Eight girls from the Rutherford Pasefika Komiti were selected to attend the Young Free and Pacific (YFP) Women’s Day Programme
On Thursday, eight girls from the Rutherford Pasefika Komiti were selected to attend the Young Free and Pacific (YFP) Women’s Day Programme 2026. YFP is a Pasifika leadership initiative that brings together young Pasifika students from schools across Auckland to celebrate culture, identity, leadership, and youth voice in a positive and empowering environment. The programme was split across two days, with Thursday being the girls’ day, and their youth week theme for this year was: “Our voices matter, we deserve to be heard.”
Throughout the event, students were encouraged to connect with other Pasifika youth while taking pride in their cultures and abilities beyond school stereotypes and expectations. The day included three main workshops that students could choose from: dance, spoken word and music. Five Rutherford Pasefika Komiti members (Mafa Levi, Keleni Tupou, Sulu Lagi, Emily Naumotu and Adi Ralulu) participated in the dance workshop, where students learned a traditional Tongan tau’olunga, while three komiti members (Caroline Fonua, Riana Hopa and Maatai Leva) took part in the spoken word workshop.
Alongside the workshops, there were also dance battles, cheer battles, group activities and a lot of food and music that helped foster the lively atmosphere throughout the day. Guest speakers also shared their own personal stories and experiences. Miss Samoa NZ, Litara Ieremia-Allan, spoke about her journey growing up feeling torn between her Samoan and European identity and how her faith helped guide her through different challenges in life. Avondale College Head Girl Kenahemana Hekau also spoke about how Pasifika students are often expected to stay within sports, music, or cultural extracurriculars, encouraging students to apply for scholarships and aim beyond what society expects of them.
Overall, the YFP experience left the Rutherford Pasefika Komiti feeling inspired and more connected to both their culture and the wider Pasifika community. Pasefika Komiti member Sulu Lagi Levi described the day as “really fun” and said she enjoyed “meeting other Pasifika youth from different schools and connecting through the dance, energy and culture.” The event gave students the opportunity to express themselves creatively, meet new people, and represent Rutherford with pride whilst also celebrating what it means to be young, free, and Pasifika.
by Caroline Fonua
