What a journey

SHANE WENZLICK

CULTURAL CELEBRATION: Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate students celebrate hosting the ASB Polyfest on its 35th anniversary.

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POLYFEST is looking back to its roots today as it celebrates its 35th anniversary.

Several of the "instigators" behind the first secondary school cultural festival will be at Manukau Sportsbowl today, telling the story behind what is now thought to be the biggest cultural festival of its kind in the world.

This year's festival kicked off on Wednesday with a bang – the sound of 300 schoolkids doing a haka.

More than 85,000 spectators, 9000 performing students and a record number of school groups – 210, up from 178 last year – are expected at the four-day festival.

But it had humble beginnings.

A couple of students at Hillary College came up with the idea and, with encouragement and support from some staff, the first festival was held in 1976.

It started with just four schools taking part – Seddon High School (now Western Springs College), Aorere College, Mangere College and host school Hillary College (now Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate).

Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate is hosting Polyfest for the fifth time this year and has chosen a quote from its famous namesake as the theme: "It's not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."

Students are battling it out for awards in traditional music, dance, costume and speech-making over five stages – Samoan, Tongan, Cook Islands, Maori and Niue.

There is also a diversity stage which includes Japanese, Chinese, Indian, African, Filipino, Middle Eastern and Malaysian cultural groups performing.

For the first time, an international professional cultural group – the Hirinaki Group from Tahiti – will be performing at lunchtime today and tomorrow.

Event director Tania Karauria says Polyfest is all about "young people from all walks of life coming together in one place to celebrate the pride and passion of their cultures and that of others".

Mayor Len Brown spoke at the festival opening, saying Polyfest is the perfect occasion to celebrate our cultures.

"We are here in the heart of the Pacific and we love it."

Entry is $4. Pre-school children are free.

For more information go online to asbpolyfest.co.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News