At 18, Alizae Auvae is a Māori and Samoan drama student who found her sense of belonging on the stage, performing works from Shakespeare to New Zealand plays. She has been selected for the SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company for 2026, joining 24 students travelling to London, having performed in her first Shakespeare festival in 2024 and taken part in the Graeme Dingle Foundation Project K programme. This Grant supports her participation in the Young Shakespeare Company. Alizae hopes to continue in performing arts and to become a role model for the Pasifika community.