University of Auckland Anticipates Record-Breaking ASB Polyfest Attendance

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, showcasing performances across the Māori, Sāmoa, Tonga, Cook Island, Niue and Diversity stages until Saturday 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 of 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.”

The University has a large contingent 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. 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 were expected to visit Polyfest, with the opportunity to see more than 200 performing groups from participating schools across Aotearoa.  Organisers anticipated a record 8,000 secondary school students will perform traditional Māori and Pacific songs and dances.