Source: Radio New Zealand
Students performing at this weeks ASB Polyfest say the festival is a celebration of their diverse identities.
More than 11,000 performers from 73 schools are set to grace the stage over the next three days.
Polyfest is the world’s largest secondary school Pasifika cultural festival held annually since the late 1970s.
For Baradene College students Izzy Porter and Marlo O’Hagan representing Fiji, the event means “sharing our cultures” and “being able to represent our families and our ancestors on the stage”.
Baradene Fiji group at the ASB Polyfest 2026. 18 March 2026 RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
For Manurewa High School’s Ayveah Mizziebo, “It’s a way to learn about my culture outside of my home, my church, my family, and to embrace other people’s cultures as well.”
Manurewa High School at the ASB Polyfest 2026. 18 March 2026 RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
AUT student representative Lolomanaia Filia’i said Polyfest was all about identity.
“Finding who you are through culture, through food, through dance, through music.”
Tangaroa College student Breona Nassau said “regardless of whether or not you are the culture that you’re performing for, just representing that, and you know doing your best”.
Southern Cross Campus student Faith Fomai said the event was about “learning your roots, staying put, like, stick to your roots, our voices and our culture”.
St Cuthbert’s College student Bailey Li said Polyfest meant cultural diversity.
Bailey li, a Korean student from St Cuthbert’s College, says Polyfest means cultural diversity. 18 March 2026 RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
“It allows everyone to perform their culture, represent other cultures, as well as be aware of other cultures and their beauty.”
For Iris Wen it was about “getting together and celebrating different cultures with different causes”.
A Chinese fan dance by St Cuthbert’s School at the ASB Polyfest 2026. RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
