Youthful talent for time out

By Diana McCurdy

A full spectrum of Auckland's talented school pupils will entertain Apec leaders' spouses while their partners are hard at work on Monday week.

St Cuthbert's School junior choir will echo New Zealand's British roots when it performs for the spouses on Puketutu Island.

The spouses will get a taste of New Zealand's Pacific Island culture when they are greeted and farewelled by De La Salle College's Samoan culture group at Kermadec Ocean Fresh restaurant in the city.

St Cuthbert's junior music teacher, Jackie Wise, said 28 girls would sing traditional and New Zealand songs for almost half an hour. "It's a really exciting opportunity for the girls. They quite often go to functions and old people's groups, but nothing like this."

Choir member Chloe Lovell, aged 10, said she was nervous and excited about the performance. "I'm looking forward to seeing the world representatives."

Meanwhile, the 35-strong Samoan culture group are taking their performance in their stride. The Auckland Maori Pacific Island Festival winners are used to performing for leaders, and entertained Prime Minister Jenny Shipley this year.

Year 11 student Ben (Dalvin) Leiataua, 16, said he was simply proud to be involved. "I'm showing off who I am, my culture."

Group manager Ruth Bartley agreed: "I'm really honoured. It's a great privilege that we have been asked to do this. It's an opportunity that other people don't get, so we're making the most of it."