Polyfest is an annual secondary school performing arts festival celebrating Polynesian culture held in Auckland, New Zealand.
[1] The festival includes a performing arts competition between secondary school students.
The South Auckland suburb of Ōtara, then part of Manukau City, had a large Māori and Pacific population with new housing estates with few opportunities for the people who live there.
[1] Some inspired teachers and students including Ian Mitchell started a Polynesian Club (Poly Club) in 1976 at Hillary College which combined students, parents, and local organisations and the social, school, and sporting interests of young people.
[6] In 2014 New Zealand Prime Minister John Key's government helped the festival secure funding for three years.