Possibly biggest ever haka to open schools Polyfest

By RENEE KIRIONA

More than 1400 people will perform a haka to open the world's largest Maori and Pacific Island festival on Thursday.

The traditional Maori war dance is expected to be the biggest performed, according to the organisers of the ASB Bank Auckland Secondary Schools Maori and Pacific Island Festival, also known as Polyfest.

"It is going to be awesome," event manager Craig Seuseu said.

"I've not heard of a haka being performed by that number of people before."

The annual three-day event, hosted by Otahuhu College at Manukau Sports Bowl, is expected to attract more than 10,000 students from at least 50 Auckland secondary schools.

The festival will feature five stages hosting 160 group performances from Cook Island, Maori, Niuean, Samoan and Tongan groups as well as an increasing number of Indian, Chinese and Korean performers.

A talent spotter from Bollywood, India's huge movie industry, is expected to be on the lookout for "hidden talent".

Dharmesh Parikh - an event manager from Rhythm House, which organises musical concerts and worldwide beauty pageants - said Indian talent in New Zealand was a sleeping giant and all it needed was a bit of motivation and promotion.

Mr Parikh has links with various industry people in Mumbai (the home of Bollywood), including film-makers, audio companies and production companies.

The only out-of-town school to take part in the festival will be Otago Boys' High School's Niuean cultural group.

While Tamaki College has banned its students from taking part in the festival, they have been assigned to do a study on the event.

The school's board of trustees decided last year to impose the ban because of academic underachievement and the fact that preparation for the event took up "too much" of their students' time.

The festival is in its 29th year, says Mr Seuseu, and provides an opportunity for young Polynesians and Maori to showcase their cultures.

Herald Feature: Polyfest

Official site: Auckland Secondary Schools Maori & Pacific Islands Festival (Polyfest)

* Thursday March 16 to Saturday March 20
(powhiri starts at 8.30am)
Manukau Sports Bowl