An all boys school in New Zealand has introduced a school ie faitaga to its uniform in recognition of its Pacific island students.
Rotorua Boys High is now featuring a black ie faitaga or sulu in Fijian that can be worn instead of pants or shorts.
It is not exclusively for Pasifika boys , with Japanese and Maori among the wearers.
Rotorua Boys’ High has a large number of Maori students but its enrollment includes Samoans. Tongans, Fijians, Tokelauans and Cook islanders, islands where the ie faitaga is part of the national attire.
Pasifika mentor and English teacher, John Pesefea, said identity was at the forefront of who they were as a school.
“This is embracing all Pacific students and their heritage and the sulu identifies that,” he says.
