BACKIn week 6 of Term 3, Rangitoto College came together for a heartwarming and memorable evening at our Pacifica Family Fono. Designed to celebrate our Pacific students, connect with their families, and share in a vibrant evening of fellowship and delicious kai, the night was a powerful reflection of whanaungatanga and community pride.
The entire evening was planned and run by our Pacific tutor class, showcasing student voice and agency at its finest. Year 12 student leaders Aysha Maree (Aysha) Ireland and Knox Tagaloa did a phenomenal job stepping into their roles as emcees for the night, guiding our whānau and staff through the night with warmth, confidence, and humour.
The gathering opened with a traditional Samoan prayer and hymn, setting a peaceful and welcoming tone before families gathered to enjoy shared kai. Following dinner, our 2026 Pacific Student Leaders, Leila Curry and Daniel Lopo (Lopo) Nai, delivered an inspiring leadership update. They shared highlights from our successful Samoan, Tongan, and Cook Islands Language Weeks, celebrated the growth of our Pacific tutor class, and unveiled an exciting new legacy initiative: a custom Pacifica school tie.
A major highlight of the night was hearing from our special guest speaker, former NZ Warriors, Kiwis, and Toa Samoa legend Ali Lauiti’iti. Ali spoke with deep wisdom about his experiences in professional sports and his passionate work in youth mental health and wellbeing, delivering a grounded, inspiring message that resonated with both our young people and their parents.
The evening concluded with a series of beautiful cultural showcases, including items from our Samoan student dance leaders, a high-energy performance from our Tongan boys, and a grand finale combined Samoan performance. Seeing our young people take the stage with such grace, pride, and skill was a truly special moment for all the families in attendance.
The night concluded with a Tongan prayer and closing song, leaving everyone nourished in spirit, connected, and immensely proud of our Pacific students.
A massive thank you to all the families, staff, Senior Leadership Team members, and Pasifika students who made this evening such an incredible success. Fa’afetai lava and mālō ‘aupito!
