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Tongan Sisters rock the stage at ASB Polyfest

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Auckland, March 18, 2018

The ‘Tonga Sisters’ from Hawaii performed at the ASB Polyfest on Saturday, March 17, 2018.

They appeared on the Massey University Tongan Stage at the Festival, after a whirlwind year which 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 nine million viewers including Ellen DeGeneres who invited them onto ‘The Ellen Show.’

Higher Education

They performed their 1990s 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 festivals and seeded the idea of the ‘Tonga Sisters’ performing on the Tongan stage. A year of saving money from gigs sees them in New Zealand for the first time and on the ASB Polyfest stage.

Other Performers

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 were Te Rereora College from the Cook Islands on the AUT Cook Islands. Niue High School was on the MIT Niue Stage in a finale performance which allowed guests on stage at the end of the show to give donations to the group.

All Maori and Pacific Island stages were in full swing.

The Cream of Artistes

ASB Polyfest Event Director Seiuli Terri Leo-Mauu said “The final day saw the ‘cream’ of the Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Cook Island and Niue groups perform on stage. The public saw amazing Pacific Island performances, and kapa haka at its best with the Division One groups battling it out for the title and for places in the national kapa haka competition.

The Te Whare Wanaga o Awanuiarangi Maori stage featured the powerhouses of school kapa haka. Fourteen schools battled for the coveted Maori Stage Crown with Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi defending the Title.

The MIT Niue Stage reverberated with nine Niue groups.

The University of Auckland Samoan Stage had 14 groups performing traditional Samoan dances. The Groups competed in three divisions – boys schools, girls schools and co-educational schools.

ASB Polyfest 2018 was held at the Manukau Sports Bowl from Wednesday March 14, 2018 to Saturday, March 17, 2018.

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Photo Caption:

  1. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with Ethnic Affairs Minister Jenny Salesa, Pacific People’s Minister Aupito William Sio, fellow MPs and others at the ASB Polyfest on March 16, 2018

(Picture Supplied)

  1. The Tongan Sisters performing at the ASB Polyfest on March 17, 2018 (Picture from YouTube)

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