Special Pacific group on stage today at ASB Polyfest

Traditional Rivalries & special Pacific group on stage today at ASB Polyfest

Key Details

Event: ASB Polyfest

Dates: 18 – 21 March 2015

Place: Manukau Sports Bowl, Te Irirangi Drive, Manukau

Entry: $5. Preschool children are free

Website: www.asbpolyfest.co.nz

Today marks the final day of the ASB Polyfest’s 40th Anniversary Event, and the day when many traditional school rivals compete on stage. The final day of the four day festival is often described as “Super Saturday” with the leading secondary school performance groups on the festival’s six stages.

When referring to ASB Polyfest’s ‘Super Saturday’ Event Director, Theresa Howard said – “it is the day where the 'cream' of the Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Cook Island and Niue groups perform on stage. The public will see some amazing Pacific Island performances and kapa haka at its best with the Division One groups battling it out for the title, and places in the national Kapa Haka competition.”

The Te Whare Wanaga o Awanuiarangi Maori will feature the powerhouses of school kapa haka from 8:00am – 4:30pm today. Twelve schools will battle it out for the coveted Maori Stage crown with Western Springs College Nga Puna o Waiorea seeking their fourth consecutive Division One title at 3:25pm this afternoon. Their biggest threats are expected to come from Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi (on stage at 12:30pm) who won in 2011, Auckland Girls’ Grammar Kahurangi (on stage at 9:10am) who took the title in 2008 & 09.

One of the ASB Polyfest’s long-standing rivalries continues on the AUT University Cook Islands Stage today between Mangere College and Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate. Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate are looking to defend the Cook Islands crown at 2:15pm this afternoon. Their main rivals Mangere College won the title in 2103, and are on stage at 1:35pm.

Another traditional rivalry comes on The University of Auckland Samoan Stage. Avondale College are on stage at 1:55pm and looking to defend their co-ed schools title. Their biggest rival is Otahuhu College who won the title in 2012 -13. They are on stage at 1:05pm.

The Massey University Tongan Stage features the vibrant dances of the Tongan community such as the Ma’ulu’ulu and Kailao from 8:30am – 2:30pm, while the MIT Niue Stage will be reverberating with nine Niue groups on stage from 9am – 3pm. Auckland Girls Grammar are on the MIT Niue Stage at 12noon today seeking a three-peat of stage titles.

The ACG Diversity Stage will feature the top ten performances from the array of groups that have graced their stage over the last two days. 66 groups have hit the ACG Diversity Stage to date representing 19 different ethnic groups.

One of the special groups on the ACG Diversity Stage this morning at 9:45am is the “Pasifika PHusion” group from PHAB Pasifika. This organisation supports young Pacific people with disabilities with social integration and inclusion. The group features some amazing young Pacific people with disabilities from De La Salle College, Manurewa High School and Papatoetoe High School express themselves on stage.

Today marks the final day of the 40th Anniversary of the ASB Polyfest, with 90,000 spectators anticipated to have attended the festival by the time it closes at 5pm this evening. This year’s festival has been blessed with fantastic weather, visits from Prime Minster John Key and Pacific Peoples Minster – Peseta Sam Lotu-liga, huge crowds and plenty of colour & culture. Entry today is $5, with pre-school children free.

ENDS

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