After months of practising Maria Kelemete and her troupe of Pacific Island performers plan to put on a winning effort this weekend.
Two years ago the John Paul College Pacific Island group won the Pacific Island Secondary Schools' Cultural Festival and tomorrow they hope to take the trophy again.
Group
leader, Maria, 17, whose family come from Tokelau, said the group of 43 students had become a closeknit group and were ready for their stage performance.
``We're like one big family now. We have bonded well and everyone has been committed,'' she said.
Never having been to Tokelau herself, Maria said it was good for her to learn about her homeland and the different cultures of her peers through song and dance.
``It's good because we never want to forget and this way we get to learn about all the islands and their different cultures,'' she said.
Teacher and tutor Max Zoing said the festival gave the students an opportunity to celebrate their cultures.
Groups will be required to sing and dance a piece from each of the islands _ Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, Tokelau and Fiji _ during 30 minutes on stage.
Mr Zoing said parents had designed and made costumes and supported the cultural programme. ``We have a lot of dedication and commitment from the parents. They know how important their identity and language is,'' he said.
Paul So'oula, Rotorua Pacific Island Development Trust Health and Youth co-ordinator, said it was vital children knew their roots and the festival was a celebration of their different cultures.
``Our kids should know their identity and where they come from,'' he said.
John Paul College, Rotorua Boys' High, Rotorua Girls' High and Tokoroa's Forest View High School are vying for the top spot in tomorrow's competition.
Speech competitions earlier this week marked the start of the festival which will continue tomorrow at the Rotorua Sportsdrome from 10am, starting with hip hop performers and Hawaiian dancers from Auckland entertaining the 4000 or so people expected to attend.
The festival has been going for six years. ``It's going to be a great day with plenty of Pacific Island cuisine and family entertainment to enjoy,'' Mr So'oula said.
Entry is $2.
