Auckland’s Polyfest, the largest Polynesian cultural festival for high school students in the world, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week.
The event is hosted by Western Springs College – Ngā Puna o Waiōrea, a school known for its strong kapa haka performances. Ngā Puna o Waiōrea has been the champion of the Māori stage for the past six years.
The school’s kapa haka teams are guided by experienced tutors, many of whom are former students. Tiakina Te Kare, who teaches Ngā Puna o Rehu, said it’s been rewarding to watch her students grow in confidence and skill over the years.
Polyfest now features more than 70 schools performing across six cultural stages: Māori, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Cook Islands, and a Diversity stage. This is a big change from the very first Polyfest in 1976, which had just four schools.
To mark the 50th anniversary, Ngā Puna o Rehu dedicated their performance to the school’s history and the event’s legacy. He said the experience helped him grow both as a person and as a performer.
This year’s Polyfest theme is He oha nō tua, he taonga tuku iho! – meaning Legacy – a treasure handed down. The event began with a dawn flag-raising and welcome ceremony, followed by four days of performances celebrating culture, heritage, and the talents of young people across Aotearoa.
