Welcome to our Pasifika community

By Kent Twaites | Posted: Wednesday February 5, 2025

Malo le soifua, kia orana, malo e lelei, ni sa bula, taloha ni, fakaalofa atu, mauri, halo olketa, kia ora and warm pacific greetings.

A warm welcome to our new Pasifika students for 2025.

Otago Boys’ High School has a very strong history of successful Pasifika Old Boys who have come through the Archway and have moved on to greater achievements. We are blessed that our Pasifika Old Boys shine through as leaders of today to help guide our leaders of tomorrow.

The purpose of the Pasifika fono is to warmly welcome the new Pasifika boys and their whānau to the school and to our Otago Boys' Pasifika community. We fully understand and acknowledge the important role family plays in supporting our boys in all aspects of success while at Otago Boys, with priority in academics.

The parents were amazing introducing their sons and extended family, and it was really nice to welcome the boys from the School Hostel whose families couldn't be there. A very big warm thankyou to Tautala Aiono Faletolu for recognising this and creating positive outcomes for the boys.

We had a wonderful presentation by Jenny Bennett from Va'a o Tautai and the University of Otago about a exciting opportunity for our boys to engage in the Pacific Health Science Academies programme. This Pacific focussed initiative by Te Whatu Ora aims to introduce Pacific students to careers in the health sector and to nurture and support their interest in the Health Sciences.

We all shared a wonderful dinner together, thank you again Jenny and team.

We are all here to play a role in the success of our boys as they find their place and feet at Otago Boys'.

Thank you all that attended. It was a very enjoyable experience to meet you all.