Thousands soaked up all the action at two events celebrating culture and community.

School cultural groups have been battling it out for on-stage domination at the ASB Polyfest in Auckland today. Members of Wesley College performed the Kailao on the Tongan Stage today.

Colourful costumes, African beats and the sounds of Asia signalled day two of the country's biggest secondary schools' cultural festival Polyfest.

Colourful costumes, African beats and the sounds of Asia signalled day two of the country’s biggest secondary schools’ cultural festival — Polyfest.

Police have praised the crowds at this year’s Polyfest in South Auckland for being “fun, safe and sober”.

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

The Polynesian Panthers - incensed by the police's dawn raids on Pacific Island families in Ponsonby and Grey Lynn searching for overstayers.

The Niue, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga stages were in full swing in front of an enthusiastic mid-week crowd. Polyfest spokesman Dean Wilson said the crowd size - about 22,000 - was encouraging considering the event had been delayed three days.