March 26, 2024
Polyfest platform for political exchange
Manurewa MP Arena Williams says Polyfest is a valuable sounding board for politicians.
As the local MP, Ms WIlliams guided Labour leader Chris Hipkins and other colleagues around the festival at the Manukau Spors Centre last Friday.
She says a number of the performances took on political themes.
“Things like the cost of living, about how young people are having to get second jobs to support their family alongside their schooling. Those are the most important political issues of the day, not whatever of the 18 bills the Government pushing through under urgency at any given time in parliament. How does politics affect you and your life as a 17-year old is the most important conversation we can have and that’s why it was so important to me that the Labour leader was there,” Ms WIlliams says.
Ngā Puna o Waiōrea from Western Springs College once again came out the winner of the Maori stage.
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae was second and third was Te Uamairangi, the combined team from Mt Albert’s Te Wharekura o Ngā Maungarongo and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kōtuku in Rānui.