On
the last day of school last year, 56 members of Polinetia
Fa’atasi, students, staff and parents departed for
Northland, New Zealand. After an excellent community concert
two nights before, the group were ready to tour and entertain
the Far North. The five hour bus ride to Waiwera was lonnnggg;
however, it allowed us some much needed sleep time after
a hectic practice schedule leading up to the departure.
Waiwera welcomed us with beautiful blue skies. Unloading
our bus and setting up our cabins, we headed for Waiwera
Hot Pools, and quickly took over the entire grounds. If
you couldn’t see us, you could hear us, screaming,
laughing and having a ball of a time. Dinner that night
was a scrumptious BBQ thanks to our wonderful chefs and
the kind pool staff who kindly leant us two barbeques to
use.
The
early morning rise saw us take to the roads again heading
for Kaikohe, our stay for the next two days. Prior to this
we met our hosts, Bishop Teariki Kaiaruna and his family
in Waitangi before heading to Paihia for a swim and sausage
sizzle. We could feel the difference in temperature here
so the afternoon swim was welcomed greatly. It was here
that Mr Crawford joined us for the night.
Arriving
at our marae in Kaikohe was like taking a ride on a rollercoaster;
up and down hills, quick turns, bumps here and there as
we rode the gravelled roads and crossed the many one-way
bridges. The lack of cell phone coverage was a shock to
many who quickly adopted the ‘statue of liberty’
pose. Shower time on this marae was hilarious, as it literally
was an ‘in and out’ game.
Our
first concert, for the community of Kaikohe was greatly
received. It wasn’t the sell-out audience we had hoped
for, but those who were present enjoyed themselves.
We
attended the Kaikohe Latter Day Saints service on Sunday
and performed a beautiful song taught to us on the bus by
student leader Tay-Jana Brown. Some did struggle to keep
wide eyed after the few late nights we had, while others
said very long prayers to themselves.
Our
last day in Kaikohe was spent performing for the students
of Kaikohe Intermediate School. We dropped off the loads
of laundry to be done at the local Laundromat. After their
Kapa Haka group’s awesome powhiri for us, we headed
to the school hall where the atmosphere was very relaxed;
the young people applauded enthusiastically and cheered
as we danced and sang. The louder their cheers got, the
harder we performed; it was an excellent show…boy
was the weather hot! Picking up our laundry, we were fortunate
that the owner had family here in Tokoroa and because of
this, she gave us a huge discount and even dried all of
the towels for free. We got off the bus and sang her a song
as a token of our appreciation.
Our
next stop was Paihia for the night. Our hostel left us amazed
at how flash it was. Each in our own rooms furnished nicely
and complete with our own bathrooms, we lapped up the luxury.
Some took to the beach and some to the town centre. After
yet another flash inner the students hit the town taking
every opportunity to have photos with landmarks, tourists
and each other while the staff and parents did all the laundry…again.
Our
next performance right in the middle of the Paihia township
drew in an amazing crowd. As soon as the tourists and locals
alike heard the beating of the drums, they congregated quickly.
In the Paihian heat we put on a killer of a show, ensuring
that we got the crowd participating as well. We met tourists
from Israel, Argentina, USA, Brazil as well as former residents
of Tokoroa. Some of the students were lucky enough to really
impress the tourists that they were given money, one student
being given a $50 note!!!
The
drive through to Kaitaia and Ahipara was nice, not that
many of us saw much as we quickly got some ‘shut eye’.
A quick stop at the Ahipara Laundromat, we made our way
to Roma Marae in Ahipara where we were met by former FVHS
teacher Mr Shortland and his wife Virginia. A few of the
students from Ahipara Area School welcomed us onto the marae.
Later that afternoon we took to the beach, sand castle building,
riding the waves and tuatua hunting. We were taken back
by the amount of million dollar mansions there was nestled
on the hills of Ahipara. Dinner that night was rewana bread
with sea food chowder.
The
next day saw a jam packed schedule. Our first show was at
Ahipara Area School where 300 students, staff and parents
came together to welcome us. Once again, the students were
interactive, lively and enjoyable as we performed for them.
Our FVHS students quickly became celebrities at the end
of the show as the students bombarded them.
After a filling morning tea we were once again on our bus
heading for Te Rerenga Waerua – Cape Reinga. Everyone
was excited and looked forward to being at the top of New
Zealand. We were scheduled to be welcomed by the people
of Ngati Kuri at 1pm, and performing at the lighthouse shortly
after it. 10km out of a small town called Te Kao…our
bus broke down. Coming over a small hill we thought we had
a flat tyre. The bus pulled over and the men hopped out
to check, there was no flat tyre. Boarding the bus we moved
another 10 metres when we heard something snap; the bus
driver confirmed it was our fan belt.
We
all got off the bus and entertained ourselves, cramming
for shade. The ukuleles, guitars and drums out we sang on
the side of the road and waited to be rescued. With no cell
phone coverage after Kaitaia, it wasn’t that easy.
Just
down the road from where we were, a kind kuia took us all
in, all 56 of us. We lounged all over her yard, under the
shade of the totara tree and under her fan in the lounge,
laughing, singing and dancing. After four hours, and an
almost fixed bus by mechanics from Kaitaia, a school bus
was sent for us from Te Kao Area School. Word had got around
the small community about this huge flash-as bus that had
broken down and they came to get us. Later that evening,
after our performance at Cape Reinga we were scheduled to
perform at the school’s end of year prize giving…we
never got to go to Cape Reinga that afternoon.
At
the local marae in Te Kao, the community had gathered for
the school’s end of year prize giving. The kaumatua
who welcomed us, not knowing our name referred to us as
‘Tokoroa Pride’ after the t-shirts we were all
wearing. The school performed a range of dances from Kapa
Haka to line dancing to Michael Jackson’s thriller
dance. In return we gave them the best show we had, for
many of us this was the highlight of our entire trip. The
people of Te Kao took us in as strangers and looked after
us. During our show we got word that our bus was fixed and
ready to go. They put on a huge feed for us and gave us
their blessings to keep heading north to Cape Reinga. We
had travelled this far and for us to not achieve the goal
we had set out was out of the picture for us…we were
going. Two of our students whose families are from Te Kao
visited the local cemetery to see their loved ones.
We
departed Te Kao at 8.15pm, still daylight. We arrived at
Cape Reinga at 9.15 pm. It was pitch black, misty and beginning
to spit when we arrived. There were a few tourists there
when our bus pulled into the car park. Even though we saw
absolutely nothing but the waves crashing on the rocks way
down below, the feeling of just being there, at the top
of New Zealand was amazing. We sang and danced in the rain,
took loads of photos and said a prayer of thanksgiving for
such a wonderful day. Arriving back into Ahipara at 1am
everyone was hungry for eggs and toast.
The
rain followed us to Auckland and stayed with us for the
last two days of our tour. We stayed at a modern marae in
Mangere shopping, going to the movies, heading out to Gengy’s
for dinner and ice skating.
We
entered the ice skating rink with our costumes. Many fell.
Many clung to the railings for dear life. Some skated like
Winter Olympic champions, while the envious threw snow at
them. When the ice skating rink closed, we were allowed
30 minutes to take photos in our costumes, on the ice. We
named this part of our tour “Fa’atasi on Ice’.
The excited students skated in their hula shirts doing the
hula and spinning like ballerinas.
The
Northland Tour was a success due to the organisation of
the group’s Steering Committee and support of all
the families. I wish to thank staff members – The
Potoru family, Mrs Earnshaw, Mr Matenga and Mr Crawford
for their overwhelming support on tour and all the parents
and adults who accompanied, who helped to make this trip
a success for all of us. Thank you to all the students for
representing our school and community well and for all the
wonderful memories.
Up
and Coming
Pasifika
by Nature Competition 2011
Saturday 7th May
10am – Founders Theatre, Hamilton
Admission - $5 for everyone, $3 aged 3 – 5yrs,
Babies are free. (door sales only)
Tour
to Hawaii
December 3rd – December 13th 2011
Meeting for all the families and students:
Tuesday 10th May, 6pm in D1 Music room.
The
early morning rise saw us take to the roads again heading
for Kaikohe, our stay for the next two days. Prior to this
we met our hosts, Bishop Teariki Kaiaruna and his family
in Waitangi before heading to Paihia for a swim and sausage
sizzle. We could feel the difference in temperature here
so the afternoon swim was welcomed greatly. It was here
that Mr Crawford joined us for the night. 
Our
next stop was Paihia for the night. Our hostel left us amazed
at how flash it was. Each in our own rooms furnished nicely
and complete with our own bathrooms, we lapped up the luxury.
Some took to the beach and some to the town centre. After
yet another flash inner the students hit the town taking
every opportunity to have photos with landmarks, tourists
and each other while the staff and parents did all the laundry…again.
The
next day saw a jam packed schedule. Our first show was at
Ahipara Area School where 300 students, staff and parents
came together to welcome us. Once again, the students were
interactive, lively and enjoyable as we performed for them.
Our FVHS students quickly became celebrities at the end
of the show as the students bombarded them. 
We
all got off the bus and entertained ourselves, cramming
for shade. The ukuleles, guitars and drums out we sang on
the side of the road and waited to be rescued. With no cell
phone coverage after Kaitaia, it wasn’t that easy.
At
the local marae in Te Kao, the community had gathered for
the school’s end of year prize giving. The kaumatua
who welcomed us, not knowing our name referred to us as
‘Tokoroa Pride’ after the t-shirts we were all
wearing. The school performed a range of dances from Kapa
Haka to line dancing to Michael Jackson’s thriller
dance. In return we gave them the best show we had, for
many of us this was the highlight of our entire trip. The
people of Te Kao took us in as strangers and looked after
us. During our show we got word that our bus was fixed and
ready to go. They put on a huge feed for us and gave us
their blessings to keep heading north to Cape Reinga. We
had travelled this far and for us to not achieve the goal
we had set out was out of the picture for us…we were
going. Two of our students whose families are from Te Kao
visited the local cemetery to see their loved ones. 
We
departed Te Kao at 8.15pm, still daylight. We arrived at
Cape Reinga at 9.15 pm. It was pitch black, misty and beginning
to spit when we arrived. There were a few tourists there
when our bus pulled into the car park. Even though we saw
absolutely nothing but the waves crashing on the rocks way
down below, the feeling of just being there, at the top
of New Zealand was amazing. We sang and danced in the rain,
took loads of photos and said a prayer of thanksgiving for
such a wonderful day. Arriving back into Ahipara at 1am
everyone was hungry for eggs and toast. 
The
rain followed us to Auckland and stayed with us for the
last two days of our tour. We stayed at a modern marae in
Mangere shopping, going to the movies, heading out to Gengy’s
for dinner and ice skating. 
The
Northland Tour was a success due to the organisation of
the group’s Steering Committee and support of all
the families. I wish to thank staff members – The
Potoru family, Mrs Earnshaw, Mr Matenga and Mr Crawford
for their overwhelming support on tour and all the parents
and adults who accompanied, who helped to make this trip
a success for all of us. Thank you to all the students for
representing our school and community well and for all the
wonderful memories. 
Up
and Coming
