March 22, 2024
Crazy numbers and fun days at Polyfest
A long time Polyfest watcher says the annual Auckland Secondary Schools Māori & Pacific Islands Cultural Festival is a great way to track the evolving face of Tāmaki Makaurau.
This year’s festival is providing multiple stages for more than 8000 performers, with the non-competitive diversity stage the biggest yet.
Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi kaimahi Jadein Henare says more schools now take part, the kai is healhier and it has become a platform for Māori and Pasifika business.
“Tamaki herenga waka, ko Tamaki herenga tangata, it’s an awesome place to tuatahi. If you’ve never seen any of the Pasifika before, come and meet our Pacific whanau, taste their kai, see their culture. If you’ve never seen kapa haka before, coming see all the 300 schools we have in Tamaki and see the manaakitanga, see the kotahitnga and see the uniqueness of Auckland through the diverse cultures and he dynamics we cater to. It’s crazy numbers but fun days,” Ms Henare says.
The final day for the Tongan, Cook Island, Samoan and kapa haka stages is tomorrow
All results can be found on the asbpolyfest website