Pasifika steps forward with Garin uniform

From now on, the Pasifika designs on a tupenu (lavalava) are one of the choices in the Garin College uniform wardrobe.

Year 13 student Reagan Hannah, and teacher Matua Richy Tau’alupe-Vaipulu have been working on the designs and inclusion of a tupenu through the year, and in her last days at school Reagan finally gets to wear one.

Richy says the Pasifika uniform is part of Reagan’s legacy to the school as she has embraced her Pasifika culture and encouraged its inclusion at the school.

It follows a Pasifika celebration night she organised at the school this year, different Pasifika languages being included in language weeks and even a Cook Island dance class which stemmed from her own Pasifika heritage.

“She was able to push through barriers this year to put Pasifika culture at the forefront of Garin College. We’re just there to help her bring her vision to reality.”

Reagan says the idea for a Pasifika uniform that is a wrap-around skirt for males and females had been around for a while.

She simply took it the next step by putting a proposal to the senior leadership team that took it to the board and got the seal of approval.

“It has been a Pasifika year,” she acknowledges. “I’ve been lucky I’ve been able to put my own ideas out there and have support to do it.”

The tupenu, or lavalava, has different names that reflect the many islands with different languages that make up Pasifika culture, and including that diversity is one of Reagan and Richy’s aspirations.

Richy developed the Pasifika designs for the tupenu which reflect the school’s values of generosity, aroha, integrity and rangimarie – peace, respect and dignity.
The turtle in the design represents new life and Richy says it also takes them back home to Hawaiki, the ancient Polynesian homeland.

It has taken a while to work through the process of getting the designs converted to a uniform and ready to go, so that Richy thought Reagan may never get to wear her lavalava at school. But the end product arrived just in time for prize-giving and her last few days as a Garin College student.

While the tupenu is part of the Pasifika culture, all students have the option of wearing it if they choose it as their school uniform.

“It gives everyone an opportunity to experience a culture,” Richy says.

“This is one small step towards cultural diversity in our school. It’s bringing mana Pasifika to school.

“It just allows our students to be proud of their culture and this one (Reagan) has been very loud and we’ve had to be loud with her.”

Reagan says they aim to do some fundraising to make the Pasifika uniform more affordable for families as uniforms are not cheap and the tupenu costs $80.

Already, the community is getting involved in that process and she says that is very much the Pasifika way.

“There’s been offers to buy tupenu for a couple of students and this is the definition of the Pasifika community – everybody wants to help others to succeed.”