Timaru Boys’ High School has introduced black tupenu as an additional uniform option for pupils next year.
Tupenu are worn by boys and men in the Pacific Islands to formal events such as school and church, as a more formal version of the lava-lava.
Timaru Boys’ High School rector Dave Thorp said the uniform addition was proposed by Timaru Boys’ High School kaiawhina Rachel Fenwick after consulting with the school’s Pasifika community.
‘‘Many schools have it as a uniform option, and we thought ‘of course’. It just made sense,’’ Mr Thorp said.
More Pasifika pupils were attending the school, and about 60 had enrolled for next year, she said.
Tongan, Samoan, Fijian and Kiribati boys and their families were keen to see the inclusion of tupenu as an option for pupils, Mrs Fenwick said.
‘‘During Tongan Language Week, boys asked to wear tupenu for the week with the school uniform. They wore their uniform and their tupenu with pride.
‘‘A number of staff commented on how good they looked and the positive impact itseemed to have on their self-esteem,’’ she said.
Mr Thorp said the school and pupils were enriched by the Pasifika pupils who attended the school.
