Polyfest has started in Auckland as thousands of students have come together to share their Polynesian dances, songs and culture.
The festival has been disrupted over the last two years.
In 2019 it was stopped short because of the terror attack in Christchurch. Last year was supposed to be festivals 45th anniversary. However, COVID-19 meant the event was cancelled.
But this year, the four-day event is back.
Eight-thousand secondary school students from 49 Auckland schools will take part in the festival, which concludes on Saturday evening.
With six stages – Māori, Samoan, Cook Islands, Tonga, Niue and a diversity stage – there are 160 groups performing.
The theme for this year is ‘healing the body, mind, spirit and soul with the strength of culture’.
