Auckland Intermediate School has added a new item to its uniform, a lavalava, thanks to a special trip taken by students from the Samoa Identity Language and Culture Unit at Bruce McLaren Intermediate School. They went on a trip to Samoa three years ago, and this journey inspired the addition of the lavalava to their school attire. The lavalava is called “ie faitaga,” and it’s a Samoan wrap-around garment with pockets. In Samoa, it’s common for boys to wear ‘ie faitaga’ as part of their school uniform, while girls typically wear a shirt with a tunic or skirts that go below the knees.
The head teacher of the Samoa unit, Helen Magasiva, explained that during various field trips, male students wore ie faitaga, and female students wore ie lavalava. They wanted these garments to become part of their official school uniform to represent their school, Bruce McLaren Intermediate School. The idea for this new uniform started two years before the trip was planned. Despite some delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they eventually presented the concept to the school principal, who approved it.
The school’s principal, Liz Wood, believes that ie faitaga and ie lavalava are important for students in the identity, language, and culture class, promoting a sense of pride. They wanted the students to have a uniform that reflects their identity and heritage.
As part of implementing the ie faitaga, the students had the chance to travel to Samoa. The purpose of the trip was to immerse the students in Samoan culture and provide them with an authentic experience. They visited four different schools, two on the main island of Upolu and two on Savaii. The experience was unique, as the education system in Samoa is different from New Zealand’s. The trip allowed both students and staff to gain a deep appreciation for Samoan culture, family connections, and the way of life in Samoa. It was a valuable learning experience for everyone involved.