From The Ellen Show to the ASB Polyfest

From The Ellen Show to the ASB Polyfest

This afternoon at the ASB Polyfest the ‘Tonga Sisters’ from Hawaii will grace the Massey University Tongan Stage after a whirlwind year which has included a guest appearance on The Ellen Show, and offers of their own reality television programme.

The five sisters (Alexia – aged 20, Tiueti – aged 16, Lela – aged 15, Siva – aged 14 and Nini – aged 11) have been singing together since the age of four, but it is the last few weeks that the international spotlight has shone on them.

They were singing at a party where their mother – Telesia Tonga was the MC, when someone recorded their mash-up of 90s hits to the tune of 24 Carat Magic. The video went viral, seen by 9 million viewers including Ellen DeGeneres who invited them onto “The Ellen Show”.

They performed their 90s mash-up on “The Ellen Show” before declaring they wanted future careers in dentistry, medicine and forensics – at which time Ellen gave each of them a $10,000 cheque towards their college education.

Since ‘The Ellen Show’ the sisters have been bombarded with offers of performances, television appearances and their own reality television show.

One show that they didn’t want to miss was the ASB Polyfest, something they have been saving for over the past year. Their mother - Telesia has been to past festival’s, and seeded the idea of the ‘Tonga Sisters’ performing on the Tongan stage. A year of saving money from gigs sees them in NZ for the first time, and on the ASB Polyfest stage this afternoon at 3:20pm.
Another contemporary music highlight today will be the ASB Activation Area which includes a music dome where students can listen to the ASB Polyfest Playlist curated by Kiwi music duo and past ASB Polyfest performers Adeaze.
Other international guests on stage today are Te Rereora College from the Cook Islands on the AUT Cook Islands Stage at 2:30pm. Niue High School will be on the MIT Niue Stage at 2:30pm in a finale performance which allows guests on stage at the end of the show to give donations to the group.

All Maori and Pacific Island stages are in full swing today. ASB Polyfest event director Seiuli Terri Leo-Mauu says “today is where the 'cream' of the Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Cook Island and Niue groups perform on stage. The public will see amazing Pacific Island performances, and kapa haka at its best with the Division One groups battling it out not only for the title, but for places in the national kapa haka competition.”

The Te Whare Wanaga o Awanuiarangi Maori stage features the powerhouses of school kapa haka from 8:00am – 5:00pm today. 14 schools will battle it out for the coveted Maori Stage crown with Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi looking to defend their Division One title at 12:05pm this afternoon. Their biggest threat is expected to come from Nga Puna o Waiorea - Western Springs College (on stage at 3:15pm) who won four straight Division One titles from 2012 – 2015.

Mangere College are looking to defend their title on the AUT University Cook Islands Stage at 1:50pm today. Their main competition is likely to come from 2014-15 winners Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate who are stage at 1:15pm

The MIT Niue Stage will be reverberating with nine Niue groups from 9:00am – 3:00pm, with Alfriston College looking to defend their title at 1:30pm this afternoon.

The University of Auckland Samoan Stage has 14 groups performing traditional Samoan dances from 8:00am this morning. Groups compete in three divisions – boys schools, girls schools and co-educational schools. It is boys and girls schools on stage today with the defending champs in the boys section St Pauls College performing at 11:55am, and girl’s school defending champs Kelston Girls College on stage at 10:30am.

The Massey University Tongan Stage features vibrant Tongan dances such as the Ma’ulu’ulu and Kailao from 8:00am – 4:30pm today, with 32 school groups performing.

ASB Polyfest 2018 takes place at the Manukau Sports Bowl from Wednesday 14 March to Saturday, 17 March. Entry is $5, with pre-school children free of charge.
Adeaze curates 2018 ASB Polyfest Playlist
ASB’s activation zones at this year’s ASB Polyfest celebrate technology, music and culture.

In the ASB Music Dome ASB Polyfest-ers can listen to the ASB Polyfest Playlist curated by Kiwi music duo and past ASB Polyfest performers Adeaze. Students and supporters can relax on a bean bag or dance to the ASB Polyfest Playlist. At various times throughout the day, the ASB Music Dome emcee will run the Poly Lyric challenge for a chance to win Poly dollars for redemption at the festival.

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