Pasifika competition running hot

Rotorua Boys' and Rotorua Girls' High School overall group leaders Lotu Vaeno and Ramari Toetoe are confident about their stage presence. Photo / Ben Fraser

After weeks of lunch time practices, costume making and dress rehearsals, Western Heights High School and Rotorua Boys' and Rotorua Girls' High School Pacific Island groups are ready for tomorrow's Pasifika By Nature competition.

The annual event, at Claudelands Arena in Hamilton, features more than 600 secondary school students from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions.

Rotorua Girls' High School Pacific Island group co-ordinator Rana Motu said this year's intake was the largest since they started competing three years ago.

"It's been exhausting but we are excited for the students. It's the first time we've done six cultures in 20 minutes, in previous years we've only done three."

The Rotorua Boys' and Rotorua Girls' High School group will perform traditional songs and dances from Maori, Cook Island Maori, Tongan, Fijian, Kiribati (Melanesia) and Samoan cultures.

Ms Motu said students who got involved in the group had to have more than just one talent.

"Students can't just perform the dance from their own culture, they have to learn the choreography, language and traditions of five other cultures.

"The students take more from the group than just the performance aspect. They learn to be culturally sensitive and respect each other. If a student came to the group with one talent, they certainly will leave with several more," Ms Motu said.

Pasifika By Nature starts 1pm tomorrow and tickets can be purchased through Ticketek, ticketek.co.nz.