Huge crowds at the Tongan stage, Meghan Trainor with a Sāmoan twist and coconut tree climbing on the Niuean stage wrapped up Polyfest 2023.

Read day three’s highlights here

Cook Islands stage

Five secondary schools (division one and two) performed including defending champions Māngere College, but it was the students from Auckland Girls Grammar School who showcased the beautiful dance styles of the Cook Islands.

The girls first wore navy blue and pink Cook Islands’ dresses as they performed an action song dance while standing and then a brief intermission occurred where four students who supported the performance as backup singers and instrument players took the stage and performed a dance to Rex Atirai and the Heimana All Stars’ song ‘Kia Orana’. This surprise act allowed time for the group to leave the stage for a costume change into a red strapless top and skirt to perform the akaparu, where the hips sway side to side while staying synchronised.

A great spectacle that made many Cook Islanders proud in the crowd.

Results

Division three

2nd: Onehunga High School

1st: Aorere College

Division two

3rd: Tangaroa College

2nd: Tamaki College

1st: Auckland Girls Grammar School

Division one

3rd: Manurewa High School

2nd: Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate

1st: Māngere College

Niuean stage

Seven Niuean groups entered this year and after the mid-morning break, McAuley High School brightened the stage with their yellow Niuean traditional dresses. A total of 36 performers participated with a crowd favourite being their meke. 

A handful of girls gathered centre stage and formed a coconut tree, with one student imitating the actions of one climbing the tree, with her legs wrapped around the trunk and slowly being lifted up to show her climbing. There were also actions that showed the girls praying before having their meal, highlighting the importance of religion in Niue.

McAuley High School’s rendition of the Catholic hymn ‘Take my hand’ sung in the Niuean language was divine and took me back to my years as a student of the school singing that hymn during Mercy Day mass.

Results

Girls

2nd: McAuley High School

1st: Auckland Girls Grammar School

Boys

1st: De La Salle College

Co-ed

3rd: Aorere College

2nd: Onehunga High School

1st: Alfriston College

Sāmoan stage

Baradene College’s taupou showed excellent skills with her nifo oti or knife performance as she tossed it in the air for one of the aiuli (supporting dancers in the back) to catch successfully, making the crowd wild. The girls sampled Meghan Trainor’s ‘Made you look’ song during their performance, which was a fresh take.

St Dominic’s Girls College led the afternoon with melodious singing, with one of their songs being so fast-paced they all did well to not miss a beat. An impressive effort.

Results

Girls

3rd: Baradene College

2nd: Epsom Girls Grammar School

1st: McAuley High School

Boys

3rd: St Peters College

2nd: De La Salle College

1st: Kelston Boys High School

Co-ed

3rd: Ōtāhuhu College

2nd: Avondale College

1st: Manurewa High School

Tongan stage

The vibrant dances of the lakalaka and mako continued, but Manurewa High School’s mā’ulu’ulu is worth mentioning with their bright green and yellow Tongan outfits including their matching fakaha’apai (colourful skirt worn over the ta’ovala or fine mat). I enjoyed how the choreography utilised the large number of performers staggered within four rows by having each row dancing a different direction to the other like a domino effect. Many schools adopt this style, but Manurewa executed the spectacle beautifully.

Equally beautiful was the girls from James Cook High School performing their tau’olunga with such finesse, showing everyone why they placed first last year. 

Results

Faha’iula

2nd: Aorere College

1st: Southern Cross Campus 

Lakalaka

3rd: Aorere College

2nd: Southern Cross Campus

1st: Avondale College

Mako

3rd: Sacred Heart College

2nd: St Peters College

1st: Liston College

Mā’ulu’ulu

3rd: McAuley High School

2nd: Tamaki College

1st: Auckland Girls Grammar School

‘Otuhaka

1st: Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate

Sika

1st: Westlake Boys High School

Soke

3rd: Māngere College

2nd: Avondale College

1st: Auckland Girls Grammar School

Taufakaniua

3rd: De La Salle College

2nd: Dilworth School

1st: Wesley College

Tau’olunga

3rd: St Dominic’s College

2nd: Ōtāhuhu College

1st: James Cook High School

Diversity stage results

Europe continent award

1st: St Cuthbert’s College – Turkish group

Africa continent award

3rd: Rutherford College – African Fusion group

2nd: St Dominic’s College – African Fusion group

1st: Avondale College – African Fusion group

Asia continent award

3rd: James Cook High School – Indian group

2nd: Epsom Girls Grammar School – Sri Lankan Group

1st equal: St Dominic’s College – Chinese group

1st equal: Avondale College – Filipino group

Oceania continent award

3rd: Mahurangi College – Pasifika Fusion group

2nd: Auckland Girls Grammar School – Fijian group

1st: Wesley College – Fijian group

Fusion award

3rd: Whangaparaoa College & Orewa College – Pasifika Fusion group

2nd: Mahurangi College – Pasifika Fusion group

1st: Avondale College – African Fusion group

Interpretation of theme award

3rd: Avondale College – Sri Lankan group

2nd: Avondale College – Filipino group

1st: Massey High School – Tahitian group

Choreography award

3rd: Auckland Girls Grammar School – Fijian group

2nd: Massey High School – Tahitian group

1st equal: Wesley College – Fijian group

1st equal: St Dominic’s College – Chinese group

Overall winner

3rd: Wesley College – Fijian group

2nd: Avondale College – Sri Lankan group

1st: Massey High School – Tahitian group

Highlight of the day

Seeing the electric taufakaniua performance by Wesley College on the Tongan stage bringing their supporters to life, making them stand and cheer for joy, for pride and to remind everyone who the 2022 champions were.

General vibe

It was heartwarming to see all four main stages come alive for the finale. It was undoubtedly a busy day for the ticketing people with a huge attendance, but an even greater presence was online with over 300,000 people utilising the live stream.

What did I eat?

I had to go back to Simp-lee Smoothies for a tropical crush smoothie thanks to the sun following me around all day. I also grabbed a couple of BBQ pork buns, which were delicious and an easy way to get a bite on the go.

This is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.