For many students, this year’s ASB Polyfest was their first chance to embrace their heritage on the grandest stage of them all.
With the Samoan and Tongan stages kicking off, it was natural some had butterflies.
"It feels good but I’m nervous at the same time," says a Year 7 St Peter's College Samoan student.
While for others, their competitive side was on show.
A Tongan student at Sacred Heart College says he joined the group to "make history, take home the dub and rep the culture".