Cultural fusion

Culture groups at Waitakere College

At Waitakere College we have a lot of talented cultural groups. We really value our cultural groups. Each and every one of the groups are unique in their own ways.

In Waitakere College there are many culture groups that take part in Polyfest and our Fiafia night. They play an important role in our school, they show that we have many culture groups in our school. These groups show who our school is and teaches other about each other’s culture. Here are most of the culture groups in our school: Samoan, African, Kapa Haka, Tuvaluan, Niuean, Indian and the Filipino group.

Polyfest is a yearly event. It’s a chance for culture groups from all the different schools to compete against each other. In doing this, the best performance per group wins an award. Our Fiafia night is a chance for friends and family to see the groups perform before they go off to Polyfest.

Why are culture groups important in school?

Culture groups can be heaps of fun and it’s a great way to make heaps of new friends. They’re very important especially at schools. Here at Waitakere College we have a wide range of cultures, and many different nationalities. This makes us a very multi-cultural school. I think it’s important that every culture feel s respected and it’s also a fun and interesting way to learn more about your own culture and that of and your peers. Cultural groups can be a great way to learn more about your own and other cultures too. Here at Waitakere Collage it makes us students proud to have such a wide range of cultures at our school.

The importance of culture groups

We asked some members of the different culture groups to tell why they matter:

• They show us more about the culture.
• It lets people become more aware of the importance of their culture.
• Staying true to their culture.
• Respecting other people’s cultures.
• Showing the school and community more about our cultures.
• To teach them how to dance and to stand in front of crowds.
• Become more aware of what they have in their culture and how important it is.
• 
  Help become more open about their culture.
• To show to everyone else how important cultures are.
• Give knowledge to everyone else about their culture.
• Learning more about how to be with other people.
• Gaining leadership skills.
• Meeting more people from people of that culture.

Tilly, Kelstyn, Michaela and Krystal