Three Niuean siblings set to take the stage at Aotearoa's 50th Polyfest celebrations this Friday say family and culture have been a constant source of support as they prepare for their speeches.
Polyfest, the world's largest Polynesian cultural festival, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
The four-day event officially kicks off tomorrow following a flag raising ceremony and powhiri early this morning.
Arazmis Lazarus Siafa, Esabella Lazarus Siafa, and Shanaia Lazarus Siafa - students at Auckland's Selwyn College - have dedicated months of preparation under the guidance of their English teacher, Lucy Bristow.
Arazmis and Esabella will compete in the senior competition, while Shanaia will compete as a junior.
The siblings, who jokingly admitted they are all "competitive", are grateful to have each other as practice partners to fine-tune their performances.
"It's really competitive. We challenge each other, or rehearse our speeches at random times - like when walking home - to prove that we've got it down, and to have a little competition," Arazmis, the eldest of the three, said.
Despite their competitive edge, the siblings said that the experience of practicing and performing together has been incredibly rewarding.
"We get to experience this together, that's our favourite part. We don't feel alone because we're all really close," Shanaia said.
Arazmis said, "We fight, we have arguments, but when we perform together and I see my sisters taking up opportunities, it really motivates me to become better and seize every chance."
Taking the Polyfest stage is no easy feat, but Esabella said they are lucky to "have one another's backs...it really makes a difference."
With over 100,000 festival-goers and performers expected, the competition is intense.
The three siblings agreed that preparing for this event has been "challenging," particularly as they reconnect with their Niuean language and navigate their cultural identity ahead of the big stage.
"We've encountered a few challenges because we all grew up mainly speaking English," Arazmis said. "It's good to know that we were able to learn the importance of our language sooner rather than later."
Family as a backbone
The Siafa siblings are students at Auckland’s Selwyn College and have dedicated months of preparation under the guidance of their English teacher, Lucy Bristow. Photo: RNZ/Nick Munro
The siblings have been driven by the unwavering support of their parents and two younger brothers, the legacy of their grandfather, and the wisdom of their Nana.
"Our Nana has really invested in us," Arazmis added. "She sacrifices her time and energy just to make sure that our speeches are top notch. Our best way to pay it forward is by practicing really hard and communicating with one another."
Shanaia and Esabella agreed that their parents emphasise a positive, stress-free environment.
"Mum and Dad always make sure we know there's no pressure and to just do well in our own way. We all have different ways of speaking and putting words to our tunes, and they make sure we put ourselves first,"
"Dad calls us every night to make sure we're okay and to know how we're doing, because he carries the Niuean blood," Shanaia said. 'He jokes that he was born at night, but not last night!'
Language is legacy
The siblings' speeches focus on their cultural identity, discussing issues like social media's impact on Pacific youth and, importantly, the preservation of the Niuean language.
Shanaia, who is passionate about keeping the Niuean language alive, said, "My speech is about how important it is to prioritise the language for the youth and our upcoming generation, because it is the backbone of our culture. It separates us from other cultures, it makes us unique."
Arazmis, too, is focused on the Niuean language, stressing its cultural importance.
"I'll be discussing how the way I live my legacy is by carrying on our language - at the moment it is dying out, so my goal is to rejuvenate and bring back the language because it is the most important thing for culture. It is what separates us, and when we speak it, it has our ancestors' words in it," he said.
The three hope their participation will encourage other Pacific students to get involved, not just in Polyfest, but in embracing their culture and language.
"It's about using what we have within us and representing our school and our culture well," Arazmis said. "I hope other students see us and know they can do the same."
With the 50th anniversary around the corner, you can watch the siblings compete this Friday between 8.30am and 10.30am on the Niuean stage.
