The ASB Polyfest, Auckland Secondary Schools Maori & Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, is back on in 2021. The festival will celebrate its 45th anniversary this year, after it was put on hold in 2020 due to the initial COVID-19 outbreak that saw the ban of large gatherings across the country.
In a statement Chair of the Polyfest Trust Robert Solomone says, like many events in 2020, ASB Polyfest was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the interest of the health and safety of Polyfest students, schools, stallholders, stakeholders and supporting communities. He says “this was the second consecutive year our event was cancelled, and a time to reflect on the learnings of the past two years. It was also an opportunity to consider new possibilities for future Polyfest events.”
The festival theme from last year has been retained:
Mā roto mai i te Ahurea whirikoka, ko te whakaora tinana, hinengaro, wairua me te ira tangata
“Healing the body, mind and soul with the strength of Culture”
Festival Director Seiuli Terri Leo-Mauu says the theme is more relevant than ever given the challenges that the ASB Polyfest has faced over the last two years.