Polyfest
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Polyfest is an annual secondary school performing arts festival celebrating Polynesian culture held in Auckland, New Zealand. It was founded in Ōtara in 1976 and is now one of the largest Polynesian festivals in the world.[1] The festival includes a performing arts competition between secondary school student while polyfest is also a second name for Pacifica
The annual event is held in March. As of 2021, the festival takes place over four days with nearly 10,000 students participating.[1] The principal sponsor, with naming rights, is ASB Bank.[2] Polyfest also receives government financial support.
At the festival, the five main cultures of the Polynesian islands are each presented on their own stage. The cultures come from Niue, Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands and New Zealand (Māori). On the final day, the winners of each category will be chosen. A sixth stage is the Diversity stage, which hosts performances from China, Japan, Korea, India, Fiji and other cultures.[3]
The Polynesian festival is significant for New Zealand's Pacific community. In addition to the performances, traditional meals and drinks are available. The festival promotes understanding of other cultures and gives students the opportunity to explore their culture.