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Marcellin College
My Cultural Heritage
Tongan dances and costumes
My name is Manu Tuivailahi Vaifo'ou and I am from Tonga. I was born in Vaini. I came to New Zealand when I was 13 years old.
In the multicultural festival this year, I was the leader of the Tongan Girls' Group from Marcellin College - and we won the competition!
Royal dances
We performed the traditional dance called the 'Otuhaka'. Back in Tonga, we only perform this dance to the King. It is a sitting dance and it is for the girls only. The movements are very graceful and there are intricate hand movements.
Our tutors Andrew and Hila'atu came from Lapaha in Tong, and that is where the dance originated. When the king got married, the girls performed it for him.
In the festival the year before, we did the 'Milolua'. This is also a special dance. This is performed for the King and it is also a kava-making dance. The movements show how the kava is created.
In Tonga, you have to be the daughter or son of a noble ('Hou'eiki') to lead the dance. In New Zealand, this is no longer necessary, but you should be a confident, responsible person who likes to lead others and to take responsibility for them.
Our costumes were made out of Vylene interfacing. We also wore a 'pule'oto', which is a kind of necklace.
The costumes we wear in New Zealand are different from those in Tonga. In Tonga, they wear the one that is made from the 'feta'aki'.
The tradition has changed in New Zealand because these materials are not available in New Zealand. I actually think that the New Zealand Tongan costumes look better.
I felt confident and proud to be a Tongan on this day.
These are some of the Marcellin Tongan Girls' Group performing at the 2003 Pacific Festival.
(Photograph copyright Lyn Potter, 2003)
