Culture

The varied cultures of our school are valued both within our curriculum and in extra curricular activities. Te Reo, Samoan and Māori Performing Arts are all offered as subjects. We have an ESOL class for students from Syria, the Pacific Islands and elsewhere who need extra support to learn English. Wairere is our Māori space with two classrooms where Te Reo and Māori Performing Arts are taught.

At the end of Term 1, we have a PC special - Colours Day. Houses compete to celebrate all our different cultures with haka, sports, dance, chants, skits and more. From original hakas to outstanding costumes, this is a festival of colour and culture.

Polyfest in Term 2 is a highlight of our year, when we celebrate and share our cultural dances. Usually there are seven groups representing the different cultures of our school: Samoan, Tokelauan, Tuvaluan, Tongan, Niuean, Cook Islands and Kapa Haka. Each group selects its own leaders to lead and teach their dances, supported by tutors or teachers. Parents, whānau, kaiga, aiga and families show their appreciation too by making costumes and coming to practices to help teach. As well as having fun and working hard on their cultural dances, students receive NCEA credits at all senior levels - mostly at excellence!