Cultural Awards Evening 2026

A magnificent way to end the term!

The Dilworth Cultural Awards Evening has quickly become one of the most popular events on our calendar. On Thursday, 24 September, St Patrick’s Chapel was packed and buzzing with excitement as we celebrated excellence in cultural performance and service during a stunning evening, with warmth, generosity, talent, and dedication on display as our community came together.

The audience was treated to performances from: The Junior Campus Pasifika Group, Tongan Group, Samoan Group, and Kapa Haka – honouring the phenomenal talent, effort, and devotion of our cultural groups and performers throughout the year.

Year 12 student Hunter Timoteo, lively and engaging as the night’s MC, captured the spirit perfectly as he opened proceedings:

“Our cultural diversity – this is what makes us so special.”

Dilworth Pasifika Advisory Group Chairperson, Mrs Lanna Ali’ifa’alogo, poignantly reinforced this in her opening address:

“When we stand together and embrace each other’s cultures, we embody the spirit of Kotahitanga. Together, we are unbreakable.”

Throughout the evening, it was uplifting to see the sharing of culture and the respect for each other’s cultures as students, staff and whānau celebrated together.

Award Presentations

The Most Valuable Performer Awards came first, followed by the Cultural Colours presentation across Tongan, Samoan and Hapa Haka. Then it was time for the Premier Awards.

Service to Culture

There were many strong candidates for this award. The winners were: Xavier Jennings-Sio and Logan Brown. Both young men were away singing in Wellington, but touchingly represented by their Mums, who went onstage to receive their awards. Speaking during his citation, Mr Tom Murdoch had the following to say about Logan and Xavier.

Logan Brown
“It is an honour to recognise an extraordinary leader and multi-talented student whose contributions across our school community have been nothing short of exceptional. Over the past four years, Logan has been a standout performer in the Samoan group, bringing unmatched passion, stage presence, and energy to every performance. His artistic talents extend far beyond the stage, from captivating audiences in spoken word to serving as Deputy Head Chorister, leading choreography for Fortissimo, and taking part in the Dio collaboration. Beyond the stage, his commitment to service is outstanding—stepping up as Lead for the Cultural Committee and taking the helm for the Pacific Leadership Day to guide and inspire others."

Xavier Jennings-Sio
“It is an absolute privilege to recognise an outstanding leader whose voice, vision, and dedication have left an unforgettable mark across our entire school community. As a School Prefect and Lead for Fono, Xavier exemplifies true servant leadership, guiding others with purpose and eloquence. His versatility and drive are remarkable—whether commanding the stage in debating, supporting initiatives on the Cultural Committee, or serving in tautua as a Leader for the Samoan Group. Xavier’s artistic vision and precision also shine through his work, seamlessly weaving together culture, performance, and leadership in everything he undertakes.”

Cultural Performer of the Year

Again, there was an incredibly strong line-up of nominees for this award. But there was one winner for 2026, Paora Tavake.

In his citation, Mr Murdoch said:

“Born in Auckland but of Rarotongan descent, Paora Tavake learned Te Reo Māori and tikanga Māori to lead waiata, whaikōrero, and kaupapa Māori events. As a member of the Cultural Committee, Paora has supported Cook Islands, Māori, and Pasifika initiatives, often performing or accompanying performances on guitar. His artistic and public performances include kapa haka, music, and leading waiata in Chapel worship services, as well as involvement in the Pacific Leadership Day. Paora played a leading role in the Cook Islands' performance with Epsom Girls Grammar for the third year running. Despite not being Samoan, he demonstrated dance and vocal talent within the Samoan group, approaching the culture with complete dedication.”

In competitive speaking, Paora won the Auckland regional title in the Race Unity Speech Competition, advanced to the National Finals, and received the Speech NZ Award for Impact before representing young people in discussions with Members of Parliament. His speech celebrated his background and challenged cultural biases. Through these actions, performances, and honours, Paora has used language and cultural service to unite communities at Dilworth”.

The evening closed with an acknowledgement of the enormous contribution of Dilworth’s Year 13 leavers. While their contribution to Dilworth’s culture will be missed, it was clear from presentations, performances, and citations throughout the evening that they had passed the mantle of leadership and service to the next generation of equally talented and passionate Dilworth brothers. Ka Pai.