Chances are that the venerable walls of the Regent Theatre in Palmerston North had never before heard a speech in Mavirian, one of the languages of the people of Vanuatu. Yet at 7.10 pm on Wednesday 29 July, that is exactly what happened as Fotuviri Kalsakau spoke in the Vanuatu section of this year’s Pasifika Fusion Festival. The theme for 2009 was “hope and unity”, taken from a speech given by Barack Obama.

This Festival, for Pasifika secondary school students, is now in its fifth year, and students from NPGHS have twice taken part. Cultural performances, public speaking, talent quest, media skits, visual arts, wearable arts, cinematography, essay writing and debating are all open to the students. The Girls’ High team entered the cultural performance, visual arts and speeches categories, and we struck gold, winning both the Vanuatu and the Fijian language public speaking sections. Well done, Sisilia Talei and Fotuviri Kalsakau!

Under the leadership of Wina Fuimaono, the performance team of Chikaina Makatea, Emma Elunned, Marlene Kalsakau, Chrysolyte Ape-Esera, Lupe Mauganai, Janice Mauganai, Sa’ala Sionetama, Sisilia Talei, June Pompey, Marama de Rungs, Krystal Pavihi and Whakairi Leilua sang and danced their way through their entrance item, followed by a dance from the Tokelau Islands and from Tonga, then two items from Samoa, and lastly their exit number, all of which took 20 minutes. Wina also spoke in the Samoan language competition; and Marlene in the English section.

Huge thanks go to the many people who helped make this trip happen – to the year 10 art students (Hayley, Amber, Yelin, Shilo and Anna) for the art work they gave us; to all the parents and caregivers who gave their time and, in some cases, a koha towards the trip; to the teachers who gave us their good wishes and again, a koha; to Matua Rihari for unlimited use of the whare; to the school’s management team for their unstinting support and encouragement; and most of all to our very patient tutor Siniva Isaiah, without whom none of this would ever have happened.

Fa’afetai lava!

Chris Bates, Suzanne Blackwell and Nicole Hunt