03/09/2026
🏆 SPACPAC MAMANA LE LEO SPEECH COMPETITION – TONGAN SECTION WINNER! 🇹🇴
Mālō e lelei!
Ashburton College is incredibly proud to celebrate Year 11 student Folau Fifita, who has taken out the Tongan Section of the 2026 SPACPAC Mamana Le Leo Speech Competition! 🏆🇹🇴
This year’s theme was:
“KO ‘ETAU HIVÁ, KO E FE’UNU MAHU’INGA IA KI HE MO’UI ‘A E TONGÁ”
“Our music is a vital strand of our Tongan way of living.”
In her speech, Folau explored the important role music plays in keeping Tongan culture strong and connecting generations. She spoke about how waiata and music allow history, values, faith and language to be passed from one generation to the next, helping younger Tongans remain connected to their culture and identity.
For Folau, stepping up to compete was both nerve-racking and exciting, particularly as the only Year 11 student competing alongside Year 12 and 13 students from other schools. Despite the nerves, she embraced the opportunity with confidence and is grateful for the experience.
The win also carries a very special whānau connection. In 2024, Folau’s older sister won the competition for Ashburton College, and two years later Folau has followed in her footsteps and brought the title back to AshColl once again! ❤️🤍
Folau hopes her achievement encourages other students to take opportunities like Mamana Le Leo:
“I highly recommend that students here at school give this opportunity a try. It’s a chance to share your language, represent your culture and help keep it alive.”
We are extremely proud of Folau for having the courage to stand, speak and represent her Tongan culture, her whānau and Ashburton College with such pride.
Mālō ‘aupito, Folau, an outstanding achievement! 🇹🇴🏆
