Tauira to Tumuaki: Reg Blake gives back to his kura in Tauranga
20 April 2023
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Reg Blake was a student at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Otepou – a small school in Welcome Bay, Tauranga – from 1996 to 2002.
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The strength of culture shines through at Polyfest 2021
Posted: 23 April 2021
Reference #: 1HAK99
The Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival (ASB Polyfest) has become a shining moment of 2021, following a two-year hiatus. The celebration of culture and diversity was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2019, the Christchurch tragedy on March 15 affected the last day of performances.
A resilient, hopeful, and passionate community lit up Manukau from April 14-17, with breath-taking performances, bright colours, and big smiles all-round.
Students competed on five stages, performing traditional items from the following cultures – Cook Islands, Māori, Niue, Samoan and Tongan. There was also a diversity stage featuring performances from Fijian, Tokelau, Chinese, Korean, Tuvalu, Hawaii, Sri Lanka, Kiribati and Indian groups.
Connected through culture, and fun: The Sri Lankan group from Avondale College are all smiles and laughs on and off-stage
Resilience and hope: Even the rain couldn’t dampen this momentous event. What’s not captured on camera are the schools and groups who took this moment to sing and dance as they shltered – an embodiment of the spirit of Pacific communities.
Cultural pride: Adorning beautiful cultural dress, performers are ready to share their culture with the crowds
Community and friendship: Students band together as they eagerly await their performance backstage
Avondale College students bring the Thai culture to life on the Diversity stage
A beautiful display of colour and grace from St Cuthbert’s College for their Korean performance
Big smiles and beautiful colours: Avondale College’s Cook Islands group prepare to take the stage
Mana wahine: Ākonga from St Cuthbert’s College are fierce on the Māori stage
Students are at home on the stage; enjoying their moment to spotlight their identities and their cultures
A full article on ASB Polyfest 2021 will follow in the Education Gazette soon.
BY Education Gazette editors
Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero, reporter@edgazette.govt.nz
Posted: 11:05 am, 23 April 2021
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