An east Auckland school has pulled out all the stops to help its pupils celebrate their vibrant cultural and ethnic diversity.
Owairoa Primary School was awash with colour for its International Day on August 21.
The fun event saw the children dress in clothing from countries they’re from or have an association with.
Other than New Zealand the biggest groups were from South Africa, China, and India.
Some of the smallest – but just as proud and enthusiastic – contingents were representing countries such as Afghanistan, Poland, Nigeria, and Ukraine.
The pupils gathered in three large groups and then paraded around its grounds before an audience of cheering teachers and parents.
One child held a sign announcing the country they were representing while many of them were waving their national flags.
Teacher Liz Hewlett, who helped to organise the event, says it’s about celebrating the pupils’ diverse cultures, where they come from, and “all the amazing and unique things about them”.
“The students come dressed up in their traditional costumes or attire or they can come in the colour of the flag or that country.
“In the morning we have the parade. We put them into continent areas and from there they get into the country groups.
“Each country has a banner and a banner holder. They march around and each student has also coloured a flag from their country.”
Hewlett says the goal of the event is for the pupils to have a sense of identity “of who they are and where they come from”.
“They’re in a New Zealand Aotearoa school, but they can still relate to where their families are from.”
The International Day included two concerts by pupils who auditioned to take part and were to perform using instruments such as double bass, drums and piano, as well as dance.
