Samoan Culture Day at Pasifika Haos
Pasifika Haos was filled with food, song, weaving and speeches on Friday 12 October as students in Matā‘upu Tau Samoa (Samoan Studies programme) celebrated Aso o tu ma aga faasamoa—Samoan Culture Day.
The theme for the event was 'Matimati ou tomai faasamoa—Embracing your Samoan skills'. Students participated in a range of activities relating to their final learning assessments, including cooking and serving food, dancing and singing, weaving and lei making, reading Samoan stories, a spelling competition and presenting individual speeches. 
Head of the School of Languages and Cultures Associate Professor Sally Hill gave an inspiring opening address, congratulating the students on their learning. “I encourage you to use this great opportunity to embrace your understanding of what you have studied together with your own experiences of the Samoan culture from your homes,” she said.
She reminded students that Victoria University of Wellington is the only university in New Zealand offering a major in Samoan Studies.
“This defines the distinctiveness of our capital civic university and the significance of the courses in understanding Samoan language and culture.”
Samoan lecturer Niusila Faamanatu-Eteuati thanked students, staff and families for supporting the event: “This has been an exciting opportunity for students to engage actively in what they have learned during the courses.”
"This year the Samoan Studies programme has had Fijian, Cook Island, Maori, Japanese, Kiribati, Tokelau and Samoan Pakeha students, with the majority being New Zealand-born Samoans", she said.
Samoan Studies student Yodai Omi, on exchange from Japan, said, “I learnt a lot from the day, including new vocabulary, and enjoyed the singing, dancing and the delicious Samoan food”.