Polyfest50: ‘We bloody deserve it’ - director

Polyfest director Seiuli Terri Leo-Mauu says the festival reaches a larger audience than other arts events that receive millions in Government funding.

In a speech at the event on Friday, Seiuli called for long-term investment in Polyfest and the young people it serves.

“There are other events out there, I won't mention who they are, that get millions of dollars of funding, that are not at the same scale as ours,” she says.

“They don't have the same reach or impact that our festival has… They get funding that our festival can only dream of.”

Seiuli calls for multi-year funding and a permanent home for the festival.

“If we're meeting with the wrong people, tell us who we need to meet," she says.

“Direct us on how we can get multi-year funding for this event and its community because we bloody well deserve it.”

But Deputy Prime Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters had a counter-argument when asked about her comments.

“I want to know from her, first of all, who have you been asking? Who have you been asking all these years?

Deputy Prime Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters. Photo/PMN News/Joseph Safiti

“Don't come along and tell us all what the problem is. I've never heard anybody ask me personally about that.”

Peters says he’s open to a conversation but wants to understand the financial details.

“I'd like to know more about the background, what we're talking about, how much we're talking about, the numbers and all the fiscals.

“But we are open-minded, and don't forget, you know who started kapa haka in this country? A guy called Winston Peters did, even though half of them have forgotten.”

Watch PMN Fiji's coverage at the Diversity Stage.

He recalls first attending Polyfest in 1978 and says it has grown into something “huge”.

“I doubt there's any other thing of this size actually in this country at the moment.”

Culture and Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith also attended Friday’s event, describing Polyfest as “a marvellous celebration” of youth, culture and identity.

“When you think about arts, culture and heritage in New Zealand and the desire for more people to be engaged or continue to celebrate all those three things, it's hard to think of a better event than Polyfest when it comes to drawing in so many young kids, exposing them to song, to dance and to oratory.”

Culture and Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith (third from left) with other Government and festival officials. Photo/PMN News/Joseph Safiti

Goldsmith acknowledges that the Government provided $60,000 in support for the 50th anniversary of Polyfest.

“Ultimately, the funding decisions come from Creative New Zealand. They juggle many competing demands,” he says.

“As Minister, I shouldn’t comment on that, but we do continue to invest in Polyfest.”

Watch PMN News' reel from Polyfest.

He highlights the significant contributions of schools, volunteers, and communities in making the event successful, adding that the Government will continue “those conversations.”

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins says that while Labour increased support for Pacific events during their time in government, more assistance is needed.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins and Deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni. Photo/PMN News/Ala Vailala

“There have been long-standing funding inequities. I think there's more work to do in that area. Some of that funding was time-limited, and so I think we do want to come back to that again because I think we want to see events like Polyfest thrive into the future.

“It's not just about the event here. It's about everything that goes into the event as well and all of the smaller events that lead up to this one.”