Around 10 schools took part in Queensland’s first inter-schools Polynesian Festival with Woodridge State High School winning the Tongan stage segment at the Edmund Rice Performing Arts Centre, St Laurence’s College, South Brisbane, on 27 April.

Students performed an array of traditional cultural dance performances on the Cook Islands, Maori, Samoan, and Tongan stages to a packed auditorium of over 1,200 supporters and a panel of judges.

Brisbane Tongan Community secretary and founder of the Pasifika Lawyers Association of Queensland, Ms Leilehua Fā‘onevai said the festival is a great opportunity to “promote and share our Tongan and Pacific Island cultural dances with our fellow Australians, whilst ensuring our culture is preserved and passed on to the next generation.” 

“The 2019 Polynesian Festival is dedicated to making a difference by promoting multi-cultural diversity, whilst inspiring unity, harmony and respect within our young generation in Queensland through cultural celebration,” said the event organiser, Mrs Gee Lagā,

Three Brisbane schools - Groves Christian College, Marsden State High School and Woodridge State High School - with large student populations of Tongan descent, performed the Tau‘olunga, Tau faka-Niua, Mā‘ulu‘ulu and Lakalaka. The performers were also assessed on their teunga (uniforms).

Out of the 10 schools, seven schools performed on the Samoan stage, three on the Cook Islands stage, and two on the Maori stage.

The Tongan Stage was judged by Ha‘apai-born, Ms ‘Akesa Wonglyn, who relocated from New Zealand to Queensland’s Gold Coast after years of active involvement in the Auckland secondary schools Poly Fest. 

Local Tongan broadcaster and Brisbane Tongan Community public officer, Mr Sulieni Layt the MC said the event was moving.

Organizers look forward to a bigger festival next year as Brisbane is seeing growth in the Tongan and Pacific Islander communities.

The Queensland Polynesian Festival is not linked to the Poly Fest in New Zealand.