Special Guests Attend ASB Polyfest This Morning
The ASB Polyfest welcomes some special guests to the Manukau Sports Bowl this morning, with the Prime Minster – Rt Hon
Jacinda Ardern and the Minister for Pacific Peoples – Hon Aupito William Sio attending the 43rd Anniversary of the
festival from 10:30am – 12noon.
The Prime Minister will speak at a special media and stakeholders function in the ASB Activation Area, before heading to
the MIT Niue Stage and The University of Auckland Samoan Stage.
A strong government delegation will join the Prime Minister at the festival, demonstrating how iconic this secondary
school festival has become since its humble beginnings in 1976, when four schools took part.
This year, a record 242 performing groups have entered from 69 Aucland schools, with more than 10,000 secondary school
students, performing on stage during the festival’s four day duration.
This year’s festival also features some international schools, including the first visit to the ASB Polyfest from Te
Rereora College, Rarotonga. 60 people from the school have made the trip to NZ for a special performance at 2pm today on
the AUT Cook Islands Stage.
The group has a special connection to the ASB Polyfest with their Deputy Principal – Boaz Raela being an initial founder
of the ASB Polyfest when he was a student at Sir Edmund Hilary Collegiate.
Te Rereora College is being hosted in New Zealand by Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate and the Cook Islands Anau Parents,
and are staying at the Ngati Otara Marae. It is the first overseas trip for many of the group, and they are sure to set
the Cook Islands stage alight this afternoon.
Another visiting school on an ASB Polyfest stage today is Niue High School who will be on the MIT Niue Stage at 9am this morning. The island of Niue, with a resident population of 1611, has sent a group of 30 on the trip of a
lifetime to the ASB Polyfest. The group consists of 12 boys, 12 girls and 6 staff teachers, who are incredibly excited
about getting on an ASB Polyfest stage this morning.
The Manukau Sports Bowl will be alive with Maori & Pacific Island colour and culture at the ASB Polyfest today. The Te Whare Wanaga o Awanuiarangi Maori Stage features the Division 2 kapa haka competition from 8am – 5pm, with 13 schools vying to be promoted to Division 1 next
year.
The University of Auckland Samoan Stage has 22 groups on stage from 7:45am – 6:30pm, the drums will be beating on the AUT Cook Islands Stage with 9 groups on stage from 9am – 3pm, the Massey University Tongan Stage features 39 traditional Tongan dances such as the Ma’ulu’ulu and Kailao from 8:30am – 5pm. The MIT Niue Stage runs from 9:00am – 3pm today and has 9 groups on stage.
The Victoria University of Wellington Diversity Stage, heads into its third day of performance today with 22 groups of stage from cultures such as Indian, Fijian, Mongolian
and Vietnamese.
Another highlight today will be the ASB Activation Area which includes a music dome where students can listen to the ASB
Polyfest Playlist curated by Kiwi music duo and past ASB Polyfest performers Adeaze.
The ASB Activation Area will also play host the Prime Minster and a special government delegation this morning at
10:30am.
ASB Polyfest 2018 takes place at the Manukau Sports Bowl from Wednesday 14 March to Saturday, 17 March. Entry is $5,
with pre-school children free of charge.
Adeaze curates 2018 ASB Polyfest Playlist
ASB’s activation zones at this year’s ASB Polyfest celebrate technology, music and culture.
In the ASB Music Dome ASB Polyfest-ers can listen to the ASB Polyfest Playlist curated by Kiwi music duo and past ASB
Polyfest performers Adeaze. Students and supporters can relax on a bean bag or dance to the ASB Polyfest Playlist. At
various times throughout the day, the ASB Music Dome emcee will run the Poly Lyric challenge for a chance to win Poly
dollars for redemption at the festival.
Event: ASB Polyfest
Dates: 14 - 17 March 2018
Place: Manukau Sports Bowl, Te Irirangi Drive, Manukau
Entry: $5. Preschool children are free
Website: www.asbpolyfest.co.nz