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Use this glossary to enhance tokotaha (students) understanding of Pacific culture and the ASB Polyfest festival. It provides definitions for key terms and can be used for vocabulary building, cultural understanding, performance preparation, research and appreciation.
ASB Polyfest
A four-day festival that celebrates the cultural heritage of Pacific Island students in Tāmaki Makaurau schools. It involves traditional dances, music, songs, food, craft vendors, and cultural displays.
Accommodation
A place to stay during the festival for participants and visitors who come from outside the city.
Appreciation
Understanding and valuing something.
Authority
The power or right to make decisions or take action.
Choreography
The arrangement of dance movements and steps.
Community
A group of people who live in the same area and share common interests or characteristics.
Costumes
Clothing worn by performers during a performance.
Cultural advisors and coaches
People who provide guidance and support to performers in relation to their culture and performance.
Cultural performances
Events that celebrate Pacific Island history and culture, including speeches, music, and other performances.
Cultural preservation
The effort to protect and maintain a culture's traditions and practices.
Customs
Things that people do because it is a special part of their culture.
Destiny
The events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future.
Diversity
Everyone is unique and different in their own way.
Embrace
To accept something with enthusiasm.
Hapū
A sub-tribe or family group of Māori.
Identity
Who a person is, or the qualities that make them different from others.
Inclusion
When everyone is welcomed and feels like they belong.
Iwi
A tribe or community of Māori.
Language
A system of communication used by a particular country or community.
Musicians
People who play instruments to support the performers during their performance.
Navigation
Figuring out how to get to a place by using special tools.
Niuean
A language spoken by people in the island nation of Niue.
Pasifika
A word that describes people from the Pacific islands.
Performing arts
Forms of art that involve a live performance, such as dance or music.
Poi
A traditional Māori dance prop that was used to increase flexibility, strength, and coordination in people's hands and arms.
Polynesia
A part of the Pacific Ocean that has many small islands.
Population
How many people live in a place.
Props
Objects used by performers during a performance.
Proverb
A short saying that expresses a truth or advice.
Rehearsal space
A place where performers practise for their performance.
Samoan
Language spoken by people in Samoa.
School community
The group of students, teachers, and parents who make up a school.
Skills
Abilities or talents that can be developed and improved over time.
Speech competition
Competition where young people can showcase their knowledge of their culture and heritage, and winners can receive scholarships or cultural trips.
Stage presence
The way performers carry themselves on stage and connect with the audience.
Talent
A natural ability to do something well.
Traditions
Practices, customs, and beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation within a culture or a community.
Transportation
The means of getting to and from the festival, including buses, trains, and other modes of transport.
Tongan
A language spoken by people in Tonga.
Umu
An underground oven used to cook traditional dishes like taro, fish, and pork.
Visitors
People who attend the festival to enjoy the cultural performances, dances, food, and other events.
Volunteers
People who play a crucial role in making the event a success.
Whakataukī
A proverb used to teach us something important.
