Big smiles, swishing costumes, shaking hips, rhythmic drums, toe-tapping dancing, delicate hand movements and soulful voices...

The performances of many unique island cultures will engulf Katikati College as it hosts the Pasifika Festival in the Bay for the first time this Saturday, November 2, from 10am.

Nearly 40 Bay of Plenty school groups will perform in traditional costumes, representing nations from all over the Pacific – including Tokelau, Niue, Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, Fiji and more.

Alongside Pacific market-style stalls packed with authentic foods from the islands will tempt taste buds.

For Katikati College’s head of faculty for languages and literacy Vetekina Pekipaki, the festival has so many benefits – not only for Katikati and BOP students but also the wider community.

Pekipaki said it provided opportunity for the community to learn about its Pasifika cultures within – and it gives Pasifika people the chance to make connections outside their traditional communities.

“We are grateful to God for this opportunity to host the festival this year. As Pasifika people of faith, we are filled with joy to sing, dance, and share our cultures with our communities, to bring glory to God!

“It’s great that we can host it so not only our Pasifika cultures can learn about each other but our European and other cultures within Katikati can come and celebrate the day – and get to know our cultures.

“The other way round is our Pasifika cultures can get to know other cultures as well.”

Pekipaki said Katikati College’s kapa haka and Pasifika groups have been hard at work, preparing to host an event that allows students showcase their culture and heritage to their peers, families and the wider community.

“This year our Pasifika group – and our kapa haka group – will take part. That’s about 70-odd students from Year 7-13, who will be involved,” said Pekipaki. “In fact, some students will perform in both the Pasifika group and kapa haka group.”

Pekipaki said the college’s kapa haka group will open the festival. “And within that our Pasifika students will take part too – which is great as we’re all about coming together, the unity with Māori and the Pasifika connection that we do have.”

The festival begins at 10am, and the college’s Pasifika students will perform in two categories. “Our 20 junior students of Year 7-10 girls and boys will perform a remix of Samoan cultural dances in the Samoan bracket.”

“Then our full group will perform the Sasa, a powerful performance that both male and female can take part in, either seated or standing. Each hand movement tells a story, capturing the rhythm of our daily lives – whether it’s planting, fishing, or gathering. It’s very entertaining and the kids love it.”

The second bracket of Fijian and Tongan culture would see Pasifika senior boys perform songs they’d been working hard to learn for Fiefia night last Friday.

“We finish off with a whole-group performance called a Ma’ulu’ulu, a Tongan performance and dance – accompanied by singing and drums. It’s very traditional – and we have community members perform the drums and sing with us – so it’s very much a community item.”

Pekipaki said the college’s students feel “very proud” the festival is hosted by their school.

“The kids are excited, happy and they’re proud to be Pasifika and to share their dances, their culture and their languages with other people.

They’re also very proud it’s in Katikati because we do have a strong and big Pasifika community here.

And it’s great we can have people experience our side of the BOP and see the amazing things that we do, the amazing people that live here.”

Pekipaki said Katikati College will also honour its late teacher Gaylia Bundle at the festival, who died last weekend. “It’s a difficult time for our staff, students and community but we are coming together at Pasifika in the Bay to honour the kind of person she was – kind, caring, and always willing to help anyone that needed it..”

“Honouring Gaylia at Pasifika in the Bay feels right, as she gave so much to our school community and to each one of us. Gaylia’s kindness, strength, and commitment to her work uplifted everyone around her. Her presence was a reminder of the power of compassion and dedication, values that lie at the heart of our Pasifika spirit.

“This Saturday, as we celebrate our culture and community, we carry Gaylia’s legacy with us. May her memory be a blessing, woven into each performance, every dance, and all the laughter we share. Her spirit lives on in our hearts, reminding us to lift each other up and to be there for one another, just as she was for us.”

All are welcome at Pasifika Festival in the Bay at Katikati College this Saturday, November 2, from 10am.