Fraser High School Pasifika group play to beat of their own drum

A modern  cultural performance by Fraser High School’s Pasifika group has seen them win two awards at this year’s Pasifika by Nature secondary school competition.

The pasifika group won the “Most Entertaining” and “Most Value Contribution” categories and finished fourth overall.

The group was the first school to take the stage and opened the competition with a twist. They began with a segment on Māori culture, which is rare for a pacifika competition.

The idea of including Māori was that all island nations needed to stand together and support each other, including their Māori brothers and sisters.

Next there was a Samoan item, then a Hawaiian and Cook Island segment, finishing with a strong Tongan performance.

The group incorporated fresh songs that were carefully integrated into their traditional dance routines such as Snoop Dogg’s, “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and Nelly’s  “It’s Getting Hot In Here”.

Leader of the Fraser High School pasifika performance group, Mele Faletau, was delighted that her group got not one, but two trophies.

“It was so thrilling to be a part of the competition and perform and represent our cultures.”

The Year 13 Tongan student joined the group with the  encouragement of her older brother and sister who were also once members.

“I’m a proud islander and proud to represent not only where I come from, but all Pacific islands.

“I also became a leader because growing up my older sister and brother were the leaders when they were in poly so I was taught leadership skills at a young age.”

The group made up of more than  70 students, began practising twice a week, then started practising every day in the last week of Term 1 and first 2 weeks of Term 2 leading up to the competition.

“It was important and special for me to teach the younger kids what I’ve been taught and learn at the same time,” Faletau said.

Teacher-in-charge Vicky-Lee Wihongi is in her sixth year of overseeing the group and was thrilled at the kids’ performance.

“I think we’re particularly proud because at our school it’s the principal’s vision that the students choreograph and take full responsibility while we just facilitate.

“They choreograph, they tutor, they do all the music. There is no adult involvement in the design of the show, which every other school does.”

The Māori incorporation was a big gamble, but Wihongi thought it paid off.

“Māori has not been done as a full stage before, so we were being a little bit risky, but the kids wanted to it tied in with the theme.”

Next year the group will look to include a full three-minute Māori stage performance.

The show, held at the Claudelands Event Centre displayed Pasifika performances by 14 schools from  the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions.

Each group was required to showcase at least three different cultures from the Pacific within a 20-minute time frame.

Hamilton Girls’ High School came first overall, followed by Rotorua Boys and Girls’ High School. Last year’s winners, Tokoroa High School, finished third.