Polyfest begins with dance and discourse

Lynfield College's Sarai McKay was among hundreds of students performing on the Maori stage. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Kapa haka groups have kicked off the 40th ASB Polyfest in style.

The four-day festival at the Manukau Sports Bowl in Auckland opened yesterday with a 7am flag-raising ceremony and powhiri.

A mass haka was also performed by Western Springs College, hosts of the Maori stage this year.

Lynfield College kapa haka kai tataki wahine Sarai McKay was among hundreds of students who performed.

Fourteen groups were scheduled to entertain crowds at the Maori stage, while a different type of competition took place at the Samoan and Tongan stages.

Entrants in the speech competition made the most of their moment in the spotlight, speaking to this year's topic of rheumatic fever prevention.

Event director Theresa Howard said the festival had become a huge success.

"It has been amazing to see the festival grow from a one-host school model, to now a six-host school model, from four schools performing, to now 64 schools performing.

"The ASB Polyfest provides the opportunity for students and their school communities to come together early in the school year, to learn and share their ideas on interpretation of culture through song, speech and dance," Ms Howard said.