Mana Le Afi Aotearoa

Mana le Afi is a passionate Siva Afi (fire knife dancing) group made up of young performers who train weekly with the support of their families and community. What began as a few mums creating space for their kids to connect with their culture has grown into a committed group working hard to carry the art of Siva Afi forward.

This September, our group has been invited to compete in the Junior Division at the Brisbane Siva Afi Competition, held on the 26th and 27th. This is a huge step for our young performers.

This is an incredible opportunity for our kids to represent Aotearoa, perform on an international stage, and connect with other passionate Siva Afi artists from across the Pacific.

We are seeking funding to help cover the costs of travel, accommodation, and essential competition expenses. With your support, we can give these young performers a life-changing experience, one that strengthens their identity, fuels their passion, and lights the way for others to follow.

Our journey is made possible by the unwavering support of our families, friends, and wider community. From helping with transport and costumes to cheering us on from the sidelines, their encouragement keeps us going. Our coach dedicates his time and knowledge to training our kids every week, and we parents are always there behind the scenes—organizing, fundraising, and making sure we have everything we need. 

We're also uplifted by our Siva Afi community, both near and far, who continue to support, guide, and inspire us as we grow. Knowing we have a network of people who believe in us reminds us that we are never alone on this journey.

The funding we are seeking will directly support our participation in the Brisbane Siva Afi Competition. It will help cover:

• Return flights to and from Brisbane for all performers and our coach
• Accommodation during the competition period
• Performance-related expenses, such as uniforms, props, and equipment transport
• Registration fees for the competition itself
• Local transport while in Brisbane (e.g., airport transfers, venue transport)

This funding would lift a huge burden off our families and make it possible for these young performers to focus on what they love—sharing their fire with the world.

We’ve been invited to the Brisbane Siva Afi Competition ( Toa Ole Afi Pati Le Vasa )  on the 26th and 27th of September 2025.  We have five performers from our group competing in the Junior Division. An amazing opportunity for "Mana Le Afi" to represent Aotearoa on an international stage.

This project is to give our kids more chances to connect with their culture through Siva Afi. Our young performers are now confident, passionate, and proud of who they are. They train hard every week, guided by their coach, and have performed across New Zealand, preparing for the moment they get to compete on an international stage.  

Behind every routine they’ve learned, every spin and every flame, is a deeper journey, one that connects them to their roots, their families, and their future. Through this project, our kids get to see what’s possible when culture, community, and commitment come together.

Traveling to Brisbane is more than just showcasing skills—it’s about being part of something bigger. Competing at an international level pushes us to step up, work harder, and represent our culture with pride. It gives our kids a goal to work towards, a reason to stay committed, and a chance to prove to themselves what they’re capable of.We want to stand shoulder to shoulder with other performers from across the Pacific, not just to perform, but to compete, to be challenged, and to grow. 

The competition environment brings out the best in our performers. It teaches resilience, humility, focus, and teamwork. Win or lose, the lessons and experience they’ll gain are invaluable.For our kids, this will be a milestone in our journey, We’ve been walking as a group, as families, and as a community. 

Competing means stepping out of their comfort zone and being seen. It means showing the world who they are, where they come from, and what they’ve worked so hard for. They’re not just dancing with fire, they’re competing with heart, culture, and purpose.We’re asking our wider community to stand with us because it’s about investing in our next generation. When we lift up our kids, we lift up our future leaders, artists, and culture keepers. Together, we can show our tamaiti that their culture is powerful, their voices are important, and their dreams are worth chasing.