‘It’s the people’: Otago Polyfest a testament to community collusion

For 31 years, Otago Polyfest has been a beacon for cultural celebration for communities in the lower South Island.

Over the past week, 160 schools from around the region descended on Otepoti Dunedin for this year's Otago Polyfest. Thousands of students from early childhood centres to high schools stormed the stage with heartfelt performances with Māori and Pacific flavour.

Otago Polyfest CEO Pip Laufiso said the festival is a unique time for the region to celebrate cultural diversity.

Trinity Catholic College. Photo/Joseph Safiti.

“The performances have been phenomenal. I’m grateful to be able to provide a stage for our young people,” she said.

“We really get an opportunity to try things out, meet new people because every year we have new people come to volunteer, be involved and participate.

“I think for a Māori and Pacific led event, it’s about working with all of our communities to make it welcoming for all other communities as well. I’m just always grateful, uplifted by the number of people who come and put their hand to the work.”

Laufiso said the festival has had generations of families come through the event as performers, volunteers and eventual organisers over the festival's 31 years.

The festival receives no major financial support to run the festival, following a number of funding withdrawals of festivals during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Laufiso said the festival was able to continue because of the strong community support.

“It’s the people. True to our values, whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga. It’s about all of us being under the guidance of Tangata Whenua with the values we do uplift.

“We want everybody to feel welcome, and I think every year we feel that in everything we do as well.”

University of Otago Humanities Pacific Supports Liaison Sia Mata’afa has had three generations of her family participate in the event.

“I have been a part of Otago Polyfest as a performer since I was in kindergarten, and now I’m part of Polyfest as a worker and as a mother.

“My daughter is the third generation in our family who is part of the Polyfest. She’s a Mata’afa, her grandparents have been part of the Polyfest, her dad has been part, and now her brothers and herself too.”

She said opportunities like these for the Pacific community is crucial to keep Pacific culture strong in the South Island.

“It is so important, we have a lot of representation for Pacific and Maori in the North Island. But we are not to be forgotten down here in the South!

“We have an amazing, growing population here in our community so it’s really important we have the opportunity to celebrate for our future generations.”