Organisers made the announcement today, saying the new M\u0101ori stage performances times aligned better with events such as the Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival.<\/p>\n
Next year\u2019s Te Matatini is scheduled for February 25 to March 1 in New Plymouth.<\/p>\n
New Polyfest Trust chair Simon Craggs said the changes allowed for growth over coming years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt also helps to relieve the pressure on the Manukau Sports Bowl venue, which has been the home of ASB Polyfest since 1996,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to reassure our supporters that Polyfest will continue its focus on unity between cultures – especially our M\u0101ori and Pacific wh\u0101nau, as was intended by our founders 50 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Craggs, principal of South Auckland\u2019s Papakura High School, said this was also the next step in the event\u2019s evolution.<\/p>\n
\u201c[It] will allow more rangatahi (youth) to showcase their culture on the Polyfest stages.\u201d<\/p>\n
Avondale College’s Samoan group performing at Polyfest in 2019. Photo \/ Peter Meecham<\/p>\n
The announcement has caused some debate among the community.<\/p>\n
Huhana Watene, the national president M\u0101ori of the NZ Tertiary Education Union, acknowledged that with growth comes change. But she also questioned whether moving the M\u0101ori stage away from the main festival would cause division.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it more important that there is that inclusiveness?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe the original concept of why the kapa haka groups performed – to share, to engage – maybe that\u2019s something that they need to seriously look at retaining.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we will lose it, it will be lost, if it\u2019s only just M\u0101ori.\u201d<\/p>\n
Polyfest has announced that the M\u0101ori stage is to move to a separate venue from next year. Photo \/ Ben Campbell<\/p>\n
Watene, whose wh\u0101nau perform kapa haka, said Polyfest provides a unique united cultural experience by showcasing diverse group performances in one place.<\/p>\n
Kapa haka-only events like Te Matatini already exist, she said.<\/p>\n
Kapa haka expert John Tuoro, of the Te Rautahi group based at Hoani Waititi, worked with kapa haka groups for several years before retiring.<\/p>\n
The 70-year-old said it was sad to hear M\u0101ori performances were being moved to a separate space.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a shame.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said one of the highlights was seeing young people from all cultures coming together to show cultural pride.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, because they\u2019re going to have different venues, will the M\u0101oris visit it? Are the Pasifika going to visit [the M\u0101ori stage]?<\/p>\n
\u201cMost probably not because they\u2019re going to have their own thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The annual event celebrated its 50th birthday this year and has grown to be the world\u2019s largest secondary schools\u2019 cultural festival, attracting up to 100,000 spectators over the now four-day event.<\/p>\n
Originally involving four high schools, the aim was to promote cultural pride and to bring schools and different cultures together, the festival\u2019s website says.<\/p>\n