On Thursday 17th August 2023 was the Westlake Girls Pasefika Night with guest performances by Westlake Boys High School. This night was a very eventful and vibrant evening with food and drinks being sold and over 900 guests in attendance – a full house!
We had 4 main Pasefika groups perform, the Fijian Group, the Tongan Group, the Cook Island Group and the Samoan Group. We also had special item performances by some students that showcased their singing vocals and the Niuean culture.
The Fijian Group showcased their singing abilities with songs like ‘Vanua Domoni’ – ‘The land that I love, My homeland’ in dedication to their grandparents, and their dancing abilities during their Meke (traditional style of dance-combination of dance and story-telling through song) to ‘Raude’.
The Tongan Group showcased their dancing abilities through the boys only Mako (fast-paced war dance) which was definitely a highlight, the girls only Tau’olunga (traditional graceful dance performed by single young women-a combination of Samoan Taualuga and Tongan ula) and the combined item which was a mixture of both the Mako and Tau’olunga to ‘Pitutaukae’ a fast-paced song. Ouaaa!
The Cook Island Group showcased two slow dances. ‘Mou Piri’ and ‘Aitutaki Paradise’. Through their actions, through their eyes, and through the slow swaying of their hips, our girls told a story. A story of warmth, unity, a story of love. ‘Mou piri au ia koe’ – ‘Hold me close to you’. ‘I te kimi ma’ana’ – ‘In your warm embrace’. ‘Amiri au ia koe’ – ‘I beckon to you’. ‘Ura’ura taua’ – ‘Let’s dance together’. ‘Mou Piri’ – ‘Hold me closer’. ‘Mou piri’ – ‘Hold me closer’.
The Samoan Group showcased their singing abilities with songs like ‘Aua te fefe’ for their combined item and their dancing abilities for the girls only Siva (traditional gentle storytelling dance with movements of the hand and feet in time to music) and the boys Sasa (group dance performed by girls and/or boys with hand movements that depict everyday life to a drum rhythm). They finished with a traditional Taualuga with Lesina Eneleo as the Taupou and Jeremiah Samoa as the Fuataimi. We also cannot forget about the surprising Siva Afi (fire dance) outside that ended this beautiful evening filled with culture and pride!
On behalf of all the Pasefika Night Leaders 2023, we would like to give a huge thank you to the tutors from all our groups, the supervisors (staff) who helped with many weeks of practice and in the evening and our parents of course, for supporting us throughout this journey to showcase our cultures.
For many of us, we started this journey as strangers and ended this journey as family.
Vinaka Vakalevu, Malo ‘aupito, Meitaki, Fa’afetai tele lava, Fakaaue Lahi and many warm Pacific thanks to everyone involved in this evening, we are beyond grateful and without you all this night would have not been possible!
Written by Simaima Palei, Sharlene Hala’ufia and Alaane Dora Kolose
To view more photos, visit https://www.westlakegirls.school.nz/envira_album/school-gallery-page/
Photos taken by Y13 student, Alison Fan
