Blair Sorensen, John Taufa and Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
Unitec’s proud tradition of supporting ASB Polyfest continued this year with our sponsorship of the Unitec Diversity Stage and big presence at the four-day cultural event, held in early April.
After two years of disruption—it was cancelled last year due to Covid-19, and finished early the year before following the Christchurch mosque shootings—it was wonderful to see Polyfest complete its full four days as scheduled. Around 10,000 students from 49 schools performed traditional dance, music, speech and haka at the Manukau Sports Bowl.
A celebration of diverse cultures
Students perform on stages representing different Pacific islands, and the Unitec Diversity stage is an opportunity for those who do not fall under the main islands to perform. It has the largest number of groups at 55, representing 30 different ethnic groups including African, Chinese, Fijian, Filipino, Indian and Tuvaluan to name a few.
The Diversity Stage runs for two of the four days, with A’anoalii Rowena Fuluifaga, Learning and Achievement Manager, sitting on the judging panel for the stage and UPC’s Anaru Parangi presenting the supreme award for the Unitec Diversity Stage winners. Two of the UPC team, Blair Sorensen and John Taufa also held roles, MCing the stage over two days.
Unitec’s leaders and other staff also showed their support by attending other aspects of the festival, including the pōhiri and sponsorship event.
Falaniko Tominiko, Director—Pacific Success, who attended the sponsors’ event, said the event was a celebration of culture. “It’s amazing to see the diversity in the performances and the pride shown by the young people performing. It was an honour to be part of the event.”
A space to relax
The UPC team also set up and staffed a stall aimed at connecting with the students, kura, schools, families and communities attending the popular festival. The Unitec space was an environment where people could connect, talk, relax, play games and enjoy themselves, doubling as a chance for the UPC team to continue the important work of building and maintaining meaningful relationships.
Blair Sorensen, Secondary School and Community Liaison said, “It’s a great opportunity for Unitec to show support to all students including our Trades Academy and Vocational Pathway students—those students studying at Unitec while still at school.”
“It was a real highlight seeing the wonderful young people that are involved in our Trades Academy and Vocational Pathway courses represent their kura, schools and cultural groups so proudly.”
Blair said it was especially heart-warming and moving to see the Saturday of ASB Polyfest go ahead after cancellations in both 2019 and 2020.
“At the end of the Unitec Diversity Stage prizegiving, staff and students were invited on stage to celebrate with a combined dance – a fantastic way to close off the Diversity Stage. It was an honour and a privilege to be part of such a fantastic event.”
Andrea Thumath, Director Under-25 was proud of everyone’s efforts. “I Would like to acknowledge the collective efforts of Paul, Anaru, Debbie, Blair and John for bringing together the Unitec activation and Diversity Stage and role modelling Te Noho Kotahitanga in the way in which they work with our communities. Events of this size are exciting and unpredictable and require all of one’s energy and commitment – especially for the front line community faces of the institution. I am incredibly proud of the UPC whānau, and our extended whānau such as Paul, for all that continue to do to support our communities we serve.”