A decision was made to split Māori events off from the main cultural festival Polyfest in Auckland, moving them to a different venue and date. This change has led to concern among some about the impact on cultural unity.
Auckland’s world-renowned Polyfest will no longer feature a dedicated Māori stage, with organisers confirming that Māori performances will be shifted to a separate venue and scheduled on different dates.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions from Māori leaders, teachers, and performers, who fear it could undermine the festival’s long-standing role as a showcase of unity across Pacific and Māori cultures.
For decades, Polyfest has been celebrated as a space where Māori and Pasifika youth share their languages, dances, and identities side by side. The Māori stage has been a cornerstone of the event, highlighting kapa haka groups from schools across Tāmaki Makaurau and beyond.
Organisers say the change is intended to give kapa haka groups more time and space to perform, noting that the Māori stage has outgrown its current setting within the festival. However, critics argue the separation risks diluting the sense of inclusivity that has defined Polyfest since its beginnings in 1976.
The Ministry of Education, which has supported Polyfest as a major youth cultural event, says it is consulting with schools and whānau about how best to support both the festival and a standalone Māori kapa haka event.
Polyfest is expected to continue with its diverse Pacific stages next year, while details of the separate Māori event – including venue, dates, and funding – are still being finalised.
Students traditionally compete on six stages, performing traditional items from the following cultures – Cook Islands, Māori, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Diversity stage featuring performances from a range of cultural groups including Fijian, Tokelau, Chinese, Korean and Indian.
The four-day festival typically opens with a flag raising ceremony conducted by Tainui Kaumatua, Stage Representatives, along with the Kura Matua Host Schools and the other Mana Kura Host Schools for each stage. This ceremony takes place at sunrise on the raised ground overlooking the Māori Stage. Following this is the pōwhiri (official welcome) which is the formal welcoming of guests (manuhiri) by the hosts (Tainui and Pacific Community Leaders). The ceremony progresses with the tapu (sacredness) surrounding manuhiri being removed, and all become ‘one’. Once this is complete, the festival can begin with speeches and performances.
