Pasifika Prizegiving

Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner 2023

Violani Afoa, Kairo Ah Kuoi-Simich and Kaloni Tovo were among the big award winners on the night.

MAGS’ Pasifika community had a lot to celebrate and turned out in force to do so at last night’s Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner.
At a packed-out venue, guests heard about Pasifika success in NCEA, Scholarships, sports, arts, service and particularly in the recently formed Health Sciences Academy.
Head Prefect Taiarahia Moata’ane-Mika (pictured right) and Leila Belt were named Best All Round MAGS Pasifika Students, Violani Afoa and Kairo Ah Kuoi-Simich won the The Tagaloa Peter Su’a Award for Performing Arts, and Violani and Leila won the Ulugia-Pua Award for Outstanding Services to Mount Albert Grammar School.
Josie Gaoa and Isaiah Fale were awarded the Ah Kuoi Family Cup for Services to MAGS Pasifika, while Meyuti Poutu and Fifita Uhila were presented with the Tupuola Apisaloma Taulapiu Cup for Cultural Leadership.
The Top Year 13 Pasifika Sportswomen were Jorjia Fiu and Zahnia Papali’i, and the Top Year 13 Pasifika Sportsman was Roy Tatupu.
Year 12 Best All Round Pasifika Students were Ava Siakimotu and Eved Ah Soon, and the Year 11 Best All Round Pasifika Students were Khalen Quensell and Brendan Akeli.
You can see more photos from the prizegiving and the full list of prizewinners here

Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner 2022

Lorielle Cowley and Isaiah Nin were MCs on the night, and were also presented with the Ulugia-Pua Award for Outstanding Services to Mount Albert Grammar School by Headmaster Patrick Drumm.

The 2022 Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner held on October 28 at Sorrento in the Park was a celebration of Pasifika achievement and ambition.
The theme of the night was that a collective effort by MAGS staff had raised Pasifika academic standards and fuelled students with greater ambition and the belief that they could achieve personal excellence.

Alonso Fa’alogo Fitzpatrick was named Top Year 13 Pasifika Academic and Best All Round Pasifika Student.

This annual event, which acknowledges and celebrates the success of MAGS’ Pasifika students, was MC’ed by Prefects Lorielle Cwley and Isaiah Nin, and saw awards across Academia, Sports, the Performing Arts and Service to Pasifika and the school. As well as the special awards, certificates were presented to Leavers, members of Pasifika groups and students who had achieved NCEA endorsed.
The Pasifika Leavers’ Video provided a behind-the-scenes look at school life for the Leavers over their five years, and that was followed by the Year 13 Taualuga, with staff joining in and showing off their dance moves.
Alonso Fa’alogo Fitzpatrick was named Top Year 13 Pasifika Academic and Best All Round Pasifika Student. He was also awarded the Pasifika Health Science Trophy for the Top Year 13 Science Student and, along with Nicholas Levy,  the Komiti Faufautua Pasifika Initiatives Cup.
Isaiah Nin, along with Jackson Absolum-Leuluso’o, won the The Tagaloa Peter Su’a Award for Performing Arts, and Isaiah was also a joint winner with Lorielle Cowley of the Ulugia-Pua Award for Outstanding Services to Mount Albert Grammar School.
Viliami ‘Ofamo’oni and Soana Musie were awarded the Ah Kuoi Family Cup for Services to MAGS Pasifika, while Rosa Maanaima Matautia and  Nathan Setefano were presented with the Tupuola Apisaloma Taulapiu Cup for Cultural Leadership.
The Top Year 13 Pasifika Sportswoman was Tiger-Lily Cocker-Lemalie and the Top Year 13 Pasifika Sportsman was William Leger.

For more pictures from the dinner and a full list of awardees, click here

Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner 2021

Tali Afele and Melenaite Tuamoheloa were presented with the Tupuola Apisaloma Taulapiu Cup for Cultural Leadership by Komiti Faufautua Chair Mrs Terangi Brown.

The Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner was finally held on December 13 at Sorrento in the Park after being postponed from October.
This annual event acknowledges and celebrates the success of MAGS’ Pasifika students in Academia, Sports, the Performing Arts and Service to Pasifika and the school.
There was also an acknowledgement of departing Deputy Principal Mr Murdoch for his work with Pasifika students.
The Pasifika Leavers’ Video provided a behind-the-scenes look at school life for the leavers over their five years, and that was followed by the Year 13 Taualuga, with staff, including Mr Murdoch and Year 13 Deans Ms Hook and Mr Collins showing off their dance moves.
Head Boy Marcus Savelio (pictured left with Mr Drumm) was named Top Year 13 Pasifika Academic and Best All Round Pasifika Student.
Marcus, along with Tali Afele, also won the The Tagaloa Peter Su’a Award for Performing Arts.
Tali picked up several awards: he was the sole recipient of the Ulugia-Pua Award for Outstanding Services to Mount Albert Grammar School, and was awarded the Ah Kuoi Family Cup for Services to MAGS Pasifika (along with Pasilika Ulugia-Pua), and the Tupuola Apisaloma Taulapiu Cup for Cultural Leadership (along with Melenaite Tuamoheloa)
The Top Year 13 Pasifika Sportswoman was rugby player and athlete Sylvia Brunt and the Top Year 13 Pasifika Sportsman was rugby league player Stanley Iongi.

For more pictures from the dinner, click here

Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner 2020

Ruby Maoate and Iosefa Ulugia-Pua, pictured with Mr Drumm, were named Best All Round MAGS Pasifika Students.

There were a few tears and a lot of laughter as the Pasifika community came together to celebrate the success of MAGS Pasifika students in Academia, Sports, the Performing Arts and Service to Pasifika and the school.
The Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner, on Friday, 25 October at Sorrento in the Park, was MC’ed by Deputy Head Prefects Alyssa Houma and DaRhys Simone, who were also big winners on the night.
Achievement across Academia, Arts, Service and Sport was celebrated at the Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner, on Friday, 30 October at Sorrento in the Park.
Deputy Head Girl Ronette Va’ai and and Tali Afele welcomed guests, and were also recipients of some of the top awards.
Ronette shared the Ulugia-Pua award for Outstanding service to Mount Albert Grammar School and the Ah Kuoi Family Cup for Service to MAGS Pasifika with Iosefa Ulugia-Pua, and shared the Tupuola Apisaloma Taulapiu Cup for Cultural Leadership with Ezra MunokoaTali shared the Peter Su’a Dux Artium award with Tuiaki ‘Otulau.
Ruby Maoate and Iosefa Ulugia-Pua (pictured above) were named Best All Round Pasifika Students, and Ruby, who has won a Top Achiever Scholarship from the University of Auckland, was named Top Year 13 Pasifika Scholar.
Leilani Ginnen and Marcus Savelio were named Top Year 12 Pasifika Academic and Best All Round Year 12 Pasifika Students, while Lorielle Cowley and Kaemon Ah Kuoi-Simich were named Top Year 11 Pasifika Academic and Best All Round Year 11 Pasifika Students. Top All-Round Pasifika Students in Year 10 were Josie Gao and Isaiah Fale.
The Year 13 Pasifika Boys Siva Samoa featured students and staff showing off their dance moves, and preceded the special awards in Arts, Sports and Service.
The top sportspeople were Sataan Tawera and Latonya Lole.
The Village Community Trust Award for services to the Pasifika Council was won by Ezra Munokoa and Halle Fatuleai.
The Pasifika Leavers’ Video provided a humorous riff on school life, and that was followed by the Year 13 Taualuga, with staff, including Year 13 Dean Mr Coup and Deputy Principal Mr Stradwick showing off some outrageous moves as they danced with the students.

For a list of all the awards and more pictures from the dinner, click here

Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner 2019

Alyssa Houma, pictured with Mrs Anisi and Mr Drumm, was named Best All Round MAGS Pasifika Student 2019.

There were a few tears and a lot of laughter as the Pasifika community came together to celebrate the success of MAGS Pasifika students in Academia, Sports, the Performing Arts and Service to Pasifika and the school.
The Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner, on Friday, 25 October at Sorrento in the Park, was MC’ed by Deputy Head Prefects Alyssa Houma and DaRhys Simone, who were also big winners on the night.
Alyssa was named Best All Round Pasifika Student and it was announced on the night she had earned six scholarships.
DaRhys was a co-winner (with Theresa Anisi) of the Ah Kuoi Family Cup for Services to MAGS Pasifika and co-winner (with Tuiaki Fiuloi) of the Tagaloa Peter Su’a Award for Performing Arts, and has earned two scholarships.
Headmaster Patrick Drumm opened proceedings by saying Pasifika students comprised a significant part of the MAGS population and, more importantly, were vital in maintaining the school’s much-valued cultural diversity.
The Top Year 13 Pasifika Academic Student was Lovely Pulotu, while Ruby Maoate was named Top Year 12 Pasifika Academic and Best All Round Pasifika Student. Top Year 11 Pasifika Academic and Best All Round Pasifika Students were Leilani Ginnen and Marcus Savelio.
The Year 13 Siva Samoa featured students and staff showing off their dance moves with the latter including Pasifika Liaison Danny Liuliu Afoa, Deputy Principal Corey Todd and Rugby Director Nick Leger.
It preceded the naming of the top sportspeople: Karla Akeli and Josh Leger.
Siana Vagana was a co-winner (with Theresa Anisi) of the Tupuola Apisaloma Taulapiu Cup for Cultural Leadership, and also won the Director of Arts Award for Extra-Curricular Excellence.
Tavita Fa’amausili won the Village Community Trust Award for services to the Pasifika Council, and Maraea Ah Kuoi-Atmore took home the Ulugia-Pua Award for Outstanding Services to Mount Albert Grammar School.

For more pictures from the dinner, click here

Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner 2018

Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm congratulates Deputy Head Girl Rosarina Pillissi, the Best All Round MAGS Pasifika Student for 2018.

The Pasifika community came together at the annual MAGS Pasifika Dinner to acknowledge and celebrate the success of MAGS Pasifika students in Academia, Sports, the Performing Arts and Service to Pasifika and the school.
The dinner, on Friday, 26 October at Sorrento in the Park, also acknowledged Tupuola Apisaloma Taulapiu for his 26 years of service as Pasifika Liaison to Mount Albert Grammar School. He joined the school in 1992, and since that time, he has worked closely with our Pasifika students, the staff and our Pasifika community. He has been part of the school’s strategic plan in raising academic achievement and ensuring the well-being of our students. He is the first Pasifika person to have been acknowledged for this and he was congratulated and thanked for his ongoing loyalty and support to Pasifika.
There was also thanks to the Pasifika Parents’ Network (PPN), under the leadership of Katerina Taumaoe, for their tireless work year-round, fundraising so that our dinner allows us to celebrate the successes and for as many students as possible to attend. Without their support the success of this event would not be possible.

The Best All Round MAGS Pasifika Student for 2018 is MAGS’ Deputy Head Girl Rosarina Pillissi (pictured above at centre), who was also named Top Year 13 Pasifika Academic Student and Best All Round. Along with Liam Akeli, she won the Tagaloa Peter Su’a Award for Performing Arts, and Rosarina also won the Ulugia-Pua Award for Outstanding Services to Mount Albert Grammar School.

Cyprus Taumaoe won the Ah Kuoi Family Cup for Services to Pasifika.

During the year, Rosarina was also awarded the following scholarships: University of Auckland Pasifika Academic Excellence Scholarship, University of Otago Pasifika Peoples Entrance Scholarship, First Foundation Scholarship and Hi -Well Scholarship.
Top Pasifika Sportswoman and Sportsman awards went to Sharne Pupuke-Robati and Soane Vikena respectively.
Floyd Watch, one of the leaders of MAGS’ successful Niuean group at PolyFest, was awarded the Tupuola Apisaloma Taulapiu Cup for Cultural Leadership.
Cyprus Taumaoe, pictured, won the Ah Kuoi Family Cup for Services to Pasifika.

Other winners were:
Top Year 11 Excellence: Tuiaki Fiuloi, Iosefa Ulugia-Pua and Ronette Va’ai
Top Year 11 Pasifika Academic Student & Best All Round Pasifia Student: Ronette Va’ai
Top Year 12 Excellence: Maraea Ah Kuoi Atmore, Theresa Anisi, Aka Bloomfield, Alyssa Houma, Hannah Jones, Nathan Su’a Chang and Siana Vagana.
Top Year 12 Pasifika Academic Student & Best All Round Pasifika Student: Aka Bloomfield
Top Year 13 Pasifika Students: Hannah Fale, Porcia Meredith, Rosarina Pillissi, Roselyne Va’ai, Rosemary Tatupu and Elijah Manu.
Tertiary Scholarships: Hannah Fale, University of Otago Pasifika Academic Excellence Scholarship;
Clarke Aiono, University of Otago Performance Entrance Scholarship; Roselyne Va’ai, AUT School Leaver Scholarship KIWA (Maori & Pasifika Student); Grace Twigley, AUT School Leavers Scholarship KIWA (Maori & Pasifika student).

For more pictures from the dinner, click here

Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner 2017

Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm with the 2017 Best All-Round Pasifika Students, Aaron Fa’asalafa and ‘Alosi Bloomfield.

MAGS’ top Pasifika students were acknowledged and celebrated at the 2017 Pasifika Celebration Dinner on Thursday, 26 October.

The Year 12 Academic Excellence award went to Roselynne Va’ai, who was also named Best All-Round Year 12 Student, and Excellence Awards were made to Tara Pickering and Rosarina Pillissi. Elijah Manu was named Top Year 12 Pasifika Boy.

The Year 11 Academic Excellence Award went to Hannah Jones with Excellence Awards to Theresa Anisi, Kalyah Atai and Siana Vagana. The Top 11 Pasifika Boy was Nathan Su’a Chang; the Best All-Round Students in Year 11 were Maraea Ah Kuoi-Atmore and Aka Bloomfield.

The Best All-Round Pasifika Students for 2017 were Deputy Head Girl ‘Alosi Bloomfield and Aaron Fa’asalafa.

The Tagaloa Peter Su’a Award for Services to the Performing Arts went to Liam Akeli and Vaimoana Va’ai for their achievement and service in Music, Drama and Dance.

The Pasifika Sportsman and Sportswoman Awards were Javvier Pitovao for Rugby League and ‘Alosi Bloomfield for Football.

The evening included speeches by Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm, guest speaker Inspector Fata Willie Fa’anene of the Waitakere Police, and Head Boy Denzel Robertson. There were performances by the Samoan Girls’ Cultural Group and Cook Islands dancer Lausapai Nikoro, and the Year 13 Taualuga.

A special tribute was paid to Mrs Siutu Ah Kuoi (above right), who has been involved with MAGS for 47 years through her children and grandchildren

Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner 2016

MAGS’ top Pasifika students were acknowledged and celebrated at the annual Pasifika Celebration Dinner on Friday, 28 October.

Luke Fitzpatrick and Head Girl Leilani Ioelu won the Year 13 Awards for Academic Excellence. The top Year 12 student was Vaimoana Va’ai; the top Year 11 student was her sister, Roselyne. Leilani also won the Best All Round Pasifika Student award.

The Tagaloa Peter Su’a Award for Services to the Performing Arts went to Ruth Alesana and Siosiua Atuekaho for their achievement and service in Music, Drama and Dance.

The Pasifika Sportsman and Sportswoman Awards went to the two students who are also the school’s Victor Ludorum and Victrix Ludorum for 2016, Paul Roache and Caitlin Pritchard.

The evening included a speech by Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm, performances by Siosiua and the Cook Island Cultural Group, and the Year 13 Taualuga.