ASB Polyfest Festival expected to break records

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22 March 2024

Arts and culture, Te ao Māori, Pacific, University news

University student ambassadors with Pasifika Student Leader, Ben Lui Spitzenberg (left) and PVC (Pacific) Portfolio lead Sili-Mireta Ropati (right).

More than 70 high schools around the motu will be competing at the prestigious ASB Polyfest. Students have been preparing months in advance for this calendar highlight.

It's one of the largest Māori and Pacific festivals in the world, with performances showcasing across the Māori, Sāmoa, Tonga, Cook Island, Niue and Diversity stages until Sunday March 23 at the Manukau Sports Bowl.

The festival's theme/kaupapa this year is Me anga whakamuri kia koke whakamua - Looking to our past to determine our future.

University of Auckland Assistant Pro-Vice Chancellor Pacific, Salapima Everdina Fuli, emphasised the importance in supporting the festival to help maintain cultural traditions.

"The office of the PVC Pacific sees the value in supporting the culture of our young Māori and Pacific people. A sense of pride and identity provides a strong foundation for our young people to thrive and find success in life and like our ancestors our young people are navigating new spaces, and places to create a better future."

A sense of pride and identity provides a strong foundation for our young people to thrive and find success in life and like our ancestors our young people are navigating new spaces, and places to create a better future.

Assistant Pro-Vice Chancellor (Pacific) Salapima Everdina Fuli.Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

The University has a large contingency of student ambassadors helping to host visitors to the Sāmoan stage and are also available to engage with members of the Pacific community, to share their journey of higher education.

Fuli paid tribute to the Pro-Vice Chancellor Pacific team who through their tautua (service) to the community were ensuring visitors to Polyfest, and in particular the Sāmoan stage, were greeted with respect and gratitude for supporting the young performers, displaying their well-honed skills over the next few days.

The festival offers more than entertainment, featuring organisations seeking to educate and expand the horizons of young Pacific people and their families. Soteria Ieremia, Chair of the Pacific Leadership Team at Pūtahi Manawa, Healthy Hearts for Aotearoa New Zealand (hosted by Manaaki Manawa, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland) saw her tent overflowing with students from primary, intermediate and secondary schools, attracted to the numerous activities demonstrating how the heart works.

"This is great, they're having fun while actually participating in science, we've had so many schools come through. We really need more Māori and Pacific researchers. "

The national collaborative network of researchers, community members, and educators are passionate about achieving equity in heart health outcomes for Māori and Pacific peoples.

Senior secondary school students from across Tāmaki Makaurau came together earlier in January to connect over the significance of cultural performing arts, as a lead up to the 49th ASB Polyfest festival. The two-day Student Leaders Conference at the University's Te Papa Ako o Tai Tonga (South Auckland campus) attracted 150 Pacific students. They took part in workshops, speech, video competitions, and dance challenges.

At least 100,000 visitors are expected to visit Polyfest Festival, with the opportunity to see more than 200 performing groups from participating schools across Aotearoa. Organisers are anticipating a record 8000 secondary school students will perform traditional Māori and Pacific songs and dances.

Media contact

Kim Meredith | Pacific media adviser
M: 0274 357 591
E: [email protected]