event in both cities. In Christchurch, 278 students from 46 schools from around the Canterbury Region signed up for a chance at the championship trophy. In Auckland, Stats NZ recorded 801 engagements connecting with 76 schools, all of whom were proud to represent their kura.

Stats NZ designed the challenge to encourage the students, Pacific young people, and their families to engage with Pacific data, as a way to see themselves in the data and understand the power of data in an evidence-based world. Every question answered correctly earned a point for their respective schools.

The challenge was developed to serve as an educational tool for the ākonga, and to share the data back with the Pacific communities. The engagement revisited the efforts made for 2023 Census to connect with the community, stakeholders, schools and its students, and their Pacific families in a culturally safe space.

“Giving back Pacific data to the peoples who entrusted us with their information is a vital part of our responsibility,” say Tia Warbrick, the Deputy Chief Executive and Deputy Government Statistician for Strategic Engagement, Māori Partnerships and Data Capability at Stats NZ. “The data is not just numbers. It’s also a reflection of who we are as a country, where Pacific voices can be heard and valued.”

The 2025 Polyfest season was a vibrant celebration of Pacific youth, culture, and the unique mana that Pacific communities bring to Aotearoa New Zealand.

Photo: Vaotui Seulupe Dr Falaniko Tominiko (Kaitohutohu Mātāmua – Principal Advisor, Pacific Engagement Stats NZ) presenting Neihana Mataafa and Isaiah Tapu the trophy during assembly.