The Trinity Catholic College group brought a portrait of 16-year-old Enere Mclaren-Taana with them to the stage during their kapa haka and Pasifika performances at this week’s Polyfest in Dunedin.
The teen was fatally stabbed at the Dunedin bus hub in May.
Therese said Enere was supposed to be there with them this week and had been a part of two rehearsals before he died.
"It would have been pretty big for him to be up on stage.
"He would’ve been glad he had his wee moment."
When they brought the portrait out a lot of the crowd was in tears, she said.
"It was like he was there with us."
Her brother Issac, 18, said when Enere started going to Trinity this year he was keen to get back into dancing to be more involved with his Cook Islands culture.
"For him it was a lot about the music of his own culture being shown out to Dunedin."
Isaac and Therese had known Enere since he was 5 and they were both very emotional going into their performances.
"It was quite hard.
"My whole performance was for him and his family, his parents," Issac said.
Trinity’s performance on Thursday included pieces from Cook Islands, Samoan, Tokelauan and Tongan culture.
The song they sang for Enere, I Say To You With Love, was one they used to sing with him when he was younger.
"We thought it would be a good song to dedicate to Enere because he can relate back to it."
The Polyfest concluded last night after 160 performances from 128 different education institutes throughout the week.
I say to you with love
English lyrics
I say to you with love - Kia orana
And with this flower lei
I give to you
I wish you well my friend - Kia manuia
And with this kiss
I say goodbye
Will you remember me wherever you go?
Dream of this moment - remember me
Cook Islands Māori lyrics
E taku oa - Kia orana
E tiare teia
No to tino
Aere ra e te oa - Kia manuia
Na te Atua koe
E tiaka
Kare roa e ngaro toou mata
No te inangaro ia koe
